Cedric snorted. How like the man to pretend that Cedric was the one in the wrong.
‘Go on,’ he said on a sigh. ‘Pray ask my cousin to visit me as soon as he is available.’ He had no idea if Declan had returned or not. Probably not given that the Earl felt like he had free rein to burst unasked into bedrooms. But it was a good reminder to hisfather that the Duke was due home at any moment. ‘And bring me some fresh water, if you please.’
‘Right away, my lord,’ intoned the butler. ‘And I’ll fetch you some luncheon. Jones, Hillard, remain in the hallway in case his lordship needs an extra pair of hands.’ He didn’t mention which lord, but the meaning was clear enough. There would be no violence from either father or son.
‘Father, why don’t you wait outside with them? Unless you wish to aid in my toilette.’
‘Oh, good God,’ the Earl huffed.
Cedric arched a brow at his father. ‘You’re the one who burst uninvited into my sickroom. Either help with my care or wait until I’m done.’
‘You’re not that sick. And it is my right—’
‘I need the chamber pot.’
‘Imbecile,’ his father muttered. But then he stomped out of the bedroom and slammed the door behind him. Cedric winced at the noise but managed to quickly set himself to rights. He pulled on a bed-jacket and took a seat by the window. It was a power position, forcing the other person to act like a supplicant as he stood hat in hand. Indeed, his father had used it on him dozens of times. But this time, the position was reversed, and Cedric was human enough to enjoy it.
‘Very well,’ he called. ‘You may come in.’
The Earl stomped in, curled his lip in disgust when seeing his son, then dropped unceremoniously onto the bed.
‘Well, I’m glad that’s out of the way. Damned unpleasant to be treated this way. This was once my home. Used to run wild here, pinching the maids. Don’t know what’s gotten into Declan, allowing that foreign girl into his bed.’
‘Stop insulting the ladies of this household!’ Cedric snapped.
‘Don’t be daft. You don’t know what she’s been doing with your money. I tried to get a look at the account. She said youwould manage the money, but you can’t do anything from a sickbed. She’s probably draining the account as we speak, but I won’t let her get away with it. Never you fear.’
Cedric sighed. ‘She is taking exactly what is her due, Father. Hers and Prinny’s.’ Not to mention his other investors.
‘Good God, the sickness truly has gotten hold of you. Cedric, listen to me. You’re my son and heir. I’ll take care of things. That’s what a father does for his son.’
Such beautiful words. They were tinged with warmth, too, and all the protective notes that were so absent during his childhood. He knew they were a lie, and yet he couldn’t help but respond to it.
‘Father,’ he said softly. ‘I kept the account. I know exactly—’
‘We need the money, son. And you deserve it. It wasn’t her working herself near death, was it? All she did was have her servants carry you here and feed you a little broth. You deserve that coin, son. Every penny of it.’
‘What I deserve from this venture is mine alone. I will handle my affairs.’
‘Course it is!’ His father pushed to his feet. ‘You’ve been too ill to understand. I’ll have a talk with Declan. We’ll see it done proper. It’s his ship. He won’t see all that profit go to a foreign girl. Not over his own cousin and uncle. Mark my words. You deserve that money. And I’ll see that it goes where it’s needed.’
‘And where’s that, Father?’
‘To the estate, of course. It’s where all our money goes, isn’t it? The canal needs repair and something happened to the roof. We lost a bunch of pigs to the heat. Damned farmers. Can’t keep a bunch of hogs alive. Say they can’t make the rent. Claiming all sorts of folderol.’
Something happened to the roof? Cedric gaped at his father. This was the man who had loomed so large when Cedric was boy. But now all he saw was a weak and slightly ridiculous old man.
‘When was the last time you were home?’
‘What? Why does that matter?’
‘I saw the roof restored before I left.’
‘What? Oh. Well, good then. But I told you about the pigs, right? So you see, it’s a good thing that you’ve come home. That shipload of goods is just in time. I’m told we can get an advance on the sale right away. We just need Declan to write the cheque. I thought I’d do it tomorrow after he’s been home for a night. Catch him in a good mood after a night with his wife, if you know what I mean.’
Hard to miss his father’s crude wink. ‘Yes, I know.’
‘That’s settled then. And don’t you worry. I’ll handle all the details.’ He grinned as he clapped his hands. ‘Good to see you getting better, son. I’d thought you’d died, you know. When your ship didn’t come back. But here you are, getting stronger every day—’