The Duke’s London house was modest but well appointed. The family did not use the house as much as they used to, but it was kept fully staffed, and Grandmamma Augusta did enjoy going for the opera season.

Thomas was in London on business this trip. He had set up appointments with his solicitor and two bankers. Thomas realized he had been lax about his responsibilities to the estate. But it had become apparent that he needed to find out why the estate was losing money instead of making it. It could not be only the troubles in the West Indies. His father had informed him of the variety of their investments, and it made no sense that one part of the portfolio should cause this massive loss of income.

He arrived at his solicitor’s office at ten o’clock as scheduled. Sir Benjamin Stockwell was happy to see him after such a long time.

“Come in, Your Grace. I thought you might have forgotten about us.”

“I am afraid it is my fault. I have not been attending to business as I should have, and unfortunately, I am here to discuss the state of my estate. I have not been happy, recently, with the results of our investments .”

Sir Benjamin was an elderly gentleman whom Thomas had known since boyhood. The gentleman was stalwart and industrious, with a sterling reputation, but he was also a bit dried out, dusty, and bloodless.

“Yes, I understand your concern,” Sir Benjamin said, directing Thomas to sit in a chair opposite his desk. “When you made your appointment, I pulled out your files, and have been reviewing the financial statements, and I can see there is a good reason to review these accounts.”

“And have you found an explanation for this precipitous fall in income, Sir Benjamin?” Thomas asked.

“Have you spoken to your bankers yet?”

“My next appointments are with them.”

“From what I can ascertain, there has been a lot of shifting of funds from one investment to another. Shares were bought and sold regularly What was your motive in doing that?”

Thomas did not understand. “I am sorry, but I have not been moving any funds. The share accounts were set up for the interest from the investments to go into the operating account for the estate. Other than that, I have not been shifting any funds.”

“It clearly shows in these statements that shares have been sold and moved to other accounts. But there is no way to ascertain what was behind those transfers of funds.”

“You mean to say, that shares have been sold and the money moved elsewhere?”

“It would seem to be so. But it is difficult to tell. There has been so much activity—both selling and buying. But I assumed it was you who made these transfers.”

Thomas felt uncomfortable. “I am sorry to say it was not me. It seems I have been a poor caretaker of the estate business. But I am determined to find out what has been going on and to remedy the situation if I can.”

Sir Benjamin handed Thomas his file. “These are the statements showing the activity. I trust you have your own copies which we forwarded to you on a regular basis?”

Thomas looked at the papers. “Yes, I do have these same statements, and that is why I am here. To see what can be done about this situation. Can you assist me?”

Thomas handed the file back, and Sir Benjamin thought for a moment or two.

“Since we are not the transactors in these stock sales and purchases, I am afraid we can do little except to advise you on a course of action you might choose to take.”

“Then what do you advise?”

“Very well. First, I suggest you speak to the bankers. They are entrusted with the management of your stocks and funds. They are in a much better position to advise you than I am.”

“And that is where I am now headed.” But Thomas had a further question. “Might there be some wrongdoing in this mess? And, if there is, are you able to help me with legal action if it is necessary?”

“We can certainly advise you as to that. But first, you need to uncover the extent of any wrongdoing and hopefully find out who might be responsible.”

Thomas went directly to his next appointment at Hargrove, Smyth and Phillips private banking. Mr. Phineas Hargrove was his personal banker.

“Welcome, Your Grace. Most happy to see you, Sir. Please come into my office,” Mr. Hargrove ushered Thomas inside.

“I am so happy you contacted us, I have been meaning to write you about your financial situation. But I see you are aware of the problem and have come to speak to me about it.”

Mr. Hargrove was a rather handsome and well-kept man for his age of sixty. He was the founder of the bank and dealt exclusively with Thomas’s father before his death.

“My first question for you, Your Grace, is why have you been making so many stock transactions in the past year or so? You had a very stable investment portfolio, but it has deteriorated significantly.”

“That is exactly my point, Mr. Hargrove—I have not been making any transactions at all. And it is only recently that I have become aware of the grave shortfall in our income. And I was led to believe it was because of a failure in our West Indies investments. Is that not the case?”

