Chapter Forty
“My lord! I’m delighted to see you, even in these unhappy circumstances.” Mr. Parsons normally cheerful face was an odd mixture of joy and sorrow as he greeted Andrew warmly, pressing his hand between both of his own.
“I hate to say it, Parsons,” replied the new Earl of Doncaster, “but I am not delighted to see you at all, now that you address me like that. You know I never wanted the title, and although my brother never did well by it, I wish it was he who still held it.”
Mr. Parson’s countenance became as unhappy as it was capable of being. “You have my deepest condolences, my lord. It’s no secret that I rarely saw eye to eye with your late brother, but I’m truly sorry he met with such an untimely end.”
“What happened, exactly? In your letter you said he was on the Winchester Road. Why?”
“One can only suppose he was coming to see you, but why he should have undertaken the journey so late at night is a puzzle.”
“Coming to see me? Did he even know my direction?”
“Not from me, my lord.”
“How odd! Perhaps he was trying to save the cost of an inn overnight, though I must say, that sounds most unlike him.”
“Indeed, my lord,” agreed Parsons. “I’m hoping you will be able to solve the puzzle. I did interrogate his butler, but the man was very close-mouthed. You will undoubtedly be able to get more out of him.”
“I’ll go to Doncaster House immediately. In fact, I suppose that’s where I’ll be staying, though I dislike the place.”
“I’m glad to hear you say it, my lord, for the news of his late lordship’s demise has unfortunately already spread, and his creditors are pressing for settlement.
If we can put the townhouse on the market, that will quiet them down for the moment.
In fact, my lord, things are at such a pass that I should like also to be able to proceed with renting out Doncaster Park House.
I had already proposed a tenant to his late lordship, but he refused to countenance it.
He’s a merchant from Ely who made a fortune exporting dye to America.
He wants to set himself up as a gentleman with a fine house, and would take it fully furnished.
He only wants the use of the park and lake.
He is willing take a lease on the very favorable terms of ￡800 a year.
He’s not interested in the Dower House, if her ladyship will agree to moving there.
A fine old place, as I recall, though quite small.
But our discussions were a couple of months ago.
It is to be hoped he still wants the property. ”
Andrew nodded. “Go ahead, Parsons. We both know it has to be done. You’re right about the Dower House.
My mother was very comfortable there. I’ll square it with the Countess.
But I have the feeling she won’t be so unhappy to move out of the Park.
It’s a cold, uncomfortable pile. I have to go up there anyway, to talk to Brummage, the agent.
He’s a good man. I know it breaks his heart to see the estate in such a poor way.
I’m aware you’ve been advising my brother for weeks to sell the unentailed portion of the land.
I shall set that in train too. The sooner it’s all done, the quicker we can get things settled. ”
“It’s not my place to say it, my lord,” said the lawyer, “but the wrong brother was born first. You should have been the Earl all along.”
“No thank you,” replied Andrew. “I’m not made for the ermine.
But I suppose I’ll have to visit the Crown Office and the Lord Chancellor and go through the whole rigamarole of proving the succession.
Not that I want it. Give me a garden to grow vegetables, a henhouse and a good woman by my side, and I would ask for no more from life.
Oh, and a cat. I’ve developed a fondness for cats. ”
Leaving the lawyer to wonder how two brothers could be so different, he went off to the Doncaster townhouse. Hopefully, he would get to the bottom of his brother’s mysterious decision to leave for Winchester at such an ungodly hour.
“The whole household would like to express their condolences at the death of his late lordship, sir,” said the butler, ushering Andrew into the hall and bowing with his nose almost to his knee. “And to assure you of our devoted service.”
“Thank you, Wooton,” said Andrew, “You can begin by telling me why on earth my brother decided to leave London when he did. Mr. Parsons said you claimed to know nothing.”
Wooton looked him straight in the eye. “I thought, sir, him not being a member of the family, I shouldn’t divulge… The truth is, his lordship wasn’t as… as sober as he might have been. And I fancy he had received a shock.”
“Shock? What shock?”
“If you permit, sir, I’ll call his late lordship’s valet. He will be able to shed more light on the matter.”
The valet arrived, wringing his hands and looking supremely unhappy. “If I’d of known my lord, what he was going to do with it, I wouldn’t of given it him, I swear!”
“Given him what?”
“The family jewels, sir. The pearls and the necklace and so on.”
“Good Lord! How came they to be in your possession? I thought her ladyship had them under lock and key at the Park.”
“When he visited there last, he took them away, my lord. And he sent word I was to bring them.” The valet shuffled his feet.
“Bring them where? Come on, man, tell me the whole story plainly. Don’t make me drag it out of you!”
“To his club, sir. He was gambling, and… and I very much fear, my lord, that he lost them. He came home in such a state, sir, there was no talking to him at all. He didn’t have them on him then, I swear, for I helped him change into his riding gear.
I tried, sir, I tried to stop him, but you know what he was like… ” The valet was almost in tears.
“Yes, I do. I’m not placing any blame on you. What you’re telling me, if I’ve understood correctly, is that he sent for you to bring the family jewels to his club and lost them at play. He came home in a state, and immediately set out for Winchester. For me, in fact.”
“He didn’t say where he was going, my lord,” said the butler. “He just had them saddle up Apollo and took off.”
“Apollo?”
“Yes, my lord. His new riding horse. A lovely animal, though the grooms say he’s inclined to shy at things that come at him sudden.
I’m thinking that’s what happened, sir, ’specially as his lordship wasn’t, well, entirely himself.
They found the horse near where his lordship fell, and brought him back here. He’s in the stables.”
Now it was all clear. Richard had been drunk, had lost the jewels and had taken off on his new horse, presumably to force Andrew to give him money.
The horse was inclined to shy at unexpected objects.
It was a recipe for disaster. That was his brother all over, thought Andrew. He had never stopped to think.