Page 17 of The Lyon Returns
“Thank you.”
Grayson smoothed his hands over his close-fitting pantaloons. “The duke’s coming to town.” On the cusp of his sullen-toned announcement, he winced in apology and added, “Mother plans to join him, sorry to say. I know she can be difficult.”
Gideon shrugged. He had long understood that it couldn’t have been easy for her to raise her husband’s dead mistress’s son. But then, his obviously foreign descent would cut deep to a woman of her pedigree.
“I’ll never understand you, Gideon. You, who commands respect everywhere you go, who never backs down from a challenge, refuse to utter one unkind word against her.”
Gideon waved that off. “We are neither of us children, Grayson. Whatever happened in the past is irrelevant.”
“As you say.” Grayson sipped his brandy then set it on the side table with a decisive click. “There’s something else I need to tell you. The last shipment of rifles never made it to Spain. We were swindled. By all accounts, Dirk headed the operation. I know you considered him much more than a trusted employee, but there you have it.”
Gideon swallowed more brandy.
“There’s also been talk in the Home Office ofyourinvolvement.”
“I know.”
“You do?”
“I’ve just come from the Home Office where they had me in for questioning. It seems likely, thanks to the timing of my marriage, and the duke, no doubt, no charges will be issued.”
“But that is wonderful, Gideon.” His eyes narrowed. “Wait. You saidlikely.”
“It is not yet afait accompli.We’ll know soon enough.”
“By God, you have nerves of steel. All I have to say is, it’s a good thing the dukeiscoming to town. He’ll tear the Home Office apart to protect his precious firstborn.” Grayson slugged the remaining liquor in his glass.
“He would do the same for you,” Gideon said quietly.
“Would he?” It was clear he did not require an answer.
In any case, what could Gideon say to ease matters? The duke cared for both his sons, but he treated Gideon differently than he did Grayson, and always had. Gideon had more freedom to live as he chose, and was encouraged to exploit that freedom, whereas Grayson, as the duke’s heir, had constraints placed on him from birth. Gideon had also long suspected the duchess’s coddling of Grayson annoyedtheir father and likely contributed to his more-than-occasional aloof manner toward his younger son.
For years Gideon took up Grayson’s cause with their father. That was no longer the case.
“Have you seen Brice?” Grayson asked.
“I have not.”
One corner of Grayson’s mouth hitched upward. “I merited a visit prior to him. I’m honored.”
“Of course. You’re my brother.”
He gave Gideon a searching look, then opened his mouth as if he meant to say something more.
Gideon waited, leaning back into the plush armchair and stretching out his legs before him. “How is Brice?” He finally asked when Grayson stayed silent. “I imagine he’s foaming at the mouth over the missing shipment and the lost proceeds.”
They both knew Brice’s spending habits tended to outpace his earnings and the allowance he received from his wife’s father, leaving him perpetually strapped for cash.
“Surprisingly, he was not overly concerned about the money, likely because he filed an insurance claim against the consortium’s loss.”
Gideon’s brows arched. “He certainly wasted no time.”
“Agreed. Mrs. Dove-Lyon and I both advocated letting you handle it when you returned, to no avail.”
Gideon gave an indeterminate grunt. “Interesting. Either he was in desperate financial straits, or he’d concluded I’d died. Why would he, though?” he wondered aloud.
“Your over-long absence comes to mind,” Grayson suggested.
