Chapter 1

CHAPTER 1

Kenneth

When Robert asked me to ride in his barouche, I had no qualms about accepting. Robert's goal, while in town, was to see and be seen. He worked hard to ensure the Ferrars name connoted wealth, privilege, and standing in society. Certainly, I could name dozens of families with more money and influence, but none tried as hard as this one.

"How goes Fannie?" Robert's elder sister lived at the Norland estate in Somerset with her husband and their children.

"Fannie is in excellent health." Robert gazed out the window. His coloring resembled his sister's—dark hair and eyes. So did his nephew, Harry's. Robert looked back at me. "Do not enquire about Edward and Elinor."

I wasn't certain he could put more derision into his brother's name. Nor much more for the woman the man'd married. "Are they not well situated? At the Delaford estate?" I seemed to recall they lived in the parish house.

Robert huffed. "My brother, the curate, has the living that provides only a few hundred a year. And they're having a child." Again, so much derision.

I snickered. "You and Lucy have a child." Robert's wife, Lucy—previously known as Miss Steele—had recently given birth to a daughter.

"Oh, don't remind me. As soon as she's able, she must bear me a son."

"Yes, Mrs. Ferrars will accept nothing less." Robert's mother was… I struggled for the correct terminology. Difficult? Rude? Imperious? Demanding? "You're fortunate she forgave you the indiscretion of marrying below your station."

Robert met my gaze and rolled his eyes. "I cannot explain that decision. One moment Miss Steele was engaged to Edward, and the next, we married. My mother cutting us off was no surprise. I had access to enough funds for the interim."

"You snuck away to Plymouth to see Lucy's family."

He chuckled. "Yes, well, it was the prudent course. In the end, Mother recovered and decided—after having disinherited Edward—that losing both sons was not a good thing."

"I'm amazed Fannie didn't attempt to influence her—to secure a larger fortune for her children."

"Who says she did not? Fortunately, she did not succeed. Mother accepted us back, and after a fashion, came to admire my wife. She's an affable woman."

Well, that she was. To an annoying degree. In truth, I found Lucy Ferrars... Silly? Fanciful? Na?ve? Uneducated? How she'd secured the affection of not one, but two wealthy gentlemen impressed me. And induced me to give her a wide berth. Her sister had yet to marry the doctor, and with my fortune of twenty thousand pounds, as well as two thousand pounds per annum, I had no doubt she would attempt to secure a match between her sister and myself.

I had zero interest in marrying. As heir, it was expected of me. And yet I could not bring myself to do it. I preferred to live without encumbrance. "Oh, have you constructed your cottage yet? Those plans I saw last month?— "

Robert waved his hands dismissively. "No. Something in the design…I found lacking. I am attempting another go at it."

This would be the eighteenth or nineteenth go at it . At least that many architects. None suitable, of course. The idea of building a cottage obsessed my friend, but he could not—or would not—settle on a design. Even I grew tired of his fiddling. If he wanted a cottage so badly, why not just buy one? As for me, I lived in my family's townhouse and required nothing more. "Shall we pass by Park Street? I should be going home."

"But we haven't visited the ladies ."

"Robert, you know I have no interest in that particular pursuit." And my father has been carrying on about behaving appropriately. His latest threat was corporal punishment. Perhaps I should've been concerned…but I wasn't.

"Because you are peculiar," Robert commented with little humor. Still, he directed his driver to take me home. "Shall we see you at the Willoughbys' tomorrow evening?"

Speaking of another unhappy couple. She enjoyed throwing lavish parties while he was always too far into his cups. I'd heard rumors about him loving another woman, but having married his wife for fifty thousand pounds. Truthfully, I'd likely be induced into matrimony for such a sum.

As we pulled up to my townhouse, I met Robert's gaze. "Be good."

"Aren't I always?"

The footman opened the door of the coach.

"No, Robert, you're not." Of course, neither was I. With that, I exited the coach.

And entered my domain, where I reigned supreme.