A soft knock sounded on the door before it opened. He did not turn around, and his sister sauntered over to stand beside him. They stood there in companionable silence, and with a sigh, she leaned into him, resting her head on his shoulders.
“The flowers are beautiful,” she murmured.
“They are Miss Ashford’s favorites.”
Daphne lifted her head and shifted so she could view his expression. James felt the baffled touch of her eyes on his face.
“They have also been planted at our home in Derbyshire and the cottage in Hertfordshire.”
“Poppy mentioned once in one of her letters that they were her favorite flowers. I thought them pretty and ordered the gardener to have them planted in our homes.”
“I see,” Daphne said with an airy chuckle. “You like Miss Ashford.”
“She is very charming and likable.”
“But you will not marry her.”
James’ heart twisted painfully in his chest. “No…I will not.”
“You’ve changed a lot since our brother died and you inherited the earldom. I recall a time mama despaired about you. You were excessively quick-tempered, arrogant even, and quite a devil with your pursuits about town. There had even been a time Henry threatened to cut off your allowance.”
A rush of intense love filled him at hearing his brother’s name. How James wished he had told him that he loved him. But his brother knew. Though they had not voiced their affections for each other often, Henry supported James' many wild ideas over the years. “He did cut me off.”
Daphne gasped. “He did not.”
“Yes, he did, but then he also helped me in purchasing a commission.”
They were silent for a bit, each lost in the memories they shared with their brother.
“You changed James, after Henry died. You became serious. You lock yourself in this study for hours each day. You hardly visit your club; I doubt you have a mistress.”
“Daphne!”
“Pish,” she said, deviltry dancing in her eyes. “I have heard the gossip. Men of your stature are expected to keep a mistress.”
Bloody hell. This was not a conversation he ever envisioned having with his younger sister. As it were, James had not taken a lover in years. More than four years. Nor had he the time to miss pleasures of the flesh. The taste of Poppy's mouth and her sweet, hot moans crowded his senses, and he ruthlessly suppressed those memories from resurfacing now.
“I saw you last night, in the gardens with Miss Ashford. You smiled, and there was this look on your face. It reminded me of the time mama learned you were seen climbing out of Lady Southby’s bed-chamber.”
James inhaled so sharply he almost felt dizzy. “That was years ago! How did you come to learn of it.”
“I was eavesdropping,” she said cheekily. Daphne’s expression sobered, and she searched his expression carefully. “I have never seen you look at a lady in that manner. You were…you were teaching her to dance, and she was laughing, and your…your expression was at once tender and hungry.”
Her cheeks pinkened, but she continued. “You kissed her, James. I turned away at once, but I saw…you care for her. And you would not have seen it, but when she walked away from you to return to the ball, she wore the silliest smile on her face, and her eyes were bright with hope and something else I cannot identify. I cannot understand why you would not make her an offer.”
James’ heart felt like it would pound outside of his chest. “Henry,” he began gruffly, then hesitated.
“Henry what?”
“Father was ill for a long time before he died. The estates were not doing well when Henry inherited. There were lots of debts.”
Shock widened her eyes. “He never told us. I…I had two lavish seasons during that time.”
“It was his responsibility to fix the problem and to care for you.”
Daphne pressed a hand to her chest. “Do you think mama knew?”
“No. I did not know it myself until I became the earl.”
“Good heavens,” Daphne cried. “Henry was just like you now…working for hours. I normally teased and called him a sourpuss for locking himself away for hours.”
“The short of it, he had to sell two of our minor estates and some lands that first year, and it was still not enough. Our mines in Cornwall closed, and hundreds lost their livings. The banks refused to extend any more loans, and our name and reputation were not enough for our creditors. Some creditors were owed for more than two years.”
Daphne looked faint. “I…I cannot credit that we did not know.”
“He worked hard to keep our family in comfort and ignorance.”
“And you are doing the same,” she breathed, pressing a hand over her mouth.
“I am the earl. The responsibility is mine and mine alone. Henry…Henry was approached by a businessman who offered a deal. That man, Vernon Winters, would extend a loan to Henry. And in exchange, Henry would marry his daughter.”
Surprise flickered across her face. “He did what?”
James understood; upon discovering the agreement, he had felt just as poleaxed.
“Did Henry agree to it?”
“How did you imagine he saved the estate that was on the brink of ruin.”
“I…I never thought of it. Whenever mama questioned him, he reassured us all was well.”
“Henry borrowed an unmatched sum from Mr. Winters. Over one hundred thousand pounds with the promise he would make Mr. Winters’ daughter a countess one day.”
Daphne's hand fluttered to her throat. “That is why he was so against marrying. And now…you are also against marrying! Oh, James!”
With a sigh, James pressed his forehead to the cool pane of the window glass. “Our brother gave his word of honor that he would marry Miss Vinnette Winters.”
“But Henry died! That arrangement died with him. Surely that is most evident.”
James sent her a hard glance of disapproval. “Does that absolve this family of his promise when we still hold the monies Mr. Winters loaned? Our estates were made solvent. Most of our creditors, especially the ones clambering for payments, were settled. How do we say the debt is discharged because the earl who made the promise died? I inherited the benefit of that oath made, so I am honor-bound to fulfill Henry’s promise.”
“I never imagined this the reason you have not shown any interest in any ladies of society. You are to marry Miss Winters.”
“Yes.”
“Why haven’t you done so?”
“The same reason Henry did not. She is a young chit. At the moment, she is fourteen years of age.”
“Good heavens! That means the agreement was made when she was but a child!”
James raked his fingers through his hair. “Many lords and ladies are promised in marriage at even younger ages; why are you so astonished?”
Daphne’s eyes flashed. “How medieval and awful for her. To be sold to your husband without any say in the matter because of the social-climbing upstart that is her father!”
James chuckled and chucked her under the chin. “I can see that you are ready to do battle, but that is not the issue. I just wanted you to understand what is happening.”