Chapter 18

CHAPTER 18

T he ride to Hayward Manor that afternoon was a quiet one, though not unpleasant. Hanna sat beside Edwin in the carriage, her hands neatly folded in her lap. The rustle of her gown against the leather seats, the faint scent of lavender clinging to her skin, were small things he had become acutely aware of. His wife, reserved but observant, had a presence that was difficult to ignore.

As they approached her father’s estate, Edwin could feel the tension rising in her, even though her expression remained impassive.

When they arrived, the Earl of Worcester greeted them in the grand entrance hall. His towering figure was slightly bent with age, though not entirely feeble. He offered his hand to Edwin, his grip firm, his eyes sharp as ever. Yet, there was something in his demeanor that caught Edwin’s attention. A subtle distance between father and daughter, one that had not been there before—or perhaps one he had only now begun to notice.

“Welcome to Hayward Manor,” Lord Worcester said, his tone formal, almost cold. He cast a glance at Hanna, but it was brief, his attention quickly returning to Edwin. “I trust your journey was uneventful.”

“Indeed,” Edwin replied, noting the barest flicker of disappointment in Hanna’s expression.

The warmth of familial affection was absent here, as it had been in their many interactions. He could sense it in the way Hanna seemed to retreat into herself, her poise held with effort.

“If you will excuse me,” she said softly, her voice just above a whisper, “I would like to see my sister.”

Her father gave a curt nod. “She is in her chambers. You know the way.”

With a quiet dip of her head, Hanna left, her light steps barely making a sound on the marble floors.

Edwin watched her go, feeling a strange pang of protectiveness stir in his chest. He could only imagine what it was like for her to return to the home where she had once lived, now as a duchess, only to be greeted with so little warmth by the man who had raised her.

“Come.” Lord Worcester’s voice drew Edwin from his thoughts. “We have matters to discuss. I know you wish to discuss the vineyard, but I also wanted to go over some of my dealings with your brother. I know you have already told me you wish to make right what he ruined, but I think you should see just how much damage he caused.”

The Earl led him toward the study, a grand room filled with dark mahogany furniture and the lingering scent of tobacco. Heavy curtains hung at the windows, blocking out the light, but the glow of a nearby hearth provided enough warmth and illumination.

Edwin followed, his curiosity piqued. He had been prepared for some resistance, expecting Worcester to be guarded, perhaps even defensive, especially when it came to Benjamin’s investments. But as they entered the study, what greeted him was the opposite.

“Here they are,” Worcester said, gesturing toward a stack of ledgers that lay open on the desk as if waiting for Edwin’s inspection. “I thought you might want to see the entries for yourself. Benjamin was meticulous, I’ll give him that. But you will see where he erred. I have marked all the times that the money did not actually go where he said.”

Edwin’s brow furrowed slightly as he approached the desk. He had expected secrecy, tight control. After all, Hanna had mentioned more than once how her father rarely allowed anyone near his ledgers—even her. And yet here they were, laid out as if there was nothing to hide.

Edwin glanced at the Earl, noting the calm expression on his face. There was no nervousness, no hesitation. The man even seemed… sincere.

“Go on,” Worcester urged. “See for yourself. I have nothing to hide.”

There was a faint bite to the last words, though they were spoken mildly enough.

Edwin studied the Earl for a moment, but then he turned his attention to the ledgers. He flipped through the pages, his fingers running over the smooth, crisp paper. The entries were detailed, with receipts neatly recorded and dates aligned perfectly.

“There,” Worcester said, pointing to a specific section. “That is where I signed over my investment to him for the mines. Large sums, as you can see.”

Edwin’s eyes followed the Earl’s finger, landing on a series of receipts. The amounts were considerable, the notes precise. Everything appeared to add up. No signs of any mistakes or deception. But then, there wouldn’t be. If someone had tried to fool Worcester, they would have created a paper trail such as this.

The trouble was that Edwin didn’t think Worcester was smart enough to create something like this himself. Which meant… No. He pushed the thought aside.

