Page 107 of The Secret Love of a Gentleman
What of Caro?He had been dying to ask, but he had not dared. ‘Is Mary there? You said she was writing.’
‘Mary and Drew went home the day we came here.’
Then, Caro would have left with them. ‘I am sorry I have kept you both from the children. I would not have taken all of your attention by choice, Papa.’
‘Nonsense, you are entitled to it. You are my son too. It doesnot matter that you are grown. Your mother and me will always be here when you need us, and Helen and Jenny are there to take care of the younger ones. We have visited frequently, anyway, so they do not feel deserted.’
His father smiled. ‘I did not come to speak of your brothers and sisters, though. I came to speak of you. Your uncle and I have a proposal for you.’
‘A proposal?’
‘For when you are well.’
‘I am determined to persuade you to take on the manor I talked to you about,’ his uncle said. ‘It would not be charity, a word I have heard you use to describe John’s allowance. You will have to pay me the rent and therefore manage the farms so they are profitable. I will expect you to keep the house in good repair too, from what you earn. It is a business venture, and if you manage the estate well, you would be able to give John his allowance back. I believe that will interest you.’
It did. But… He sighed. ‘I was thinking about this the day I was attacked. I had made up my mind to ask if you would rent the property to me. But I will be honest, because that is not all I want to do. I want to win a seat in the House of Commons.’
His uncle smiled, then nodded.
‘That is a very good idea, Robbie,’ his father said.
‘I wish Henry would have half of your self-possession and conscience,’ his uncle commented. ‘I have faith one day my eldest son will grow up, but for now he is interested in gambling, women and sports and little else. Edward has never needed faith, because you have always shown promise.’ His uncle laughed then, a deep sound from low in his throat. ‘Like father, like son.’
His father laughed too. ‘Well, equally, if Henry is like you, you shall be waiting until he is thirty for the moment that he learns the error of his ways.’
Rob smiled. Until now, he had not listened to them conversing when they were alone without children to interrupt them. He had gleaned new insights into his father. ‘You are not to take over,’ Rob told him. ‘If I want your help I will ask. I have joined the Whig party and made connections already.’
Uncle Robert lifted his weight from the windowsill, standing tall. ‘I will leave you two to talk. But you will have my vote if you stand in my area, Robbie.’ His uncle smiled again before leaving the room.
His father’s eyes gleamed as the sunlight caught on a sheen of tears. ‘I will not interfere. It is a commendable aim, Robbie. May I offer, though, to find out if there are any seats to be won in that area of Robert’s estates soon?’
‘That is interfering, Papa.’ Rob smiled. ‘But you may save me the time as I shall be stuck in this bed for a few more weeks.’
He began to see the future again. A house made into a home with Caro.
‘By the way, I have checked on your horses several times and told the head groom to exercise them,’ his father said. ‘Today, I called at your apartment and collected your post. There are letters your friends have put through the door, and two letters from Mary.’ He withdrew them from an inside pocket of his morning coat and put them on the chest beside the bed.
Rob’s heart beat quicker in the hope of hearing news of Caro.
‘What happened, Robbie? You have said nothing about the attack, and, well… Caroline is entirely different and you two had become close, yet she left the day this happened. Is she the reason you want no one to know about this? You left without telling anyone you were going that night. Why did you walk home?’
Rob shook his head. He was not prepared to speak of it. He would marry Caro and Kilbride would not win.
‘I was young once. I remember the turmoil I went through when I fell for your mother.’
Rob still did not answer.
‘Did you see the faces of the men who attacked you?’
Rob shook his head. ‘It was pitch-black. They attacked me from behind.’
His father shifted forward in the chair. ‘Robbie, does Kilbride have a reason to hurt you?’
‘The gentleman said to tell you to leave what is his alone.’
His father lay a hand on Rob’s arm. ‘Tell me honestly. I will not tell your mother, but I want the truth. You are my son and someone hurt you. I have a conscience too. You hate my help, but I cannot do nothing when you are like this.’
‘You have not done nothing, you have cared for me. But I will not hide behind you. If anything needs to be done, I will do it myself.’
