They reached the end of the program, and Miss Statton could only allow Gabriel to leave to speak with other guests. Savannah noted her eyes never left his retreating figure as he bowed and proceeded back down the aisle. Would he see and acknowledge her, or would he pretend not to recognize her?
To her great surprise, Gabriel stopped in front of her. Beneath his jacket, he sported an elegant sapphire waistcoat with a crisp white shirt. His cravat matched the waistcoat in color. He was most definitely his own man.
“Miss MacGregor, Mrs. Dawson. How nice to see you both this evening. I thought it was one of the best performances of Chopin I’ve heard in a number of years.”
Savannah glanced directly at him and smiled broadly. She caught a glimpse of Miss Statton standing with a group of young women, her gaze never leaving the duke as she scowled in his direction.
“I have to agree with you, Your Grace,” Fiona replied.
“It was lovely,” was all Savannah could manage. What was it about this man that made her all tongue-tied? What concerned her most was that she was unable to get a reading of what he might be thinking. This had never happened to her before.
“Are you in Town for long?” Fiona inquired.
“A fortnight at the most. I have a great deal of business to accomplish while I’m here. I’ll be quite ready to return to the country by the time I’m finished.”
Savannah was just about to comment when she noted Fiona’s face change. She was attempting to subtly let her know they had unwelcome company. Miss Statton promptly inserted herself into the conversation. It was an awkward situation because Savannah had never had to deal with such obvious rudeness.
“Your Grace, I trust you’ll stay for refreshments?” Miss Statton trilled.
“I’m afraid I won’t. Not this evening.”
Miss Statton, however, pressed on in a futile attempt to change his mind. Savannah caught herself smiling in Gabriel’s direction as he firmly rebuffed her insistence he remain.
“You really should stay and partake, Your Grace. It’s been so long since any of us has seen you.”
“I appreciate the kind offer, Miss Statton, but I must decline.”
He ignored the second part of her comment, knowing she was attempting to bait him. Savannah caught him looking in her direction. As usual, his expression was hard to read. The only way Savannah knew he wasn’t to be persuaded was by the tone of his voice. He took his leave, and the last Savannah saw of him was his back as he walked toward the front door.
Miss Statton, of course, had no interest in carrying on a conversation with either her or Lady Fiona, which was probably not a good thing on her part. She was in part snubbing her hostess by her rude behavior.
“Is she always like that?” Savannah asked her new friend.
“She is whenever the duke is near.”
“I’m surprised she gets invited to anything.”
“Granny only invites her because my mother and hers are friends.”
“So she tolerates Miss Statton,” Savannah said.
“Barely. One thing you’ll learn about Miss Statton is that she’s quite spoiled. She has four brothers and is the only girl. Her father dotes on her.”
Savannah gazed across the room and saw her mother-in-law trying to get her attention. Lady Dorset had mentioned she wanted to leave early as they had an appointment with her modiste the next day. “I must apologize. The countess is ready to leave.”
“That’s perfectly all right. We really need to get together for tea, you know.”
“Yes, we do.”
“Tomorrow, perhaps?”
“I’m afraid the dowager countess is dragging me off to her modiste for a new wardrobe. I believe she thinks we Americans dress like savages.”
Fiona laughed lightly. “Granny thought the same thing, that Scots are barbarians.”
“And are Scots barbarians?”
“Hardly, and Granny has long since forgotten she at one time thought like that.”
“That’s because she has a beautiful granddaughter.”
Fiona glanced over at the two women. “You’d best go. The dowager countess is looking as though she’s going to spit if you don’t.”
* * *
Gabriel had seen her the moment he walked into the room. There was no mistaking her, even from behind. Her golden tresses were swept up off her long, elegant neck. He caught himself wondering what it would be like to kiss his way down such a neck. If she was nervous about being here, she hid it well. He was aware it was her first social event in London, and, knowing the dowager countess, it would be far from her last.
He noted she was sitting with the dowager duchess’s granddaughter, Lady Fiona. It didn’t surprise him at all the two of them would find each other. Both were outsiders, not proper English women, Lady Fiona having been raised in Scotland and, of course, Savannah being born and bred in America. Quite different settings, but at the same time, similar.
He walked past them just as the music was about to start and sat a couple of rows in front of them. Savannah having interrupted his thoughts made him forget to look and see with whom he’d be sharing seating.
Before he knew it, Miss Statton had slid down several chairs and sat next to him. She was not the sort of woman he’d ever involve himself with. He’d tried subtly over the three years since she’d come out to convey that he wasn’t interest, but even that didn’t deter her from trying. Her brother Thomas said it well: when Miss Statton set her sights on something, no matter what, she didn’t give up until she had what she wanted. All he could do was hope someone else would catch her fancy.
The night was still young, and rather than go home, Gabriel decided to stop by White’s for a drink and masculine conversation. He’d learned through the years that men gossiped just as badly as women, and if you were seeking information on someone, sometimes going to a club was the best way to learn things.
As soon as he walked through the doors, he spotted Parr, his old friend. Parr beckoned him to join him.
