Chapter Four
Hugo remained silent as Alfie dressed him for the day.
His valet had already shaved him and trimmed Hugo’s hair this morning, all in an attempt to make him presentable for his trip to White’s.
He had never set foot inside the club, but he held a membership to it as the Earl of Merriman.
Going today and being amongst his fellow peers would be a test, one which he very well knew he might fail.
He couldn’t allow that to happen, though.
Because of Dilly.
If he never had to come to London again, Hugo would have been perfectly happy.
He’d only been to the great city twice. The first time had been his initial meeting with Mr. Becker.
The clerk had not been the least judgmental as Hugo had stammered his way through his conversation with the man.
In fact, he had taken so to the clerk that he had promised Becker he would make him the Drake family solicitor once his father passed and Hugo took his title as Earl of Merriman.
The earl’s death had occurred two years ago, just before Hugo had completed his studies at Cambridge.
His father had been struck with a fit of apoplexy, which had left him paralyzed along the right side of his body, leaving him bedridden.
The earl had lost the ability to speak, as well.
He still held his title, however, and so Hugo had no say regarding the estate.
Fortunately, Merrifield had a wonderful steward.
Mr. Rains had remained in close contact with Hugo, sending weekly reports of how things fared.
It was through this correspondence that he began to learn what was involved in managing a large estate.
He studied each letter Rains sent, learning everything he could.
In addition, he asked Matthew to help him understand what was unclear.
His friend had already returned to Redfield by then, his studies completed.
Ironically, the duke’s country estate was a mere ten miles from Merrifield, although Redfield was located west of Brandon in Suffolk, while Merrifield, which was near Thetford, was in Norfolk.
Merrifield did lie right on the border of Norfolk and Suffolk, though, and Hugo knew he would see a good deal of Matthew once he returned to reside at Merrifield.
In a wonderful gesture of friendship, Matthew had returned to Cambridge a few months after Hugo had first written to him regarding his father’s ill health, and his friend had stayed a week.
Together, they had read every report Rains had sent, and Matthew guided Hugo through what occurred on a country estate.
He explained the responsibilities that would fall to Hugo once he became the earl, things his own father had never broached with him.
Then again, Merriman had little to do with his son, especially as Hugo had gotten older.
Once Matthew left, Hugo’s thirst for knowledge regarding estate management continued. He poured over books in various libraries, drinking in knowledge. When the day came and he was named the Earl of Merriman, he wanted to be completely prepared.
During his father’s lingering illness, he never returned home, however.
Remaining at Cambridge became very important to him, as did the lessons he partook in with his cousin.
Anthony had been a godsend. He taught Hugo how to focus more intensely and worked with him on his breathing.
They read aloud together daily, and he also read aloud for an hour or more on his own, getting used to forming words and speaking them.
He, Anthony, and Matthew had sung every day while Matthew had been with them.
The duke had even left the pianoforte behind when he returned to Redfield.
Anthony had challenged Hugo, and he had taken up the instrument, finding a music tutor.
Nowadays, Hugo played at least an hour a day for the sheer joy of it.
Half the time, he chose classical compositions, while the rest of the time he played country tunes so that he might sing along with them.
The stammer always lingered under the surface.
He understood, thanks to Anthony, that he would never completely conquer it, but with concentration, proper breathing, and daily practice speaking and singing aloud, Hugo had a good control of his greatest defect.
He tried to remain as worry-free as possible.
Working alongside Rains, he managed Merrifield and its tenants well.
He also looked to Mr. Becker for advice.
When Hugo received word of his father’s death on the eve of setting out for home, he had stopped to call in London in order to see Becker.
He had stayed in contact with the clerk, who now had gone out on his own and was working as a solicitor.
Hugo had told him he wished to become his client.
Becker had accompanied Hugo back to Merrifield for the funeral services, and they had spent a good week discussing the estate and investments, both those currently held and recommendations Becker had for the future.
Even Matthew had come to visit Hugo that first week he was home and had found Becker to be wise beyond his years.
Matthew promised Becker when his own solicitor retired, he would direct all his business to the former clerk.
That had occurred six months ago, and now Becker was well thought of by his peers, having earned the trust of a duke and an earl so early into his career.
Becker had also set up Hugo with a financial adviser at a bank, not a man his father had used.
Hugo wanted a fresh start and divorced himself from any holdings his father had.
Based upon advice and suggestions from his new banking adviser and Becker, he had diversified his wealth.
Already, two years into his earldom, he was seeing a tidy profit beyond what Merrifield brought in.
But today was the day Hugo had dreaded for years.
He adored Dilly and would do anything for his sister.
That meant accompanying her and Mama to town in order for Dilly to make her come-out this Season.
While he had no intention of searching for a bride, he did need to be at the various social affairs in order to see the kind of gentlemen who were paying attention to Dilly.
He would need to get to know these men—and that meant starting before the Season began.
His visit to White’s today was the start of Hugo entering Polite Society himself, and he couldn’t help but worry about how that would go.
Would he see those who had bullied him in the past?
Would they recognize him? Or even remember him?
He hadn’t a clue. He only knew he must become actively involved in Polite Society for his sister’s sake.
Dilly was a lively girl, full of fun and mischief.
She could be a bit rash and leaped often before she looked.
He would need to be present to temper her, as well as help her look deeply into the gentlemen who became her suitors.
Fear of rejection haunted him. He had never had friends before Matthew and Anthony, unless he counted Alfie.
The footman now served as Hugo’s valet. He had wanted to replace Storey with Alfie, but his friend had no interest in being the butler of a country household.
Alfie had asked instead if he could be Hugo’s valet and travel with him wherever he went, be it the country or town.
He had a suspicion that this was Alfie’s way of looking after him, but he did not press him.
Instead, he allowed the footman to be elevated to valet—and removed both Storeys from Merrifield.
Actually, he had done almost a clean sweep, ridding the country household of most of its servants.
Alfie had been able to tell Hugo who would be loyal to him and which servants had belittled him over the years, due to their allegiance to the former earl or because they had disparaged him for his stammering.
Mama had helped in the hiring of new servants.
Frankly, she had become a new woman after her husband’s death.
She had moved as silently about the house as her son had, not wishing to draw her husband’s notice, and had rarely left her rooms. Since the earl’s death, she was still a bit quiet, but she was more present in his life and that of Dilly’s.
She also volunteered at the village church and seemed happier than he had ever seen her.
“There. That ought to do it, my lord.” Alfie stepped back and studied his handiwork.
“I do believe I have mastered the art of tying cravats. And now that your wardrobe has been updated, you will be a man dressed in the height of fashion. Look out, men at White’s—Lord Merriman is entering your fold. ”
He couldn’t help but chuckle at his friend’s teasing. “You know how to keep me in good spirits, Alfie,” he praised.
The valet turned serious. “I know how frightening it must be to contemplate going to White’s, my lord. You do not know who will be there. How you will be accepted.” Alfie smiled encouragingly. “But I have faith in you. You have conquered your stammer. You will do the same with Polite Society.”
“It will help that Reddington will be present,” he said, knowing he might not have gone at all without his friend promising to meet him at White’s.
“His Grace will take good care of you,” Alfie assured him. “He always has. As does Mr. Drake.”
The moment Hugo had assumed his title, he looked for a way to bring his cousin to Merrifield.
He had been fortunate when Anthony completed his studies at Cambridge and had taken a position as a sexton at a church just outside the university town.
Anthony had cared for the church’s property, as well as run the bell for services.
He had even dug graves for those parishioners lost. With his employment being so close, they had continued to live together.