Henry cleared his throat and sipped the awful tea. “It seemed as though I was the only one who could see or hear her.”
His mother stared at him.
Henry decided he’d better say it all before his mother decided to send for a cart from Bedlam after all. “I believe she was cursing me again to ensure I lost my wager to Shrewsbury.”
“My dear boy, I don’t think you need a witch’s curse to lose a wager.”
“Ha ha, Mama. Very funny. But the curse was about my turning thirty, and the night I lost was my birthday. She said—as best I can remember…” He closed his eyes. “Something about a giant or a dragon.”
“Really, Henry.”
Henry waved a hand. “That’s not the important bit. The important bit was this.
“Give me my revenge; ease myplight.
These three lads have taken what’smine.
At the age of thirty, repay them inkind.
Pilfer, purloin, and pinch what it is they lovebest.
And then and only then will I find my eternalrest.”
He opened his eyes and found his mother staring at him. “You see? I couldn’t make that up. I don’t have the imagination.”
“Pilfer, purloin—” his mother began.
“Yes, and pinch what it is they love best. At the age of thirty. And that’s just what she’s done. She’s taken what I love best.”
“The town house?”
“The town house, the estate, everything I had. All my wealth was tied up in property, Mama. You know that. I’m now little more than a pauper.”
“Which means you have nothing more to gamble away.” She pointed at him. “Gambling, Henry, is what you love best. You sold enough of the land surrounding Carlisle Hall to finance your habit, to be sure.”
Henry sighed and took a seat again. “I know, and I’m done with that now. No more cards. No more dice. I’ve turned over a new leaf.”
“Oh, really?” The duchess narrowed her eyes. “I wager you a thousand pounds you sell your coach for ready blunt to wager in a friendly game or two or seven at the pub in the village.”
That was a wager he certainly couldn’t lose. Henry opened his mouth to agree then clamped his lips closed again. “That was a test.”
“You don’t want to take my wager?”
He did. He did very much, indeed. “Not in the least. It holds no interest at all for me.”
“I am very glad to hear it, even if I don’t believe it.” She sat back in her chair and looked at him long and hard. “I look at you, Henry, and I still see you as a toddler, hands reaching out to me so I might catch you as you teetered on legs like a newborn foal’s. I suppose even now I can’t let you fall. I’ll have my housekeeper prepare a room for you. You may stay here until you figure out what to do next.”
“Thank you, Mama. I will figure it out and make everything right. You’ll see.”
She snorted. “If you really believe that, you are suffering from delusions in addition to hallucinations. But we will work something out.” She rang for the housekeeper and gave her instructions while Henry finished the sandwiches.
“I met Shrewsbury’s daughter on my way here,” he said when the housekeeper had gone.
His mother’s brows rose. “Did you?”
“I did. For some reason, I had the impression she was a meek little mouse.”
“As did I the first time I met her shortly after she arrived. She seemed to tiptoe about the grounds, face covered with a dark veil.”
