“Father, might I have a word with you?” Percy asked standing at the study door.
“What could you possibly have to say to me, you traitor?” his father growled.
“We need to talk. We have family matters to discuss.”
“You are no longer a member of this family.”
“Father… I think what I have to tell you will cheer you up somewhat.”
His father gestured to the chair by his desk. “What?”
Percy sat. “I know you wanted me to marry Anna for her fortune. And I know you expected to clear all of your debts with her substantial dowry.”
“Why bring that failure up?”
“Because if I had done that, you would have used the money to pay off your debts, but you would not have done anything to secure the future of the dukedom. I know you.”
“What are you getting at?”
“Father, Harry increased Maria’s dowry substantially and, in addition, we are going to have a nice living from our management of Repington.”
“Huh. What is that to me?”
“I am prepared to give you the sum of seventy-five hundred pounds for the use of your estate. Part you may use to partially satisfy the creditors, and the rest I want you to use to create an income for the dukedom. Are you willing to accept that proviso?”
“And what exactly did you have in mind?” Arnold asked, his interest suddenly engaged.
“I want you to buy back part of the land you sold and use it to produce something of value. We need to build the estate back up.”
“Huh… What you are offering is a pittance of what is needed.”
“It is enough to get started. And with guidance and hard work I believe something worthwhile can be made of the land.”
“Guidance? And just where is this guidance to come from?”
“From Harry, Maria, and me.”
Epilogue
Three brides, three grooms, and nearly four hundred guests—thirty of whom were from Christopher’s family. Repington Hall and Creassey had never hosted so many souls before. Even though both houses had many bedrooms, they could not accommodate the entire guest list and local hotels, taverns, and guest homes had to take the overflow.
It was as splendid a late October autumn day as one could wish for. The sky was a brilliant, clear sapphire-blue with cotton ball clouds fluffing by. The leaves were changing color—particularly in the orchard where the crab apples were turning a burning red and orange. There was no breeze, so the gathering guests did not need to bundle up to stay warm.
Each bride was being dressed separately, surrounded by those closest to them. Only Anna and Dorothy were deprived of each other’s assistance as would have normally been the situation.
“I miss having my sister with me,” Dorothy sighed as Christopher’s mother fussed in Dorothy’s dressing room.
“Now, dear, you know she cannot be with you this morning. But you two will soon be walking down the aisle together. And who is to be giving you away? Poor darlings, with your father gone… no mother, and not a single brother or uncle. My… my… But I am here my dear. Oh, there is a spot on the dress. You had better let me take care of that. I always carry a small pot of baking soda with me for just such a situation.” And she scurried to the basin and poured herself some water.
* * *
Maria had her own room in Repington Hall now that she and Percy were to reside here from today on. She would have loved to have Anna with her as she prepared to put on her bridal gown, but, of course, Anna was busy with her own dressing. If she could not have Anna, she would have loved if Harry could be by her side, but that was totally inappropriate.
She had to make do with her personal maid and Aunt Agatha—her mother, being confined to her wheelchair, was waiting in the great hall where the ceremony was to take place.
“My dear, you need more color on your cheeks. You look like a starving waif from Indochina. When I was in Singapore…”
“Not another of your travel stories just now, dear Aunt.”
