Jade Lee - [Bridal Favors 03] by What the Bride Wore Read Free Book Online Page A

glance upward. “But if you will forgive me a moment, I really must check a few things.”
    Grant had no choice but to agree. So he waited in a pretense of patience as Lawton tried to make small talk.
    “Have to say, I was surprised to get your note. Haven’t heard a whisper from you in five years. Your brother said he hadn’t heard either.”
    Grant just nodded. His brother, Will, was steward of the Crowley land. Always had been, practically from when the boy’d been in leading strings. Best damn steward in England, and it had hurt to watch the man work for Lawton these last five years. Grant couldn’t wait to tell his little brother that they could finally work together, just as it ought to be. Crowles running Crowle land, making the most of their heritage as had been for centuries. Assuming one ignored the rather ignoble last five years. Fortunately, that was all at an end now.
    And on that thought, the solicitor finally stopped tabulating. The total was at the bottom of the page. Exactly right, he noted with pleasure. And exactly the amount needed to buy back the land.
    “I’m so sorry, Lord Crowle,” Mr. Rigby said. “But there is not enough. Not enough by far.”
    Grant bolted upright in his seat. “The devil you say! That is absolutely everything I need! In fact, it’s 335 pounds more than our agreed-upon total!”
    Far from appearing alarmed, Mr. Rigby barely blinked as he pushed forward a document. It was the same damned document that he’d signed five years ago. The one that gave all the Crowle family’s land—every inch that wasn’t entailed—to Lord Lawton on the condition that Grant had five years to buy it back. That five years ended today, and here he was ready to buy it all back.
    “You are correct, my lord,” the bastard solicitor was saying. “The amount you’ve brought is approximately 335 pounds more than what the land was worth five years ago.”
    “That’s what I said!”
    “Yes, my lord. But if you would look here.” The bastard leaned over his desk to point at a particular clause. “It says you have five years to buy back the land at a fair price .”
    “This is a damned fine price, and you know it!”
    Mr. Rigby pursed his lips and looked at Lord Lawton. Grant followed the gesture, turning to his nemesis. Lawton looked almost apologetic, but there was no compromise in his words. If anything, there was an undercurrent of anger in his voice. “Perhaps you were unaware of the improvements I’ve made to the land.”
    Grant swallowed, his breath abruptly caught in a tight throat. Five years ago, he hadn’t understood much about improvements and what they did to profitability and value. He hadn’t bothered to think that far ahead. But he was now, and he couldn’t stop the fear that churned inside.
    “Yes,” continued Lawton. “I’ve made significant improvements to the crofters’ homes and their livestock.”
    “I knew you would. That’s what the extra 335 pounds are for.”
    “And I built a canal.”
    Grant blinked. A canal. Bloody hell, Will’s idea for a canal. Lawton had gone and done it. “That was my brother’s idea,” he murmured. And it was the first improvement Grant had intended to make once he gained control.
    “Perhaps it was,” Lawton said with a grin. No question now. There really was an undercurrent of malice there. “Do I need to explain what that means to the value of the land? Doubled, Crowley, at the very least. If not tripled.”
    Grant’s mind churned, trying to grasp at straws. “Is it done? Did you get everything connected like it should be?”
    Lawton grimaced. “It will be done within the month. If it were complete, the price would be double.”
    “So it’s not complete yet! The land hasn’t gone up as much as it could. If you would just give me a little more time—”
    “ No. ” Lawton’s one word echoed in the room and Grant’s skull. And if it didn’t, the way he slammed his hand down on the desk did. Grant had a moment to