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“Tomorrow!” Cassie whimpered. “Grandfather could change his mind if he has that long.”
“Oh, for heaven’s sake!” Sophie complained. Tomorrow was hardly the same thing as a fortnight. Everyone just had to hold their breath until Hellsburg was gone. Besides… “Papa would never agree to such a thing for any of us,” she said again. “Do try to keep your wits about you, Cassie.”
“I hope your sister is faring well,” Charlotte said, changing the subject and sending Prissa a soft smile as she lifted her teacup to her lips once more.
Their cousin’s face lit up at that. “I did receive word from her yesterday. She seems to be quite happy, happier than she’s ever been, in fact.”
“True love,” Cassie sighed. “I do hope I have a true love of my own someday.”
And an image of Gabriel Prideaux flashed in Sophie’s mind. Shehadloved him with her entire soul, and she’d been quite certain he’d loved her. But he hadn’t. He wouldn’t have left her like he did if he’d loved her.
She remembered breathing in the sandalwood scent of him. She remembered the daisies and bluebells that he’d surprised her with behind the stables. She remembered their first kiss. And their final one, and the salty taste of her tears upon her lips when he left.
Thinking of Gabe would do her no good at all, even if he was back in England. They had barely said two words to each other upon his return, and he certainly hadn’t sought her out. If she hadn’t stumbled upon him at Chase’s the previous evening, she wouldn’t have even known he’d returned. Sophie pushed back to her feet, willing those thoughts away from her mind.
She must have done so abruptly, however, as everyone turned their gaze to her in question. Sophie’s cheeks stung just a bit from all the pointed attention. “Shopping,” she said as the word sprung to mind. “I am in need of a new fan, I just realized. Do any of you want to head to Pall Mall with me?”
“Honestly, my mourning wardrobe is rather wanting,” Cassie said. “I’ll go with you. I’m going to need more ribbons at the very least.”
Prissa blanched, and Sophie narrowed her eyes on her youngest sister. Honestly, did Cassie have no concern for her words or how they might sound to someone who was suffering the loss of her father and brother?Her mourning wardrobe was wanting. What an insensitive thing to have said. At least taking Cassie with her to Harding, Howell & Co. would allow the two of them to have a private conversation in the carriage as her youngest sister was clearly in need of a reminder to show a little empathy.
CHAPTER 7
Meeting with Mr. Hill had made Gabe’s stomach knot even tighter than it had been before he’d arrived. The earldom had been hanging on by the thinnest of threads and that had been before Clayton’s affliction had taken him to the darkest of places. But there was some hope. There was one property that was not entailed and selling it could help keep the earldom afloat for a bit of time. One he’d need to see with his own eyes to determine its state. And doing so would keep him from London even longer than he’d expected. Part of him had been relieved to receive that piece of advice. If he was out of Town, focused on saving the earldom from ruin, he wouldn’t have to witness the daily decline of his brother. It was a selfish thought, to be sure. But the truth of the matter was, his presence in Clayton’s chambers did nothing for his brother, and the earldom did need to be managed.
Gabe sank down onto the settee in Christian’s front parlor, his thoughts all a jumble, his nerves still on end. He’d departed Rosewood several hours ago, but the awful visions of the place still floated along the edges of his mind.
“Ah, there you are,” Christian said from the threshold. “I was just about to head out.”
Gabe glanced up at his friend and frowned slightly. “Should you be up and walking around?” After all, his friendhadbeen stabbed the night before.
“It was a blade to my arm. That does not affect my walking around.” And then he stepped into the parlor and dropped into a seat across from Gabe. “You’re looking downcast.”
Which had been Gabe’s exact thought about Christian ever since his arrival in London. “Rosewood always takes it out of me.”
His friend agreed with a nod. “You know, your brother would probably do better at Northend.”
Not that Christian had any idea what he was talking about. And Gabe snorted at the suggestion. “You haven’t even seen him. He’s out of his mind and he’s dangerous. No one at Northend could keep him from harm, besides Winslett says there’ll be an open spot for Clayton at Oakcliffe by the end of the month.”
Christian shrugged. “Rosewood, Oakcliffe, it’s all the same thing, and hardly conducive to one’s health. If his environment was more serene, he might be more manageable, Gabriel.”
“And if you’re wrong about that, I could be putting each and every person at Northend in danger.” Gabe shook his head. “You should have heard him today, Christian. Screaming about that non-existent goddamned treasure, and then laughing maniacally as he struggled against his restraints. I shall have nightmares about that for the rest of my life.”
“Do you think it’s possible he might actually have a treasure? One Hill doesn’t know about? One you’ve never heard of.”
“He’s out of his mind.” Gabe shook his head. “He has no idea who I am, I doubt he knows who he is. He certainly doesn’t know anything about any treasure.”
“He does seem fixated on that. Why a treasure instead of something else? Spent the better part of his life hopping from one bed to another. You’d think he’d be begging for women. So perhaps…”
Gabe scoffed. “If my brother had been in possession of a treasure, the earldom would not be in its current financial state. My father was not the best steward, but Clayton has been even worse, apparently.” At least according to Mr. Hill. Gabe was fortunate there was even something left for him to try and sell.
“He truly has no idea who you are?”
Gabe shook his head as the truth of that twisted his heart anew. He’d never been particularly close to his brother. Clayton was nearly a decade older, and Gabe had been sent off to stay with their mother’s family after her death. He and Clayton were strangers, mostly. But his brother had purchased Gabe’s commission, and Gabe did owe him for that. And for being kind whenever their paths had crossed when Gabe was much younger. They might not have been the closest of brothers, but Clayton had always been generous in his spirit. He may have mismanaged the earldom to where it might never recover, but it hadn’t been out of malice. Unlike their father, he’d always been a decent man in the core of his heart.
And now he was going to die.
An awful death.