“I see.” Hargrove examined his ledger quite closely now. “Someone has been creating this activity. Do you have any idea… Oh, wait a minute, I think I understand. Prior to your coming of age, your Uncle Mowbray was your guardian, was he not?”

“That is correct.”

“Well, it seems he was never removed as the executor of these accounts. The only thing that makes any sense is that he has continued to act on your behalf. Might that be the case?”

Thomas was ashamed to admit it was so. “Well… I have been rather lax in my duties to the estate and I remember Uncle saying he was continuing to look after the accounts for me until I was ready to take charge.”

“But you came of age many years ago. Do you mean to say you have not taken charge until now?” Mr. Hargrove said with a certain amount of censure in his voice.

“I have not, and I have only myself to blame for that oversight. I found my freedom as the new Duke was heady, and I enjoyed the privileges over the responsibilities.”

“I see,” Mr. Hargrove said, adjusting his pince-nez and closing the ledger. “Then I trust you will be setting things straight quite soon?”

“And we can start immediately by removing all account privileges from my Uncle. He is not to have access to any of my business from here on out—effective immediately.”

“Most wise. And you might consider taking a look at your investment portfolio and getting it in order.”

“I intend to. Thank you for your time, Mr. Hargrove.”

“Please let me know how I can assist you further should the need arise,” he said standing.

Thomas’s next appointment was with the bank where his grandmother had her account. She had asked him to fetch some trust documents for her and to ask for the most recent balance statement on her account.

Thomas’s mind was on his own financial situation when he arrived at her bank. He went to the manager’s office and requested an interview and was promptly shown into his office.

“Andrew Burk, at your service, Your Grace. And how may I help you today?” the short man with an imposing mustache asked.

“I am here for my grandmother, Augusta Mowbray. She wishes me to fetch some documents for her and she wishes a copy of her most recent account statement.”

“Of course. Are you a signer on her account?”

“I am.”

Mr. Burk went to his shelf and pulled out a large master ledger.

“One moment please.” He examined the book and, found what he was looking for, looked up at Thomas, appearing to be puzzled.

“I have found the account, but is your grandmother aware that her balance is almost depleted?”

Thomas was so shocked he stood up. “How can that be?”

Mr. Burk studied the entries. “Yes, six months ago her balance was well over fifteen thousand pounds.” He studied the entries more closely. “And today the balance is just a little over five hundred pounds.”

“How can that be? She barely uses any of her money as her basic needs are provided for by my estate.”

“Have you been making any withdrawals for her?”

“None whatsoever,” Thomas insisted.

“Ah… I see you are not the only other signer on her account. It seems her son, the Earl of Denham, also has access to her account.”

“This is outrageous,” Thomas said to himself. He took up his hat and prepared to leave when he remembered he still needed the trust papers.

“Mr. Burk, I think I understand the situation now. If you would be so kind as to fetch these documents for me, I shall begin to take care of this matter immediately.” He handed him a list of the documents required.

“I assume I am unable to remove the Earl of Denham’s name from her account?” Thomas asked.

“That is correct. It is your grandmother who must request the removal of his name as a signer on her account.”

“Then if you will prepare those papers for me, as well, I shall take them to her for her signature,” Thomas said with resolution.

Thomas did not know if his uncle was in town or not, but he went directly to his uncle’s house, was admitted by the butler and taken to the drawing room.

“I shall let his Lordship know you wish to see him,” the butler said and left.

While he waited, Thomas studied the room. He had been here many times before but had never had the opportunity to study the room. Now Thomas was not particularly knowledgeable about furnishing a house, but he did believe he could tell good taste from poor. His uncle’s furnishings were garish with colors that did not match—yellow draperies with an overabundance of red cording, tassels and fringe—green and purple upholstered chairs, paintings with monstrously baroque gilded frames and an almost obscene tapestry of nude maidens dancing in a forest glen with a number of attending satyrs. Thomas could not help but give an involuntary shudder.

“Nephew, I did not know you were to be in town. Might I get you a whiskey?” he asked heading directly over to his sideboard where he poured himself a drink.

“Uncle it is not even noon yet. Far too early for me.”

“Please sit. Might you stay for lunch? If so, I must alert cook.”

“Not today. I am here on rather serious business and I need your full attention,” Thomas said rather sternly.

