The Marquess Method by Kathleen Ayers

22

“Oh, there you are, new niece.” A trembling voice addressed her. “I wondered where you’d gotten off to.”

Theo looked up from the notes she’d been making, disturbed to find yet another sketch of Haven instead of the recommendations Mrs. Dottie had asked for on next week’s menu.

Erasmus.

Instantly, Theo forced a welcoming smile to her lips, not wanting Haven’s uncle, whom everyone regarded as a burden, to receive the same treatment from her. Erasmus had taken to popping in on her when she was alone. He’d shuffle about. Stutter. Bring her a wilted spray of flowers. But the conversations all ended the same way, with a quivering request for a bit of coin.

Which Theo always gave him.

Jacinda treated her uncle with absent affection. She was kind to him but rarely displayed any patience for his riddles which made no sense, his habit of bursting into song, or when he explained how brandy was made. Haven, on the one occasion Theo had seen them interact, dismissed his uncle with a patronizing smile and a wave of his hand. Neither Haven nor his sister seemed to think Erasmus of any consequence.

Which, in turn, caused Theo to be far kinder to Erasmus than she should.

The scent of gin filled the drawing room. Not unusual. Erasmus liked gin. Any sort of spirit, really. But brandy, by far, was his favorite. He spent most of his time beneath one of the trees outside, drinking whatever his coin could afford. She still had no idea where he slept or took his meals. No one paid the least attention to him. He could have disappeared for days, and neither Jacinda nor Haven would have likely noticed.

“Good morning, Uncle.”

Erasmus was a soft-looking man. A wobbly mass of pale, sunken skin and bloodshot eyes, like most sots. He smiled at her, extending his fingers. “You look lovely today, Niece. I know where the forget-me-nots grow. I’ll gather some for you.”

“How lovely, Uncle.” First, he smiled. Second, the mention of flowers. Sometimes he might sing or hum a tune. Last, he always asked for coin.

“I find I’ve a terrible thirst, Theodosia.”

She’d noticed the greedy, desperate edge to his words, knew why he’d come to her. Erasmus twitched and trembled, barely able to hold himself upright. His dedication to drink was obvious to anyone who saw him.

Sometimes far too obvious. Almost practiced.

“Of course, Uncle.” She pushed her spectacles up further on her nose. Her imagination, always erring on the side of being wild, ascribed deviousness to Erasmus he simply didn’t possess. Haven’s uncle was harmless. Genuinely kind. He was such a pathetic soul, it was difficult not to feel some pity for him. Reaching into the pocket hidden in her skirts, Theo took out several coins and laid them on the table.

Erasmus, fingers quivering, scooped them up, but he didn’t leave. “I was hoping we could discuss a matter of great importance, Theodosia.”

“What is it, Uncle? I’ll try to help in whatever way I can.” As pathetic a sot as he was, Haven’s uncle was also manipulative. Today was a perfect example. Theo expected most drunkards were, in their devotion to drink.

“So dear, aren’t you?” He placed a hand to his chest. “You brighten up Greenbriar with only your presence, Theodosia.” Erasmus circled about aimlessly for a moment. “I wish to discuss Ambrose. I have great affection for him.”

There was the slightest trace of dislike in his quavering words, wasn’t there?

Stop it, Theo.She was being ridiculous.

“Of course, you do, Uncle. I know how much you love Ambrose and Jacinda.”

“Which is why I’ve come to you.” Erasmus trembled and shook, reeking of spirits and pomade. His face contorted as if he would weep. “I would have a small allowance. Ambrose refuses me, with good reason, I suppose. But I hate coming to you so often. Pleading.”

Theo could understand that. And it would save her having him pop out of nowhere and ask her for coin, which was rather unsettling. “I’ll speak to Lord Haven about providing you a weekly amount for your comfort. Would that suit, Uncle?”

“I was hoping we could keep this between us.” Erasmus smiled slightly, showing his yellowed teeth. It didn’t reach his blurry eyes, now focused on her.

Stop it, Theo.

She looked down at her hands. The problem wasn’t Erasmus, it was her. Since she’d tossed the sketch of Haven into the fire a short time ago, Theo had come to the conclusion that the distance between her and Haven needed to come to an end. Neither of them seemed willing to make the first move. Erasmus, or rather the topic of his allowance, provided a perfect excuse for her to speak to Haven directly. She was ready to have him beg for her forgiveness or kiss her senseless. Either would do.

