Page 122 of Wild Lily
Be a gentleman, not a beast.Drawing away, he grinned at her. “You did your part yesterday, darling, and they made you sad. I want you happy. I’ll tell Nora to bring you a tray.”
She pulled at the sheet and he winked at her as he turned away.
In the dining room, his mother and Leland were already seated. Shocked that his mother deigned to eat here rather than in her own bedroom from a tray, he bid her good morning with a half smile. To Phillip Leland he gave a broader one.
“I’ve been talking with Mister Leland,” said his mother, “about my allowance.”
“I see.” Julian sat quietly as Perkins the butler and a footman hurried around him with pots of tea and coffee. “And? What of it?”
“I tell you, Julian. I need more money.”
He ground his teeth. In front of Phillip who was a very distant relation, she might have addressed him as simply Seton. But she had this persistent reluctance to recognizing that, indeed, he was now the duke and she must in public call him by any number of honorifics. His given name was not permitted. Her failures in addressing him correctly were her attempt to show she superseded him. She did not. And he would not allow it.
Furthermore for this dressing-down, he would not dismiss his servants. This was his house, his domain, his money and his debts. And he would be master here.
“Madam,” he said in the frostiest tone he had ever used with anyone, “there is no more money.”
She glared at the butler and the footman in turn. “They must leave.”
Both men froze in their tracks.
Julian locked his eyes on hers. “They will remain.”
“You had money for them,” she accused him. “If you have it for them—”
“No. I do not have more for you.”
“I understand you sold that Irish land you wanted your father to sell. There’s money from that.”
Julian felt Leland’s eyes upon him, but he would not meet them. He knew the man would be apologetic for divulging that, but it was no secret that he’d asked him to sell the land.
“The proceeds from that sale go to our debts, Mother.”
“They can be serviced.” She waved a hand.
“Theyareserviced. By this sum.” He sat straight as a pin while Perkins placed a plate of eggs and bacon before him.
She shook her head, fuming. “I understand you used money to refurbish Willowreach before your marriage.”
Where in hell had she gotten that information?He’d ferret that out, by God. He picked up his fork. Stabbing a portion of food, he suppressed his desire to rage at her. “That is my business.”
“She needs no comforts.”
Sheneeded every comfort.
“And I refuse to live like a pauper.”
“Then perhaps, Madam, you should find employment.”
Silence reigned.
“You have money for doctor’s implements. For chemist’s potions. Then you have money for me.”
Leland stared at his plate.
Julian was aghast. The woman knew no bounds. Why did he not foresee this? Was he blind? Or just too trusting?
Or was it that living with a woman who was not vindictive, not manipulative, not unprincipled had changed him? Made him whole.
