Chapter 10
Two weeks later, Mr. Postumus Cooper arrived at Musgrove Hall.
To Allegra’s surprise, he was a pleasant-looking man with fair hair, blue eyes, and the kind of cheekbones she’d always wished she had.
He was also extremely well-mannered, loved music, and treated all the ladies of the family with as much interest as he did the men.
He also liked dogs and usually accompanied Allegra out on her morning walk with Jester and Pippin.
He was a restful companion and, as he didn’t know about her recent escapades, a safe person to converse with.
On that particular morning, the dogs were running off down the avenue of trees while Postumus and Allegra discussed their musical tastes.
“I prefer to sing in Italian,” Allegra said. “The language flows so beautifully over the music.”
“I agree that it is very melodic, but I must confess that I prefer it when a song is in English so that everyone can understand it.” He glanced over at her as he walked. “I suspect having a mother who is Italian has influenced your preferences.”
“Do you not speak Italian, sir?” Allegra asked.
“I picked up a little during my travels in Europe, but I wouldn’t consider myself an expert.”
“Did you do the Grand Tour?”
“In a way.” His smile was self-deprecating. “I accompanied the highly excitable heir of a marquess on his, my lady. I suspect I enjoyed it far more than he did.”
“You were his tutor?”
“Yes, I was lucky enough to be offered that position by the marquess’s father—who also happens to be my father.”
Allegra stopped walking and looked up at him.
“Obviously, I am illegitimate. I’m the son of one of the housemaids, but my father did acknowledge me as his son, and he provided money for my education.”
“I suppose that was the least he could do,” Allegra commented. “Did you like him?”
“More than I liked my half-brother,” Postumus said with a wry smile. “Being forced into John’s company for almost two years was excruciatingly awful, especially as I was supposed to be exercising my authority over him.”
“I should imagine he didn’t like that at all.”
“He did not, but we made it back without too many incidents,” Postumus said.
“Although, as I mentioned, I don’t think it did much to help our relationship.
He always resented me. When our father died, he tried to prevent me receiving my inheritance, and when he didn’t succeed, he banished me from his house and lands. ”
“He sounds charming,” Allegra commented.
“He’s spoiled and self-centered like many young men of his class,” Postumus said as they continued walking. “Luckily, I am not financially dependent on him, and I steer clear of him as best I can.”
“Dorian said you are a scholar.” Allegra picked up her skirts to climb the steps into the rose garden her mother had lovingly planted and tended.
“Of mathematics.”
Allegra must have made a face, because Postumus chuckled.
“I’m terrible at figures,” Allegra admitted. “I do my own accounts and pay my own bills, but beyond that, I haven’t a clue.”
“I find it quite fascinating,” Postumus said. “But I am well aware that my interest is not shared by many, which is why I don’t talk about it very much.”
“Well, good for you,” Allegra said. “There are far too many people who are quite aware that their interests or hobbies are not interesting to the multitudes, and yet they still prose on about them at great length.”
Postumus chuckled. “I must say, Lady Allegra, that your honesty is quite refreshing. Dorian said you were an original, and I quite believe him.”
“I come from an opinionated family, sir. I have to hold my own, and you have certainly repaid my honesty with your own.”
“Your family certainly enjoy a good discussion.” He paused. “In truth, having never had a family of my own, I find it quite enchanting.”
“As you probably know, Mr. Cooper, my family has been the subject of much scrutiny, which has made us stick together as a united force.”
“As someone who has attracted a great deal of scrutiny of my own, I’m glad that you have each other.”
Allegra looked up at him. “Did you have no one to advocate for you?”
“Not really. I was fostered out to one of the farms until I reached the age of seven. Then I was sent to a remote boarding school willing to take the illegitimate son of a marquess. At eighteen, I was brought into my father’s service as his secretary—something his wife objected to most vociferously.
At twenty-five, I accompanied John on his Grand Tour, and then our father died, and I was summarily dismissed for thieving. ”
“Thieving?”
He shrugged. “As I mentioned, John didn’t like me, and he fabricated a charge accusing me of stealing items that our father had given me over the years. The case was never brought to court, but it left a stain on my reputation that has been very hard to shift.”
Allegra held his gaze. “I’m glad you have prospered despite everything that was done to you.”
He smiled down at her. “Thank you. So am I.”
