Page 2 of An Enchanting Kiss (Captivating Kisses #5)

After walking for several blocks and having no clue where he was, he signaled a hansom cab driver and gave him Ousley’s address.

“I’ll get you there in no time, Major,” the man told him.

Rupert sat back, taking in all the sights until they pulled up in front of a building. When he tried to pay the driver, the man waved him off.

“My own boy is in uniform, Major. Left us a year ago. We are terribly proud of him. It’s the least I can do, giving you a ride.”

“Thank you, sir.”

He entered the building and went to the desk where a clerk sat, announcing, “I am Major Rupert Cummings. I wish to speak with Mr. Ousley at his earliest convenience.”

“Do you have an appointment, sir?”

“I do not. I am willing to wait for as long as it takes.”

“One moment, please.”

The clerk vanished and then returned in less than a minute, looking a bit sheepish.

“Mr. Ousley is most eager to meet with you, Major Cummings. If you will follow me.”

He was taken to a large office and recognized the solicitor, now a man in his late forties, with graying hair and wearing a dark gray suit. Ousley rose and greeted him.

“Ah, Major Cummings. What has it been—six—seven years?”

“Eight, actually, Mr. Ousley.”

“May I have my clerk bring you anything? Tea or coffee, perhaps?”

Though he was both hungry and thirsty, Rupert did not wish to delay matters. “None for me, thank you.”

The solicitor nodded brusquely to his clerk, who left them, closing the door behind him.

“Have a seat,” Ousley offered, and he took one in front of the desk as the solicitor sat behind it.

He removed his brother’s note from his pocket and set it on the desk. “Open it.”

The older man did so, shaking his head. “It is just like Lord Cressley. Not revealing a thing to you. Frankly, I am surprised you did as he asked with so little information provided to you.”

“I am walking into this situation blind, Mr. Ousley. In fact, I came to you simply because I haven’t a clue as to where my brother even lives.

You have to know that we have never been close.

Over the years, we have barely spoken to one another, much less been in one another’s presence for any length of time.

I suspect he is gravely ill, and that is why he has asked me to come home.

Do you know if he is dying? Am I to be named a guardian to his children? ”

“You are right about the dying, Major. Lord Cressley is grievously ill. Reaping what he has sown.”

Rupert thought the solicitor’s words cryptic, but did not interrupt.

“The viscount never wed,” Ousley explained. “I will be brutally honest with you, Major, and tell you that Lord Cressley has one of the worst reputations in all of Polite Society. He has always run with a fast group of friends. Gambling. Drinking. Wenching. This is common knowledge.”

He winced involuntarily. “You are telling me that I am his heir apparent.”

“That is correct,” the solicitor confirmed.

“Men such as Cressley eventually wed and produce an heir. In this case, it is too late for him to do so, which is why he has summoned you home.” The solicitor cleared his throat.

“Since you are the heir apparent, I am treating you accordingly now. I would like to give you a full accounting of the estate you will shortly inherit, as well as your other holdings.”

For the next hour, Ousley walked Rupert through the financial situation of the viscountcy. Besides Crestbrook, which was a profitable estate, his brother had investments in everything from coal to shipping to silk.

“You mentioned gambling,” he said when the solicitor finally came to a close. “How large are Cressley’s debts?”

“I cannot say for certain, Major. Those who hold his markers will come out of the woodwork upon Cressley’s death.

I will say that your brother’s reputation is one of a winner, however.

It seems he has won much more over the years than he ever lost. Even after you pay off any debts he may have, you will be in excellent financial shape. ”

Everything he had heard during this past hour had changed his life radically. Instead of helping to manage Crestbrook and his brother’s investments, along with seeing to the care and education of his nieces and nephews, Rupert would be the only Cummings left standing once Perceval passed.

“I suppose it is time I go to see Lord Cressley. Might you provide his address to me?”

Ousley did so and encouraged Rupert to let him know when the viscount was gone. Then, he said, “I am here for you, Major Cummings. That is, if you wish to retain my services. ”

“I will most certainly do so. You have been a faithful retainer to my family for years. I appreciate how you have looked after our interests, and I look forward to working closely with you in the future.”

He left the solicitor’s offices and hailed another hansom cab, giving the driver an address in Mayfair.

As they came closer to his final destination, he could see this area was most likely the most desirable in London.

