Something Scandalous

“Can I help you with something?” he asked roughly.

Heat streaked across her cheeks. “I apologize. You look different this morning.”

A slow smile moved his sensual lips upward. “As did you last night.”

The heat on her cheeks burned her entire face. “I assume you found your bedchamber.”

“Indeed. Is this what you came to discover? That I found my room?”

“No. I wanted to speak with you about what you said last night.” She moved to take the seat in front of the desk when he remained quiet.

“You won’t change my mind.”

“But why?”

He let the quill drop from his hand, and it landed with a plop on the ledgers in front of him. “Why what?”

“Why would you wish to sell off what you can? Why would you leave the lands, the estates, the tenants, and the title?” The man had no idea of the history if he thought to leave without any consideration for the effects it might have on others.

“My reasons are not your concern.” He sipped his coffee slowly and then stared at her again.

“I see. You do realize that you cannot sell off three of the estates.”

His eyes narrowed. “So you informed me last night. I never understood this archaic idea that land can only go to the eldest male.”

“It’s actually quite simple,” she said. “The reason is so the land always stays in the family. A person cannot sell off everything, and leave nothing to his heir.”

“And yet, the only person of importance in this system is the eldest male. The rest are sent off with a small allowance.” Will reached for his coffee again.

“That hasn’t been a major concern as this family has never been blessed with an overabundance of males. The College of Heralds had to search back five generations to find your father’s connection to the family.”

“So I am able to sell off any property not entailed?”

“Yes,” she answered reluctantly.

“I see. This entailment was a method of protecting the family.”

Elizabeth smiled. He finally understood why it was so important to keep the family lands. Perhaps getting him to comprehend the important history of this family wouldn’t be so difficult after all. “Exactly,” she commented.

“And as long as I’m alive, I remain the duke.”

Elizabeth nodded. “Yes. And as long as your sons are born here or one of the English colonies, then the eldest living son would inherit upon your death.”

“And if my sons were born in America?”

A flicker of doubt fluttered through her. “Your eldest son would be considered an American. Therefore it has been determined that our cousin, Richard, would stand to inherit. Or of course, one of his children.”

“I see,” he said, th

en stared down at the paper in front of him. Slowly, he looked up at her. “What about you?”

“I beg your pardon?”

“What happens to you?”

Elizabeth chewed her lower lip. “It is not my welfare that concerns me.”

“Of course it is,” he said with a smile. “It’s only human nature to be worried about your personal welfare.”