While he waited for the invasion, he leaned his elbows on the desk and dropped his head into his hands, shutting his eyes against all the paper. Bills, letters, a notice from his mortgage holder that a payment was overdue. If only he had enough money to settle it all, get a fresh start…
He would have to see how Rand was coming along with the translation. But even if Secrets of the Emerald Tablet did hold the key to making gold, it could take months or possibly years to get the formula to work…
He jerked upright, staring at the chest across the room. He’d always assumed it wouldn’t have been left here if it contained anything valuable, but what if Kendra were on to something? The chest she and her husband had found for King Charles had been filled with precious metal and jewels, and for all Ford knew, this one could be stuffed to the brim with gold.
The solution to his problems might have been sitting here all along: the means to pay the debts, the proof to convince Violet he didn’t need her for her inheritance.
His heart was racing by the time the family trooped in. Colin led the regiment with Amy, who was holding their baby son Aidan in her arms. Ford’s oldest brother, Jason, followed behind with his wife, Caithren. Kendra brought up the rear, her husband, Patrick—or Trick, as they all called him—by her side with their one-year-old girl.
Their remaining collective five offspring burst in after them, racing around Ford’s desk, hanging on his back, climbing on the chairs and the iron chest.
Whatever had made him think he might want one of these wild creatures? Then Jewel climbed up on his lap in greeting, and as she pressed a damp kiss to his cheek, he suddenly remembered why.
“Here it is,” Kendra said, leading her tall, golden-haired husband to the chest. She plucked her nephew Hugh off of it and plopped him on his feet.
The boy looked up. “Can you open it, Uncle Trick?”
Trick grinned, displaying a front tooth with a slightly chipped corner. “I wasn’t a smuggler in my prior life for nothing, you know.” Handing his baby daughter to his wife, he pulled out his knife and dropped to one knee to get to work.
While his brother-in-law probed the heavy lock, Ford rose and set Jewel down, taking her hand as he walked closer. As though the chest were a magnet attracting metal shavings, everyone else drifted near and gathered around, until they were all hanging over it in anticipation. An expectant quiet descended on the room. Even the children stopped playing.
Ford’s heart hammered against his ribs. This could be the answer—
A rusty click shattered the silence. Trick twisted the old padlock from the hasp.
Ford moved in, holding his breath as he stooped to raise the iron lid.
As one, the family exhaled.
Jewel tugged on Ford’s breeches. “It’s empty, Uncle Ford.”
“I can see that.”
It would have been such a nice, neat solution. But he’d always known there was nothing of value in that chest. Otherwise, he’d have hacked off the lock years ago.
He might be desperate, but he wasn’t stupid.
Kendra reached to touch his arm. “I’m sorry.”
At that, Colin sighed. “Were you expecting this to solve all your money problems?”
Ford’s jaw tensed. “What makes you think I have money problems?” He let the heavy lid close with a slam.
A rotting wooden panel detached itself from the wall and tumbled to their feet.
Followed by a sprinkle of plaster.
Colin shot Ford a sarcastic look.
Jason lifted a squirming niece off the trunk and set her back on the floor. ”You’re always looking for the easy way out, Ford.” The compassion in his brother’s voice didn’t cut the sting of his words for Ford. “One of these days, you’re going to have to give in and face your responsibilities.”
Ford raked his hands through his hair. Would his family forever see him this way? In the past few weeks, he’d proved himself capable of caring for a child. He’d completed his first significant scientific achievement. He’d fallen in love and wanted to get married. Hadn’t he changed?
“Who invited you here to pick on me?”
“We need no invitation. We’re family. Do you ask for an invitation before coming to Cainewood?”
“That’s different. I live there.”
“Do you?” Jason raised a brow. Maybe he sensed the changes in Ford, after all.
And Ford wondered: where did he live? At the Chase town house in London? Or the big castle at Cainewood? Or here?
He wanted to live here, he realized. Not in bustling London near the Royal Society and all his friends, not at his brother’s castle with his family. Here, in the staid countryside. With Violet.
Criminy, love changed things more than he’d thought possible.
Amy and Cait exchanged a sympathetic glance. “Ford—” they started together.
“Milord, do you not think you should have left for Lady Violet’s celebration already?” Hilda bustled into the room, a steaming pie in her hands. “I’ve made a tart for you to bring. Cherry, the young viscount’s favorite.”
“A celebration?” Kendra’s eyes lit. “What is it for?”
“Her birthday,” Ford said shortly. “And none of you are invited.”
“But Uncle Ford.” Jewel turned her little face up, her eyes pleading. “Mama promised I can see Rowan.”
In the face of an argument like that, there was no hope in fighting this battle. Already, he had lost.
FIFTY-ONE
EIGHTEEN. IT FELT no different than seventeen, which Violet found amazing, especially considering she’d now experienced her first—and probably last—love.
Standing before her dressing table, she peered into the mirror and straightened one of the bright green ribbons that Margaret had woven through her plait. She squinted and moved closer, removing her spectacles. Shouldn’t there be new creases around her eyes? A slight maturation in her features? Anything?
When a knock came at her door, she shoved the spectacles back on. “Come in.”
The door opened a crack. “Violet?”
“Yes, Mum.” She swiveled on the stool to face her. “Is it already time for
