Merely the Groom (Free Fellows League 2)

“Papa says you’re rich enough to cover all his chits with coin to spare.”

“Nobody’s that rich!” Ten-year-old Malcolm said in a weary voice wise beyond his years.

Colin bit back a smile. “Lady Grantham, may I present my other brother, Master Malcolm McElreath?”

She nodded, and Colin continued his introduction, “Malcolm, may I present my wife, Gillian, Lady Grantham?”

“How do you do, Lady Grantham?” Malcolm bowed politely.

“Very well, thank you,” Gillian replied.

“Are you rich enough to cover all of Papa’s chits?” Gregory persisted.

Gillian turned to Colin. “What are chits?”

“Gaming debts,” Colin answered.

“Doesn’t your papa have chits to cover?” Gregory asked.

Gillian shook her head. “My papa doesn’t gamble.”

Gregory’s eyes grew big as saucers. “At all?”

“No.”

“Then what does he do when he goes to his club?”

“My papa doesn’t belong to a club,” Gillian answered.

“How does he spend his time?” Malcolm asked.

“He goes to his office at Davies Silk and Linen Importers.”

Malcolm was shocked. “He’s in trade?”

“He’s a silk and linen merchant,” Gillian said. “He has a fleet of ships that sail the trade routes to China and the Orient, the East Indies, Africa, even the Americas.”

“I thought he was a baron,” Malcolm said.

“He is,” she replied.

“Then he cannot be a silk and linen merchant,” Malcolm recited. “Gentlemen do not engage in trade.”

“My father made his fortune as a merchant before he was granted the title of baron,” Gillian answered proudly. “He’s the first Baron Davies.”

“Oh.” Gregory gave a disdainful sniff. “Who made a merchant a baron?”

“The Prince Regent,” Colin said.

“Did he save Prinny’s life or something?” Gregory demanded.

“In a manner of speaking.” Colin’s reply was extremely diplomatic.

“How?”

“Baron Davies provided a service to his country by repaying a series of loans the Prince Regent owed to a foreign bank.”

Malcolm rolled his eyes skyward. “So her papa bought his title by paying off Prinny’s chits.”