Chapter 17
SEVENTEEN
THE VISCOUNT SAYS HI
Ella
Baby Sebastian James Moncrief Durant, Viscount Ashlyn, was born at two in the morning, almost a week after my sister-in-law’s labour had started. The doctors had delayed proceedings for as long as possible, but he’d been determined to enter the world.
I’d fallen in love in a tiny heartbeat.
Now, a week after Christmas, my newborn nephew stared up at me with round eyes—the Fitzroy shade of blue and green. He made a perfect O with his mouth, yawned, and snuggled in his blanket, content and happy in his warm, safe world. I raised my phone and took yet another picture. I was obsessed.
Sebastian was getting used to breaking the heart of everyone who met him. My brother and Beth had brought him home two nights ago, and a new era reigned at Belvedere. A happy family lived here again.
I planned to do everything in my power to keep it that way.
With a couple of clicks, I sent the latest picture to Gordain with the caption “The viscount says hi.”
I stashed my phone, and my brother emerged from his bedroom door, his black hair chaotic and his face crinkled in sleep. I’d given him and Beth a chance to sleep in together by babysitting, though I hadn’t left their apartment.
“Do you remember Dad used to call you Ash?” I said quietly over the baby’s head. Viscount Ashlyn was another title James held, and it was traditionally used by his eldest son until he inherited his father’s earldom.
James rubbed his unshaven jaw. “I do. A lot of memories have resurfaced since Sebastian was born.”
He sat on the sofa next to me and reached out to take his son. My brother was a dad!
We managed the transfer carefully, the baby making a face at his father that had us both grinning.
“I wanted to talk to you about decorating your rooms again,” James said softly. “Make the space properly yours. How do you feel about it?”
Previously, I hadn’t been interested in the colour of my walls or what kind of flooring I walked on. It seemed a waste of money. Now… Things were different.
Not only had the baby transformed how Belvedere felt, but I wanted the roots. The connection to my family.
“I’d like that.” I smiled at my nephew though spoke to my brother. “I’d like that a lot.”
“Good. I’m inviting Gordain here in a couple of months. He’s going to help with the painting.”
I raised my gaze. My brother was giving me a look.
“About Gordain.” I chewed my lip, considering how to start this conversation. He was my brother’s best friend, and I had no idea if me dating him was going to cause a problem.
“Are you seeing one another?” James asked, his tone neutral.
“No. But I’d like it if we were.”
James frowned at his son. The baby’s eyelids drooped as he sank into a nap. “Am I a barrier between you?”
“I don’t think so. More that I’m too young and unreliable for him.” My tone came out glum, and a flash of pain crossed my heart. “Did he say something to you? How did you know there was something there?”
“He didn’t say anything. I haven’t seen him in a while. It was Beth who warned me last year. She said he watched you like I watched her and not to be surprised if the two of you were an item soon.”
“Do you mind?”
The corner of James’s mouth lifted. “Of course not. He’s the best man I know.”
“You don’t think he’s too good for me?”
James shuffled, threw an arm around me, and pulled me into a little family hug. My heart swelled, and it almost hurt how badly I needed this.
A decade of missing out on family warmth sunk in.
“No, Ella,” he said simply. “How can you ask that? You’re the best, too.”
And that was that.
Aweek later, I had my bags packed, ready to return to university. I still hadn’t heard anything from Gordain, but I wasn’t going to let that stay the case for long.
After hugging my family goodbye, I got on the road. This term was going to be different. For all the months I’d been in Manchester, I hadn’t achieved any of my learning goals. Now, like Gordain, I had my aim in mind. It was just going to take a little time and manoeuvring to get there.
My phone buzzed right as I was exiting the estate. I put my earpiece in.
“My Lady Elinor.” Howard Marks, my brother’s lawyer, came on the line.
This time, I didn’t object to the use of my title. It was mine. Why shouldn’t I use it?
“We’ve had an interesting development in your guardianship case,” he continued. “Your uncle has been in contact with my office today. Multiple times, in fact.”
Richard was back? I swallowed. “I thought he’d gone to ground.”
“So did we. But there’s a good reason for his reappearance.” Howard cleared his throat. “It seems the last payment due to him failed.”
“What does that mean?”
“Every month, as per the arrangements your father made, he receives a stipend for your care. This month, no payment was made. The coffers are dry.”
I gaped, then pulled my car over at the side of the road. “How is that possible?”
“We believe that over the years, the charges he has made on the accounts have been excessive.”
“He spent it all?”
“Every single penny.”
I hadn’t expected a fast resolution to the problem of my uncle retaining my guardianship, but with him going quiet, it had become less pressing. So much else had happened and, aside from that one email, I’d heard nothing. It had been easy to pretend he didn’t exist. “What did he say on the call?”
“He complained about the fees for your university tuition. He demanded it be refunded and your brother pay it instead.”
I shook my head. “Why go after such a small amount? It’s tens of thousands when he’s blown millions. How long would that last him?”
Howard harrumphed. “With his lifestyle, not long. Which means he may have found himself in dire straits. I feel obliged to warn you to be vigilant. He was unhappy about the development and even less happy that we refused the refund.”
“Don’t worry about me. Thank you for the warning.” I made my farewells, needing to immediately call James.
If Richard was going to tap anyone for money, it was him. I had nothing left. He’d taken every last penny.
If he came for me, it would only be blood I could give.
At university, I moved digs, swapping with Topaz’s roommate so I could change floors, in case Richard had my address. I spoke with the building’s security, feeling like a fraud for being alarmist.
Then, after two weeks with nothing happening, I finally relaxed, added to by the joy of learning Donovan had transferred to another course, telling Ivor ours wasn’t challenging enough for him.
Gordain finally replied to my messages, back in signal range for the first time and returning to Manchester in a few days. I told him that, to satisfy him, I’d go on one date with someone else. Just one. After that, he needed to either give me a list or a time limit.
I had my plans. Life was too short to wait.