Duke of Decadence (Lords of Scandal 9)

Turning from the window, she began to dress, hurriedly pulling on her warmest wool gown as she pinned her hair back in a simple style.

There was no time to dally. Uncle Malcolm was the husband of her mother’s older sister. He was the great catch of the family, being titled and of the peerage. Her mother’s younger sister had married a laird.

Her mother and aunts were the daughters of a successful merchant. What they’d lacked in connections, they’d made up for in funds. Their grandfather had been rich beyond most men and he’d more or less bought into the elite.

Their uncle had received a sizable dowry for their aunt’s hand.

Of course, that money had long since disappeared. Everything Uncle Malcolm touched disappeared. Used to feed his own needs.

Dislike coursed through her as she stood from her dressing table. Uncle Malcolm wore a perpetual sneer and he talked as though the world owed him every courtesy.

Her father was also a merchant and so successful he’d bought their grandfather’s business. Her uncle had been outraged. A third of that should have belonged to the barony, he’d railed. It was the beginning of the end of the family’s relationship.

She made her way down the stairs to find all three of her sisters sitting with their uncle and cousin, Avery.

Avery gave her a wincing look as her father droned on. “I’ve spoken with the solicitor. You girls have not touched a shilling of the money in your mother’s inheritance. Or your father’s business. Why isn’t your father sending you any money? That means one of two things.”

No one asked what he referred to as she and Eliza exchanged a knowing glance.

“One, the house is loaded with other funds, so your father hasn’t needed to release any to you.” His hazel eyes lit as he looked about the room as though he might see coins he could pick out of the wallpaper. “Or, you’re lying, and you haven’t heard from him. Where is your aunt? You said she was here. Is she funding you? Is she out shopping again?”

Isabella inwardly winced. Their mother’s third sister lived in Scotland. She had barely responded to the girls’ missive that her sister had died. And she certainly hadn’t offered any help. Their mother had once told her daughters that her marriage to their father had saved her life and her heart. Isabella believed her. Both of her aunts were cold and hard. But that was beside the point currently.

Isabella and her sisters had lied to their uncle…again…and told him that Aunt Mildred had come to stay to avoid having to move in with him.

“Exactly.” Eliza gave their uncle a bright smile. “Shopping.”

They had to keep up this ruse otherwise it would feel as if they’d given up on their father. And if their uncle discovered the truth, he’d take over everything. The business, their mother’s money, their home. They’d be at his whim. And their parent’s money…it would suffer the same fate as their aunt’s dowry.

Even worse, they knew for certain he’d use them to collect even more funds for himself. He’d already hinted he wanted to match Eliza with an odious man, Mr. Taber, who made Isabella’s skin crawl. Likely Mr. Taber had offered a large sum for Eliza’s hand.

And they’d never see a penny of it.

He’d swindled their father once that they were aware of, stealing from the business through their former solicitor. Uncle Malcolm likely didn’t know that they knew. But it was one of the largest reasons their father had had to leave in the first place.

“How is it that I’ve come here five times and never once seen the old lass?” He gave them a hard look. “Are you girls lying to me? It’s not a situation you’ll want to find yourself in. Telling me lies. If you are you will pay—”

“Papa,” Avery started, raising her hand.

“Not now, Avery.” He bit out in a snarl and the girl dropped her hand and her chin.

Avery was as sweet as they came and rarely spoke out of turn. Isabella had often wondered how a man as cruel as her uncle had created such an offspring.

“We’ll have Aunt Mildred come see you,” Eliza volunteered with another large smile.

Isabella started. The woman was a country away and barely spoke to them. How were they going to do that?

“Good.” Uncle Malcolm’s lip curled. “I am looking forward to her visit. But know this. If she doesn’t arrive at my door in the next few days and confirm there has been some communication with your father, you girls are coming to live with me and then I will decide your future and the future of the business and of this house.” His gaze swept the room.

“But this is our home,” Emily cried, twisting her hands.

“And it will sell for a nice price. While it’s outdated, the neighborhood is excellent.” A satisfied smile touched his lips as he turned and began striding out of the room. “Come, Avery.”

Avery shot them a glance of sympathy as she hurried to follow her father.

The sisters sat in silence for some time, no one daring to speak. Because several key points had become apparent. One, they had no aunt to visit their uncle. Two, their fears were correct. He had every intention of dissolving their life and collecting the funds for himself. And three. Despite their best attempts, there was little they could do to stop him.

“Well.” Abigail finally looked at Eliza. “I hope you’ve got a plan for how we’re going to furnish an aunt in two days’ time.”