“I didn’t expect to find you here so late. Not just having arrived in town.”
“I was in need of good drink and a dinner,” Gabriel replied.
“Didn’t want to dine alone at home?”
Gabriel smiled. “Something like that.”
He motioned to a footman and ordered a brandy and dinner. “Join me?” he asked his friend.
Parr nodded. “I believe I will,” he replied. He took a sip of his drink. “What really brings you here this late?”
“No reason. I was at a concert earlier and thought I’d drop by. Too early to go home. If I did, I’d only lock myself away in my study and work.”
“You work too hard, Clevedon. You need a diversion of some sort.”
Gabriel shook his head, smiling. “Perhaps I will once I get the young earl’s estate in order. I’ve found it’s more complicated than I anticipated.”
“What do you mean?”
“Having been overseen by the family solicitor and the dowager countess, the estate’s books are quite untidy.”
“That’s why she asked your assistance, isn’t it?”
“That and the fact the boy’s never learned anything about being a gentleman, let alone an earl. He’s young, which makes it easy. The estate’s revenues haven’t been seriously looked at in years, and it shows.”
“I thought you hired your solicitors to do the work?”
The footman returned with their drinks and informed them dinner would be ready shortly.
Gabriel took a drink of brandy. “I have. They’re doing a more thorough audit. I’m meeting with them tomorrow.”
“Think you’ll find anything out of the ordinary?”
“I already have. Ships went missing. Too many of them. I’m also looking at Mrs. Dawson’s estate as well, and that is where it gets interesting.”
“How do you mean?”
“I’m afraid it’s too early to tell, but there are some things that disturb me about how her husband ran
his businesses. I can’t say more until I’m certain.”
“I’m sure if anyone can sort it all out, it’s you,” Parr replied with a grin.
The footman approached, and both men rose from their chairs. Gabriel then realized just how hungry he really was.
He also was amazed at how lovely Mrs. Dawson had looked. Looking into her estate meant spending more time with her, and he certainly was anticipating that. She stirred feelings in him that had been dormant far too long.
Chapter Ten
It was a beautiful sunny day when Gabriel mounted his stallion. Too good a day to waste sitting inside a carriage. His first stop was to his solicitors to see if they’d finished their audit of the earl’s ledgers and estate. Since Vincent’s late father’s business and money would eventually become his, Gabriel had also taken it upon himself to have Roland Dawson’s affairs audited. He’d made notes of what he found odd or inconsistent and now had even more things he wanted them to delve deeper into.
The biggest thing he found odd with Roland Dawson’s business was the number of ships lost at sea. Far more than usual for any shipping firm. Either Mr. Dawson hired incompetent men to run his ships or he had extremely bad luck. Remembering Roland, he failed to see where either could be the answer. Roland had been an astute businessman, one who’d helped his brother, the late earl, increase the income of the earldom.
He brought his horse to a stop in front of the offices of Smythe and Smythe and dismounted. He tied the stallion and walked indoors. He was shown into the office of Daniel Smythe, who had been handling the dukedom’s affairs since his father’s death. As part of an old family firm, Daniel had inherited the Duke of Clevedon’s business when his father died. It was the only thing the duke and Daniel Smythe really had in common, though Smythe had an uncanny sense for finding wrongdoings.
“Good morning, Your Grace. Tea?” Smythe inquired as he showed Gabriel into his office. The room was filled with books and papers. He wondered how Smythe could even know where anything was in such disarray.
“Thank you, no,” he replied, sitting in a well-worn leather chair on the opposite side of the large oak desk.
Smythe sat and was silent for a moment, as though he were choosing his words carefully. Finally, he sat forward in his chair. “The earldom is in good shape, in spite of the dowager countess’s spending.”
“Doesn’t she receive an allowance?”
“Yes, but there were some expenses that exceeded her quarterly funds and were actually not covered by her allowance.”
Gabriel sat up, his interest piqued. “I would assume she came to you to have the funds approved first?”
Smythe shook his head. “She did not, and by the time I received the bills, it was too late to stop.”
“What exactly did she need extra monies for?”
“To redo her suite of rooms in both London and at Sky View.”
“I believe I know how to remedy this situation. Write her and tell her in the future all purchases or work must be approved in writing by your office. You and I can discuss it from there, though I think the countess will be more frugal.”
“Agreed, Your Grace.”
“The earldom’s expenses should drop quite a bit until Vincent gets older. I’ll make a point of meeting with the estate manager once a month, and if everything seems to be in order, I’ll move it to once a quarter.”
“That will work, Your Grace, as long as Lady Dorset understands.”
“She will,” he replied. “Anything else with the Earl of Dorset’s matters?”
Smythe picked up a sheaf of papers. “I think you’ll find it all outlined here, Your Grace.”
“Excellent.”
“Moving on to Mrs. Dawson and her husband’s estate. I’m still working on it. Long distance makes it harder to get information in a timely manner.”
“Do you need to go to America?”
“No, Your Grace. I have a good relationship with the late Lord Dorset’s solicitors, and they’re being most helpful.”
“I’m sure they are. What have you found out?”
