Page 18 of Tempting the Earl

When he’d discovered his father’s crazed obsession to sire a host of illegitimate children as a means of exacting revenge against his wife’s faithlessness, Colin had had only one thought. To make things right.

While Colin had inherited a grand life full of privilege and luxury only because he’d been conceived within the bounds of a marriage that had fallen into ruin before he’d even been born, his siblings had been left to face the world with the stigma of illegitimacy while being denied the support of the Wright family wealth and influence.

The only way he knew to correct such horrendous inequity was to provide his brothers and sister with the means and resources they’d long been denied by their father.

Being the youngest and so the most recently conceived, Cailleach Claybourne had been the first child whose location had been confirmed by Nightshade. And while Colin had spent the last several months trying to reach out to Miss Morgan by letter to arrange a meeting, he’d also located—with Nightshade’s invaluable assistance—a brother currently living in Wales. Colin had sent a letter to the young man named Beynon Thomas, as well. Unfortunately, the response he’d received had not been favorable. In fact, it was nearly downright hostile.

Another brother was believed to have been born right here in London, albeit on the East End. Nightshade had been focusing a great deal of resources on trying to locate the current status of nineteen-year-old Max Owen, but so far, he had not been successful. All he’d uncovered to date was that Owen had been orphaned at a young age. He’d been jostled about from one temporary household to another before ending up in an orphanage which he willfully left a number of years ago. The only information Nightshade had uncovered about the boy’s whereabouts since then were based on vague references and wild speculation.

At least Caillie was here. Even if it was only for three months. It was a step in the right direction. There was an opportunity for something more long-standing to be established by the end of this visit, as long as Miss Morgan allowed it.

That woman confounded Colin.

He could see her motives were driven by love and a need to protect his young sister. But he worried the woman’s distrust of him might flow too deep to overcome. Considering his sister’s attachment to the woman who’d raised her, Colin suspected Ainsworth Morgan’s opinion of him mattered every bit as much as that of the girl.

He’d have to find a way to win the woman over.

Unfortunately, charm was not something he had in abundance.

But he did have patience. And a steadfast sort of focus that had gotten him through most of his life. Very simply...once he set his mind to something, he made sure to accomplish it. No matter how long it took or how much distress it might cause him. Colin’s endurance had been well honed.

The prior earl had been ruthlessly exacting in his expectations. For his wife, his son, his household, and everything that fell under his influence or attention. Coldly charming when he wanted something, the earl had flown into a hot rage if something hadn’t met his rigorous standards. His expectation for perfection and the strictest adherence to proper protocol had been enforced by his senior staff and maintained throughout every extension of the earl’s holdings.

When his father died of a sudden heart attack and Colin took his place as lord, Colin left no question that he would be doing things very differently than the prior earl.

After releasing a great deal of his father’s staff, he’d carefully hired replacements—people who would be receptive to his way of doing things. Then he’d refurbished a great many rooms in the London residence as well as the Wright family country seat. And most importantly, he’d begun a complete reformation of the policies his father had employed in regard to their tenant farms and other land holdings.

But he saw his attempts at making reparations to his siblings as the greatest correction to his father’s life of perfidy and vengeful self-indulgence. A process that was proving to be a very delicate and challenging one. Despite his intentions, he was simply at a loss on how best to establish a true connection with his father’s illegitimate offspring.

Colin checked his pocket watch as he descended to the main hall. It was still a few hours until dinner. Turning toward his personal study, he decided he should probably see to some of the recent reports he’d received from the steward managing his country estate in Hampshire.

He didn’t visit there often as it was where his father had most often resided. The old man had disdained London, which meant Colin had spent most of his time in town. Now that his father was gone, he hoped to take more trips to the country. Perhaps he’d arrange a visit for his guests. He easily imagined his sister running about with Bramble across the sweeping fields on a hike with Miss Morgan to the old ruins at the edge of the estate. He could already see the woman standing on top of the last remaining wall, the wind tugging dark auburn curls from her braid, her soft green gaze searching the horizon.

An attractive vision, but no doubt a misguided one. If he ever took Miss Morgan to the old ruins, she’d likely be far too tempted to give him a shove off the wall.

The acknowledgement was a cloud over his thoughts as he stepped into his study to find it already occupied.

The dark-haired gentleman standing at the fire, his elbow propped casually on the mantel as he warmed a brandy in his palm, turned at Colin’s entrance and flashed a slightly condescending smile. “Hello, Wright.”

Colin frowned. Leave it to Roderick to make his first visit to Wright House at the most perfectly irritating moment. “Who let you in?”

He did nothing to hide the curt tone of his voice, but his brother only grinned in response.

“Your faithful butler did his best to turn me away, but I can be rather persuasive.”

“I should’ve known you wouldn’t hold to your promise,” Colin noted as he strode to the sideboard to pour himself a brandy.

“Oh, but I am,” Roderick replied readily. “I promised not to force my presence on your guests before they’ve had a chance to acclimate to their temporary home.” He grinned. “I never said I wouldn’t force my presence on you.”

Colin turned with a frown. “How did you even know they were here?”

His brother shrugged. “I’ve had someone watching for their arrival. You didn’t think I’d leave this whole thing entirely in your hands? She’s my sister as much as yours.”

“I’m aware,” Colin muttered before taking a long swallow of his brandy.

“Things are going that well, eh?”

Ignoring the comment and Roderick’s irreverently arched brow, Colin took a seat in one of the chairs turned toward the fire.

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