The Rocky Mountain Heiress Collection (91 page)

“No,” she said softly. “But
you
have.”

Her admission took him aback, as did the lack of guile in her expression. When he looked into her eyes, he saw only fear. Her expression softened. “You always were the one who looked to the stars. Your father, he despaired of Martin’s place in the world, but you he never doubted.”

“He might have mentioned that, don’t you think? Perhaps one of those times he asked me to impersonate my brother. I grew used to the idea that Father thought there was only one of us,” Alex shot back, bitterness lacing his tone.

“Martin is the heir but you—” She paused. “You were always your father’s—”

“I am the spare. Leave me to it. I never wanted Martin’s place or his responsibility.” He took three steps toward the door, then thought better of his actions and turned around. “Forgive me.”

“There is nothing to forgive, darling. I know the responsibility for the family was not meant for your shoulders.” She clasped her hands, eyes downcast. “And yet it appears the Lord has chosen you for it all the same.”

That his mother mentioned the Almighty at all stunned Alex. While he could not look at the heavens and not think of their Maker, the countess had never professed such a belief.

“Alexander,” she said softly. “Your father is lost to the grave and Martin is lost to his nightmares. You’re all I have.” Her fingers strayed to his sleeve, but stopped shy of grasping his arm. Instead, her gaze captured his. “Please do not leave me penniless. I’ll accept any terms.”

How easy it would have been to turn and walk away, leaving his mother and, by default, Martin, to their own devices. But Alex knew his conscience would never allow it.

“Very well. I shall have Pembroke draw up something that bypasses Martin’s authority on any business transaction.” He offered his mother a curt bow. “Upon your signature, I shall do all in my power to keep this family from ruin. I only ask in return that you do the same for Martin and keep the seventh Earl of Fensworth safe in my absence. I can no longer fetch him from wherever he’s run if I am busy seeing to the family’s interests. I’m sure Pembroke can recommend a minder for him. Someone with the authority to see to Martin’s best interests and overrule any poor decisions he might make while I am away. Someone who will be kind even when Martin is not.”

Her nod was slow as a lone tear slid down her cheek. “As you wish,” she whispered.

“Fine.” He paused. “There are things I will need to attend to outside of London. Visiting the Leadville property is one of them. It may require my extended absence, but I give you my word I will return.”

She swiped at her damp cheek with her sleeve. “I see.”

“My departure will be rescheduled for after the funeral, of course.”

“Of course.” Her gaze fell to the carpet. “I am not heartless, Alex,” she said. “I hope someday you will forgive your father for his inability to show his love equally to his sons. Perhaps when you have sons of your own, you will understand.”

Several responses bit at his tongue, but out of respect, Alex spoke none of them aloud. He turned his back and walked out. At the first opportunity, he retrieved the letter and crumpled it in his hand. Whatever the elder Beck wished to say, it was far too late now.

Alex stepped outside to find his carriage waiting. “Heading to Greenwich now, sir? Shall I deliver you to the train station?” the driver asked as Alex tossed his satchel into the carriage and climbed in after it.

“Pembroke’s office.”

The driver tipped his cap. “Bond Street, then?” He reached for the reins.

At Alex’s nod, the carriage lurched into motion. And as they rolled out the gates, he couldn’t help looking back to see his mother watching from the first floor window. When she lifted her hand to press her palm against the pane, he turned away.

A short time later, he walked into Will Pembroke’s office unannounced, the solicitor’s assistant trailing in his wake. Pembroke waved away the harried help.

“Been expecting you.” Will set aside his work to give Alex his full attention. “My condolences on your father’s passing. I assume you wish to postpone our trip.”

“I’m afraid so. At least until certain arrangements can be made.” Alex repeated the substance of his conversation with his mother.

“I can have those papers drawn up immediately.”

Alex settled across from Will. “With the Leadville property disposed of, I can return to London without the burden of requiring a return visit. Correct?”

“Correct.” Pembroke leaned forward to rest his elbows on the desk, then steepled his hands. “And the other matter?” At Alex’s confused expression, Will said, “The heiress.”

“You know my feelings on that.”

Will bowed his head briefly as if contemplating something. “I do. However with this turn of events, there will be an even greater burden on the estate. Inheritance taxes and the like.”

“I hadn’t thought of that.” Alex let out a long breath. “How much will be needed to handle these costs?”

Will reached for a file and opened it. “I’ve been working on that, actually.”

“You’re fast,” Alex said with a lifted brow.

“Just thorough,” Will responded. “I would be remiss in my duties if I had not planned for this eventuality.”

The barrister read from the pages before him, and with each moment that passed, Alex’s hopes for covering the Hambly debts dimmed. He waved his hand.

“No need to go on. I get the idea. The Hamblys are well and truly penniless.”

“Not exactly penniless,” Will said gently. “There are certain assets of value.”

“Then get rid of them.”

Will shook his head. “Not all are so easily liquidated.”

“I understand the ancestral lands cannot be sold,” Alex said, “but surely other things can.”

“Yes, of course.” Will lifted a page from the file and slid it across the polished surface of his desk toward Alex. “As we’d already spoken of this option, I’ve taken the liberty of making a list. Some of the items, of course, will likely be exempt for sentimental reasons.”

Alex handed the paper back to Will. “Sell them all.”

“But you haven’t even looked at—”

“All,” he repeated firmly.

