Page 15 of Scandalous Heiress
“Hear me out.”
Sick or well, one did not argue with the seventh duke of Brentwood.Not even a beloved son.
“I had Monroe before me here last week.”For more than twenty years, Charles Monroe had been his father’s estate manager for this property as well as two smaller ones, in Sussex and in Dorset.“I changed my will and my asset allocations.I assign to you ten thousand a year, beginning now.Runs the house in Brighton.Pays for five, maybe six staff wages.So.All this.It’s yours.”
The enormity of the gift stunned him.The duke had always been generous to him, kind even in his darkest days five years ago.Victor had never been a recipient of his father’s wrath.Nor had his father ever demanded things of him which he did not wish to give.But this…thiswas an enormous bequest that could change his life completely.If…if he remained in England.“You want me to stay.Not return to Shanghai.”
“Let yourhowquarun it in Shanghai.Let your Frederick MacIntyre run it from the City.I want you to do something else for me.For your children.Your mother.Even Richard would benefit from it.Yes.Yes, he would.He needs your friendship, example of your steady hand.But this would benefit you.”
“Yes but—” How could he do this?He shot to his feet, ire ringing in his head.He’d worked so hard to build a business and now this tore his work asunder.“You want me to become a gentleman farmer?”
“No, by God!”
“What?”He couldn’t contain his shock, his confusion and an odd compelling joy.“I—I can’t, sir, can’t retire to the country.Can’t fail to participate in the business that I built from a mere idea.”
“You can!”
“Ten thousand a year might run a modest household, but I wish to give my daughters a good life, dowries, educations, all worthy of their name.I am grateful for your gift, sir, but it is not enough.”The look of despair on his father’s face crushed his anger, but did nothing for his conflict over the offer.Cursing silently, he whirled to place both hands upon the mantle.“I’ve never thought about returning here, remaining here.”
“I expected you to say that.I can imagine it must not be easy to forget what happened here.But she’s gone.And it has been many years.”
Six since I learned of her perfidy.Five since I left, took her with me though I longed to throw her overboard, or…smother her in her bed.
“Victor, people forget.”
He faced his father.“Why would you ask this of me?Papa, I was in hell here and only too happy to get out.The scandal robbed me of wits and hope.Why would I remain in England now that I’ve a growing concern in Shanghai?”
“Because I need you.Britain does.”
Victor put both hands to his hips and leaned toward his father.“Oh, Papa.Please do not be grandiose with me.”
“Victor, I want you to do what you were destined to do.”
He winced.That dream died years ago.“No.”
“You argue with me?Do not!”The old man threw out an arm.Spittle ran down his chin.
Roiled, yet mindful of his father’s delicate condition, Victor held his tongue.
“I want you to…to…run…run.Parliament.Parliament, yes.Yes, that’s…”
Victor saw his father’s attention wander to the window, then back.
“See here, my boy.”The duke licked his lips.“Our man for Brighton and Hove has contracted consumption.He will not live.We own that seat, Victor.We must keep it.You are our man.”
Victor stepped back to his chair and sank into it.“I don’t understand why you think I would be best for it.Not after my years abroad.Once perhaps, but now?”
“Yes, now.Because abroad you have learned the values of trade and commerce.You will help to secure the Empire.”
He opened his mouth to object.
But his father put up a trembling hand.“You understand issues of naval arms and geographic demands.So many of these home grown idiots in Parliament have no earthly idea what they speak of.I want a strong Britain.But I want an intelligent Britain.Not a war-monger.Not a saber-rattler.”
The stab of Victor’s youthful criticisms of older politicians pierced him.“You remember my own words?”
“I do,” his father said with gravity.“Consider them.You do us more good here than you do in Shanghai.And you serve not only your family but also your country.”
Victor cocked a brow.“And that one other entity?”
