To Save a Love - Alexa Aston Page 0,18

And when did he wed?”

“No, I didn’t go. I received word of his death in a terse note from a Mr. Capshaw.”

“He was brief with me, as well. Said Lord and Lady Torrington had drowned but gave no context as to the circumstances.”

Dalinda halted. “I know what happened. Do you remember our housekeeper at Torville Manor? Mrs. Abbott and I correspond monthly. I tell her about Arthur and Harry and she writes to me of news regarding the estate. Ham wed his wife last September, at the end of the Season. His bride had just made her come-out. I suppose at thirty-four, he had finally decided he should take a wife. Not that Mrs. Abbott ever said anything, but from what I glean from the gossip columns in the London newspapers that we receive at times, Ham was a terrible rake. Chasing married and unmarried women alike. Drinking. Gambling. Supposedly, his bride brought an enormous dowry with her.”

“I wonder if any of it is left,” he mused.

“I would think so.” She hesitated and then said, “As for their deaths, they drown . . . in the lake between our property and Viscount Shelton’s land.”

A fresh stab of pain hit him. How ironic to have lost Anna and his brother in the same place.

“Do you know anything about how it occurred? Especially with both of them.”

“From what Mrs. Abbott revealed, Lady Torrington was fearful of water. Ham—who was already deep in his cups by early afternoon—insisted he take her rowing on the lake. Apparently, the boat capsized. Though the water isn’t terribly deep, Ham would have been too drunk to swim to shore and his wife did not know how to swim at all.”

Dez shook his head. “What a tragedy. That poor young woman.”

Dalinda pulled him along again. “There is nothing we can do about it. They are gone—and you are now Torrington. Oh, I am so glad you stopped at Gillingham before you traveled home.”

“I had to see you. I wanted to meet your boys and the duke. If you don’t mind, I would like Arthur and Harry to come spend a couple of weeks with me each summer. I’d like to get to know them better.”

He thought especially if Arthur were to be his heir, it would be good for the boy to be familiar with the estate.

“That would be marvelous, Dez.”

She paused. “These are Gilford’s rooms.” Opening the door, she motioned him in and followed. They entered a sitting room and he spied a tall, gaunt man gazing out the window, gripping a chair. He wore a silk banyan and had dark brown hair peppered with gray.

He turned and smiled. Dez could see the kindness in the duke’s eyes.

Stepping forward, he bowed and said, “Good afternoon, Your Grace. I am Lord Torrington, Dalinda’s brother.”

Gilford took his hand and Dez thought the handshake stronger than he would have imagined from one so frail.

“I am delighted to meet you, Torrington,” the duke said, his eyes twinkling. “My wife speaks very highly of you. She reads your letters aloud to me.”

Dez understood why Dalinda had an immediate kinship with the duke. “She has praised you as well, Your Grace.”

“Why don’t we sit?” Dalinda suggested and helped ease her husband into the chair.

They spoke several minutes, the duke reminiscing about how he and Dalinda had met, and then she suggested the two men play a game of chess.

“I’ll fetch the board,” she offered and crossed the room, bringing it back.

He saw the pieces already in place. “I haven’t played in a good number of years.”

Gilford’s eyes lit up. “All the better for me to beat you.”

They played for half an hour and seemed evenly matched. Then Dez saw the duke tiring and decided to make an ill-advised move. Gilford pounced upon him and, five minutes later, the duke emerged as the game’s victor.

“You are out of practice to make such a novice mistake,” Gilford said as Dalinda swept the board away.

Dez realized the duke knew exactly what he had done. “Perhaps I will win the next time we play, Your Grace.”

“I’ll hold you to a rematch,” Gilford said, wincing.

“You are tired,” Dalinda proclaimed. “You need to get some rest.”

He helped his sister escort the duke into his bedchamber and the two of them got Gilford settled. He was fast asleep before they even left the room.

“Thank you for playing with him—and letting him win,” she said gratefully. “I have longed for you to meet one another for many years.”

“I see why you