Chapter 6 #3
“Well, yes. None of them will shirk from a confrontation. For this reason, my brothers and I thought there were oftentimes when marriage might be a battle. But what actually happened is that we rarely fight with our spouses. Loving one’s wife, as I love Gory, means that there is nothing worth fighting over that matters more than her.
If she is asking for something important to her, then I’ll agree to it.
But the same applies for her. She will agree to my wishes if they are important to me.
It is never worth fighting or holding resentment over the little things. Never go to bed angry with each other.”
Alex took in the advice, but knew he and Tulip were not even close to achieving that level of commitment to each other.
“We’ve been fortunate, I suppose,” Julius continued as they climbed into Alex’s carriage to return to Bloomsbury where Julius had left his driver and carriage, “that we haven’t yet encountered anything big to tear us apart. I don’t think we ever will.”
“I’m glad you and Gory have such a strong marriage. It is too soon to know what will happen between me and Tulip. That Davenport dark cloud of doom is going to hang over our heads for a while, I fear.”
“I suppose it is her fear, too. This is why she avoided you all these months.”
Alex arched an eyebrow. “Ah, you noticed her constantly running away from me?”
“Hard to overlook. But fate stepped in and you are now betrothed to her. Heed my advice. Do not ruin your chances for a good marriage because you are too prideful to give in.”
When they returned to Bloomsbury, Alex noticed the same man who had been watching him at the Denby Arms was now seated at a pub across the street from his residence. “Bollocks.”
“What’s wrong?” Julius followed his gaze. “Who are you looking at?”
“That fellow in the green jacket has been following me around for much of the day. He was at the Denby Arms earlier. I thought he was eyeing Tulip but she seemed certain he was interested in me and not her.”
“Guess she was right,” Julius said as their carriage drew to a halt. “What are you going to do about him?”
“Buy him an ale and chat, I suppose,” Alex said. “I think he is a cousin of mine, Harold Havers.”
“What do you think he wants from you?”
Alex gave a mirthless laugh. “Money, of course. Our grandfather gave him and his brothers an allowance. The subsequent dukes did the same, I believe. That stopped when I inherited. I expect he wants me to restore it.”
“Will you?”
“Yes, Lady Withnall suggests that I do.”
Julius regarded him with some surprise. “That little termagant? How is it any of her business?”
“I stopped by to see her earlier today because I wanted to learn more about my family history. Who better than Lady Withnall to ask? Is there any secret or scandal she does not know about?”
Julius laughed. “She’s scary the way she noses out trouble, like a wild boar on the scent for truffles. She’ll dig through that dirt and find the secret no matter how deeply it is hidden. Are you sure you want to approach your cousin now?”
“Yes, may as well get it out of the way.”
“I’ll come with you,” Julius said as they now stepped down from the carriage.
But Alex held him back. “Wait here. Keep a lookout and shout a warning if you see anyone else approaching me and Harold. He has two brothers, both of them worthless.”
“Botheration, are you going to pay them, too?”
“Yes, I think it is prudent to follow Lady Withnall’s advice for now.
” He scanned the crowd seated at the pub’s outdoor tables for men who resembled Harold or himself but no one caught his eye.
He then peered up and down the street, paying particular attention to partially shadowed doorways for anyone standing in them who looked suspicious.
It seemed safe enough, so he approached the man in the green jacket. “Mind if I join you?”
He did not await a reply before pulling out a chair and settling in it.
The man cast him a wry smile. “Sure, sit down.”
“Care to introduce yourself?”
“As I am sure you suspect, I am your cousin. Harold Havers at your service.”
Alex nodded. “Why are you following me around?”
“Hoping for the chance to speak to you.”
Alex glanced around once more. “Where are your brothers?”
“Unfortunately, Neddy and Barton are indisposed at the moment.”
Probably drank too much last night and were still sleeping it off, he surmised. “Are you here for yourself or speaking on their behalf?”
“Speaking for all of us.”
Alex folded his arms across his chest and nodded. “What is it you want?”
“Our allowance restored. You cannot expect us to survive on thin air,” he said with an aura of haughty indignation that rankled Alex.
But he expected no less from his cousin who had been taught he deserved everything despite having contributed nothing. “You could find work for yourselves.”
Harold’s eyes rounded and he drew back as if slapped. “We are gentlemen. How are we to hold our heads up high if we are employed?”