“I always liked your brother,” Worcester said. “I think he meant well at the start. But it seems he was swayed by less reputable men in the end. His… downfall was inevitable once those vultures had dug their claws in him.”

Edwin’s jaw tightened. The Earl sounded genuinely upset. His words carried a weight of disappointment, perhaps even grief. But was it real? Could Benjamin truly have mismanaged the funds like this?

It seemed so unlikely. His brother had been the very epitome of propriety, always careful, always thoughtful in his decisions. Edwin could not reconcile the man he knew with the figure Worcester was painting.

He glanced back at the ledger, then at the Earl. And it struck him.

Worcester was not drunk. Not in the least. The man before him was sober, alert, clear-headed. His coat was crisply pressed, his cravat neatly tied, his boots polished to a gleam. There was no trace of a slur in his speech, no hint of the man who had once stumbled about his home in a haze of drink. He was, in every way, presenting himself as the picture of dignity.

Too much so.

Edwin’s eyes narrowed. Why was Worcester suddenly so composed? So forthcoming with information he had guarded so fiercely? Was it merely a coincidence that he had allowed Edwin to see these particular ledgers now, of all times?

Or had the Earl figured out what Edwin was truly after?

“Something troubles you, Your Grace?” Worcester asked, his voice smooth, his expression unreadable.

Edwin forced a smile, though suspicion was crawling up his spine. “I am simply impressed by your record keeping. I was led to believe you were rather… well, less meticulous.”

Worcester’s lips curled into a faint smile. “Ah, yes. We both know that a bad reputation is often undeserved. A man must be cautious when it comes to his finances, especially when others might seek to misunderstand his actions. But in this case, I have nothing to hide. I wanted you to see the truth for yourself. Benjamin’s missteps are not mine, though they affect me deeply. You can see my losses,” he said, motioning to one of the pages.

Edwin nodded slowly, though his mind was racing. Was he being played? Was this all an elaborate attempt to make him doubt Benjamin? The Earl’s calm demeanor, his precise movements, the way he seemed almost too eager to show Edwin these records—it all felt carefully calculated.

And yet, Edwin couldn’t be certain. Could it be that Worcester truly had nothing to hide? That Benjamin had indeed made a grave error?

No. He couldn’t believe it. Edwin knew his brother. Benjamin had been upstanding, honorable. He would never have involved himself in something so unsavory. Edwin was certain of that. And yet…

The Earl watched him with sharp, assessing eyes. “I hope this puts your mind at ease,” he said, his voice steady. “I know how difficult it must be to reconcile what you see here with your brother’s memory. But the evidence is before you.”

Edwin swallowed hard, his throat suddenly dry. Was it paranoia that gripped him? Or was his instinct right? Was there something beneath the surface, something Worcester wasn’t saying?

He studied the Earl’s face, trying to read the man’s thoughts, but Worcester’s expression remained maddeningly inscrutable.

“Given that we are family now, I wanted to ensure there were no secrets between us, no misunderstandings. It would be a shame if I ended up having a poor relationship with another of my sons-in-law.”

The offer seemed genuine, but Edwin couldn’t shake the feeling that he was being maneuvered into something. “I understand.”

Worcester nodded, a trace of satisfaction flickering across his face. “Very well. Shall we move on to discussing our business venture? I trust you have not had more issues with this unknown menace who caused us both such trouble?”

Edwin had to think for a moment. He’d already forgotten the tale he’d woven to snare Worcester in the first place, but then it came back to him.

“No, I have not. I think uniting through marriage dissuaded them.”

Worcester clapped his hands together. “Very well. Then it all worked out. Now, we shall fix our reputations together, and then the ton will have to look for someone else to gossip about.”

As Edwin closed the ledger, he felt a knot form in his stomach. He had come here seeking clarity, but all he had found was doubt.

Had Worcester shown him the truth? Or was this all part of a larger scheme to make him question his own brother?