Free Barbara Metzger by Father Christmas Page B

excuse. If temptation is too great for a man of the cloth, how are we poor mortals expected to manage? Right now I am tempted to go wring your father’s scrawny neck! To think of you acting the servant in his home so he can purchase moldy old books makes my blood boil. I’ve half a mind to have him hauled before the magistrate.” His pacing grew more rapid.
    “You mustn’t, please. My mother is of a nervous disposition. That would kill her.”
    “Then what would you have me do? I cannot just plant him a facer, a man his age, and I certainly cannot issue a challenge to a cleric. Of course, I have it in my power to see he’s not a clergyman in my district anymore.”
    “Please, the church is his life. He really is a devout man.” Graceanne sniffled again, which did not ease the duke’s anger one whit.
    “Except for greed, deceit, and dishonor, to say nothing of being the starched-up prig Aunt Eudora called him. You cannot intend to let him get away with this.”
    “Exactly how much…? That is, how tempted was he?” Graceanne wanted to know.
    Leland paused long enough in his pacing to listen to the dying commotion in the hall, which she seemed not to hear, thank goodness. Then he named a sum that had the widow gasping. Graceanne knew the value of things from doing the household accounts; this was far beyond any computations she’d handled.
    “Why, that’s a king’s ransom!”
    “Not quite,” he said dryly. “It wouldn’t even pay Prinny’s debts for a month. But that’s the capital, of course, which should stay intact so the children have a legacy when they reach their majority. Unless Willy is duke by then, in which case only Leslie inherits. Meanwhile, the interest and earnings on investments should be enough for living expenses and incidentals. That’s decent living, mind you, befitting a gentleman’s sons, no more scrimping and cheese-paring. I had always intended to pay the boys’ schooling”—he hadn’t thought of it till then, but he should have—“so you needn’t count that in your figuring. Nor the ponies.”
    “Oh, my.” She’d never been fonder of Tony than at that moment, nor of His Grace! With a radiant smile, she said, “What a marvelous Christmas present! I don’t know how I can ever thank you.”
    He kicked the edge of the fireplace. “Thank me? You should be wishing me to perdition. I should have seen you settled back in England myself, but it was easier to assume you were more comfortable with your parents. And then I should have looked into the matter sooner rather than suspect you of any hugger-mugger.”
    “But you couldn’t have known. And I think you are taking on too much responsibility. I should have asked to see Tony’s papers.”
    Leland was about to explain that looking after those dependent on him was his responsibility as duke, when the butler cleared his throat in the doorway. “Your Grace?”
    “Yes, Milsom, what is it?”
    “I thought Your Grace might be wondering about the slight disturbance. The fire is out now.” He bowed and backed out of the room.
    Leland resumed his pacing. “So what about the reverend? What shall you do?”
    “I shall cast up my accounts if you don’t stop moving to and fro,” she said in exasperation, rubbing her temples.
    Leland smiled. “See the power of money? A bit of a windfall and no more meek little sparrow. The humble widow is already giving orders to dukes. Not that you were ever quite humble,” he amended, taking a seat across from her. “But seriously, you don’t have to stay in your father’s house any longer.”
    Graceanne pondered her choices. “My suddenly taking a cottage in the village would be degrading to my mother. And it would leave her and my sister no better off. They’d still be at Papa’s mercy.”
    “You could move in here,” he suggested. “The boys being my heirs, no one would think anything of it.”
    No one would think anything good of it, he should have said. Graceanne could just