Chapter Nineteen #2
“Thank you.” Justin ran a trembling hand through his hair. “I suppose I’ll need to go home then.”
“I’ll set up transport for you in the morning,” Aubrey said. “I’d get you on the train to New York, but it’s actually quicker from here to take the Fall River boat. From there, we’ll book passage on the first liner headed to England. Don’t worry about a thing. I’ll take care of everything.”
“That’s very good of you. Sorry to ruin the party.”
“You haven’t ruined anything,” Aubrey assured him. “We’re just so sorry this terrible tragedy has happened to you and your family.”
“It’s truly a disaster,” Justin said. “Father and Richard had heads for business, commerce, land management and everything aristocratic that I haven’t the first bit of. The family will be ruined inside a year with me at the helm.”
“That is not true,” Derek said. “You will have my help and that of your many friends. You will not be alone in this challenge. I promise you that.”
Justin wiped new tears from his face. “You have all been very kind, but I think I’d like to retire now, if that’s all right.”
“Of course,” Derek said. “I’m right next door if you need anything during the night.”
Justin went to the sideboard, poured himself a full glass of whiskey and raised it in toast to his friends. “I’ll be all right. Eventually. Good night.”
“Good night, Justin.” When their friend had left the room, Aubrey took the seat he had occupied between Derek and Simon. “What a kick in the teeth.”
“It’s terrible,” Derek said bluntly. “If there’s anyone more woefully unprepared to step into this role, I’d be hard pressed to think of who it might be.”
“There is no one more unprepared,” Simon concurred. “Justin has made a career out of avoiding responsibility. His father and brother have been aggressive in their efforts to expand the influence of the earldom. He will be stepping into rather big shoes, the poor guy.”
“Worse yet,” Derek said, “he has no interest in the role.”
“Can he hire someone to oversee most of it?” Aubrey asked.
“He can definitely hire help,” Derek said, “but he can’t disengage entirely, which is what he will want to do.”
“Gosh, all that on top of losing his father and brother,” Aubrey said. “Were they close?”
“In their own strange way they were,” Derek said.
“Justin and Richard had nothing in common, but they got on rather well just the same, and his father was a good chap, always upbeat and smiling and fun to be around. It’s a shocking loss no matter how you look at it.
” Derek sat up a little straighter. “I’m just remembering that Richard was due to be married in the spring. ”
“Oh dear,” Aubrey said, sighing. “Such a terrible tragedy for everyone involved.”
“I want to know what happened to them,” Simon said.
Derek nodded. “As do I, but I suppose we’ll find out soon enough. I’m going to head up to bed, too. I’ll see you both in the morning.”
“I’m with you, cousin. Good night, Aubrey.”
“Good night.” When he was alone, Aubrey poured himself a drink and took it with him when he left the billiards room and headed for the stairs, eager to be with Maeve, even if she was asleep.
After receiving the dreadful news from England, he was out of sorts and sad for his friend.
What a monumental challenge he faced once he returned home to a grieving family and a vast earldom in need of management from someone woefully unprepared for such a daunting challenge.
At the first landing, he encountered his mother, wearing a dressing gown as she headed down the stairs. “You’re up late, Mother.”
“Your father is having a difficult night. I thought some warm milk might help.”
“I can go sit with him until you return.” He visited his father no less than three times per day, but most of the time his father slept through the visits.
“No need. Harrison is with him.”
“We have received dreadful news from England.” He filled her in on the deaths of Justin’s father and brother.
“They aren’t leaving, are they?” She seemed horrified by the prospect of her illustrious guests departing prematurely.
“Justin will leave in the morning, but the others have said nothing about going with him.”
“Thank goodness for that.”
“My friend has lost two family members in a tragic accident, Mother. I find it disappointing that you’re concerned about the Season at such a time.”
Her eyes narrowed into the furious expression that had made his knees knock as a boy. “Are we talking about disappointments now, Aubrey?”
Thankfully, he was no longer a boy. “Something on your mind, Mother?”
“I want to know what the hell you were thinking marrying that woman.” In deference to the sleeping household, she spoke in a low tone that was nearly a hiss.
“I married her because I wanted to. Not for any other reason.”
“Is that right? So the fact that she stands accused of murder in Ireland had nothing to do with it?”
For a brief second, his brain went blank with shock, but he recovered before his mother could tell she’d shocked him—or so he hoped. “Of course you’ve hired investigators to find a way to discredit her, but I’ll say this once—and only once—stay away from me and my wife, or else.”
“Or else what? Perhaps you aren’t aware that your father’s will was updated a year ago, and once he passes, I’ll control everything—the business, the money, all of it. So you’d do well to decide what’s important to you before much longer.”
Aubrey wasn’t surprised to hear that his mother had seen to updating his father’s will at the first sign of illness.
“I already know what’s important to me, Mother, and I’m afraid I’m going to disappoint you once again by saying good night.
My wife is waiting for me in our bed, and I’d much rather be with her than arguing with you. ”
He left her on the landing and continued up the stairs, shaken by the ugly encounter as his father’s warning echoed through his mind.
Perhaps he should heed his father’s advice and get out of there before she could do something to ruin everything for him and Maeve.
Except, the only way his mother could succeed in ruining them was if they allowed it, and he had no intention of allowing her to do anything that would harm his marriage.