“As I was for all these years?”
“And we mocked you for it,” his cousin said with disdain.
Gad, did he really have to give them anything?
But Lady Withnall had advised him to do so, at least until he had solidified his position as duke, consolidated his power, and put trusted people in place to alert him to whatever his cousins might be doing.
Of course, he also needed trusted people to assist in the restoration of the Davenport holdings.
“Best to keep them quiet and concentrate on important matters,” she had warned.
He placed Tulip and their marriage at the top of his list in importance.
What would all his work be worth if his family interfered and he could not gain her love?
It pained him to admit he agreed with Lady Withnall. “I’ll have your allowances restored on one condition…”
“And what is that?” Harold asked, sounding indignant once again.
“When I am in London, you and your brothers are to be elsewhere.”
The lout slammed his fist on the table. “That is outrageous! Where are we supposed to be?”
Alex arched an eyebrow. “I don’t care, just not in Town when I am here. But take heart, I do not intend to spend much time in London. Parliamentary duties and an occasional visit to see good friends. That’s all.”
“Fine, we’ll go to Somerset whenever you are here.”
And sponge off him at Thornwycke Hall?
He meant to reside there with Tulip.
No way in bloody blazes would he allow his wretched cousins anywhere near her. “No, you are to stay out of Somerset. That is the other part of my condition. If you want your allowance to continue, then you are never to step foot there.”
“Never?” Harold slammed his fist on the table again. “Are you mad? You are marking off the entire shire? What if we wish to follow our friends to Bath?”
“Then write to me and ask for permission. Those are my terms. Do you want your allowance or not?”
“What a bastard you are,” he muttered. “Does this mean we must leave London now?”
“No, I’ll be leaving shortly. There’s nothing you or your brothers need to do for the moment. What’s it to be?”
“Pig,” Harold said, kicking his chair back as he rose so that it tipped over and knocked into the man seated at the table next to theirs.
The poor fellow had been minding his own business and enjoying an ale, but now turned angrily toward them.
Alex apologized on his cousin’s behalf.
Thankfully, this mollified the man.
Not that his cousin cared.
The lout was incensed Alex had tacked on conditions to his allowance. “We’ll take the deal,” he grumbled and stormed off.
Alex watched him bull his way through the tables of patrons, angrily elbowing all in his path aside. He was heedless of who he bumped into or the ale that was spilled.
“Ah, family,” Julius said, righting the chair Harold had overturned and taking his seat. “I heard what he called you. Those fellows deserve nothing.”
“I know, but I don’t need to be fighting them while I am also trying to restore the Davenport holdings to profitability. However, it is more for Tulip’s sake. I don’t want them around us while we are also trying to make a go of our marriage.”
“Sensible.” Julius glanced at his watch. “Speaking of marriage, I had better get home to Gory. I’ll meet you at the tailor’s tomorrow at three. Any plans for tonight?”
“No. Tulip and the Farthingales have been invited to dine with their neighbor, Lady Eloise Dayne.”
“Do not be surprised to find an invitation waiting for you at home. It’s probably sitting on your entry hall table as we speak,” he said, motioning across the street to his apartment.
Alex had been looking forward to a quiet night, an ale in hand and a good book to read. But that was not likely to happen now. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Julius.”
He watched his friend ride off in the Thorne carriage.
Only then did he march into his apartment.
Just as Julius had predicted, there was the invitation waiting for him on the small table in his modest entry hall.
It sat there on a silver tray.
He was about to reach for it when the little hairs on the back of his neck began to prickle.
Something felt off.
“Mrs. Gayle?” he called to his housekeeper.
When he received no response, he called out to her again.
Still nothing.
His heart beat a little faster.
Had something happened to her?
He was about to go in search of her when he heard someone humming a tune just outside the front door.
He let out a breath of relief, for Mrs. Gayle was coming up the walk with a shopping bag in hand.
“Your Grace, is anything wrong?” she asked, marching into the hall and immediately noticing his frown.
“I don’t know.” He took her gently by the elbow and escorted her back outside. “Wait here. I think someone might be in the apartment. Let me investigate first.”
She put a hand to her throat. “Oh, Your Grace. Do be careful.”
After years working for the London magistrate, he had been trained to always be on his guard.
He knew how to handle himself in a fight.