Page 57 of Captivating the Countess
“I have never doubted for a moment that you can take care of yourself, possibly better than I can since I cannot be with you every minute. Admittedly, though, marriage entails dealing with my demanding family.” His words were dry as they entered the main hall to the raucous pounding of piano keys and a gaggle of children racing for the door. As departing guests cried commands to servants and others shouted farewells over the cacophony, the parrot squawked its displeasure.
“It is rather like an inn, is it not?” Bell suggested. “Marriage to you would be more like marrying the local pub owner. I can understand why your former fiancée quaked at the notion.”
He shrugged. “The castle’s size has its purpose. Living in rural oblivion requires offering hospitality if I’m to keep up with political and economic affairs. In a few months, as members of parliament travel to London, many will stop here to consult with the duke.” He looked down at her with amusement. “You should listen and choose a proxy for your vote.”
She didn’t have time to respond. A gentleman called for Rainford’s attention, and she saw the butler sorting through the melee of luggage and guests in the entry hall. She’d prefer to catch Franklin now than track him down in his lair later.
The butler puffed up like an enraged badger when told Nevins had behaved inappropriately. Ensured that the problem would be removed, Bell went in search of tea. It had been a very eventful morning.
“There you are, Bell,” Alicia cried as Bell stopped in the breakfast room to fill a cup. “We were just coming in search of you. Do you sing?”
“Not a note,” she said complacently. “I don’t play the piano, either. My music teachers despaired of me. Now give me a list of numbers to add—” She laughed as Alicia waved away her talent with distaste.
“Teddy refuses to participate in any more dramas. We need more talent for the evening’s entertainment. Do you think we could have the children sing?” Alicia winced as someone hit a bad note in the music room.
“Why not something a little more sedate this evening, like cards? Or charades? Then you’ll have time to talk to the governess and ask if any of the children might sing and give them time to practice.” Which reminded her that she needed to check on Drucilla. Had she gone out with the rest of the children?
“Cards! Do you play cards? If you can do mathematics...” Without waiting for a reply, Alicia raced off to harass her sisters about card games.
Lady Pamela and Lady Dalrymple entered the breakfast room, arm in arm, whispering to each other. At sight of Bell, they cut her dead and continued into the room without speaking.
Well, charming. What had she done to offend a bad actress and Dru’s mother?
“I’ve examinedthe trust agreement thoroughly.” Later that afternoon, Sir Harry sat by the fire in Rain’s study, sipping his best brandy. “Trusts are not entailments, but the terms are similar in this case. I agree with your brother-in-law that the rules are straightforward and unbreakable. The best you can do is steer as much of the expendable monies as you can into investing outside the trust.”
“Building new cash reserves means reducing or cutting allowances to my family.” Rain fretted over the numbers Harry had set in front of him.
“Your sisters are all well settled. They won’t starve.” Harry waved a dismissive hand. “If you have any wish to control your future, you need to start soon.”
“Even if I marry tomorrow, there is no guarantee I’ll have a son in five years. That’s not enough time to build another fortune, and it would involve cutting upkeep to the estate and tenants.” His father would never countenance that, but the duke... might not be with them much longer. Rain refrained from rubbing his temple and sipped his brandy. He could see why men of lesser means might become drunkards.
A knock on the door interrupted their discussion of the impossible. Harry finished off his drink and rose to let in Estelle. “My lady, always a pleasure. I’ll leave you to your brother while I find someone to break some balls with.”
Estelle sniffed at the billiard slang but didn’t comment.
Rain stood and politely waited until his sister perched on a chair. “Is Father awake yet?”
“Awake and insisting he feels much better, but we both know he’d say that even if he was at death’s door. Garland and I have discussed this, and with your permission, we mean to stay here until the end. You are under an unbearable burden. We’d like to help where we can.”
His sister’s gift mostly involved perfumes and her famous soaps. Rain knew the soaps might dispense contentment—or itch like the devil if she was angry—but they did not heal. “Your husband would do better looking after his own estate. We cannot predict how long the family fortune will be around.”
“We understand. We can arrange to lease out the manor while we’re here. That will relieve the expense of servants and upkeep. The children are too young to know the difference. We can wait a few years before sending our son to school. You cannot be expected to run both estates, assist with Father’s political responsibilities, and hunt for a wife at the same time. Let us help.”
Rain didn’t know where to begin in discouraging his sister’s eager assistance. “Thank Garland for his generous offer. But I know he has political plans of his own. It’s important that he continue. Have him look at the cost of using the London townhouse instead of your manor if he doesn’t mean to run for a local borough. I’m sure Father still has enough influence to find him a position in government that could lead to better appointments.”
Estelle nervously locked and unlocked her fingers. “We’ll discuss it. London is no place for the children, though, and I hate to be parted from them. I can see we’ve been living extravagantly, and it’s time we look to ourselves instead of to you for solutions.”
He ought to feel relieved. Mostly, he felt like a failure that he had to ask his sisters to help solve a problem he’d created by not marrying or being able to heal his father. “The children are fine in the nursery, although admittedly, York is much further from London than Somerset. If only Sommersville was in better condition, you’d do better to move in there and run for local representation. Although it’s hard to represent the common man while living in a ducal palace.” Rain respected the irony of living in apparent splendor on shoestrings. “I am sorry I have placed you in this position.”
“It is our own fault for expecting you to do everything.” She stood, her chin set determinedly. “Helen asks if she might stay on a while longer. She cannot afford a governess, and if we leave the children with you, we’d leave our governess as well. Of course, if Garland prefers Sommersville, we’ll take Helen with us.”
One more dependent wouldn’t break him. “It’s her choice. We are isolated. She may find it tedious. And if she is looking for a husband...” Rain let that thought hang there.
Estelle offered him a small grin. “I’ll let her know you want only young virgins. And perhaps I’ll mention a penchant for chaining women to the bed.”
Rain rolled his eyes and let his sister escape unmolested. And here he’d been worried the house would be empty in the future.
If his father died, he might have to move to the ducal estate and leave Yates to Teddy. He shuddered at the thought. He’d always hated the eccentric, crumbling old palace in Somerset. Riddled with tunnels and ghosts, it was an architectural legend, not a home.
