Her Endearing Young Charms by Heidi Wessman Kneale

Author:Heidi Wessman Kneale
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: romance, fantasy, magic, historical, regency, charms, debutante
Publisher: Heidi Wessman Kneale

Chapter 10—Loss

Alexander's father slipped away in the still of the night. Such a peaceful death for one who had died by foul means.

Mrs Gregory, who discovered the passing, woke Alexander in the wee hours of the morning. “My Lord,” she said, and nothing more. He’d nodded in acknowledgement and took his time to dress. Today would not be a pleasant day, or an idle one. The coat he'd worn was a blue one. He couldn't recall if he'd left any other clothes here. Oh, why didn't he think to pack?

Time for such useless things later. For now, he had to go say his goodbyes.

Mrs Gregory laid Lord Rochester out nicely in bed, dressed in a clean nightshirt. A handkerchief lay across his eyes. “What's that for?” Alexander asked her. “Did he not have two pennies to his name?”

Mrs Gregory sniffed and stifled her nose with the cuff of her sleeve. Was it so terrible that such a great man must die penniless? A cold anger bubbled inside his heart. How could they have been brought so low? After fetching two coins from his room, he restored a bit more dignity to his father. The midwives—who handled death as well as birth—would soon be here. Alexander's presence would not be needed.

Instead, he retreated to his father's study—rather, his study now. His father's will had bestowed all upon him. His father had not had use of the study for some time. Dust lay everywhere. The empty grate had lain cold for too long. He hesitated for a moment. Should he have a fire lit, for he would be here for some time, or would it be inappropriate, given the mood of the house?

He lit a candle on his father's desk and proceeded to investigate the contents.

Not much of value, really, other than stationary and a stack of old correspondence. He'd get to that later, including all the unpaid bills that lay in the top drawer. That was a task best left ignored. If he had to figure out where to get money while dealing with his father's death, he might well have put his head down and cried like a girl.

His sisters would have to be told. He would write to them at school and urge them home immediately. The rest of the family would have to be notified as well. Close family friends, neighbours... the longer he thought about it the longer the list got. Oh dear.

He shook the task out of his head. One letter at a time.

His father had plenty of personal stationary. Also, there were good pens and a bottle of ink that had not mothered too much in the well. While he gathered his thoughts and fought his grief, Lord Alexander Rochester, the next Earl of Bromley drew black borders across the top of the stationary. This he did for every sheet. By the time he'd finished, the first sheet was dry.

Thus, he started his correspondence.

'Dear Camilla and Susannah, It is with great sorrow that I inform you of our father's passing.

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