Summer's Distant Heart - Laura Landon Page 0,37
his input on the matter.”
She nodded again and rose to her feet. She left the room for a few minutes and came back with her brother in tow.
“How are you doing today?” Miles asked brightly when he’d closed the door behind him. “You certainly look greatly improved from when we brought you back.”
“I am, thanks to you and Lia.”
“Lia deserves the credit. She’s the one who refused to let you give up. I just sat in the study and drank your expensive brandy.”
Hunter smiled. He doubted that was true, but he appreciated Miles’ attempt at humor.
Lia moved to sit on the bed, leaving the chair free for her brother.
“Do you have any ideas how to handle my father?” Hunter asked.
Miles took a moment to settle into the chair. “Do you want my honest advice or a piece of advice that will be pleasing to your ears?”
“Let’s start out with your honest advice. If I cannot accept that, we’ll go to what will be pleasing.”
“Very well,” Miles said, stretching his legs lazily in front of him. “He could die.”
Lia’s hand flew to her throat.
“When you said honest advice what you really meant was honest and blunt advice.”
“You already knew this wasn’t going to be easy,” Miles continued. “You already knew there wasn’t going to be a different outcome. The man tried to kill his own son. And his grandson, the heir to his name. The law would sentence him to the gallows. Besides, what makes you think he won’t try to kill again?”
Hunter grabbed the bedclothes in his fists and wadded them into a tight ball.
“Bloody hell, Miles! I can’t just walk up to him and put a lead ball in his brain.”
“No, you can’t. No man could do that to his own father. I would not have expected you to see that as a solution.”
“So you were just checking, eh?”
“I thought it prudent,” Miles chuckled. “But I believe Lia might have a suggestion she thinks you’ll like.”
Hunter looked at Lia. She was still recovering her composure after hearing the men speak of cold-blooded murder.
“Lia?”
“I have an idea, but I would like to hear what Aunt Mildred thinks of it first.”
Hunter looked at Miles and Lia’s brother nodded. “Very well. Miles, would you help me dress, then take me down to the study. We’ll meet you there in half an hour, Lia.”
“Don’t be silly,” she said. “Just throw on a robe. We’ll expect you in five minutes.” She swept off the bed and made her exit.
Hunter considered disregarding her and getting fully dressed. But the mere effort of climbing out of bed changed his mind. “Just give me my trousers, then.”
He grunted his way into his trousers and robe, then asked, “What do you think she has in mind?”
“I haven’t the faintest idea, but I hope it’s something we can carry off.”
“So do I,” Hunter said, then turned to leave his room for the first time since a gunshot paid for by his father had laid him low.
. . . .
Lia watched Hunter enter the study. He leaned heavily on Miles’ arm and Lia knew he was in a great deal of pain.
Hunter reached for her hand and Lia eagerly grasped his.
“You cannot kill your father, Hunt. If you do, you won’t be able to live with yourself.”
“I know that,” Hunt answered squeezing her hand in reply. “I trust you believe that I could never have considered it. But I am curious what you have in mind?”
“I suggest a death of sorts. But not a mortality. Merely a death of standing, a mortal blow to your father’s reputation.” She smiled, and Hunter felt the weight of the world begin to lighten with it. “I suggest we take the babe and Aunt Mildred and go to London.”
“What good will that do?”
“Aunt Mildred?” Lia smiled. “Tell them our idea.”
Aunt Mildred chuckled and held up her elegant, ringed hand. “It’s really quite simple, you see. My oldest son is Viscount Collinson. It’s well known that he has the ear of Queen Victoria.”
The men nodded their agreement.
“Then, my brother-in-law is the Duke of Natchess, who controls grain prices in southern markets.” As she spoke, she ticked off a finger with the mention of each new influential name. “And, one of my sons-in-law is the Duke of Palmery, whose subsidiary manages shipping permits for the government. Another is the Earl of Wentbury. He’s not particularly influential, but he has most folks fooled in that regard. Some think that no matter of business takes place without Wentbury’s