Chapter One
“It is as bad as we feared, my Lord.” Upon hearing those words, Benjamin Harwood, Earl of Wiltsham, rubbed one hand across his eyes, trying to push aside the worry which had been his constant companion these last few weeks. “Come next month, you shall have very little coin with which to pay your staff. You can retain them for another six weeks at the very most, I should imagine.”
“Thank you. I appreciate your brutal honesty.” Benjamin looked up and gave a small smile to his man of business. “I do not think that I would have been able to see matters so clearly if it had not been for your hard work.”
“And as I come to that…” Mr. Crawley looked away. “I do not think that you can employ me for much longer either. You will have to make a great many changes when it comes to your way of living, my Lord. Perhaps it is time that I seek out another employer.”
Benjamin scowled.
“I am determined to employ you for as long as it is possible. I have found my valet new employment rather than lose you. These last few weeks I have only managed to keep myself afloat because of your work!”
“Might I ask?” Again, Mr. Crawley’s gaze darted away as he rubbed his hands together. There was a seriousness in this discussion that could not be escaped. Benjamin nodded, and Crawley went on. “I want to ask what your intentions are, my Lord. Do you intend to remain at your estate? Or have you any thought about returning to London?”
A cold sensation ran over Benjamin's frame, and he shivered.
“I have very little intention of returning to London. If I can, I shall remain here and make as many economies as I can – and am I not saving expense if I remain here rather than take the carriage to London? An Earl can hardly be seen in London without his carriage!”
A carriage which I can ill afford at present.
A flicker of a smile caught the man’s lips.
“Yes, my Lord, you are. I ask only because I have heard from a friend back in London, who states that your acquaintance, Lord Foster, is well on his way to recovering his fortune. He has a great deal of hope, I believe.”
Benjamin’s breath caught in his chest as he stared at Mr. Crawley. He had not heard from Lord Foster in some days, but could it truly be that the man was soon to regain his fortune? He knew that Lord Foster had been absolutely determined to do so, but if he was close to succeeding, then that gave Benjamin a little hope as regarded his own circumstances.
“Are you sure?”
“I can assure you it is quite true. You know that I am not a man inclined towards gossip. I tell you this so that you might find a little encouragement.”
“I am glad to hear of it, for such news may change things a little,” Benjamin mused. “I shall write to Lord Foster this very afternoon so that I can hear from him what steps he has taken thus far.”
“Then you may return to London after all?”
“I may. I am certain that thetonwould not be glad of my return, however. I am quite sure that there are more than a few rumors flying about me.”
His wry smile was met with silence from Mr. Crawley, which caused Benjamin to wince. Evidently that was true.
“If I may be clear, my Lord, returning to London to seek to regain your fortune is the only way that you can ever return to your previous way of living. As it stands at present, you are a most impoverished gentleman and that will bring with it a great many difficulties.”
“Yes, I am well aware of that.” So saying, Benjamin pinched the bridge of his nose. “I shall write to Lord Foster this afternoon and I will keep you informed as to whether or not I plan to return to London.”
His man of business rose to his feet.
“I am very sorry, my Lord, for all that you have struggled with these last few weeks. The situation itself sounds greatly disturbing.”
“I thank you. It is a relief to be believed, at least. I know that you are doing everything you can to aid me with my situation of poverty, as it stands thus far.”
“A situation which we must hope we can change, my Lord.”
And with that, Mr. Crawley took his leave and Benjamin sat entirely alone, as he had been for so long. Leaning forward, he rested his elbows on his knees and dropped his head into his hands for a moment, struggling not to give in to despair. It had long threatened him, but as yet he was doing a somewhat acceptable job of managing to ignore its lingering presence.
He reached to ring the bell, in the hope of asking his butler or one of the maids for something a little stronger to drink, only to recall that he had no whisky nor brandy left in the house. He had already been forced to make careful decisions as regarded his present circumstances. An impoverished gentleman could not have such things as the very best brandy and thus he had been forced to economize. It had brought him great pain, of course, but what was to be done? As things stood, his situation was very difficult indeed, and he was close to giving up all hope.
Rising from his chair, he wandered to the window and looked out upon his estate. Was he truly to be the one who would ruin his family situation entirely? Was his name to bear the disgrace of their poverty for generations to come? At times, he wanted to weep over what had occurred, only to remind himself that he had not caused it deliberately. If it was as Lord Foster stated, then it appeared that he had not been responsible for his actions that fateful evening. Not that thetonwould believe it, however, and their opinion would mean that life in London would be rather difficult indeed.
But I must, I shall go.
Speaking determinedly to himself, Benjamin allowed himself a little sense of hope. Mayhap if Lord Foster was able to recover his fortune, then did not that give him a chance to do the same? Out of the six gentlemen who had been injured that evening, Lord Foster had been the most determined to recover everything and to understand what had taken place.
