Page 45 of A Lady's Wicked Revenge
In short order, Colin had resumed his usual position in the seat nearest Sir James and had poured them each a glass of wine. Colin noted that despite his stepfather’s agitated demeanour, which seemed even graver than usual on this day, the man had not yet opened a bottle of wine for himself that day.
“Too busy to dull my senses with drink, my boy,” Sir James growled pleasantly, noticing Colin’s eye rove about the room. “I was in the middle of …” He stopped and glanced briefly at the safe beneath his desk, then shook his head lightly. “Besides, your mother has talked me into having our blasted autumn ball this evening, and if I imbibe too much too early, I might do something foolish like tell our guests what I really think of them. Can’t have that, eh?”
Colin matched his stepfather’s smile, though it felt like running his fingernails against glass.He doesn’t really think these parties of his are for Mother’s sake, does he?echoed in Colin’s mind.She cannot stand listening to Sir James’ flunkies kiss his behind in pursuit of whatever monetary or social favour they are hoping for. And the autumnal ball has always been a particularly grotesque example of his fishing for praise and admiration.
As he amiably listened to Sir James carry forth with his usual recitation of grievances with his various acquaintances and business partners, an idea occurred to Colin. Like all the worst ideas, this one was thorny enough that it would not dislodge from his mind even after half an hour and two glasses of wine, so finally, he relented and gave it voice.
“Time already for the autumn ball.” Colin laughed, shaking his head and looking away casually. “I suppose that Mister Dunn will be in attendance, won’t he? Assuming his courtship of Miss Hann is proceeding apace?”
The change that came over Sir James’ face at this new topic was dramatic. Though he was by no means a cheery man, the air of distaste, even resentment that spilled forth into the air was undeniable. “Diana,” said Sir James as though it were a curse. He set down his glass of wine and turned to the mound of papers on his desk. “Yes, yes, that all will continue as planned.”
Colin ran a finger along the rim of his glass to keep himself from shaking. “I, ah … I hope Mister Dunn will indeed be a suitable match for Diana, then. I understand his family’s business has not always been the most stable venture.”
“I’m sure he will prove sufficient,” snapped Sir James without looking up from his letters. His tone indicated there was to be no more on the subject, and to his shame, Colin found himself swallowing the rest of his line of enquiry.
It’s for the best,he thought glumly.What were you going to say anyway, you ninny? ‘By the by, Sir James, did you really murder your sister and steal her fortune?’ Let this be over—it’s the best for all of us.
But that did not prove to be the end of the matter after all, as Colin realised the low noise ringing in his ear was the sound of Sir James grumbling something to himself under his breath. Straightening as subtly as he could manage, Colin cocked his ear in his stepfather’s direction, straining to hear what was being said. “Good enough for the likes of her, at least. Won’t be much longer now, and thank God for that,” were the only words Colin could discern.
“Not that there’s any rush for such a thing, of course.”
Sir James’ head snapped in Colin’s direction, his eyes aflame with the wary look of a caged beast. Colin realised with a sinking feeling in his chest that those words had come from his lips.
Though he had learned years ago that it was a dangerous thing to provoke his stepfather after a conversation was closed, Sir James merely stared at Colin for a moment or two before leaning back in his chair, moustache twitching. “I suppose there’s no sense keeping this from you. You’ll need to begin thinking of such matters for yourself before long, after all.” He extended his empty glass in Colin’s direction.
“Yes, sir,” Colin answered as he refilled the vessel.
Sir James loosed a weary sigh and ran one hand through his thinning steel-grey hair. “I confess, that girl vexes me as no one in the world. I have never known a more contentious, irritating person in my life. I cannot for the life of me understand how anyone can put up with that little harpy. You seem to get on with her well enough, somehow.”
Colin only just managed to avoid spilling the bottle of wine onto the floor at this. “I … yes, sir,” he squeaked.
His stepfather continued, apparently not noticing Colin’s reaction. “But those are personal matters, and personal matters need to be cut out of business entirely. I should hope I’ve taught you that by now.”
“Y … yes, sir.”Where on Earth is he going with this?
“The truth of the thing is that, even if she may be family, a young woman is an expensive beast to keep, and Diana is more dear to keep than anyone else I have known. Apart from the obvious costs of feeding and housing the girl, there are all her legal affairs and the various frivolities that she is forever squandering her money upon. Jewels, the newest fashions from France, all that rot. You understand.”
Now Colin could not even nod along emptily to his stepfather’s words. His eyes narrowed, muscles tensing.How is Diana supposed to have spent her money on such things when she never is allowed to leave the house? Had she been buying new dresses and such, she would have mentioned it to me by now, else I would have seen some sign of it myself.
Sir James sighed, leaning forward and striking a posture that suggested he was the most wretched, put-upon man in Britain. “Women have no head for money, I’m afraid. You’ll learn that lesson yourself one day. I have no doubt. But unfortunately, due to the terms of my sister’s will, I’ve been kept from fully taking control of Diana’s financial affairs, which has made it difficult to keep her from destitution long enough to find a husband who will take care of her. And that’s also why this issue is of some import; the longer she stays unmarried, the more of her inheritance is spent keeping her in her lavish lifestyle. If Mister Dunn won’t have her before long, she will hardly be left with anything to her name to serve as a dowry!”
Whatever Colin had swallowed was now curdling into a cold lump of poison in his innards. “You mean all her family’s money is nearly gone?” he asked blankly.
This earned a scornful sideways glance from Sir James. “No, no, nothing quite that bad,” he blustered, eyes darting about the room. “But you understand, once she is married, I will be able to take a more active hand in managing her funds. To preserve something for her children someday, you understand. If there is anything left by then, that is.”
I can scarcely believe what I am hearing,he thought, struggling to draw breath.It’s frankly impossible that Diana has spent anything at all of her parents’ money; as she tells it, Sir James has not even let her know how much money she has inherited or where it is kept.
Colin forced a merry, carefree laugh that seemed to reassure his stepfather. “A most droll situation. Though, er, a difficult one for you, sir.” He licked his lips, hoping to quell the sick feeling that still burbled in his stomach. “And I’m certain you have the right of things. Though he is hardly a storybook prince, Mister Dunn will make Diana very happy, without a doubt.”
The words scarcely seemed to register with Sir James, who stared at Colin with a steeliness that felt almost diabolical. “Bah!” he blurted, waving a hand dismissively and startling Colin nearly out of his seat. “‘Make her happy.’ Bah! More womanly silliness. This is business, my boy, nothing more. I thought I’d not done so poor a job in teaching you that you would forget that already. Dunn will have her, and soon, so I can, at last, make proper use of my inheritance.”
These final two words sent a chill through Colin that rendered him speechless, turned to stone by the wickedness he had just glimpsed. He stared dumbly at Sir James, seeing not the great man who had saved his mother but a mephitic troll, a dragon tenting its claws in anticipation of accumulating another golden bauble.
Years of derision and abuse flashed through Colin’s mind at once, but with the parts recast and the sets menacing and distorted. He no longer saw a steadfast guardian struggling to bring order to a troubled boy and his sickly mother but a grasping villain taking out his own frustrations on those smaller than him.
The troll turned away from its work to look at him, its eyes beady and black. “I addressed you, Colin. You have not forgotteneverythingI taught you, I trust?”
“Oh! Y … no, sir,” Colin said, then attempted a weak laugh to excuse his lapse in manners.
