Page 88 of Master of Paradise
"And Philip?" he asked.
"He... he drinks, and Chetwynd encourageshim.
"Where is he?"
"In his room," she said, shamed.
Nicholas removed his overcoat and wentupstairs to his brother's chamber. He found him sprawled on thebed, unconscious and stinking. It took him a full fifteen minutesto revive him with slaps and shakes and finally cold water.
The slim young man blinked rapidly and saidthickly, "Nicko? Nicko? That you, old man?"
"Yes, it's me. Come on, let's get you on yourfeet."
"Knew you'd be back," Philip said withconviction.
Nicholas helped him to bathe and shave anddon fresh clothes. Then he rang for a servant and ordered a largepot of very strong coffee that Philip drank with shaking hands.
They talked for two hours. Philip told himhow Chetwynd had dismissed all the staff, both inside and out, andreplaced them with servants loyal only to himself. The arttreasures and paintings from the collections were gradually beingsold off, and when Philip and his mother had protested, Chetwyndbegan to abuse her. Philip didn't even get an allowance, but allthe liquor he desired was provided free.
"Philip, you cannot be stripped of yourinheritance; you are Lord Peacock. We'll go to London and hire ourown law firm. What Chetwynd has done is clearly illegal. Not onlywill we put an end to this theft, we will bring charges againsthim."
"That will take money, Nicko." Philip smiledweakly.
"I've got money."
"What about my mother? I can't leave herhere," Philip pleaded.
Nicholas went out onto the landing and calleddownstairs, "Pamela! Would you come up here, please?"
She came submissively and Nicholas mockedhimself for being a fool. He spoke briskly. "Philip and I are goingto London to engage a law firm to untangle the mess you created forhim. Your son is loathe to leave you behind to suffer theconsequences, so I am willing to also take you. Pack everything youneed. It will be many months before you will be able to returnhere."
His voice of authority was obeyed withoutquestion. In London, Nicholas took three rooms at Claridge's inBrook Street, ordered them dinner in their rooms. He left strictinstructions that upon no account were spirits to be served, andtook himself off to Temple Bar.
As he went over the directory, one name,Gardiner & Higgins, struck a dim chord in his memory. Hethought perhaps it was a firm his father had used.
Nicholas was shown in to Simon Gardiner'sprivate office lined with law books. He was greeted with a friendlywelcome.
"Well, Mr. Peacock, I expect you are hereabout your inheritance."
Nicholas was at a loss for a moment. "No,actually it's my brother who is Lord Peacock."
"Quite so, quite so, but I'm speaking of themoney your father put in trust for you until you reached yourmajority." Gardiner smiled.
Suddenly his father's last words came to himclearly: "Remember... Gardiner... Higgins... money."Hismind came back to the present in time to hear Gardiner say, "Heinvested the money when you were nineteen, so that makes a hundredthousand pounds invested for seven years at twenty percent isalmost four hundred thousand pounds," he said in a matter of factvoice.
"That's over a million dollars." Nicholas wasincredulous. "Well," he said, covering his shock, "you've done anexcellent job for me. Most commendable. Just carry on as you have,and in the meantime I wish to retain your services to straightenout my brother's inheritance. I don't care how much it takes; anyexpenses you incur can be deducted from my account.
Within two days, Nicholas learned that thePeacock inheritance was surrounded by misappropriation andlitigation and would take months to straighten out. He authorizedGardiner & Higgins to proceed and decided to take Philip backto Paradise. He'd use the voyage to wean him away from alcohol, andhoped it would restore his health.
Nicholas thought long and hard about takingPamela. He didn't want her, yet he thought perhaps he owed it tohis father to give his widow one more chance. As well, he didn'twish her in England where she could be involved in God knew whatwith Chetwynd, so when he explained the situation about thelitigation and extended an invitation, they both accepted withjoy.
Pamela put her hand on his arm. "You are verygenerous, Nicholas. I know I don't deserve this, but I swear you'llnever regret it."
As he looked at her, he realized theincredible irony of it all. That day he had thought himselfpenniless, so he had sailed to South Carolina and eventually withboth hands forged something fine for himself.Now I have Amandaand Paradise, to say nothing of my wealth. If I had known my fatherleft me money, I would probably never have gone to America. I thankthe Fates for taking a hand in my life.
Before they departed London, Nicholas went toa diamond merchant in prestigious Hatton Garden off Bond Street andbought Amanda a matching set of necklace, bracelet, andearrings.
The sea voyage, along with Nicholas's strictdiscipline, rid Philip of his craving for alcohol. The unhealthypallor was replaced with a tanned glow from wind and sun. Pamelatoo regained some of her former good looks, but kept quietly toherself for most of the trip.
