Joan Wolf by The Guardian Read Free Book Online

plantation may well be profitable again, however, now that it looks as if Napoleon is finally beaten.” Adam tapped the pages of his letter against the mahogany wood of his chair. “I am telling you now, Annabelle. Stephen’s action is directly contrary to Giles’s best interest. He should not be allowed to do this.”
    “The question is, can he do it?”
    “Are you asking if he is legally empowered to give the plantation away? “
    I nodded.
    “Yes,” Adam said bitterly, “he is.”
    I shrugged. “Then there is nothing I can do to stop him, Uncle Adam.”
    The intelligent gray eyes held mine, and then he expelled his breath and sat back in his chair, the tension draining visibly from his shoulders. “I suppose there isn’t,” he said. “By the time a letter from you could reach Jamaica, Stephen would probably be on his way home.”
    “We don’t need the plantation,” I said. An unpleasant thought struck me, “Or do we? Are we in dun territory, Uncle Adam?”
    Merlin, hearing the sharp note in my voice, lifted his head from his paws and gazed at me alertly. I bent to give his silky black head a reassuring pat.
    “No, no, my dear, there is nothing like that. I did not mean to alarm you. Giles’s future is very well secured.”
    Merlin’s head dropped back to his paws.
    “There are no nasty debts or mortgages that I don’t know about? “I said.
    “Nothing like that, Annabelle,” Adam repeated firmly. “The earl’s income is about twenty thousand pounds a year— and that is the sum that is left after all the costs of the estate and the pensions to old servants have been paid.”
    This was a very healthy income indeed. “You have done well by us, Uncle Adam,” I said warmly.
    He smiled faintly in acknowledgment and said, “Thank you, my dear.”
    Portia got up, stretched, and went to lie down in the sun in front of the window.
    “Have you heard from Jasper?” I asked.
    Jasper was Uncle Adam’s son, a captain of cavalry who had been in Spain with Wellington for the past two years.
    “We had a letter just yesterday.” Adam smiled. “It seems that Stephen is not the only Grandville who will be coming home.”
    “Jasper is coming home?”
    Adam nodded.
    “That’s wonderful news, Uncle Adam! Aunt Fanny must be in alt.”
    He grinned. “She is. We all are.”
    Merlin had decided that his sister had a better spot than he. He got up, padded across the Turkish carpet to the patch of sun where Portia was dozing blissfully, and stretched out beside her. They looked like twin inkspots on the red carpet.
    “This wretched, wretched war,” I said. “But it does seem as if it is finally coming to an end.”
    “Now that the Allies have taken Paris, I should think it inevitable,” Adam said.
    “It will be so good to see Jasper again,” I said.
    Uncle Adam shot me an enigmatic look and did not reply.
    I said next, “I wonder if Jasper will want a subscription to the Sussex Hunt?”
    At that, Adam threw back his head and laughed. “Annabelle, you are so predictable!”
    “I am only thinking of Jasper,” I defended myself. “He won’t be able to hunt with us if he doesn’t have a subscription.”
    “I will buy a subscription for Jasper,” Adam said. “I wouldn’t want the lad to miss his fun. He’s had a rough enough time in Spain these last few years.” He got to his feet. “Who is collecting the subscription money—you or Stanhope?”
    I was delighted. “I am, Uncle Adam. But you don’t need to pay me until August.” I rose to see him to the door, and both dogs opened their eyes and yawned.
    Adam gave me a humorous look. “I’m sure I don’t have to tell you to remind me, Annabelle.”
    “You are a terrible tease,” I replied.
    He laughed and patted my arm. “You must forgive an old man who has known you since you were a solemn-faced little girl.”
    I smiled at him affectionately. “I’m glad about Jasper,” I said.
    “So am I.” He patted my arm once more and went out