For a few moments he allowed his furious gaze to sweep the room. It was a shame she chose to live in such squalor. But she was the one who insisted she and her sister could not share a house—no matter how large—with him. And when he refused to budge, she moved her sister and herself here to the dower house.
He scowled. She was a beautiful woman. Too bad her blood was tainted. He should have done something about her before now, but he had been enjoying himself and allowed the time to slip by. Now he was afraid it was too late. The return of Aaron’s brother complicated things.
It was unfortunate his source hadn’t thought to tell him whether the marquis was on his way here. Perhaps he’d better find out.
Retrieving his hat from the mantel, he turned and stalked from the room into the front hall. It was empty, not a servant in sight. The tiled floor had been swept clean, but it obviously needed a thorough scrubbing and the staircase needed polishing.
The door rattled as he closed it with more force than was warranted, but he needed to take his frustration out on something.
How dare she? He fumed as he climbed into the curricle and picked up the reins. She’d pay for that slight, he promised himself. Yes, she would pay dearly for that.
Chapter Two
The last rays of the sun fell below the distant horizon, leaving a soft blanket of semi-darkness over the countryside. The subtle fragrances of honeysuckle, lavender, and rose wafting on the light breeze tickled Jay’s senses as he stood on the balcony outside the master suite at Collingswood. Breathing deeply, he marveled anew at the whim of fate which brought back the once denigrated younger son to be lord of the whole.
The previous three weeks had been a welter of activity. Between putting his household in order, establishing himself in society and making an appearance in Parliament, taking care of his financial interests, as well as familiarizing himself with the estate of the Earl of Wynton, he’d had little time to sit back and appreciate his new station in life. He wasn’t sure he wanted to give it up, but he’d made a promise. The gypsy asked little of him all those years ago, but she had given him much. It was nothing less than honorable to repay it by keeping his word.
His interview with the earl a few days ago had been both interesting and informative. He found himself liking his would-be brother-in-law and, by the end of their meeting, promised the earl he could move his sisters to London or Wynton Abbey if they desired to go. Jay also promised to dispatch a letter to the earl’s solicitors, instructing them to transfer all responsibility for his estates and holdings to him. A promise he had kept before leaving London.
Learning the earl’s history made him curious and he had sought out the Countess of Wynton. Surprised to find she had her own home on Park Court, he knew the earl would be relieved not to have to endure her presence when he took up residence at Kent House in London. His visit to her had not gone well for she was not happy to hear he planned to turn over the running of the earldom to her grandson. Having never made any effort to meet her grandchildren, she had not gone so far as to publicly disclaim them, but she’d made it quite clear she was not interested in making their acquaintance. That explained why Lady Christina had not had a Season. Betrothal or no, there was no reason why she shouldn’t have been allowed to enjoy herself until her situation was settled. The dowager, in her own right, could well have afforded a season or two for her granddaughter.
Obviously, it was the knowledge that his mother might refuse his family outright which had led the previous earl to consign his family into Jay’s father’s care. For whatever reason, they were now his responsibility—one that did not seem to be as onerous as he had thought it might be.
He and Brand had spent no little time insuring their shipping business was on solid ground by acquiring investors, setting up bank accounts, engaging solicitors, and hiring a manager to oversee it all. In addition, Brand hired a private detective to delve into an old family matter. The information the detective uncovered left Brand stunned, but unwilling to follow up on the information. Instead, he elected to take over the captaincy of their flagship and sailed away. Jay would miss him, but by then he had come to the decision he was ready to settle down and rebuild his life in England. Of course, what he built would depend on what materials were to be found at Thane Park.
With that in mind, he also spent time debating his options with Mr. Strate.
Suppose he didn’t marry Lady Christina? The will was clear. She would inherit everything.
Suppose he fought it in court? He would have to prove his father had not been of sound mind when he created it. Mr. Strate had been straightforward about his odds for success and they weren’t very good.
On the other hand, a court might be sympathetic to his situation and willing to order a compromise. Something along the lines of the ancestral estates—Thane Park and Collingswood—to him, and everything else, including the old marquis’ personal fortune, to Lady Christina. Thane Park and Collingswood were not self-sufficient. They hadn’t been since the sixth marquis. The income from the other properties, which included a lead mine, kept all the properties afloat.
Jay turned over the possibilities in his head. He’d returned home a wealthy man. How large an infusion of capital would it take to make Collingswood and Thane Park self-sufficient again? He was sure the amounts would depend on new farming techniques and possibly the replacement of livestock, but what it might cost and how much was needed he had no way to determine until he reached Thane Park and spoke with the steward.
Once there, he would make his decision. Realizing the possibility, though slim, existed that he might not have to give up the ancestral lands was helpful in his consideration, but not the determining factor. What really would make up his mind, or rather who, was Lady Christina. Whether she knew it or not, she held most of the cards.
But he had always been an excellent card player.
