Summer's Distant Heart - Laura Landon Page 0,3
Father. You have always thought the worst of me.”
“You have always shown me your worst side, as well as your lack of what it will take to assume your brother’s title.”
“Well, Father,” Hunter said, draining the brandy from his glass and setting it down on a nearby table. “You can always take solace in the fact that there is your younger brother’s son, Winston, standing in the wings to replace me. You have always treated him more like a son than you treated me.”
“That’s because he has always been more of a son to me than you have.”
“And whose fault is that?”
“Don’t lay the responsibility for that at my feet, blast you. I am not to blame. You are.”
Hunter’s temper rose to a dangerous peak. “The only thing for which I am to blame is that I lived and my mother did not.”
“Don’t you dare speak of her!”
“Why? Isn’t that what you’ve repeatedly told me? Well, with Evan gone, I give you permission to call on Winston to serve as your heir. I have no doubt that in the end you will leave everything not entailed to him.”
“You can be assured that I will.”
“It’s a pity that Trentridge Park is entailed and you cannot leave that to him as well.”
His father’s glare turned dark and deadly. “Oh, how I hate having to call you my son. Would that you had died instead of Evan.”
“I know, Father. More’s the pity.”
Hunter turned to leave. He couldn’t escape his father’s bitter hatred quickly enough. “If there’s any need to reach me,” he said as he stepped to the door, “you may contact me through my solicitor. Although I doubt you’ll have need to reach out to me for any reason.”
“No, I doubt that I will,” his father said looking back to the papers on his desk. “Nor do I anticipate you coming to me when you find yourself lacking funds. You will get nothing from me. Do you hear? Nothing.”
“What will be different then, I wonder? Since I have never asked anything of you, nor received it.”
“And you never will. All you can ever expect from me is that when I am gone there will be a small amount in trust to keep Trentridge Park solvent.”
“You lack faith in my ability to keep the estate profitable?”
“I have faith in nothing but my ability to keep Trentridge Park in the Montclaire name. Without the amount I intend to leave in trust for the upkeep of Trentridge Park, I fear all will be lost of the wealth that generations of Montclaires before you have worked so hard to amass.”
“I’m overwhelmed by your confidence in me,” Hunter said as a rebuff. He actually relished hearing his father admit that he had not one shred of faith in Hunter’s ability to manage Trentridge Park.
“You expect me to tell you I believe you will be as prepared and able to run the estate as your brother was? I am not that blind to your incapabilities.”
“I expected as much. But, when have you shown me anything different?”
“You had no need. Your mother’s trust has allowed you to live the wastrel lifestyle you’re accustomed to living. But even that much wealth will run out eventually and you’ll be forced to fall back on what I’ve earned. I only hope I’m alive to refuse you.”
“Then you will wait in vain. That day will never come, my lord. I would rather starve to death than have to rely on you for a crust of bread.”
Hunter gathered his cloak, hat, and cane and stormed from the mansion. It would be the last time he would darken its doorway while his father was still alive.
Chapter 2
Amelia Halloway sat in the wooden nursery rocker and lulled the babe to sleep. Four-month-old George Hunter Montclaire, future Earl of Atherton, was the most contented baby any mother could ask for.
“Is the babe asleep?” Lia’s Aunt Mildred, the dowager Viscountess Collinson asked as she tiptoed into the room.
“Yes.” Lia smiled and stared down at the blond-haired, blue-eyed child. “I do so love rocking him to sleep.”
Lia’s aunt sat in the over-stuffed chair next to her and placed her hand on Lia’s knee.
“What is it, Aunt?”
“I’ve had news.” She held up a letter written on crisp parchment edged in funereal black. “News that could threaten the child.”
Lia’s heart pounded harder in her breast and her breathing quickened. “Is it about the babe’s father?”
Her aunt nodded. “As we feared, he has died.”
Lia tried to take in what her Aunt had