Page 2 of Desperately Seeking Seduction

“Only that my valet fell a day out of London. I had to leave him behind to recover his health and composure.”

“I’ll loan you mine,” offered Nash, the second eldest, holding out his hand to shake.

“Not necessary. I found a replacement at the inn.” Stratford ignored the hand and embraced his brother. Nash, as usual, was stiff and unyielding and their embrace was awkward and brief. He didn’t know why he continued to hug his second-eldest brother. He’d simply always tried to breach his reserve, and usually failed to close the distance between them.

He turned his attention to Algernon, the eldest of them all, who had finally turned, and Stratford bowed deeply and theatrically to the new duke. “Your Grace. It is a pleasure to see you again.”

Ravenswood stepped close, looking down at him with a scowl from his greater height. “You’re not quite the last to arrive for the gathering,” Ravenswood chided, but then ruined the complaint by suddenly scuffing up Stratford’s hair, as he’d always done when Stratford was younger. He stepped back with a laugh before Stratford could attempt to retaliate. “You’ll need better wits about you today,” Ravenswood warned.

Stratford rushed to straighten his hair again, grinning and pleased that inheriting a lofty title of duke had not affected their bond yet. It was nice to be around family who cared about him. Algernon always had been his favorite brother. “Who are we waiting for?”

“You’ll see in due time. But first…” He gave a signal to his other brothers and as one, they closed and locked the study doors and windows, keeping everyone out. “Since you are the last brother to arrive, you are unfortunately the last to know.”

Stratford stilled. “Know what?”

Ravenswood threw his arms wide, clearly agitated. “That the estate is in a bloody shambles. Not a penny to spare anywhere!”

Nash hurried to their brother’s side and placed a restraining hand on the new duke’s chest before he could make a further loud outburst. “Calm yourself, Ravenswood.”

“I am trying,” the duke said through gritted teeth.

Stratford shook his head and looked about. Everything that he’d seen since his arrival was exactly the same as when their father had lived. “That’s not possible.”

“He wasted it all,” Ravenswood growled softly. “Bastard left me with empty accounts and a mountain of debt plus the inevitable embarrassment of trying to pay it back.”

Stratford glanced at his brothers, seeking their reactions. Neither looked shocked by the news now. Though they’d probably had time to calm themselves, unlike Stratford. He struggled to believe it. They had all believed the estate would go on as it always had, just with a kinder duke at the helm. The reading of the will had not alluded to any particular problems for the estate. But the running of the Ravenswood duchy was a costly enterprise.

And now there was no money to pay for anything.

Stratford glanced at Ravenswood again and feared for his favorite brother. “What will you do?”

Ravenswood exhaled loudly, and Nash moved away from the duke. “What I must before the news breaks and the laughter starts.”

Stratford’s eyes rounded, and he looked to the windows and imagined the awkwardness of meeting his entire family shortly, hiding the burden of a mountain of debt. “Does anyone suspect yet? The cousins and uncles and aunts beyond us four, I mean.”

“We sincerely hope they do not,” Jasper murmured, clapping a hand on Stratford’s shoulder.

Stratford took in his brothers’ worried faces and gulped. He was the youngest, but he was one of them. A Sweet. And loyal to his elder brothers and their ambitions. “Well, I’m not going to tell anyone.”

“We never imagined you would,” Nash murmured, coming up on his other side. “It is vital we all pretend everything is as expected for the duration of the family gathering and for as long as possible beyond.”

Stratford agreed. For years, they had all danced to their father’s tune, waiting for this moment to arrive when they would be free. Even though they were all the duke’s legitimate sons and heirs, other parts of the family had been treated far better. And to make matters worse, the late duke had encouraged that family friction and enjoyed their small squabbles. He’d had his favorites, and had always sided with them against his own grown sons. All in an effort to prove his power. To make them toe his line or risk being cast out of the will.

Those favored relations would enjoy their embarrassment when the news of the state of their financial affairs became known. Rub the loss in their noses. Ravenswood, particularly, would be placed in an awkward position. He had gained a title but an empty one.

He might be forever in debt.

Stratford had always believed that upon the duke’s death, things would improve with Algernon as the head of the family. That they would all have the upper hand for once and live peacefully. But they would likely only have more trouble than before with this development.

Stratford took in his eldest brother’s face and noticed the tightness of his jaw and high color upon his cheeks. Algernon was understandably humiliated by this turn of events.

Stratford gulped when Nash made an effort to check the duke’s heart by grabbing his wrist to feel for the pulse. Nash would have been an excellent physician in the family if father had let him go for a proper career. As it was, he had only studied in secret, practicing his doctoring on his brothers and their willing servants. He was utterly devoted to Algernon’s continued good health and happiness, wishing fervently that nothing stand in the way of their elder brother’s inheritance. Nash would be watching him very closely, now he was duke. They all would be.

“What can I do?” he whispered.

Nash nodded, leaving the duke be at last. “We have, Jasper and I, given over our entire fortunes to our eldest brother in an effort to keep the estate running smoothly, but even that is not going to be enough.”

Jasper and Nash stared at him, but Ravenswood glanced away, no doubt embarrassed by their generosity. Ravenswood had always helped them. Paying off any small debts incurred beyond their quarterly allowance from his own pocket so father might never know.