‘I should not advise any son to deceive his father, but in this case might I suggest that you do not reveal this conversation to Lord Knighton? You had best pretend that Springbourne is lost to you for five years,’ Gabriel said.
‘Yes. Yes of course. Thank you, my... Edenbridge.’ He set his jaw. ‘I was going to join the navy. Or I would have done if only I’d known where Ca... Anyway, I won’t need to now.’
‘Have that brandy.’ Gabriel stood up and poured three glasses. Had Caroline written to her brother yet? He waited until Anthony had taken a huge swallow of the spirit, choked, been thumped on the back by Louis and then settled down, rather red-eyed, but happier. ‘It is some time since I had the pleasure of speaking to your sister. I trust she is well.’
‘Er... Yes. Yes, she is quite safe.’ It seemed to occur to him that this was odd phrasing. ‘I mean, she is quite well. Resting, you know, somewhere...I mean elsewhere. Rather a trying Season, I believe, but she writes to me. I’ll tell her you were asking.’
‘You do that,’ Gabriel said with a smile. Just never apply for the diplomatic service or any occupation where you have to deviate from the truth, young man. You are the worst liar I have ever come across.
‘Where does your father think you are now?’
‘Staying with a school friend in Chelsea. Which I am, actually. I went home a few days ago, Papa told me about Springbourne and then I remembered Percy had invited me to stay with him, so I came down here.’
‘You’ll need some ready money if you are to enjoy London.’ Gabriel opened a drawer and peeled fifty pounds off a roll of banknotes. ‘Louis, enter that in the ledger as an advance to Mr Holm. Don’t go near women, cards, drinking dens or friendly older men who offer to show you a good time.’
‘No, sir! Thank you very much, my... Edenbridge.’ Anthony’s grin threatened to reach his ears. He got to his feet, only slightly unsteady, and bowed. ‘I’ll never forget this. Never.’
‘Was that wise?’ Louis enquired as the door shut behind young Mr Holm. ‘He’s off the leash in London, goodness knows what he will get up to.’
‘Speaking from experience, Louis?’
‘Certainly not.’
Gabriel grinned at the offended expression, but it was Anthony who gave him pause. His father had been reminded about Springbourne and that could be dangerous. Might it occur to him that Caroline had gone there? Gabriel doubted Lord Knighton had actually told Caroline about the loss of the estate—in fact, he seemed to recall her saying she had discovered its loss by overhearing him talking about it, so he might think she’d see it as a refuge.
He should write and warn her. Or go and see her? He really ought to inspect the estate after all. It wasn’t right to leave it entirely to agents, however reliable.
‘I’m going to Hertfordshire, look at this place for myself,’ he said abruptly.
‘Fine. I’ll pack.’ Louis got to his feet.
‘No need to trouble yourself.’ Gabriel said it with regret. It gave him unexpected pleasure that Louis wanted his company, but the last thing he needed was an encounter with Caroline with his little brother looking on. ‘I only want to familiarise myself with it. I’ll go first thing tomorrow and be back the day after.’ A brisk conversation with Caroline, just to put her on her guard, a rapid look at the place and then he would put up at the Red Lion in Hemel Hempstead for the night. All done and dusted.
Gabriel recalled the last glimpse he’d had of her, her bounty of blonde curls wrenched back into submission, her blue eyes wide with hurt behind those ridiculous spectacles, the shock on her face at his snubbing words. It had been for the best, of course. Women became...attached and she had no experience of men like him. She saw him as a rescuer, not as what he was, jaded and amoral and severely tempted to take what he should not.
She needed a nice young man, a countryman, perhaps the son of a local gentry family. She’d be safe with a man like that, someone straightforward who wouldn’t hurt her, who wouldn’t become bored with innocence and trust as he assuredly would. The ache in his chest at the thought was presumably his damnable new conscience again.
‘George and I were wondering,’ Louis began.
Words to put fear into any older brother. ‘Yes?’ Gabriel said warily, half his thoughts still on a suitable husband for Caroline.
‘Are you intending to get married? Because, he’s a good chap of course, but Ben’s in the army, which doesn’t seem very safe for the heir, and George really wants to be a bishop.’
‘I was not planning on needing an heir in the near future,’ Gabriel said, all his concentration jerked back to his brother. It was very unlike Louis to venture into such personal territory. ‘What on earth is this about, anyway?’
‘We wondered, that’s all. You taking an interest in the land now. And your three closest friends marrying. You are getting on, after all.’
‘I am twenty-nine,’ Gabriel snapped. ‘Hardly in my dotage.’
‘You ought to think about it,’ Louis persisted. ‘I’ve been reading up on marriage settlements and entails and all that recently, so I’m completely on top of the subject for when you need advice.’
‘Louis.’ His brother raised short-sighted green eyes and squinted at him. ‘Pay attention. I do not require lectures on marriage and the production of heirs from my spotty little brother.’ He got up and left the room, followed by Louis’s indignant protests.
‘I am not spotty!’
/>
‘Hampshire, my travelling carriage for eight tomorrow morning. Breakfast for seven and tell Corbridge I’ll not be needing him, just an overnight bag.’