Smythe tapped the desk with his fingers. “I’m not sure what to make of it yet, Your Grace, but Lord Dorset liquidated a substantial portion of his holdings just before he died.”
“Liquidated? What did he do with the funds?”
“That’s what I’m still looking into.”
This was something Gabriel hadn’t anticipated. He studied a landscape on the solicitor’s wall for a minute. “How bad is it?”
“Mrs. Dawson’s husband left substantial debt.”
“After two years, nothing has been done about it?”
“No, his solicitors have been working on the matter, but I’m afraid by the time all is paid, the widow will have little left.”
Gabriel ran his fingers through his hair. This wasn’t what he thought he’d hear. How could a man leave his family like this, and what had he done with the funds he’d received? There were too many unanswered questions at this point, much to Gabriel’s dismay. “Is there enough to give her a decent allowance?”
“She could be afforded something, but at this point, until the matter is closed, I would suggest against it.”
“Then set it up so she gets funds from the earldom. She is his mother. The amount can be decreased once her late husband’s estate is in order.”
“As you wish, Your Grace.”
“I’m quite interested in what Dawson did with all that money. Did his people have any idea?”
“None, Your Grace. I’m working on it, along with his people in America.”
“Keep me apprised. Have someone look more closely into his shipping firm. Something isn’t right.”
“He did have substantial losses, losing so many ships in such a short amount of time.”
“Agreed, oh, and look into the family plantation in the Caribbean. It’s technically the earl’s now, and I know his father made a great number of trips there. See if there’s anything amiss.”
“I’ve already been in contact with the plantation’s estate manager. I requested copies of the ledgers and any other pertinent information.”
Gabriel arched a sardonic brow. “His response?”
“He will put it all together and have it sent to me, Your Grace.”
“Good, good. Let me know when it arrives and you’ve had a chance to read it.”
“I shall.”
“Is there anything else?” he asked as he rose from his chair. He’d spent enough time here poring over estates and money.
“No, Your Grace. I believe that’s everything for now.”
Gabriel shook hands with Smythe. “I’ll be in town for a fortnight should anything further develop.”
The man nodded, and Gabriel walked out of the office, a sheaf of papers in a leather pouch under his arm. He was both pleased and disturbed by what he’d learned today. Now, should he inform Mrs. Dawson of his findings, or let it wait until he had more information? He decided to wait unless she pressed him.
* * *
“This came for you, madam,” Oswald said as Savannah and the countess entered. He was quite tall and, like Higgins at Dorsett Manor, had been in service since a young age.
“Thank you,” Savannah replied as she lifted the sealed paper from the silver tray in Oswald’s hands.
She handed the package she carried to Norma, who’d come out of nowhere, something Savannah still wasn’t used to.
She and Lady Dorset had spent hours at her modiste’s, studying fashion plates, choosing fabrics, and procuring Savannah an entire new wardrobe. New ball gowns, day dresses, riding attire, and undergarments had all been ordered. Savannah was impressed the woman even had a small selection of dresses and undergarments for sale in her shop, and figured the woman must employ a small army of seamstresses to fill orders, as her shop was full of women waiting for their turn with the French-born-and-trained woman.
“Who is it from?” Lady Dorset inquired.
Savannah turned it over. She
recognized the ducal seal. Slowly, she broke the seal and opened the missive. “It’s from the Duke of Clevedon.”
She quickly scanned the contents, knowing the countess would be pressing her in a moment for its contents.
“What does His Grace want?”
“He wishes to meet with me to discuss an urgent matter.”
Savannah didn’t mention the time because she knew the countess would still be abed. The woman rarely rose before noon unless she had a pressing engagement. Rising late was another thing Savannah couldn’t get used to.
“Does he say what’s so urgent?”
She shook her head. “No.”
“Don’t forget we have the Duke and Duchess of Liverpool’s ball to attend tomorrow evening.” Lady Dorset arched a brow as she passed Savannah to head upstairs. “It might do you good to lie down, my dear.”
“Yes, my lady. I will after I write the duke a reply.”
She was staying in this evening, but knew Lady Dorset had plans with some of her friends. She was glad not to have to dress and go out. It would give her some time alone, perhaps to read.
Her thoughts drifted back to the duke and what his missive might mean. What could be so important? She knew he was to meet with his solicitors about the earldom, and that he was also going to have them dig into Roland’s estate. Roland had been one of those men who thought women weren’t able to think for themselves and only let her know what he wanted her to hear.
She climbed the stairs and walked down the hall to her rooms. She heard Norma busy in the dressing room with her purchases. At least her maid should be happy she was purchasing a more fashionable wardrobe. She’d never needed an elaborate wardrobe in America, but here, she was the mother of an earl, and in England, that was important.
Sitting at the small writing desk that sat against the pale yellow wall, Savannah found a sheet of paper and began to pen a reply to Gabriel. She told him she looked forward to seeing him the next day. The countess always seemed to be around whenever the duke paid a visit, which made her wonder why, and whether Lady Dorset would insert herself into Savannah’s time with the duke.
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