When the Duke Returns by Eloisa James Read Free Book Online

cheerfully dispatched thousands of pounds worth of fabric and jewels over the years.
    His hand tightened under the table, but he made his voice affable enough. “Please, sit down, Mr. Kinnaird. Ido apologize for my brusque greeting just now. I find myself worried by the state of Revels House.”
    â€œEntirely understandable,” Mr. Kinnaird said, rather unexpectedly.
    â€œCould you tell me where all the fabrics and other items that I sent my mother over the years might be found?” Simeon asked.
    â€œThe East Warehouse in Southwark,” Mr. Kinnaird replied. He pulled out a small black notebook and opened it. “You first sent ten boxes of stuffs from India in 1776, Your Grace. Those were stored in the upper reaches of the warehouse. As they arrived, succeeding goods were numbered and placed in similar shelving. In 1779, we purchased the warehouse, the better to maintain security. It is guarded around the clock, and all goods are dry and free of infestations.”
    â€œAnd the stones and other nonfabric goods?”
    â€œJewels were sent on two occasions, arriving in England in March 1781 and in November 1783. On neither occasion did I judge our warehouse to be sufficiently secure. Those materials are stowed at Hoare’s bank in London. I have here the bills of deposit, co-signed by the bank manager, myself, and the captain of the vessel in question.”
    â€œMr. Kinnaird,” Simeon said, “I have misjudged you. I’m afraid that when I entered this house and realized the state it was in, I jumped to the worst of all possible conclusions.”
    Kinnaird looked about him. “I cannot take offense, Your Grace. The truth is that the dowager duchess did not welcome my visits, nor did she accept the goods you sent for her personal use. I returned those trunks to the warehouse as you will see on the itemized list.”
    Simeon sat for a moment. “Did she give any explanation?”
    â€œShe is rather set in her ways, Your Grace, as I have noticed elderly ladies often are. Perhaps India and Africa seem too distant for her.”
    â€œI gather that she did not allow you to act as a man of business for her, given—” he gestured “—the stacks of papers I find here.”
    â€œNo, Your Grace. She informed me that she would continue to run things precisely as your father had done. I did inform you of this in a letter, Your Grace.”
    â€œNot every letter reached me,” Simeon said, staring sightlessly at the piles of foolscap covering his father’s desk.
    â€œNo, Your Grace. Of course.”
    â€œWell, Mr. Kinnaird,” Simeon said finally, “could I ask you to return to London and arrange for transfer of the goods I intended as gifts? They can be transported here. I am in the process of directing payment of all overdue bills.”
    Kinnaird cleared his throat. “I should inform you that Mr. Honeydew occasionally forwarded bills to me that had to be paid and naturally I took care of them.”
    â€œYou mean he would steal them from this table and send them to you in London?”
    â€œThat allowed the household to keep running, Your Grace,” Kinnaird said.
    It wasn’t easy to accept that one’s mother has lost her mind. Gone uncooked. Thrown her pancakes to the roof. However you want to put it.
    â€œVery good, Kinnaird,” he said. He paused. “Have the servants’ wages been raised since my father died?”
    â€œNo, my lord. Nor for some years before that sad event. However, I took the liberty of giving each of them a Boxing Day present that brought their wages to near-current rates. Again, Mr. Honeydew was invaluable in this respect.”
    â€œAs were you, Mr. Kinnaird.”
    Kinnaird’s knees turned inwards and he gave an odd little bob that Simeon thought indicated pleasure. “Thank you, Your Grace.”
    Simeon felt like going for another run, but instead he made his way to his