Theo looked up to reply, startled to see Erasmus right in front of her, watery gaze flicking over her bosom.

Unsettling.

“You’ve the Barrington eyes.” His head cocked slightly before smiling broadly at her. “The same as your brother. Always surprised me a bit.” Then he turned and started to hum. Theo was sure she heard him say “the bastard” under his breath.

“You mean my brother, the Duke of Averell?” Theo raised a brow, her tone sharp. “Jacinda said you knew of him and my father.”

“Duke?” Erasmus shuffled a bit, regarding her with horror. “No, I—” He pulled out a handkerchief and dabbed at his lips. “I would never cast such a slur on a duke.” He looked as if he would fall to the floor at her feet and weep. “Ambrose calls him that. I’m afraid he doesn’t speak highly of him. Your brother.”

Well, that was certainly true. Though Haven had used other, more colorful words when describing Tony.

“Don’t be cross, dear niece. Sometimes, Theodosia, I speak without thinking. Thoughts ramble in my head with no meaning. It’s been that way for as long as I can remember.” Erasmus gave her a sad shrug. “Brandy helps, you see, quiets it, but not all the time.”

Theo nodded in sympathy, recalling what Betts had said about her cousin. It seemed Erasmus was also afflicted. She immediately regretted her earlier, unkind thoughts.

“My parents didn’t know what to do with me. Nor my brother. I fear I embarrassed them all.” His voice grew thick. “Just as I do Ambrose and Jacinda.”

“No, Uncle. I’m sure that isn’t the case.” Her eyes drifted to the hall, willing anyone, Rolfe, Jacinda, Mrs. Henderson, even one of the carpenters, to please interrupt this dreadful conversation. She hadn’t meant to set Erasmus off and felt terrible for doing so.

“Oh, it is.” He shook his head sadly. “And well I know it. It got worse, and when Edmund married, he told me I must leave Greenbriar, and I agreed, under the circumstances. He said I was fragile, and I suppose I am.”

Theo gave his hand a gentle pat. “I’m sure that isn’t at all true.”

“I’ve been forgotten for so long, all because of one minute.” The trembling left his voice.

“A minute?” Theo looked again at the doorway. It seemed she was doomed to hear more of Erasmus’s nonsensical ramblings.

“Edmund was only a minute older than I.” The bloodshot eyes filled with moisture as if he would start sobbing at any moment. “But for a minute, I would have been the marquess and my brother the twin everyone forgot. Do you know, Theodosia, what it is to feel forgotten? That’s the real reason I came back to Greenbriar, though it nearly killed me to cross that horrid stretch of ocean again. Ambrose thinks I came back for money, but it wasn’t that. I swear I was told my nephew had perished. The fairies told me.” His eyes pleaded with Theo for understanding. “And I wanted to console my brother and repair our estrangement.” He dabbed at his eyes. “But mostly, I didn’t want to die one day and have no one to mourn me. Forgotten. You understand, don’t you?”

“I do, Uncle Erasmus.” Her heart filled with pity for him because she did know what it was like to feel overlooked. Different. To be less dazzling than your siblings. What would it matter if she gave Erasmus an allowance? Haven probably wouldn’t care. And Erasmus deserved some kindness.

“You must come to me at the start of the week,” she said softly, taking his hand, “and I will provide you with an allowance for your comforts, Uncle. But in return, you must promise not to sell anything else in this house. Or there will be nothing. No allowance. No coin for drink. Do you understand?” What a sad creature he was. “Do not touch Jacinda’s books.”

“I promise. Thank you, Theodosia. I knew from the moment we met that you and I would get on. My dear niece.”

“Good day, Uncle.” Relief at his leaving filled her, and she instantly reprimanded herself for being so cruel.

He bowed and shuffled out the door, muttering under his breath. Or singing. Theo wasn’t sure.

When Rolfe came to check on her barely a quarter-hour later, Theo requested tea and some of Mrs. Dottie’s currant scones, a new favorite of hers.

Anything to ease her suddenly unsettled stomach.