*
The matched team of grays ate up the distance effortlessly as the curricle traveled swiftly down the road. At the reins, Jay studied the countryside as if seeing it for the first time. The gently sloping fields undulated toward the horizon, the patchwork of greens and browns brilliant under the late morning sun. Taking a deep breath, he sought to convince himself he was actually home. It had been a heaviness in his heart for so long—the thought that he might never see home again—that he was unaccustomed to the lightness he now felt.
He’d left Collingswood yesterday afternoon. Although the two estates were only a long day’s travel apart, he’d deliberately stayed overnight along the way in order to arrive at Thane Park by late morning. His spirits buoyed as he topped a rise and drew the team to a halt, spotting the estate in the distance.
Shading his eyes, he squinted, trying to make out the house and grounds. All he could see was the house in the distance, the mid-morning sun reflecting off the windows. For a few moments, he sat and looked his fill, then—with a quick snap of the reins—was off again. Fifteen minutes later, bowling up the oak-lined drive to the broad circular sweep, he savored the moment the house first came into view.
Built originally in the seventeenth century after the first keep was pulled down, the warm, golden brick of the house had mellowed considerably over the years. The center portion had once been a large manor house, but, added to over the years, it had become the sprawling H-shaped manse he now approached, the original manor house sitting perpendicular to the rest of the buildings, forming the crossbar.
Tossing the reins to his tiger, he stepped down from the conveyance as the massive front doors opened.
“Welcome home, my lord.”
For a moment, Jay took in the erect figure in somber black before a large grin split his face.
“Jack Keyes? Is that you?”
“Yes, my lord.”
“Well, well. Your father didn’t say a word. Nor, might I add, did your brother at Collingswood. Sure makes it easy to remember names at the different houses when they’re all the same.”
“I would ra
ther think so, my lord,” was the formal reply.
Jay was about to make a light remark to tease the butler from his severity when a shot rang out from the small wood a short distance from the house. Taking off at a run, Jay reached the wood moments later and, taking care to move swiftly and silently from tree to tree, advanced in the direction of the shot.
Reaching the edge of a small clearing, he was brought up short, astounded at the tableau before him. To his left stood a young woman. Despite the fact that she was clad in a shirt, breeches and boots, she had not tried to disguise her status as female. He couldn’t see her face clearly, but the wealth of midnight black hair hanging past her hips was intriguing. She was an unusual sight, but what truly amazed him was that she was pointing a pistol at another figure standing across the small clearing from her.
The other figure was a man. He was tall, although shorter than Jay, but taller than the young woman, possibly in his mid-to-late-thirties, dressed in an elaborate ensemble that included a bottle green riding coat over a white shirt and gold brocaded vest with an intricately tied cravat, dark colored breeches and highly polished and tasseled boots.
“Dammit, girl, you almost killed me!” the man was saying, his face mottled with outrage and anger.
She barely acknowledged him, except to say, “If I had wanted you dead, you would be.”
The man’s eyes widened at that calm statement. “So why did you shoot at me?”
“I wanted to get your attention,” she replied. “I wanted to talk to you, but didn’t want the audience we’d have if I went to the house.” She was silent for a moment while he eyed the pistol warily. Jay wondered if he was considering trying to take the pistol away from her. “I’ve come to a decision and wanted you to be the first to know.”
“About what?”
“You,” she spat. “It’s time for you to leave here. I have sat by for the past few years and watched you try to do everything you could to destroy us, but thanks to Jon you haven’t been able to. I have even watched you strut around like the lord of the manor and try to take my brother’s place. But no more. Tina might be willing to tolerate you, but I’m not. You have upset her for the last time.”
The man threw back his head and laughed. “You want me to leave because I upset your sister?” he asked incredulously. “That’s rich. How do you suppose this place will run? By itself?”
“I’ll write to the solicitor and ask him to find someone else. Anyone would be an improvement over you.”
“You cannot replace me quite so easily. Your mother tried and failed,” he sneered. “Solicitors do not listen to gypsy brats trying to get above themselves.”
“The last time I checked I was above you,” she shot back, “regardless of my gypsy heritage. At least gypsies are honest folk, unlike the thieving, lying scoundrel you are. How difficult could it be for the solicitor to find another puffed-up coxcomb who wants to bleed someone else’s estate dry? London must be full of qualified candidates.”
“Why you…” the man started to move toward her and Jay automatically tensed to move to protect her, but it wasn’t necessary. Another shot rang out and dirt sprayed up to shower the man’s breeches, effectively halting him in mid-stride.
“The next one goes through your knee,” she said patiently, the calm tone belying the aggressive stance she’d adopted. “And don’t think I won’t do it, because I’d like nothing more than to put an end to your existence.”
Jay nearly laughed out loud as the man turned ashen and hastily stepped backward.
“What do you want?”
She sighed and Jay could almost see her eyes roll in that exasperated sound. “I told you. Leave here. You are no longer welcome here and, if you know what’s good for you, you’ll be gone before my brother arrives.” She began backing toward the shelter of the trees as she continued speaking. “Don’t ever come back. The next time I won’t bother shooting your hat to get your attention.”
“I’ll report you to the magistrate,” he threatened. “I’ll have you brought up on charges for attacking me like a common footpad.”
