Page 25 of Scandalous Heiress
The subject repulsed Victor.Though he himself had benefitted from Alicia’s funds, he hated the medieval concept that a wife must come with money to recommend her.He rose to go.“Forgive me, I should leave.”
His father frowned at him.“Stay, Victor.Sit.You must know about your brother’s plans.”
Why?He’s not my keeper and I will not be his.“This is more his business, Papa.”
“But you must know.Sit.”His father motioned him toward the chair and out of respect, he took it.“Richard is in terrible debt.Tell him, have you?”He pressed his oldest boy.
“No, sir.”Richard’s eyes met Victor’s and in them, he saw a plea to leave off this topic.
He shrugged, little he could do if their father wished to have this out.
“Land values are down,” said the duke with a scathing look at Richard.“Fewer tenants paying their rent.Declining dividends, and on top of it all, Richard took another loan against his unentailed land!”
Shocked at his father’s sudden acuity on Richard’s finances, Victor shot an inquisitive look at his brother.
Richard only pursed his lips and shook his head.
The duke grumbled about his oldest’s follies.“But Victor got a decent dowry from Alicia.Twenty thousand, was it?”
Victor inhaled, rebelling at this reference to his dead spendthrift wife.“Twenty-five, it was.”
“Hmm.Hmm.Good sum.Richard, have you talked to her father yet?”
“No, I’ve not.”
“Why not?”The duke grew puzzled.
Richard licked his lips and ran two hands through his black hair, then leaned toward the duke.“It’s a delicate matter, Father.Let me do it in my own way and time.”
“You don’t need more wild oats.If that’s what you wait for.”
“I’d like to go to her with no debts.”
Ah.Here’s the rub.Victor sat back to wait.
“Reason why many marry is to have no debts, boy.”
Richard inhaled.He hated being called a boy.Yet in many ways, especially in regard to money and women, had he not always been?
“You bring her to heal.Have her father sign the forms.Why dally?”
“I have a problem.A big one.I must fix it soon.”
What was it?A woman.A gambling debt.Solicitor’s fees for this latest conflict about the mistress of the Prince of Wales.Victor folded his hands and crossed one leg over the other.
“I need to borrow two thousand from you,” Richard told his father.
Not asking.Telling.Victor turned to consider the fire.
“Borrow?Or take?”
No doubt about it, his father was sharp as a razor at the moment.Thank god.
“Borrow.Definitely.I promise you.”
His father let out a snort.“No.”
“Sir—”