His mind swirled at everything he had been told.

One thing Rupert was certain of, however, was that he would not squander his life the way his brother had.

He was obliged to wed and provide an heir and keep the family holdings secure for all future Viscount Cressleys.

When they arrived, he paid his driver and then approached the door to the large townhouse. Knocking briskly, he was faced with a footman who answered his knock.

“I am Major Cummings, here to see my brother. Lord Cressley,” he added, watching the footman’s eyes go wide.

“C-Come in, Major,” he said, clearly thrown by Rupert’s sudden appearance.

Rupert stepped inside, looking about the foyer, seeing nothing had changed. He had been a different man when he last set foot here.

The footman closed the door, still looking a bit flustered. “Please wait in the foyer a moment if you would, Major.”

He gazed about the foyer, seeing two beautiful paintings hanging on the wall. One was a landscape. The other was of a woman, richly dressed. He wondered if she might be his mother.

“All this will be mine,” he said in wonder, still finding it hard to comprehend how quickly things were changing in his life.

The footman appeared with an older man in tow, and he gave them his attention.

“Good day, Major. I am Bowers, Lord Cressley’s butler. His lordship is with his physician now. If you will accompany me to the drawing room, I will let Dr. Thayer know you are here and wish to speak with him.” The butler paused. “Will you be staying with us?”

“I will. Lord Cressley asked that I sell my commission and come to him. I assume with him being ill that he needs my assistance.”

A shadow crossed the butler’s face. “His lordship is gravely ill, Major. I will have a room made up for you. Now, if you would follow me.”

Rupert was taken to a drawing room. He wandered about it for a few minutes, taking in the furnishings, and then turning his gaze out the window, which overlooked the square the house sat upon.

Then he sensed a presence and glanced toward the door, seeing a thin, tall man entering. He moved toward him.

“I am Dr. Thayer, Major Cummings. Might we sit?”

“Of course.”

Once they were situated, the physician said, “Lord Cressley is suffering from venereal distemper.”

Immediately, he asked, “Is it the pox? Or the clap?” The two diseases ran rampant in London, which was why many titled gentlemen preferred taking one mistress rather than risking their health with infected partners.

Dr. Thayer frowned. “The pox, I am afraid. The clap would have been much easier to treat. His lordship had the typical signs of discomfort at the beginning. Pain during urination. A slight rash. Foolishly, he did not come to me and instead bought some pills and potions a friend of his recommended. There is a huge market for these so-called remedies.” Thayer snorted. “They do absolutely nothing.”

“By the time I was called in, Lord Cressley had begun suffering from high fevers and debilitating pain. He begged me for something to help ease his pain. After examining him, I realized what he suffered from and could offer him no hope of recovery.” The doctor paused.

“That is when he begged me for the mercury treatment.”

Rupert frowned. “I am unfamiliar with this. ”

“It simply does not work,” the physician said emphatically. “It is hogwash, and I refused to put Lord Cressley through it. He took it anyway, against my advice.”

“What does it involve?”

“The purpose is to stimulate the patient to salivate to excess, which supposedly rids the body of the impurities of the pox. The treatments can last for well over a month. Lord Cressley made it through three weeks and by the time he returned home, he was suffering from brutal side effects. Loss of a good number of his teeth. Painful mouth ulcers. Extreme fatigue and weight loss.”

“What is his prognosis?” Rupert asked.

“Death,” the physician said bluntly. “At any time now. His hair has fallen out. He suffers from constant fever and muscle aches. He is almost totally blind. His heart has been damaged beyond repair. Frankly, I am surprised Lord Cressley has managed to last as long as he has.”

Shock filled him, but he reined in his feelings. “Might I see him?” It was the last thing he wanted to do, but he felt he owed it to Perceval.

“Of course. I will go with you. The moment I heard you had returned home, I knew I must speak candidly with you so that you were to understand the severity of the situation.”

They left the drawing room and went down the corridor to its end, entering without knocking. The drapes were pulled, and the room was quite dark, save for a lone candle burning. A servant sat by the bed, and he rose as they entered.

“Damsley, this is Major Cummings, Lord Cressley’s brother,” Dr. Thayer said. He turned to Rupert. “Damsley is the viscount’s valet and most faithful attendant.”

“I do my best to keep Lord Cressley comfortable,” Damsley said.