the right thing, Harry? After all, I shall always be a bastard. While my children will have the benefit of your connection and being legitimate, will Society accept them?”
“Yes, as long as you keep your funds.” Harry helped him back into bed. “Society cares about titles, money, and legitimacy...in that order. So make sure you increase your money, and your sons and daughters will take the world by storm.”
“With their mother’s kindness,” Simon added.
“And your fierceness.” Harry poured a glass of water and handed it to him. “I will make sure you have a good dinner tonight, so you get your strength back.”
“I’m joining you all for dinner tonight.”
Harry looked down at him with furrowed brows. “You’re not up to it yet, Simon. Give yourself another day or two.”
“I am joining you for dinner tonight.”
“Why the rush?”
Simon leveled his brother a smile. “Because I have an important question to ask Emma afterward.”
Harry nodded. “As you wish.”
“Did Louisa get what I needed?”
“She should return soon.”
Simon smiled. “Excellent.”
“Your solicitor brought over all the paperwork to transfer Hell to Ainsley and his group.”
“Did it include the provision regarding Riley?” Simon wasn’t about to sign the paperwork unless they agreed to sponsor Riley in Society.
“Yes. Riley grumbled about it but finally agreed. All signatures are complete, save yours. You are about to become an even wealthier bastard,” Harry commented with a grin.
“Good,” Simon replied. “Since I plan on having many children, we will need the money. And maybe a few more estates. One for each boy.”
Harry chuckled. “Do have a few girls. They will change your life.”
Simon smiled, knowing how Charlotte had changed his brother’s life for the better. “I want several little blonde girls with blue eyes like their mother.”
A light rap on the door interrupted them. “Come in,” Harry replied.
Louisa walked into the room with a smile. Holding up a piece of paper, she said, “I found it. I didn’t know she had a secret compartment in her desk.”
Once Louisa came close, Simon grabbed the paper. “Quill?”
Harry walked to the small desk in the room and shuffled through the drawers before finding a quill. He brought over the tray from tea and ink. “Do make sure it says, despicable scoundrel.”
“Come along, darling,” Louisa said as she tugged her husband’s arm. “Leave your brother in peace.”
“He is joining us for dinner,” Harry said, waiting for Simon to finish writing.
“Good,” Louisa replied.
Simon stared down at the list that had brought the impetuous woman into his path. With a smile, he wrote down the missing item number ten. As he finished, Louisa took the tray back to the desk and returned the ink and quill to their places.
“Where do you want this?” she asked, waving the paper to help the ink to dry.
“Third drawer on the right. I doubt Emma would get to that drawer if she happened to be in here looking for paper or a quill.”
“As you wish.” Once she closed the drawer, Louisa glanced over at her husband. “We should hurry if we are going to get ready for dinner.”
Simon suppressed a laugh as it was only three in the afternoon. Dinner was not on his sister-in-law’s mind.
“Is someone going to make sure I get a bath?” Simon asked.
“Yes, Simon,” Louisa said from the threshold. “A footman will be up in a few minutes with your bath and to help you get ready.”
“Don’t be late, Harry,” Simon added with a smirk.
Harry turned with a rakish grin. “No guarantees there, brother.”
By the time Simon walked finally downstairs to the salon, he was exhausted but happy. The bath had taken far more out of him than he’d expected. But it would all be worth it for Emma. A sense of peace had come over him.
Until he walked into the salon and noticed Emma missing, only Harry stood near the fireplace, sipping sherry. And with his brows furrowed and a frown on his face, Simon knew something was amiss.
“I will take some of that,” he said to his brother.
Harry walked to the corner table with the bottles of sherry and brandy. “I have bad news.”
“What is it?” A sense of foreboding swept over him, but he refused to give into it. He refused to let anything upset him tonight.
“Emma is requesting a tray in her room.” Harry handed a crystal snifter to him.
“Is she unwell?”
“Louisa is trying to determine that right now.”
Simon placed his glass on the table and then strode for the door. If she were ill, the least he could do was check