Page 42 of A Viscount's Stolen Fortune

David retired from the room, his long strides eating up the ground. No doubt he would be by Lord Montague’s side in only a few moments.

Lord Wiltsham came over to them, putting one hand on each of their shoulders. A broad grin tugged at his lips, as though he were the one who had found his fortune again.

“You have given us all hope.” He patted Lord Foster’s arm. “I admit that I was lost in a great deal of doubt and uncertainty at one time, and did not believe that there would be even the smallest hope for us. But now I see that it can be done! It is possible to regain one’s fortune.”

“Yes, I believe that it is possible – for all of us.” Lord Foster looked back towards Alice, then let his gaze travel towards his friend again, smiling in a way that Alice had never seen before. It was as though he were free again, free to live as he pleased without any great cloud of doubt or misunderstanding hanging over his head. “I was right, was I not?” There was no boastfulness in his words, but rather a quiet confidence as he spoke to Lord Wiltsham. “We were cheated of our fortunes; they were not taken from us by our own actions. If I was cheated of mine, then you were most certainly cheated of yours. I must tell the others also, so that they can have the confidence to search for those responsible. There are more men than Lord Montague working in this scheme – and if our friends find them, then happiness such as this can be theirs also.” Lord Wiltsham nodded, but Alice noticed that there was no smile drawing itself across his lips any longer. Her heart ached for him. She could not imagine what it must be like to see a friend’s fortune restored and be glad of it, but at the same time struggle with one’s own circumstances which remained entirely the same. “And you shall not struggle any longer. I will rehire your servants. You will have your carriage and your horses and remain in London to live just as you please. I will give you everything that you need.”

Lord Wiltsham immediately shook his head.

“No, you cannot. You have your own fortune, and I shall regain mine in time.”

“Do you really think I would allow you to continue living in poverty whilst I am reveling in my good fortune?” Lord Foster’s voice was warm. “You have stood by me in this. You have been beside me and aided me in my search, and I must repay that. Consider it a loan if you must, but I will give you the money that you require to restore you to your previous situation. I am going to insist on this, Wiltsham. You can say nothing to dissuade me.”

Alice smiled softly as Lord Wiltsham’s head dropped forward. He did not look at either of them, but his shoulders were rounding in such a way that Alice knew he was battling with his emotions.

“I thank you.” His voice was thin. “I shall not refuse your offer. You cannot know how grateful I am to you, Foster. I will be able to hire a valet again!”

Lord Foster chuckled.

“But of course, old friend. We could not have your butler continuing to dress you now, could we?” Laughing, he slapped his friend’s shoulder again and then dropped his hand. “With David beside him, I highly doubt that Lord Montague will have any chance to deviate from what he has been directed to do.” Turning to Alice, he offered her his arm. “Com,e my dear Alice, let us go, so that you might see your betrothed’s fortune restored.” He leaned towards her, dropping his voice low. “And we shall have to talk about your endeavors this afternoon at another time, so that I might reprimand you for your determination and yet be glad of it at the same time.”

Laughing softly, Alice took his arm.

“You may do as you wish, my Lord,” she replied, a teasing note in her voice. “But I shall not regret my actions today. I cannot tell you how glad I am that all of this has come to pass, without difficulty or injury. Although,” she continued, dropping her voice low as Lord Wiltsham quickened his steps out of the room ahead of them. “You must know that I would have wed you whether or not you had your fortune. The only thing I wanted was for you to be kept quite safe from Lord Montague’s darkness.”

“I am well aware of that.” Stopping briefly, he dropped his head and brushed his lips over hers. “I count myself more blessed than any gentleman in England - not because I have regained my fortune, but because I have such a jewel as you by my side.”

His compliments made her cheeks burn, but her heart soar. She wanted to say more, but in the next moment, Lord Foster drew her from the room and they made their way outside. It was time for all things to be restored.

Chapter Thirteen

Finishing his final letter, William set down his quill with a sigh. He had written to the four other gentlemen who had returned to their estates, telling them all that had happened, in the hope that they would find some encouragement from his circumstances. There would be some, whether rightly or wrongly, who would blame themselves for what had happened. They would tell themselves repeatedly that it was now their burden to bear, given that it had been their foolish choices that had forced such a situation upon them. William was desirous to make certain that they did not continue to believe that, and instead see that there was hope. Hope that they could recover what was taken from them. It would take a great deal of effort and certainly a good deal of courage, given that there was no promise of success, but he had to show them that possibility. He had seen the change in Lord Wiltsham’s demeanor when the fellow had seen William’s success and wanted very much to offer that same encouragement to the rest of his friends.

He rose from his chair and went to ring the bell, smiling to himself at the indulgence of being able to do so, and in the confidence that the servant would soon appear to take his letters from him. It had only been for a short while that he had lived without such things, but to have them restored made him all the more grateful for what he now had.

A tap at the door indicated that a footman had arrived, and William called for him to enter before handing him the letters. The footman nodded.

“You have two invitations also, my Lord. I will bring them directly.”

William continued smiling to himself as the footman hurried from the room. It was amazing how quickly he had recovered himself, now that his fortune was once again his. Society, on the other hand, as Alice had predicted, had not been so easily forgiving, clearly wondering how William had managed to build his fortune again. They would not listen to his explanation. They had no eagerness to do so, for their only intention was to whisper about him and to come up with as many stories as they could. These two invitations would be solely to encourage his presence so that theton’s interest would be piqued.

William did not care. He did not require society’s blessing nor their approval. All that he needed was Alice, and her promise to commit herself to him for the rest of her days. The wedding could not come quickly enough.

Another tap came at the door, and William called for the footman to enter, expecting invitations. Instead, the man approached with a silver tray in his hand and a calling card upon it.

“My Lord, you have a visitor. The butler has placed him in the drawing room at present.”

Taking the card, William looked down at it, only for his brows to lift in astonishment and his heart to quicken. Why was it that Lord Blackford had come to call upon him? What could be the purpose of his visit? They had said nothing to each other since the night at the Vauxhall Gardens. Perhaps, in light of William’s restored fortune, he now came in an attempt to make amends. William bit his lip. Would he be willing to try and make amends for Alice’s sake? Rising to his feet, William gestured to his desk.

“I will return to this presently.”

The footman nodded, and William strode from the room. There was a great deal in his heart when it came to Lord Blackford. He did not much like the man, given how he had treated his eldest daughter, and had no willingness to engage him in conversation. Nor had he any urgency to let him explain himself. As far as William was concerned, anything he said about Alice would be nothing other than an excuse, and William was not inclined to listen to excuses.

“Lord Blackford.”

Sweeping into the drawing room, William did not so much as bow and Lord Blackford did not rise from his seat. Tension crackled, heating the air. Taking his seat, William sat near the edge, keeping his back straight. He did not want to give any appearance of weakness.

“I hear that you have regained your fortune.” Lord Blackford’s voice was quiet. “Is that so?”

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