A Promise of Tomorrow by Rowan McAllister Read Free Book Online Page B

Mr. Allen waiting outside their house, at which point his stomach flipped, his breath caught, and he named himselfa fool.
    WhenAllen spotted himin the pre-dawn light, he visibly started as well, thenseemed to collect himselfand bowed formallyinJames’s direction.
    “Good morning, my lord.” His voice still sounded weak and uncertain as James returned the bow with a nod, approaching the younger manslowly.
    “Good morning, Mr. Allen,” James replied. “What can I do for you this fine morning?” He hoped he sounded more composed than he felt.
    As the man was waiting outside their home when the sun had barely crested the horizon, James assumed his reasons were urgent enough that he would appreciate dispensing with the usual pleasantries.
    “Please, my lord, I, that is.”Allen took a breath. “Would it be possible to speak to Mr. Ashtonfor a moment, do youthink? I know it’s early for a call, but I only need a moment of his time, and then I willnot trouble anyofyoufurther.”
“I’m sorry, Mr. Allen, I fear my nephew will still be abed.
    Perhaps youcancallback later,”James answered honestly. “Oh. I….”Kyle seemed shaken but rallied once more. “I… w
would it be possible for you to give him a message for me? I would not impose on you like this, but I truly must speak with him as soon as possible.”
    “Certainly, if you wish, though I’msure he won’t be kept from receiving or returning letters should you choose to send one,” James suggested.
    “Thank you, my lord, but I fear I haven’t time for a letter, it’s just….” Allen stopped again, and when he didn’t continue, James decided to take pityonhim.
    “Very well. You may give me the message and I will be happy to see that Andrew receives it,” James offered with an encouraging smile.
    Allen, however, didn’t seemto know how to proceed, because he simply stared at James for a few moments before swallowing and lookingat his boots.
“Mr. Allen?”James coaxed.
    The young man took a deep breath and, with flaming cheeks, said, “I fear I didn’t realize, when we parted last night, that Andrew still had my purse in his keeping. I wouldn’t have troubled any of you like this, but I fear it was all I had, and I am in need of it at the moment.”
    “Ah, I see,” James responded. “Well, perhaps I can simplify the situationfor allofus. Ifyouwould tellme how muchAndrew was carryingfor you, I cansimplygive it to younow and have mynephew return it to me when he wakes. The purse itself can be sent to you whenyou’re settled. Would that be satisfactory?”
    James doubted the young man was lying about the money, but evenifhe were, he looked so miserable that James wouldn’t mind the loss of a small sum of money if it helped the poor man out and sent himonhis waybefore James did somethinghe’d regret.
    “Oh, thank you, my lord. That would be more than generous of you.” The look of gratitude in his eyes reaffirmed James’s conviction that this was the proper course, even ifit fueled a few less-than-noble thoughts inthe process.
“How muchwas he carryingfor you?”James prompted.
    “Six guineas, my lord. Thank you, my lord,”Allen said, looking embarrassed again.
“Very well,” James said as he pulled out his purse and handed over the coins. “There youare. That should take care ofit.”
The exchange of monies between himself and a strange young man on the street in front of his sister’s house might have set a few tongues wagging had it not been for the relative quiet of the early hour. James was thankful for the privacy, for both their sakes, but to be onthe safe side, it would be best ifhe ended their exchange now.
“Good day to you, Mr. Allen,” James said with a nod. But the young man’s flinch let himknow it had come out a little more harshly thanhe’d intended, so he added, “And please do find time to write to my nephew, when you can. He and my niece both seemed most anxious for your welfare and willworryiftheydo not hear