Page 12 of Entertaining the Earl (Vows in Vauxhall Gardens #2)

“A h, it’s a pleasure to see you, Lord Bourne,” Colin’s lawyer said when Colin eventually arrived at his office. He was a small man with a powdered wig and eyes that looked a little too small for his face. Colin had never met him before, though they had exchanged letters.

“Thank you for seeing me, Mr. Linden,” Colin said as the little man bustled about. He really did not want to be there, but that was no excuse to be anything less than polite. It wasn’t Mr. Linden’s fault, after all, that his father had made such a mess of the estate.

“Please, take a seat. I have all the paperwork ready for us to look at. Can I get you something to drink? Tea? Something a little stronger?”

“It’s a little early in the day for me,” Colin said, as it was not even noon. “But I’ll take some tea, thank you.”

The desk was covered in pieces of parchment, and Colin took a deep breath before sitting down. He found it hard to face anything that reminded him of how his father had treated his mother, of how brokenhearted she had been, and of how things had never been put right between them before her death.

He understood that many husbands, especially those in the upper classes, were not faithful to their wives…

but his father could have been a little less prolific—or more discreet, in any case.

His mother shouldn’t have needed to be so aware of hi s behavior, to hear the gossip, as Colin was sure she had.

“Now,” Mr. Linden said, rubbing his hands together before sitting down, “since you have been away for so long, there is quite a lot I need to get you up to speed on. The estate still has a decent fortune, and old Mr. Wicks—may he rest in peace—kept things running very smoothly. I have not met the new man—”

“Mr. Steadman,” Colin supplied. “I have not met him either. I gather he is eager, but young and inexperienced.”

“And I presume you intend to return to your estate once the Season is over?”

Colin nodded. He didn’t particularly wish to return to the house that was full of his childhood memories, but he knew that he had to.

“That is my intention, yes. But I want to make sure everything is in order. So please, Mr. Linden, tell me what the most pressing concerns are.”

Mr. Linden proceeded to give him a thorough rundown of every single property that his father had allowed a mistress to use, and every single piece of jewelry that had left the family coffers to adorn the necks of his ladies.

“The only jewels left are those your mother bequeathed to you, presumably for your future wife: a wedding ring, a ruby brooch, and a diamond necklace. I do not think any are worth great sums, although there is no need for you to sell them. But should you wish to replenish the family jewels—perhaps before taking a wife—I thought you ought to be aware of the situation.”

Colin nodded curtly. It was one thing to have known of his father’s behavior, but another altogether to be discussing the particulars of it in broad daylight with his lawyer.

“And the estate can continue to support all of these outgoings without bankrupting it?”

Mr. Linden nodded. “Yes, for the time being. For your lifetime, in fact. But the problem will arise, and indeed has arisen, when the occupants of the houses pass on. If their children or other relatives then decide that they ought to live there, even though the houses are still owned by the Bourne estate—well, it can become quite complicated.”

“I see. So some of these ladies have already…passed on?”

Mr. Linden referred to his notes. “Three have, my lord. One handed the estate back before her death so that there could be no confusion. But the other two have children or relatives living in the homes even now that they are gone. They pay no rent, and my concern is that this could become a burden that not only follows you for your entire life but also your children and your children’s children.

I fear some formal documentation must be drawn up to outline how far the gift your father gave will continue. ”

“That seems sensible,” Colin said, not wishing for any children he might have to be burdened because of the sins of their grandfather.

At the same time, he did not wish to see anyone on the streets; he was well aware that his father had been a rich and powerful man, and the women who had fallen into bed with him were not necessarily doing so to be cruel to his mother.

But he also would not see his estate suffer or money frittered away because of his father’s poor decisions that could be put to better use.

He left the lawyer’s office after almost two hours, feeling like he at least knew the state of his finances, even if it was all rather messy.

So many homes were occupied by women he’d never met, and never had or would have any wish to meet.

He was happy to leave the paperwork in his lawyer’s hands, but he knew he couldn’t keep his head in the sand now that he was home.

It was his responsibility to make sure the estate could support those it needed to, and that it was in good shape to pass down to his heir one day—and he wasn’t going to abandon his responsibilities any longer.

Perhaps waiting until the end of the Season to return to his estate was too long, he thought as he wandered back to the Lyttletons’ townhouse. He was enjoying the Season, and attending events with Miss Lyttleton, far more than he had expected—but was he simply putting off his obligations?