Seasons Will Shift
The London weather had not improved: rain lashed the carriage window, the evening iron-grey sky oppressive with cloud.
Miles stretched out his booted feet.
It had been a wretched day at the office of his London man of affairs. Miles had not really known what he’d been looking for but there’d been no indication of anyone who might bear enough of a grudge to wish his demise, despite reviewing every document that he’d signed since becoming earl.
It had left him no wiser than before and he scowled.
At dawn, after that night with Verity in the conservatory, his boots had dragged like a soldier rising for the midnight watch. He’d told her of all the incidents and Webb, and although he’d endeavoured to downplay the threat, Verity’s concern was acute. As was his.
The carriage drew up outside his townhouse and Miles, with a glance up and down the street but without waiting for Lynch, alighted and took the front steps in two strides.
His butler opened the door before he could touch a hand to the knocker – the perks of being an earl – and Miles shook off his wet greatcoat.
“My lord,” Fairfax said in hushed tones, “Mr Firth is awaiting you in the drawing room.”
“Alasdair? I hope you hid the whisky.”
“The elder Mr Firth, my lord.”
“Jeremy?” Miles’ eyebrows rose. “That’s a first. Bring some repast then, will you? I’ll see what he wants.”
With a nod, his butler turned for the kitchens and Miles made for the drawing room.
A clock chimed a quarter to eight and he rolled his shoulders, entered to…
No one was there.
Frowning, he walked back out again, was about to call Fairfax when he noticed the door opposite was ajar.
His study door.
And a fleeting flicker of candlelight within.
With three silent steps and a soft touch, he pushed the door a little wider.
There, outlined by the light of a single candlestick, was his cousin Jeremy.
He was inspecting a quarter-decanter of brandy against the candle’s flame before he removed a small bottle from his jacket pocket.
With care, he flipped the lid, flicked five black drops into the decanter and then replaced the bottle to his pocket.
The decanter was then swirled back and forth, forth and back, the black liquid leeching to naught.
A heaviness settled within Miles, as though molten lead had been poured into his innards.
For Jeremy to have stolen into his study at this time of the eve, adding liquid to Miles’ decanters, led to a not-very-pleasant conclusion.
So he swung the door wide. “Jeremy?”
“Argh!” His cousin jumped like a raw recruit firing off his first musket.
Miles grimaced. “What are you doing in here?”
The elder Firth wore a debonair dark-green jacket along with an un-fussy cravat. He still held the decanter of brandy.
Would he offer a glass? Pretend innocence?
“I… I need…to ask…” Jeremy’s feet shuffled, slender fingers tugging at his cravat before he turned and reached for a brandy glass.
Gritting his teeth, Miles watched as he poured a half measure from the decanter and then…slugged the liquor in one.
Miles frowned. “What was in that?”
“Huh?”
“You added something? To the decanter.”
“Oh.” He grabbed the small bottle from his pocket and waggled it.
“Concentrated feverfew and some other herby stuff. Prevents the damn megrims. Tastes foul so I mix some brandy with it. There was none in the drawing room but Dair said you kept some in here and there’s not much left in this decanter.
It’s easier to mix, you see, and… T-that’s alright, isn’t it? ”
Considering his cousin had just quaffed the brandy himself, he could do naught but believe him but even so… “Of course. But what did you want? Has your mother sent you to petition for yet more stipend?”
“No… No.” Jeremy shoved a hand to his eyes and rubbed. “Gads, you must all think me pathetic. And I am, but…I was so ill as a child. All that coddling.”
Miles wouldn’t exactly call Aunt Mildred’s treatment coddling but… “Why don’t you sit?”
“No. Need to stand. Two feet.”
Miles required more light for this so crossed to the lone candlestick by the decanters, lit a spill and then the candelabra on the desk.
He also required a drink so returned to the decanters, snatched the bottle of wine from the back and poured a glass.
“What would you like to ask then?” And he perched on the desk.
His cousin commenced pacing.
As a rule, Jeremy walked with shoulders sloped but tonight he held them straight, and his rapid step might almost be labelled marching.
Miles sipped his excellent claret and waited.
“S-something has happened.” Jeremy paused. “Something of which I am at a loss.” He peered at Miles. “I need your support. I know I’ve never done anything to deserve it. Purely relied on your good nature but…” He put the glass to his lips, realised it was empty. “I’m relying on it again.”
By now, Miles was positively agog. “What is it, man?”
“Oh, g-gads.” Jeremy breathed so deep it was a wonder there was any air left in the study. “It’s like this… You see… I-I wish to marry.”
“Er…good? Miss Kane, I presume, whom your mother…tolerates.”
“No, no! She’s perfectly nice and all that but we have nothing in common.”
“Who then?”
“Miss Tait. I-I have fallen in love with Miss Juliet Tait.” A beatific smile crossed his features.
Even so, Miles was a little taken aback. “And Miss Tait…returns your sentiment?”
He nodded, blond curls bouncing. “We have everything in common. We talk about music and London. We both adore fashion and poetry.” Even in the candlelight, Miles could see the flush rising in his cousin’s cheeks.
“She listens to me, to my opinions. Not just politely but…she understands. And she laughs at my jokes, even the unfunny ones. And I…” He gulped.
