Free The Shocking Secret of a Guest at the Wedding (Millworth Manor) by Victoria Alexander Page A

you’re right. It’s a bloody great miracle. Millworth and the title going to your son, my nephew. Nothing could make me happier.”
    “But Father.” Delilah cast an apologetic look at Mr. Russell. “He’s American. You can’t have an American Earl of Briston.”
    “I don’t see why not,” Mr. Russell said in a casual manner and glanced at Lionel. “Is there any legal reason why an American couldn’t inherit an English title?”
    Beryl’s husband was a political sort, a member of Parliament, and if anyone knew the legal repercussions of any question, Lionel did. Or, as Basil had always suspected, he simply thought he did. “From what I gather thus far, Colonel Channing was, and still is apparently, legally married to this man’s mother so legitimacy is not an issue. Regardless of where he resides or where he was born, he is the colonel’s legal heir and, after the colonel, Lord Briston’s closest male relative. As his father is English, he would be considered a subject of the Crown even though his American birth gives him citizenship in that country as well. The way I see it, and I very much doubt that I’m wrong on this, he is considered a citizen of both countries.”
    “Entirely more than we wanted to know, dear,” Beryl said to her husband.
    “Quite right.” Lionel nodded. “Well, I don’t see any impediment to his inheriting at all.”
    Perhaps Lionel was as clever as he thought himself after all. Beryl’s smile of pride said she certainly thought so.
    “But in every way that truly counts, he’s an American.” Horror sounded in Delilah’s voice.
    Grayson inclined his head toward Mr. Russell and lowered his voice. “I suspect that sort of thing is going to be most annoying in the future.”
    “Oh, I’m not worried. She’ll come around. You’d be surprised at how willing she is to compromise.” Mr. Russell grinned confidently, his gaze firmly on Delilah. “Besides, we have a contract.”
    Grayson frowned in confusion. “A what?”
    “None of your concern.” Delilah huffed and a blush washed up her face.
    “So then . . .” Camille said slowly. “You’ve met him? The new son, that is?”
    “Goodness, Camille.” Beryl sighed. “Why do you think he went to New York?”
    “I don’t know,” Camille snapped. “Why does anyone go to New York?”
    “I went to meet my son, of course.” Basil frowned at the twins. “And I brought him back with me.”
    Bernadette’s eyes widened. “You what?”
    “He’s here?” Camille stared. “He came to my wedding?”
    “I do hope he brought a nice gift,” Beryl murmured.
    “Yes,” Basil said in the hard, quiet, commanding tone that had once made grown men shake. “I brought him to Millworth to make the acquaintance of his family. To his cousin’s wedding.”
    “Excellent.” Nigel beamed. “When can we meet him?”
    “I sent a footman to fetch him.”
    An awkward silence fell over the group. For the first time in Basil’s memory, none of the female members of his family had anything to say. Although their faces clearly gave away their thoughts.
    “There is nothing that makes me more uncomfortable than when we’re all thinking a myriad of different thoughts and yet none of us have the courage to speak them aloud.” Beryl rose to her feet. “Well, I for one, think it’s splendid, just splendid.” She directed a brilliant smile at her uncle. “Congratulations, Uncle Basil, on the birth of your son.”
    “It’s not quite that easy,” Bernadette said thoughtfully. “There will be a great deal of talk, you know.”
    “Gossip.” Delilah sighed. “Again.”
    “Oh, we have certainly weathered gossip before.” Bernadette waved a dismissive hand. “And emerged none the worse for it really. Delilah is the only one who has ever been especially bothered by it. And Basil.” She smiled at her brother-in-law. “You have my heartfelt congratulations as well. I too think it’s splendid that you have found your