Free A Terrible Beauty (Season of the Furies Book 1) by Stephanie Patterson

Winston?”
    “Leave it alone, Michael. There’s nothing you have to say that you haven’t said before. Second sons will do in a pinch if they have a good income,” Drew said bitterly, “but third sons can’t compete without a title of some sort.” He turned an ugly shade of red. “I’ve heard it all before and not put nearly as diplomatically as that. I have a rather meager inheritance and Henry will settle a small income on me when I marry, but as Fiona is rather fond of pointing out, it won't be anything nearly grand enough to tempt Lady Arabella.” His voice become falsetto. “After all, Henry and I will have our own children's futures to consider.”
    Michael grinned. He had Fiona’s intonation down perfectly. His sister-in-law had no intention of parting with one sovereign more than necessary to support Henry’s family. Michael thanked his own financial skills. He wouldn’t need any handouts from Henry – quite the contrary. Henry might well end up petitioning Michael for funds one day, especially if he didn’t reign in his wife’s penchant for gambling, or their mother’s constant renovations to her dower house at Stowebridge Abbey.
    Drew ducked his head in embarrassment. “I suppose that was a beastly thing to say about their children, seeing as Fee lost her baby this fall.”
    “You didn’t mean anything by that, Drew,” Michael offered. “Besides, by the time our fair sister-in-law returns from Italy, Henry will have her pleasantly rounded with a babe and she’ll be too occupied with becoming a mother to bother about you, or me.”
    “She says I should join the cavalry,” Drew said, dejectedly. “Fiona thinks she’s being subtle, telling me how handsome I’ll look in uniform astride a horse. She says I’d have my pick of wives. She just wants me out from underfoot and thinks that the cost of buying me a commission would save the estate money in the long run.”
    “Absolutely not,” Michael replied flatly. He’d speak with Henry upon his return and demand he control his wife, or by God, Michael would do it himself.
    Drew glared at him. “Don’t you think I could make a go of it?” he asked in a belligerent tone. “You’re not the only one in this family who can seek his fortune. I’ll have you know that I’m a bruising rider. Father always said I sat a mount better than anyone he knew. Anyone.” Drew made the last word a spiteful jab, but Michael ignored it.
    “I think you can accomplish anything you set your mind on, Drew. It’s just that there’s a war on and you know how our mother would worry. She depends on you more now that Henry has married. If you leave it will be hard on her. As you know, Mother and I...don’t...get along.” It was the understatement of the year. While Michael felt that much of Drew’s problems stemmed from their mother’s strangle hold on his young life, he’d rather see his little brother enjoying the night life of Paris or Rome, not joining the military during a war. Drew needed to learn to drink, gamble and fuck, not get himself shot.
    Thanks to their Mother, Drew had been pulled from Eton before he’d gotten around to any of the pleasurable pursuits that enticed the older boys. Her excuse had been their father’s failing health, but Drew knew better. She’d wanted her little courtier at her side – her favorite accessory when staging her public roles, particularly useful in her part of the devoted wife.
    “You won’t have to worry about following the drum for your living, Drew,” Michael said, firmly. “Between the funds father left for you and what I plan to settle on you once you’ve chosen your bride you’ll have more than enough funds to make a good start in life. I’ll teach you to mange and invest it and soon you’ll have your own wealth to leave to your children.”
    Drew’s eyes filled with hope. “Do you mean that, Michael? You’d teach me?”
    “It would be my pleasure,” he answered with feeling. The earnest