“I adore her – her openness and laughter. She’s so much…
fun. Confident yet not overbearing. Assured but never unkind.
I’ve even told her about…” He chewed a lip.
Miles was agape. “Yes?”
“I’ve been writing some of my own musical compositions, you see, and she…she liked them.”
Miles needed to sit down and so promptly did so upon the leather chair while Jeremy wore a hole in his rug.
“When did all this…” Miles wafted a hand.
“At the Kingston Fair. Mama thought I was in that tent with the soiled doves for some reason, whatever they are.” He frowned.
“But I was with Juliet. I so enjoyed her company that I got a lad to buy her some flowers.” He looked rather sheepish.
“Then I persuaded Mother to attend that art exhibition, and Juliet and I walked the paths together. She’s so beautiful and proud of who she is and…
we can chat for hours and hours about everything and nothing. ”
Miles blinked. “Have you been calling upon her then?”
“Oh, yes. When Mama is at her whist afternoons. She loses quite a lot of coin, you know.”
No, Miles didn’t know.
“Your mother doesn’t approve of the Taits coming from trade, does she?”
“I know but I don’t bally well care. I love her.
” He thrust the curls from his eyes. “In fact, I love the whole family.” He began pacing once more.
“When I was young, I told my parents I wanted to be a composer, for I adored the violin but… Father laughed and…” He swallowed.
“Mother said it was vulgar. Gentlemen listen to music, not play. And then she shouted and shouted till I had a megrim and…” He shook his head.
“But when I…when I mentioned my love of music, the compositions I create, Juliet and Mrs Tait too, t-they thought it was…fascinating. T-that I was fascinating.”
Miles sat back. Good grief.
“But Mama wants me to marry Miss Kane. And I won’t.
For I love Juliet and she loves me. I’ve asked Juliet to marry me and she said yes.
” His fingers picked at the seam of his waistcoat.
“Juliet’s mother wanted some reassurances on my financial situation, but we all sat down and discussed matters.
” His head rose, eyes wide. “They discuss matters, you know. With no shouting or demanding. It’s…
it’s like a whole new world. But I need your h-help.
I know it’s not very manly of me to ask but I can’t do it alone. I-I can’t deal with Mother alone.”
Miles scrubbed a hand over his face. “I’m sorry, Jeremy.”
“Oh…” His lips and shoulders wilted. “You can’t help. I understand.”
“No. No, you do not understand.” Miles stood and crossed to place hands to his cousin’s shoulders.
Straightened them back up. “Of course I will help. In any way I can. What I’m sorry for is that you were the one who got left behind.
I hardly saw you as a child and we…forgot you.
I went to war. Dair went to the Continent and you were left here with Aunt Mildred.
When we came back, neither of us saw the true you. ”
He shook his head. “I don’t stand up for myself, I know that.
I c-couldn’t against Father – he was so much stronger than I.
And with Mother, it’s just easier to comply.
I was ill a lot, the headaches blinding me, and I could do nothing but sleep.
But these tinctures are working magic – I bought them at the fair, you know. ”
“Well…” Miles clapped him on the back. “I cannot pretend that explaining this to your mother will be pleasant.”
“I know. She’ll rant and shout before going deadly silent, but that is when you must be careful as then the scheming starts.
” His brow furrowed, candlelight reflecting in his blue eyes.
Once Miles would have said they were nothing like his brother’s but at this moment in time, they’d cooled to that same winter’s lake.
“She’ll ask me to wait, say it’s all in my loins, that Juliet is socially beneath me and I should give it time but…
” His jaw tightened. “I remember Dair being told to wait when he wished to marry the doctor’s daughter.
The arguments with Father…” He shuddered.
“Father insisted Dair embark upon the Grand Tour first and then if he still felt the same… But by the time he returned, she’d died of a fever. ”
“Dair has never recovered from that, has he?”
Jeremy shook his head. “No, he hasn’t. She came to the house once to see Father, after Dair had left.
It was raining and the girl was soaked to the skin.
I do not know what happened but she ran from the front door in tears.
I often wonder if that contributed to the fever.
I remember Dair returning, his face when he was told…
He spent the entire night at her grave, you know.
” A deep gulp. “So I’ll not wait for Juliet. ”
“I shall help all I can.”
“Oh, gads will you? I’d so appreciate it, Miles.” He beamed.
“We should also talk of finances.”
A blush stole over his cousin’s face. “Hmm, I’d be grateful as I still need to reassure Mrs Tait, you see.
We are to invest Juliet’s dowry but also…
There are my compositions.” He cleared his throat.
“Juliet…well, she gave me such encouragement that I-I approached a musical venue. And do you know, they purchased some. For a fair sum too. And they would like more.”
Miles thought the day could not have more surprises. “Bloody well done, Jeremy. Just let me know what you need and I’ll help all I can. In any way I can. And be there at your side, Cousin, when you talk with your mother.”
“Thank you. Thank you, Miles. It’s all I ask.” He wiped his brow. “Juliet… She sees something in me. She sees more. I know I can’t be like Dair, all suave and dashing. Or like you, brave and strong. But I-I think I could be someone. Just someone who is truly me.”
Miles clapped him on the back. “I think so too. And that is someone I will always be proud to call my cousin.”