Page 33 of A Brilliant Match
“He’ll do it. Just threaten that Lord Throckmorton will wonder quite vocally about town why Lady Isabelle Shaw is forced to live uncomfortably, when her son-in-law might easily welcome her into his home.”
Miles chuckled. Albert was excessively concerned about his image, and he most assuredly would not like that.
“Let’s go culp a few wafers. There’s nothing like shooting at something to lift your mood.”
“Or punching something.” Miles sent him a feeble grin. Rock didn’t usually fare well when they met at the boxing saloon.
“No, you may go punch someone else, thank you very much. Bring your pistols, and let’s go to Manton’s. Something will come to you that will pull you out of the River Tick. I am sure of it.”
Miles gave a grunt in reply. It was easier to go along with Rock than to explain that even if he could pull himself out of poverty, he wasn’t sure anything was going to pull him out of his lovelorn state.
It took another day before Miles had the fortitude to face anyone else. At last, he ventured out and went to Mary’s house, where the butler informed him his sister was out. However, he found his brother-in-law in an amiable mood when shown to the study.
“Miles.” Albert got up to shake his hand. “How goes your suit with Lady Dorothea?”
The question caught Miles entirely off guard, and he had the most unpleasant sensation of taking it like an arrow to the heart. He could only guess that Mary had shared her speculation regarding his courtship of Lady Dorothea, for Miles had said nothing to him on the matter other than to explain his request to borrow Albert’s carriage that one time. Mary had also witnessed him dancing with Lady Dorothea on two different occasions, and his sister’s penetrating eye missed nothing. He had not expected the rumor would reach his brother-in-law’s ears, however, much less have the man put the question to him in such a blunt way.
“I am afraid you must be misinformed. I am not pursuing Lady Dorothea. I believe she has her sights set on…”
He almost saidon someone higher than myself, but thought it unfair to present her in such a cold and calculating light. “On someone else,” he finished lamely.
Albert seemed to take this disappointment to heart. After a period of wondering, and exclaiming that he understood. and another spell in which he voiced his regret, he finally finished with, “Shame, shame. Here, have a seat. It has been an age since you’ve come to visit.”
His brother-in-law continued in this jovial tone, despite having learned of Miles’s failure in his pursuit of Lady Dorothea. As they’d never been particularly close, he was at pains to understand what had come over Albert. It could only have been some piece of good news unrelated to Miles’s worries.
“You seem to be in a good mood,” he said at last, taking a seat. “What’s toward?”
Albert sat and crossed one leg over the other, the picture of satisfaction.
“I have been asked to take a seat in The Commons, and I have enough support to believe I will win it. As this is a life’s ambition of mine, I cannot help but think it is owing to the connections I have fostered in Parliament—and to the advice I give, which several members have been at pains to follow.”
“I must offer you my congratulations. That is good news indeed.”
Miles let his brother-in-law fill him in on the circumstances of having his name proposed while he thought of how to shift the conversation to what he’d come to say. He feared it would not be easy.
When an opening came, he knew no other way than to come right to the point.
“I’m afraid my visit is not an idle one. I’ve come to tell you that I’ve suffered a misfortune on my estate.”
“A misfortune! Of what sort?” Albert looked wary as though he feared Miles was going to ask something of him, which of course he was.
“The roof—or at least a large part of the roof of my house has succumbed to the elements, and for the time being, I fear that the house is not quite inhabitable. At least, it is far from comfortable to live there. I have come to ask if you would have the goodness to welcome Lady Isabelle here in London until I sort the situation out and figure out how to rectify the problem.”
“You wish to rectify your estate’s problem, how?”
Leave it to Albert to ignore his question. “I am not sure as of yet. I am working on a solution. But I fear my mother—our mother, Mary’s and mine—is left quite uncomfortably situated. As I cannot host her myself, I have come to request that you allow her to live here until something can be sorted out.”
Albert frowned. “It is most regrettable, but the request comes at an unfortunate time. I must see to my election and can’t be distracted by domestic matters. Surely you must understand the importance of this period.”
“I fully understand you,” Miles said, attempting to keep all traces of sarcasm from his voice. He paused while he gathered his arguments.
“But how might it look to your constituents if they were to become aware that your own mother-in-law was living in dire straits while you do nothing to assist her? Do you think they would be eager to elect a man to care for his district when he has allowed such neglect in his own family?”
Miles’s voice held a hint of steel. He had come prepared. He had nothing against his brother-in-law, but he would do anything to protect his mother, and he knew his sister felt the same way.
“Are you threatening me?” Albert asked, his face growing red.
“Of course not, Albert. I wish you every success with your election. How could I not when my sister’s happiness is at stake?” he replied smoothly. “But others, such as my cousin Lord Throckmorton, will surely learn of the situation. He and our mutual friends are quite attached to Lady Isabelle, and I cannot be responsible for what public observations they might make.”
