Wonderful (Reluctant Brides Trilogy) by Cheryl Holt

Author:Cheryl Holt [Holt, Cheryl]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781483530130
Publisher: BookBaby
Published: 2014-06-23T14:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWELVE

“How was your journey?”

“Invigorating. Calming.”

“Good. You look better than you have in ages.”

Aaron stared at his father, wishing they were in the country at Sidwell Manor, but earlier in the summer, his father had come to town. He hadn’t left, which was exhausting and expensive. Lord Sidwell felt entitled to behave as most gentlemen of his station behaved. He gambled and caroused and bought costly horses, art, clothes, and jewelry he didn’t need.

He constantly chastised Lucas for his reckless fiscal habits, but Lord Sidwell wasn’t any different—especially with regard to his gambling—but the family couldn’t afford it. The Sidwell estate couldn’t afford it. Aaron couldn’t afford it. If his father dropped dead that instant, the debts would pass to Aaron.

In his own life, Fox Run was prosperous, and he was careful about his finances. As a boy, he’d had excellent tutors and had learned his lessons well. He didn’t throw his money away, and he’d drown himself in the ocean before he’d enter a gambling house.

Claudia had paid a substantial portion of the dowry to Lord Sidwell, and he’d squandered most of it. If he was still in town, he was likely borrowing against future monies Claudia was obligated to tender after the wedding. Every penny Lord Sidwell frittered away made it harder for Aaron to reach the resolution with Priscilla he was desperate to achieve.

They were in his father’s library, with guests about to arrive for supper. It was the first quiet moment they’d had since Aaron had returned to London.

“Have you been at Fox Run the whole time?” Lord Sidwell asked.

“Yes.”

“Getting the place ready for your bride, are you?”

“Not really. It’s in fine condition. It doesn’t need alterations.”

“Every bride makes changes.”

“I don’t want anything changed. I like it just how it is.”

“We can have this discussion again in a few months, and we’ll see how matters stand.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Wives generally get their way with household affairs. On the husband’s end, it’s typically not worth fussing over. I suggest you set up an account for her and tell her how much she can spend. Otherwise, she’ll bankrupt you before Christmas.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

Lord Sidwell was seated at his desk, Aaron in the chair across. They were having a brandy, trying to pretend the conversation wasn’t awkward and strained. Lord Sidwell was difficult to like, and Aaron didn’t like him very much—mostly because of his horrid reprimands of Lucas when they were children.

Aaron had been the perfect and adored son, while Lucas had been wild and unruly and constantly—viciously—punished. Aaron suffered great guilt over their disparate treatment, and his relationship with his brother was rocky because of it.

Still, Aaron was courteous and civil to Lord Sidwell. Their family was very small, without a hoard of aunties and uncles and just a scattering of distant cousins such as Gertrude and Iggy Bosworth. Mostly, it was Aaron, Lucas, and his father, and if Aaron didn’t have his father and his brother in his life, who would he have? Priscilla and Claudia?

“Have you heard from Lucas?” he asked his father.

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