For a moment, she was still, then she shrugged a dainty shoulder. “I dare you to try,” she challenged. “I’m sure it would make a good story—if you could get Lord Bowen to believe it.” Shaking her head, she laughed lightly. “Besides, you don’t want to end up in front of the magistrate with me. My brother would make sure you’d be the one to end up in the gaol.”
“Your brother isn’t here.”
She shrugged again. “I’m not talking about the marquis.”
The man’s eyes narrowed. “What does the earl have to do with this?”
Her voice was cold as she replied. “To whom do you think I’ve been sending all my information on your activities?”
The man sputtered. “Why you little bitch…”
She cut him off with a wave of the pistol. “Tsk, tsk, such language,” she chided. “And in front of a lady, too.”
As she reached the edge of the trees, she let out a sharp whistle. From the shelter of the trees an enormous black stallion appeared. For the second time, Jay’s jaw dropped and he watched in amazement as the animal bent its front legs, allowing his half-sister to quickly leap into the saddle. Turning her eyes on the man one last time, she said, “Remember, I don’t make idle threats.” Then she and her mount disappeared into the trees.
Jay forced himself to stay where he was hidden while the man collected his own horse and rode away in the opposite direction. Then he turned to retrace his steps.
As he strolled back to the house, Jay replayed the scene in his mind. So that was his little sister, he mused, a slight grin lifting his lips. A wild hoyden if he’d ever seen one. Unless society had changed dramatically in the last eighteen years, genteel young ladies did not ride about the countryside in breeches accosting men with pistols.
*
Having refreshed himself with a light luncheon, Jay settled behind the desk in the library preparing to acquaint himself with its contents when he heard footsteps out in the hall. Moments later, the library door opened and the man from the clearing entered. He obviously had not been informed Jay was in residence because he headed straight for the decanters sitting on a sideboard in front of the windows.
Jay sat back in his chair and watched the man pour himself a drink, throw it down quickly, then pour himself another and turn toward the desk. He stopped abruptly when he realized the chair behind the desk was already occupied.
“Who are you?” he demanded in a sharp voice.
“I might ask the same of you,” Jay responded blandly. “But by your actions, I must assume you are Roderick Milton.”
“I am. And you are…?”
“Thanet,” Jay returned and was pleased to see some reaction. The blood drained from the steward’s face and he quickly put down the glass he was holding.
“Er…I apologize, my lord, for not being here when you arrived. I had not realized you were on your way.”
“No need to apologize,” Jay replied graciously, rising from the chair. “I can assure you that I was not sure when I would arrive. I expected my sudden appearance would upset the household somewhat. It is I who should be apologizing for descending upon you unannounced. However, that is neither here nor there,” Jay noted expansively. “I am here.”
“Yes, yes, I see.”
“I have been reacquainting myself with the house and surroundings. It has been some time since I was last here.”
“Yes, I would imagine it has changed over the years.”
“Indeed it has. And, with that in mind, I would like to take the time in the next few days to go over the estate ledgers with you to see exactly where we stand now.”
The steward couldn’t conceal his start of surprise at the statement, but he answered smoothly enough. “Of course. They are upstairs in my chamber. I was reconciling them just last evening. And since you are here, my lord, I should inform you I was thinking of leaving.”
“Leaving?”
“Yes, my lord. I have felt for some time that I should be moving on. I stepped into this position to help out your brother and when he was killed, I naturally felt I could not abandon your father at such a time. I had not planned to make Thane Park my home, but events seemed to conspire against me. The estate itself runs quite well on its own and it should not be too difficult to find another steward able to take up the reins. I had thought to write to the solicitor today.”
“I see.” Jay resisted the urge to smile, remembering the scene he witnessed earlier. Inviting the steward to reclaim his drink and sit, he resumed his own seat. “And how soon were you thinking of leaving?”
“Er, I hadn’t thought quite that far ahead, but now that you are here, I needn’t write to the solicitor, nor wait for an answer. So, it should be soon. I have family up north that I need to look in on—a, er, mother and a sister. And I thought I’d look for a position near them.”
Jay leaned back in the chair and studied the steward. Although he made an effort not to show his nervousness, Jay could sense his apprehension. It made him wonder if the steward was hiding something.
“Very well, if you do not mind we can go over the ledgers perhaps tomorrow. If all is in order, I will be happy to write you a reference to take with you whenever you wish to leave.”
The steward swallowed. “Th—thank you, my lord. That is a most generous offer.”
“Think nothing of it. It’s the least I can do after you have done so much for this family.” Jay watched Milton relax and make himself comfortable. “I would be interested in knowing how Aaron managed to get himself killed. Of course, I heard all manner of rumors in London, but I understand you were a friend of his.”
The steward sipped his drink, then launched into a recitation of the events leading up to the duel in which Aaron met his demise. Jay showed little reaction to the telling, merely asking questions and making appropriate noises during the pauses. Careful not to give away his knowledge of the scene he’d witnessed, Jay managed, by the artful placement of his remarks, to learn quite a bit about the newest members of his family.
The Gypsy Legacy: Marquis Page 3