“Oh, how ominous sounding. There is not something wrong with Mother, is there?” Wilcox asked, and sat opposite Thomas.

“Her health is fine, but I am afraid her bank account is not.” Thomas let that statement hang in the air for a moment and watched carefully for his uncle’s reaction.

Wilcox sat back in his chair. “Ah…”

“Nothing more to say?” Thomas asked.

“I take it you have been looking at the bank accounts,” he quietly said.

“I have. And imagine my astonishment when I saw the balances of not only the estate’s account but Grandmamma’s account as well. I need to know what you know about these matters.”

“And why should I know anything?” Wilcox asked with no hint of guilt.

“Because I have evidence that you were buying and selling stocks from my account and you were a signer on your mother’s account and there was a lot of activity that drained her account of nearly fifteen thousand pounds. There is no one else who had access.”

His uncle shrugged. “Well, you had access to both accounts I believe. How do I know that you did not take advantage of that access?”

“Oh, Uncle, how stupid do you think I am? First, you admitted to me only recently that you had been continuing to manage the estate account because you rightly accused me of neglecting my duty to the estate. I certainly acknowledge my fault in that, but I have proof that there was a substantial amount of activity on that account and large sums of the capital have disappeared.”

“I see…”

“And as for your mother’s account, her balance of fifteen thousand has dwindled during the last six months to only about five hundred. I know I have not made any withdrawals. And I know for certain she has not either. So, Uncle, you tell me who else it could be but you?”

Wilcox got up without saying anything and went to pour himself another drink before turning back to face Thomas.

“So… I have been found out. I knew it was only a matter of time. Now what is to be done, that is the question, is it not?”

Thomas stood, “Yes, it is. So, you admit taking the money?”

“I had no choice. I have had a few money problems lately,” he said with seemingly no remorse. “And since we are all family, I assumed…”

“So, you just take it from your mother and me?”

“You were inattentive and mother… well, she would leave it to me eventually anyway. I saw no harm?”

“Did you ever think to ask her for the money, or did you just take it without her knowledge?”

“I was in rather a hurry, you see. I had some investments that went bad, and when that started, I tried winning at cards. A rather risky solution, I know. And after losing more than winning, I borrowed some money from unconventional sources. And when that money became due and I couldn’t pay, I began to be threatened by… some unsavory fellows. Well, one thing led to another and, before I knew it, I was in so deep I had no other choice. It was literally a matter of life and death, you see.”

“And have you cleared your debts with our money?”

“Some of them.”

“You mean there are still more?”

Wilcox shrugged. “A few.”

Thomas folded his arms, turned away, and began to pace. “And what do you suggest be done, Uncle? You have drained your mother’s savings and nearly bankrupted my estate.” He turned back to his uncle. “And I suppose you have no prospects—either for yourself or any way to make this right to your mother and me?”

“As a matter of fact, Nephew, there might be a way.”

“I am eager to hear.”

“We have spoken about this matter before. A marriage to the perfect young heiress would be most beneficial for the entire family. It could solve all of our problems and make all matters right.”

“And you have a prospect? You found such an heiress willing to marry you at your age?”

Uncle laughed. “Oh, Thomas, the marriage is not for me. It is for you.”

Thomas was now furious. “I told you already, I do not intend to marry Helena. She wishes to marry George Edgerton, and she and I have no intention of marrying each other.”

“Well, you asked for a solution. I am suggesting one,” Uncle said as he poured himself yet another drink.

Thomas glared at his uncle. “I believe I should take legal action against you. This house, your estate, and your other assets would at least be able to pay your mother back from what you have stolen.”

Uncle took a leisurely sip of his whiskey and began to tour his drawing room. “Nephew, do you not think I have already mortgaged every asset I own to the hilt? All you would accomplish is to drag the family name into the mud, but with no financial reward. I have nothing, and I am certain you must understand that. And think how that would affect mother? It might make her ill—or worse.” He turned and glanced askance at Thomas.

“You are the most irreparable scoundrel, Uncle.”

“Yes, I suppose I am, but there you have it.”

Thomas was at a loss for words. It appeared he was at a dead end with his uncle.

Uncle then smiled and said, “Now then, let us discuss some lovely eligible young ladies, I know about, who would make the most perfect Duchess of Pemberton.”