Page 41 of The Unwanted Duchess

“So you are saying that you do not wish for the inheritance?”

“I wish that you had never done this. Your sons all hate each other; does that make you happy?”

“The fact that at least three of my sons dare to take what they want makes me very happy indeed. You, on the other hand, are utterly complacent and could not care less about my wishes. It is a shame, after all that I have done for you.”

“And what exactly have you done for me?”

“Graham, do you think that money and estates grow on trees? I built this life myself, and I made it, so we would be incredulously wealthy, even for a dukedom. I made everything perfect for you to build upon it, and instead, you have disappointed me.”

“There are no surprises there,” Graham sighed. “Father, I do not care for wealth. It is bad enough that you are forcing a title on me that I do not want. In all honesty, you choosing another brother for your estates is a gift. I want nothing more to do with this, am I clear?”

His father seemed to nod and then gestured for him to leave the room. Graham did not need to be told twice. In all honesty, he did not even require a single instruction. He was all too happy to leave his father there for the rest of his life and never see him again, which is exactly what happened.

It was strange knowing that he was finally gone, as it was something that Graham had secretly longed for all his life, but it was stranger to know that the last thing he had said to him was that he did not want his money and never would because not long after the funeral, the will was read.

Graham was certain that in spite of his father’s threats, Nicholas would be named the heir to the estates. William would be angry, but it would subside eventually as they all came to terms with the fact that Nicholas simply wanted it the most. He had earned it, and proved his right to it, and…

Graham had been given it all.

It should not have been a surprise, but Graham had already told them that he had no interest, thus showing his utter disinterest, and he had thought that would be enough. That was until he read the note from his father that accompanied the will.

My eldest son,

I appreciate your position in regard to our family’s wealth. You are the only one of my sons to tell me that you did not need it and that you have built a life for yourself outside of what I can offer you. I understand your position completely.

Regardless, it is all yours. I do not care whether or not you want it. In fact, it brings me joy knowing that all of my estates are in your name as you do not want them. Did you expect that you could simply renounce your responsibilities and keep the title? It is not that easy. You shall have to navigate your brothers’ fury because I have no part in it anymore. Frankly, it was rather tiring towards the end.

Good luck,

Your Father.

Graham read the note and then read it again to be sure. This had not been some gesture of goodwill or a gift to reward his work. This was one final attempt to make all of his sons hate each other, and the worst thing was that Graham knew that it would work. That did not make him want the estates any more.

“You must be proud of yourself,” Nicholas sneered. “After doing nothing and not having to try, once again you are given everything by default.”

“I can offer you one of the manor houses,” he sighed. “You can each have one if you wish.”

“How wonderful of you, but I do not need your pity. What I want is that which is rightfully mine.”

There would be no explaining it away nor handing away the estates. It was all or nothing to them, and so they would notwant bits and pieces. They were selfish and wanted everything for themselves, and so in that respect, the estates were better in Graham’s hands.

“What do you want from me, Nicholas? You know as well as I do that this was not our choice to make. I told him I did not want it. What more could I have done?”

“You could give it all to me.”

“And what of William and Andrew?”

“Who cares about them? You and I both know that I deserved this, and Father deciding to play favorites does not change that.”

“If it were playing favorites, he would have given them to you.”

“That does not signify.”

“Nor does the fact that you think this money is yours. It is not. It is mine whether you believe it to be fair or not. My apologies, Brother, but what is done is done.”

“Then I will not apologize for what I have to do in return.”

“And what is that?”

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