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Even Ada had managed to garner more respect from the Viscountess Sterling, and she had not been exactly welcoming after Ada’s scandalous elopement with Basil.

Of course at least half of that good luck was due to Basil’s insistence, if Ada was to be believed.

Regina couldn’t dare hope for the same support or consideration from her husband when this was the woman who had raised him.

She sank back down onto the settee, as her future took on an even grimmer cast. What would be the worst-case scenario now?

Her future husband seeing her as an object would be demeaning, but she knew how to cope with that well enough.

Could he be violent? If he was, what would her recourse be then?

Would there be a way to appease him or at the very least manipulate him into not harming her?

What if he forbade her from helping her mother and sister? What if all of this was for nothing?

“Regina?” Her father entered the room with her mother close behind.

“Is she gone?” she asked.

“Yes, priya,” her mother said sitting beside her. “I am proud you held your tongue.”

Regina nodded but didn’t dare to meet her eyes or speak.

“She is a horrible woman,” her father commented, throwing himself into a chair.

“We knew that already.”

“Madhavi,” there was a tinge of impatience in her father’s voice. “We knew she wouldn’t be ideal, but that piece of baggage is disgusting.”

“Perhaps if she can make her fiancé fall in love with her, then he can get rid of the mother.” Her mother leaned her head against her knuckle and sighed deeply.

If. Perhaps. A fool’s hope meant to comfort her.

“Choti rani, tomorrow we go to the gun shop.”

Her mother sat up, her head swinging back and forth between the two of them in shock. “The what? Why are you getting her one of those things?”

He gave her a grave look. “If her charms don’t work, then at least her aim will be true.”

*

Thornfield House, Mayfair, London

With his mother baying for his blood, Leo opted to drop in on Richard. His mother worried about him more often lately, and the consistency of it made him wonder if there was perhaps more to it than a mother hen clucking after her chick.

Richard’s parents had been dead for some time, leaving him to finish raising himself and his young sister far from any family that might have wished them well.

Indeed, with family like his Uncle Simon, Richard had little need for enemies.

He’d never mentioned his abduction the year before, but Leo knew it had left a mark.

It was nothing obvious of course, Richard was nothing if not an actor.

It was small things that only Leo or his mother would have noticed.

A slight pallor in his complexion. An unease in crowded outdoor spaces.

Before Richard was always out and about, now he was more than likely found at home unless he’d received an invitation.

And with Ada married away on her honeymoon with Basil, Richard was more isolated than ever, and his uncle still wasn’t fully dealt with.

So Leo tried to find time to check on Richard, even if it was reporting on his uncle, which more often than not was the same report.

Or going to see a play he knew he wouldn’t enjoy.

The fact that his mother was still cross with him was as good of an excuse as any to have dinner with his old friend and make sure he wasn’t left too much on his own.

Not that it was a great sacrifice. Richard’s cook was prodigiously blessed.

One thing he could always count on with the Thornfield’s cook was a well-seasoned, perfectly cooked meal.

Now he sat with him in the parlor in front of the fire lazily swirling brandy in one hand.

“Not that I’m opposed to the company, but to what do I owe this visit?” Richard asked, breaking the companionable silence.

“You make it sound as though I only come to see you on business.” Leo would never let Richard know he was there because he was worried about his mental state.

“Did I? You’ve tended to be busier of late. When I see you it’s either in passing or with an update about my uncle.”

“We went to the opera only the other day.” Leo glanced at his friend, and saw his eyes were closed, his head leaning back against the back rest.

“By my invitation,” Richard replied wryly.

“Oh, fine. My mother is cross with me.” It was a reason even if it wasn’t the only one, and he wasn’t above using his own temporary humiliation as a way to lift his friend’s spirits.

He smirked. “What did you do?”

“Why do you assume I did something?”

“Because your mother is a perfect angel.”

Typical. Richard never found an older woman he wouldn’t charm or champion. It was a standard practice established in his youth. The most frustrating thing was the way those women met his good-natured flattery with blushes and encouragement. “I beg to differ.”

“Your begging is your problem.”

Leo rolled his eyes. In his concern for Richard he’d forgotten one key detail; the man was infuriating whenever he was in high spirits.