“But surely the countess will complain about losing some of her prize possessions. Why, the rubies were a gift from—”

“The countess will complain much louder should she be forced to spend an English winter without heat or endure a roof that leaks. Or, worse, being cast off on some of her lesser titled relatives abroad. Imagine her reaction to that.”

“Duly noted.” Will tucked the paper back into the file. “Now, as to the matter of a wife. Might I reopen the topic for just a moment?”

Alex removed his watch from his pocket and immediately thought of Charlotte Beck. He wrangled the image into submission and tossed it away. “You’ve got sixty seconds, friend, and not a second more.”

“I could proceed with expedience and an abundance of caution. No public announcements of our plans or adverts in
The Titled American
. And once a suitable wife is under the roof at the Heath, your
responsibility to the family is done. You can go back to your astral charts and telescopes without concern of any sort.”

“Except the sort that comes from marriage, be it for love or want of funds.”

Will gave him a stern look. “I demand extra time on the clock for your interruption.”

“No need. I’m taking the matter under advisement, though were I required to respond at this moment, the answer would still be a resounding no. Especially given the amount of funds available once those items are liquidated.” Alex slid the watch back into his pocket and regarded his old friend with gratitude. “What of the Leadville mine? Any closer to a sale?”

“Not yet, though I feel we have a strong position in the negotiations,” the solicitor said. “Things are being kept quiet, as speculators know the property values will increase once the observatory plans get out.”

Alex leaned forward and rested his palms on the table. “Then why sell to investors? Why not cut out the middleman and sell directly to the ones doing the building? Wouldn’t the profits be greater?”

“They would, but the certainty of having the land purchased would decrease. What if the builders go with another location? Or what if there is a delay in the plans to build the observatory? There would be little need to secure the land if there is doubt about whether the building will go forward.” He paused to shake his head. “My advice is to take what we can get now and be done with the property. To hold out ownership might cause you to be without any buyer at all,” Will said. “Though even if the sale goes through, what we gain will only provide for your family’s needs for the short term.”

“How short?”

“Depending on the cost of settling your father’s estate, you might be buying the family a decade of comfort. That is, if the countess cooperates and holds her spending to a minimum.”

“She won’t.”

Will leaned back in his chair. “In that case, I’d say you will be looking at an empty bank account in two years. Three, if the Lord works a miracle.”

“But if He works a miracle, my friend, I won’t need to worry at all, will I?”

Alex moved toward the door with the question hanging unanswered between them.

Long after the viscount left, Charlotte remained on the settee, the scent of burned ribbons still in the air. What was it about that man that attracted trouble?

Charlotte touched her lips. And what in the world had possessed her to kiss him?

Twice?

“A moment of temporary insanity,” she whispered. “Brought on by extreme upset.”

And likely to happen again, should she allow it.

Charlotte realized she needed to return to Colorado at once—both to right the wrong committed against her by a loving but misguided father
and
to keep her distance from the viscount.

Who would also be traveling to Colorado. Charlotte groaned.

But Colorado was a big state, and the odds of seeing Alex Hambly were small. While she would be in Denver or at her father’s ranch
outside Fort Collins, the viscount would be conducting his business in Leadville.

“Leadville.”

She released her grip on the ribbons as a thought took hold. If the Hambly family was sending a member of their own all the way to Leadville, this observatory must mean a transaction of some importance. What had Uncle Edwin said about the trouble between the Hamblys and the Becks? Something about a dispute regarding a place called Summit Hill.

A smile dawned as Charlotte recalled the reason. “The properties are side-by-side.”

Which meant, of course, that if Hambly property was considered a good spot for the observatory, there was nothing keeping Beck property from the same designation. Papa constantly threatened to sell the mines and be done with the trouble of the mining business, and unless she was mistaken, this particular piece of land—situated too far up Summit Hill for easy travel in most months—wasn’t profitable at all. Not like the other mines Papa had purchased.

She rose and kicked a cushion out of her way as she began to pace. What would Papa do given this kind of information? Likely he would contact Mr. Sanders, the Pinkerton agent who’d married dear Anna Finch from next door, to see what facts could be unearthed.

Then what?

Of course. Charlotte hurdled over the remaining pillows to make her way into the entrance hall.

“Gennie!” she called as she ran up the stairs. “Where are you? I’ve an urgent—”

“Charlotte, must you shout?” Gennie stepped from her chambers
into the upstairs hall. “It’s quite unbecoming.” Her eyes widened. “Is that smoke I smell? Is the house on fire?”

“I was, but only briefly, and the viscount …” Charlotte made a valiant attempt at not blushing. “Never mind. Everything’s fine. However, I need to return to Denver.” She paused to slow her racing heart. “Immediately.”

“Immediately?” Gennie gave her a confused look. “But we’ve plans that cannot be changed. The palace garden party is still a week away. And there are fittings and a very important—”

“You may stay,” Charlotte said. “I only wish to return home.” She paused. “To Papa.”

Gennie crossed her arms. “Whatever is the rush? You’ve had your heart set on attending Jubilee Week for ages. Now I’m to believe you’ve suddenly changed your mind?”

What to say?
Charlotte sorted through several possible responses. “Though I shall be terribly disappointed to miss seeing the queen and the empress, I wish to prove myself worthy to Papa and I cannot do that from London.”

“Go on,” Gennie urged as she leaned against the railing. “And tell me the whole truth, Charlotte.”

“The whole truth is …” Charlotte paused to gather her thoughts and, in the process, an idea of impossible brilliance occurred to her, “I wish to become full partners with Papa in the business and I must return to tell him immediately. And to earn the right.”