Anna smiled and returned to her crochet work. “I am delighted to hear that. Now, I feel certain Dorothy is anxiously awaiting your visit.”
Chapter 21
The Duke had come home the next morning from his disappointing meeting with Mr. Campbell in a foul mood. Arnold had stayed at the pub and drunk himself into a stupor. He had to be escorted out of the pub when it closed, and he wandered the streets until he remembered where he had quartered his horse. He had finally ridden home at dawn.
Back at the house, he was frustrated, he felt impotent, and he raged at what he perceived as a universe set against him. He fell asleep again at his desk and had finally awoken at mid-morning. He limped through the house to Percy’s rooms and threw open the door to find Percy lounging in a window seat reading.
“Damn you boy, why are you not out doing something useful? You should be visiting Miss Hoskins? You must strike while you can. Within days… hours… swarms of young men are going to swoop down and ply her with kind words, flattery, and sweep her off her feet with offers of marriage. And where will you be?—reading some damn trashy novel.”
Percy stood up from the window seat. “I know that Miss Anna already has feelings for me, so I feel confident she will respond. However, I also feel it would be insensitive of me to press my suit at this time, just a few days after her father’s death. Certainly, you can see that?”
Arnold was not satisfied with that answer and stepped toward his son. “I am not saying propose to her now but go over and show her your sympathy. Offer to console her. Do anything to keep you in her mind. You absolutely must marry this woman!”
“But I do not even know what the inheritance is. What if she is to be no better off than Maria? I do not thinksheeven knows at this point. These things take time. Her first concern is to hold a service for her father. Then there will no doubt be solicitors, and a will, and who knows how long any of that might take.”
“Then get yourself to London. Start looking for a bride there. How am I going to get it through your stupid, thick head that we are in a crisis here? The one opportunity I had has just fallen through, and I swear, unless you do something now, the creditors will swallow us alive before the autumn.”
Percy put his book aside and sighed. “Very well, I will go to see her this afternoon, but do not be surprised if instead of helping my cause, I hurt it by appearing to be too obviously a fortune hunter.”
“Good God, boy, do I have to tell you everything? Do not be obvious. Do not talk money. Show her your heartfelt sympathy and concern. Offer her soothing condolences and let her open her heart to you. After all, you know her to have feelings for you. She is still a vulnerable woman with desires. Work your way even deeper into her heart, and when the time comes, then strike. It cannot be more than a few weeks or a month, can it?”
Percy rubbed his face with both hands, obviously agitated. “Father, why can I not marry Maria—the woman I do care for? She can bring three thousand to the marriage, and the Earl has a successful growing business with his cattle. Might there not be more money coming later?”
“I told you we need twenty thousand. How can you be so stupid?” Arnold went over and struck Percy across the side of his head with his walking stick. “Do not defy me. Do as you are told, you ingrate—or you shall be out of here on your ear and will be banished from this family forever.”
Percy was crouching on the floor, his hand to the side of his head, his ear swelling from the blow.
“I want a report this evening on your successful meeting with Anna Hoskins or tomorrow off you go to London. Do I make myself clear?”
“Yes, Father,” Percy replied, feeling damaged.
* * *
It was a battle every day for Harry. The cattle occupied most of his time, but he also needed to confer with Maria about the running of the estate. He had local responsibilities as the Earl of Creassey, and his mind was occupied even more these days with his concern for Anna, knowing the grief she was going through—not to mention conjecturing that she would probably be marrying one day soon, now that she was wealthy and no longer under her father’s supervision.
Sometimes it was just too much stress and those were the times when he would take his rod and hide away to fish. The quiet murmur of the river soothed him. The patience required to land a fish steadied him, and the thrill of striking a catch always thrilled him.
He only told Maria he was taking time off, as he did not want to be found. He knew she respected his need to get away and would await his return if anything came up that required his attention.
Of course, as Percy and he fished so often together, he was not surprised to see Percy riding up just as he cast into a sweet spot where he might expect a good solid strike.
“Percy, old friend… you coming to fish?”
Percy said something indistinguishable as he pulled up his horse and teetered before dismounting.
Harry did a double take. “Are you all right, old friend?” he asked as he cast again. But as Percy walked toward him, Harry could see that somethingwaswrong. His friend was holding his hand to the side of his head and he staggered as he walked.
Harry put his rod down and went over and took hold of Percy’s shoulders. He reeked of alcohol and the side of his face was covered with a red welt.
“What happened?” Harry asked, suddenly upset. “Have you been drinking?”
“Far too much. Father… the son of a bitch…”
“He hit you?”
“With his walking stick.”
“Why?” Harry led Percy to a nearby log where he made him sit and Harry kneeled down in front of him as he rubbed Percy’s shoulder.