He loved nothing better than teasing those around him to distraction.

At least he was still talking. “I had a bit of a run in with some people that made me late for dinner some nights ago. When I received some clarity about the reason for the delay, I didn’t inform her promptly. ”

Richard’s eyes opened and he turned his head to pin Leo with an annoyed glare. “Only you answer questions in a way that produces more. It is exhausting. If you don’t want to answer, you could have simply said as much.”

“After I received payment from a client, I realized I was being tailed. When I confronted them, they seemed only interested in my identity and informing me of an appointment with their employer. As a result, I was late to dinner.”

“And after the appointment you didn’t feel the need to tell your mother she had no reason to worry.”

“Yes.”

“So, I was correct?”

Leo glared at him in response. Richard was so charming and entertaining that it was easy to forget how fucking insufferable he was when he was smug. The only thing worse than his smugness was how good natured he was about the resulting ill humor he instilled in his victims.

“If I may, what was the appointment about?”

“I am apparently the heir to a barony,” Leo replied.

Richard’s eyebrows shot up before a slow smile crept its way across his face until his eyes were all but glinting with silent laughter.

“Don’t grin at me you bastard,” Leo grumbled.

“How very interesting.”

“If you don’t fix your face I’m leaving.”

“I’m sorry. I just…” he sighed and made a concerted effort not to let his obvious humor show. Somehow it made it worse. “I can imagine how delighted you were when you found out you were related to some rich white asshole.”

“I’d never been more insulted in my life.”

Richard’s resulting chuckle grew into a belly laugh that had him wiping the corners of his eyes.

“It’s not funny, Thornfield.”

“Oh, come now. It is at least moderately amusing.”

He rolled his eyes, but wry amusement tugged at the corner of his mouth. If the tables were turned, he would have been equally amused. He was man enough to admit that.

“Which relative inflicted this white man’s burden on you?”

“My great grandfather, apparently. This according to the old bat who fucking hunted me down to tell me.”

“Hunted? So, she sent people to track you down. Oh, this is getting even more interesting.”

“Mrs. Theodosia Burghley-Harrison, may she rest in peace soon.”

“Well, that’s not sporting Leo.”

“And then she sent proof to my mother because I wouldn’t take it.”

Richard nodded. “I like this woman.”

“You can have her. She’s obnoxious, pushy, rude and older than the fucking wheel.”

“She sounds delightful.”

“Now I can’t go home because my mother found out this nonsense before I could tell her.”

“Mmm…” Richard sat in silence, absently swirling the port in his glass for some time. “Are you truly not going to accept the title?”

“Why would I?”

“You mean beyond the obvious perfect revenge of inheriting the thing they tried to deny you due to their own stupidity?”

It was disturbing how similar that woman was to Richard. “You sound like her.”

“I like her more and more, but back to your question. This would be an unprecedented opportunity for you.”

“Which is more trouble than it is worth.”

“How so?”

“Why must I change who I am for some property and money? I have made a good life for myself. My father and grandfather made that possible, not those worthless shits. Why should I trade their legacy for a title? What makes a title worth more than their effort?”

Richard stared at him for a moment, his expression strangely serious. “I have an answer, but I can already see you won’t like it.”

“You mean the power and prestige?”

“For one thing.”

“You’re right, I won’t like it.”

Richard nodded, the ghost of a smile reforming on his face. “More brandy?”

“No, I must go home at some point. If she is going to throw things at me, I need to be quick on my feet.”

“Understood. Take the carriage.”

“I don’t—”

“For my sake, if not for your own comfort.”

He swallowed back the refusal on his tongue. It had never occurred to him that Richard’s unspoken fear now extended to him as well. It was also stupid to turn down a free ride when the alternative was to pay for one or walk clear across London. “Thank you. I’m not cross with you.”

“Of course you aren’t. I’m a delight.”

“Right.”

Leo watching his friend carefully. No matter his mental state, Richard never gave up that easily, unless it was part of a plan.

The fact that he was sitting there so calmly with that pleasant expression on his face was reason enough to have the hairs on the back of Leo’s neck at attention.

If he pushed, Richard would cave, but did he have the energy to deal with the consequences?

Probably not. He stood and began to leave, when Richard’s voice came again.