“You have no proof,” he countered. “Choose another painting.”
Nick selected an oil painting, struck a match, and set fire to it. “My money, or by morning this place will be ashes.”
“Christ, stop!” Wicklow stomped on the flaming canvas. “Come into the shop, my lord. We’ve both been the victims of a fraud. Let’s split the difference.”
Nick Hatton stepped close, towering above him, his dark face threatening, his gray eyes cold as steel. “You dare to bargain?”
Wicklow tried to mask his fear but failed. He opened a cast-iron safe and counted out nine thousand pounds.
“A thousand pounds interest.” Nick’s voice was implacable. Before Wicklow could hesitate, he added softly, “Did I mention that your bones would be found among the ashes?”
Within five minutes, Nick was on his way to the wine merchants in Thames Street. The small shop was part of a large warehouse on the docks. He produced the bill. “I’m here to settle my account.” Nick knew there wasn’t a business in London that wasn’t on the take. “I have reason to believe this bill has been padded.” The offensive tactic worked; they knocked a hundred off the bill.
By the time Nick got back to Curzon Street, he knew he had little choice. Tomorrow, he must go to Hatton and confront his twin. Lord Hatton or no Lord Hatton, Kit could not be allowed to conduct Hatton affairs in this careless, irresponsible manner.
Dottie knocked on her granddaughter’s bedchamber door and opened it softly. “Darling, I have to talk with you.”
“Please come in. I was just working on my newspaper article.” In reality, there was no newspaper article. Alex had been working out the amount of interest she must take to the bank tomorrow.
“It’s about Margaret. Though we pretend otherwise, you and I both know that her condition is deteriorating. We should take her home to Longford so she can sit in the sunshine in the garden. It may not help, but she will be surrounded by beauty and serenity.”
“That’s a splendid idea. I’m so glad that you don’t regret that I found her and brought her here.”
“Darling, it was meant to be. How many of us get the chance to forgive—and be forgiven?”
Alex knew she could not afford to hire a carriage. “I’ll go and ask Rupert tomorrow.”
The next morning, Alex made her way to Coutts Bank and paid a whole year’s interest on Dottie’s loan. Though she was unable to pay off anything on the principie, she hoped it would postpone them from foreclosing and taking Longford Manor. To save money, she walked all the way from the bank to Clarges Street. When she arrived at Olivia and Rupert’s, she found them in the midst of packing up for their removal to Harding House for the summer. Rupert held Amanda, while Olivia directed the maids, who were running up and down stairs, carrying baby paraphernalia.
“I need to speak with you privately, Rupert.”
“Come, we’ll sit in the drawing room where we’ll be out of the way.”
Alex sat down, glad to take the weight off her aching feet. “May I hold her?” she asked softly. When her brother put the child in her arms, she looked down in wonder at the beautiful baby girl. All the ugly suspicions she’d had about the baby’s paternity melted away. None of it mattered! A wave of maternal instinct swept over her. Oh, how I wish this child were mine! Then she said the words aloud. “She’s so precious; I wish she were my daughter.”
Rupert smiled and said wisely, “The sooner you marry, the sooner you will have children of your own, Alex. When Kit came looking for you at Burlington House the other night, you disappeared with him. Has he begun to court you?”
“I rather think he has.” Alex quickly changed the subject. “We need transportation to Longford, and I can’t afford to hire a carriage. Dottie thinks Mother will be better in the country.”
His mouth hardened. “You and Dottie seem to have forgiven Margaret Sheffield … I don’t think I can.”
Alex laid the baby back in her brother’s arms and looked deeply into his eyes. “Yes, you can, Rupert; you have a forgiving nature. Margaret is dying, she likely has only another year left. She’s suffered enough for her sins.”
“I’m sorry that you have to carry the burden. Of course I’ll move you back to Longford. And I want you to hire a couple of servants. You and Dottie can’t do it all alone. I’ll pay their wages; I know you are struggling financially.”
“Thank you, Rupert; that is most generous of you.”
She knew it was Rupert’s way of both showing and asking forgiveness.
Nicholas packed some of his favorite clothes and his flintlock army pistols, then went down to saddle his mare, Satin. He walked back to say hello to Kit’s Renegade and found him restive and mettlesome, kicking his stall. “Hello, old man. Looks like you need more exercise.” Nick spoke to the stable boy about it.
“I just keep ’im clean, sir. I don’t dare ride ’im.”
Nick decided to ride him to Hatton. He put the saddle on Renegade and fastened a lead rein to Satin. The six-mile gallop was just what the Thoroughbred needed, and by the time Hatton land was in sight, he was responding instantly to Nick’s calm voice. He decided to breed the two black horses; the colt wouldn’t be a Thoroughbred, but it would have good bloodlines.
In the stable courtyard he encountered Kit, who had been out shooting and was just returning with a brace of pheasant over his shoulder. Kit’s look of dismay made it obvious that he was not pleased to see his twin, and he took the offensive immediately.
“I would appreciate it if you respected my property,” he said pointedly, indicating Renegade.
“Respect must be earned.” Nick’s voice held a warning. He thought of Slate and wished he was bringing him home to Hatton. “If you valued this animal, you would exercise him.”
Kit turned his back on him and headed toward the kitchen door.
The moment he opened it, a black streak dashed past Kit, almost knocking him over, and bounded toward the man in the saddle.
“Leo!” Nick dismounted and the dog stood on his hind legs, resting his front paws on the tall man’s shoulders. Joyful barks were interspersed with long, wet licks. Nick buried his face in the thick black fur. “I love you too,” he growled. The wolfhound followed him into the stable and sat, thudding his tail on the flagstones, while Nick unsaddled Renegade and watered both horses.
When he went in through the kitchen door, Meg Riley began to laugh and cry at the same time. “I thought it might be you, when the dog rushed out like a scalded cock. I prayed for you every night. I’m so thankful you’re home safe and sound.”
He set down his saddlebags and put his arms around her, holding her close. “Thanks, Meg; dry your eyes and let me hear you laugh.”
Mr. Burke shook his hand. “Welcome home, Nicholas.”
“It feels so good to be back at Hatton.”
“This is where you belong,” Mr. Burke said from the heart.
When Nick went in search of his twin, he found him in the library, cleaning his gun. When trouble brewed, he knew it was Kit’s way to retreat, while he preferred being direct. From his saddlebag Nick withdrew the list of names to whom his brother had given markers and placed it on the desk before Kit. Four of the six names were crossed out.