Page 79 of In Compromise with the Earl
She knew she there were steps to take when it came to making strides in taking over the duties of a Countess and find her footing in her career. Oswald had told her to start writing again and that was something she could take up while Oswald worked. She had not found her writings in the trunks her father sent over, so a trip to Kingsley Manor was imminent.
“Lady Aphrodite?” Leo said from the steps of the gazebo. “And Biscuit, how lovely.”
Smiling, widely she greeted him. “Leo, how wonderful to see you. Why are you here?”
Chapter Twenty-Six
“I’m here to join Oswald to go to London,” Leo said. “We were going to the bank.”
She reached out and rubbed the pup’s ears. “Oswald left for London this morning. I don’t think he will come back until evening.”
“I misunderstood,” he gave her a wry smile then gestured to the bench. “May I sit so I could explain?”
“Yes, please,” she nodded.
As he took a place near her, he said, “When we were boys, Oswald’s father took me in, as you know, but he went a step further. Out of the generosity of his heart, he bought shares for me in company that is doing well. They’ve matured for years, and I would like to have them now.”
“Oh,” she blinked, “That was so kind of him.”
“It was,” Leo smiled. “I cannot be more grateful. His father was judicious man, making sure that everyone had a way to prosper in life. Oswald is doing well, but he is coasting on his father’s actions, and not repeating them.”
Slanting a look to him, Aphrodite realized that it was the first time she had heard Leo mention anything vaguely disrespectful of his cousin.
“Have you asked him about it?” Aphrodite asked. “Maybe it is that he has, and you don’t know it?”
“It could be,” he replied. “But I fear Oswald might be losing control of the Earldom. When he was incapacitated, Aunt handed all business for him and now, some of the things he does makes me wonder if he is regaining his foothold again, or if he is slipping further?”
Concerned, she asked, “What do you mean?”
Leo looked at her and shook his head. “I’m talking out of place. I shouldn’t have said anything—”
“No,” Aphrodite reached out to rest a hand on his arm, “please tell me, I want to know.”
He rested a hand over hers and again his thumbs made those tiny circles on her wrist. “He pulled out the monthly donation for the charity schools under his watch and limited funds to the orphanage. Before he knew about his wife’s infidelity, he was at White’s most nights, and I think he is still going on with it.”
Turning away, Aphrodite thought over his words. “Do you think he will make the same mistakes he did with her, with me?”
“I would hope not, but habits are not so easily broken, dear,” Leo grimaced. He looked at the Hall arching over the tree line just beyond them. “I suppose staying here will not make much more sense since Oswald is gone.”
He stood and gave her a half-bow. “Good evening, Lady Aphrodite.”
She nearly called after him but stopped herself and sat back biting her lip. Had Oswald done all those things? She knew about White’s and how no one ever spoke about how that place had so many opportunities for men to find women for a night.
He will not do that to me. He loves me.
Even with the reassurance, she thought about when he had left their bed to work in his study. She had felt that he was holding something from her back then and now still felt that way. Oswald was allowed to keep his secrets, but if they were damaging to them both, then she wanted to know.
Heavily, she stood and made her way back to the Hall as dusk began falling and the crickets were starting to chirp. Biscuit followed her steps until she entered the bedchamber, that suddenly felt so vast and empty.
While Biscuit scampered to his bowls, she changed into her dressing robe, not feeling the slightest urge to have supper. Her thoughts stayed on Oswald and for the first time since meeting him, she feared that things might go awry.
As she lit a candle, she whispered. “Come back home, Oswald.”
* * *
It was not until the wee hours of the morning that Oswald’s carriage trundled into the drive. He was sober but the time he had taken at White’s was unreasonable. While he knew it, it was time he had used wisely to think over matters.
If the Madam did not find out who the culprit was and if it did not come from the Duke, he would tell Aphrodite. She had been so understanding about his past, so why would she not be the same with this.