She whistled for the dogs, who instantly appeared through the gap in the hedge and came into the rose garden. She bent to pat Pippin. “Good boys.”
“They are delightful little chaps, aren’t they?” Postumus petted Jester. “Very well behaved.”
“Pippin isn’t always so obedient,” Allegra said.
“The first time I met him, he was trapped in a bramble hedge. In his panic, he’d turned around so many times that he was well and truly stuck.
” For a moment, she was overwhelmed with memories of Max alternately complaining and helping her retrieve poor Pippin.
She hadn’t heard from him, and there had been no hint of scandal coming down from London in the papers or in correspondence.
It seemed highly likely that Max had negated the threat of Roberts and that they were both in the clear.
Perhaps it was time to forget him completely and move on with her life.
She straightened up and smiled brightly at Postumus, who was regarding her somewhat quizzically. “Shall we go in and have some tea? I don’t know about you, but I’m feeling decidedly peckish.”
“This property, Blanchard Hall, is one of our larger estates.” Stephen rolled out an impressive-looking map on the duke’s desk, and Max leaned in to take a closer look.
“It was once the family seat, but when your grandfather received the dukedom, it was deemed far too small and was vacated for the far grander property of what became Barfleur Park. It is currently let to tenants. There are several farms attached to the property, a village, a church and its living, a dairy, and a home farm,” Stephen continued, pointing out each item on the detailed map.
“I believe it extends to about seventy-five acres.”
“It was occupied when the family held the title of the Marquess of Blanchard,” the duke said from behind his desk. “Your courtesy title.”
“Which I never use,” Max murmured as he traced the boundaries of the estate.
“I am considering allowing you to manage it,” the duke said.
Max slowly looked up. “Me?”
His father held his gaze. “You did say that you wished to be more involved in the running of the estate. Or was that just a passing fancy?”
“No, I am very interested. I just didn’t expect—”
“To actually be asked to do something?” The duke gestured to Stephen, who withdrew from the room. “If you truly wish to learn, this would be an excellent opportunity for you.”
“Where is it?” Max asked.
“In Somerset, quite near the city of Bath.”
“It sounds delightful,” Max said. “When would you want me to start?”
“The tenants will vacate the premises next month. I suggest you consider visiting the estate after they have left.”
“Do you have a land agent there?”
“Yes, he sends me quarterly reports. Ask Stephen to provide them for you.” His father paused. “I want you to assess the needs of the estate and send me a list of what needs to be done. If I am in agreement with your claims, I will put forward the finance to restore the place.”
“For what purpose?”
The duke sat back. “For your future family home. At some point, I will find you a suitable bride. It’s important that her family know she will be living in a style that is appropriate for the wife of a future duke.”
Max met his father’s gaze. “I think I’d like to choose my own bride, thank you.”
“You will be consulted, but the final decision must be mine.”
“That’s rather high-handed of you.”
There was a knock on the door, and Stephen came back in. “I apologize for disturbing you, your grace, but your next appointment has arrived.”
“May I take this?” Max gestured at the map, and the duke nodded.
Max rolled it up and tied the ribbon around it before bowing to his father. “Thank you for this opportunity.”
His father nodded, his attention already on his next appointment. Max left the library and was just about to leave when his brother George came charging down the stairs toward him.
“Max!”
“What’s wrong?”
George was breathing heavily. “There are some terrible rumors circulating about you.”
“There always are,” Max said. “I usually pay them no heed.”
“No, this is bad. I thought Landon and Roberts were your friends?”
Max’s blood turned to ice. He had a terrible sensation that he knew exactly what Landon and Roberts were saying. “Where did you hear this rumor?”
“At our club. I’ve literally just come back.”
“Thank you.” Max patted his brother on the shoulder. “Please do your best to ensure that Father hears nothing of this.”
He left the house, went around to the stables to collect his phaeton, and drove straight off to White’s.
As soon as he entered the main hallway, all the conversations stopped, the whispering began, and he knew he was in deep trouble.
He pushed through the crowd and eventually tracked Landon down in one of the salons.
It wasn’t even lunchtime, and his ex-friend was obviously drunk.
“Ah, there he is!” Landon saluted him with his brandy glass. “The bridegroom himself.”
“What on earth are you talking about?” Max adopted a casual tone. “You’re drunk.”