Echoes in the Darkness Read Online Free PDF Page A

to me. His hand reached out instinctively for mine, and I saw Tynan’s eyes drop to take in the gesture.
    “He has been travelling around the country checking on our interests. At present, I believe he is in Liverpool.” He turned to me, explaining further. “Although our family home is here in Cornwall, Miss Varga, the Athal estate is a vast network of business concerns. Prior to my twenty-first birthday, the estate was run by my uncle, Uther Jago. He was also my guardian.” His voice was level, but I sensed a world of stories behind the words. “He built up the empire that exists today. I, in my own way, have added to it. My other son, Cad, acts as my man of business. We have factories in Lancashire and a port office in Liverpool that oversees exports and imports.” Throughout this speech, Eddie fiddled restlessly with the bracelet I wore. He appeared not to be listening. “This will all belong to Eddie, to both of you, one day.”
    “It sounds quite daunting,” I said. I tried to draw Eddie into the conversation by looking his way, but his gaze was fixed on a point just beyond his father’s head.
    Tynan nodded. “It would be, I believe, were it not for Cad’s almost superhuman efforts.” I couldn’t help feeling it was rather tactless of him to keep emphasising that point, when it clearly unsettled Eddie to hear of his brother’s expertise. “Now, of course, it is time for both my sons to work together. This illness of mine is a timely reminder of the need for Eddie to pick up the reins.” I was relieved when he changed the subject. “But my manners are sadly lacking today, my dear. These are conversations for the estate office, not the house. Tell me about your journey. The channel crossing can be most unpleasant at this time of year.” We passed another ten minutes in an exchange of idle pleasantries. I relaxed further when Eddie finally joined in the conversation, entertaining his father with an account of my reaction upon being introduced to an item called “black pudding” during my first—and, I vowed, last—English breakfast. I was still of the opinion that this supposed delicacy, a type of sausage made from dried pig’s blood, was a practical joke played by the entire English nation on the rest of the world. I was content, however, to let Tynan and Eddie’s laughter wash over me, since this signalled that the difficult conversations were at an end. For the time being, at least.
    Eddie and I took our leave of his father and went to get ready for dinner. A maid showed me to my bedchamber, but, once inside, I realised I had left my purse in Tynan’s room. Clicking my tongue impatiently at my own carelessness, I hurried back along the corridors to get it. The door to the earl’s suite was open, and as I approached, I heard Tynan talking to Lucy. I paused guiltily at one side of the doorway. They were discussing me. Their disapproval was clear, but, I was forced to concede, hardly surprising.
    “I cannot like this engagement, Tynan,” Lucy was saying. “We know nothing of this girl, only that he met her in Paris. I have every respect for Harris’s efficiency as a solicitor. And when we asked him to find out about Eddie’s life in France, he reported that our son was living with a woman. One, moreover, whom he described as being of easy virtue. I’m sure you will agree that Harris is not a gentleman given to exaggeration, and I remember distinctly that he told us Eddie’s mistress was known amongst the artistic community for her extortionate prices. It does not take a great leap of the imagination to guess what she was charging for! The future Countess of Athal is nothing more than a common prostitute!”
    “We do not know that this girl is the same one. If she is, I agree, it is hardly an ideal situation,” he replied. “But only consider,
hweg,
this marriage may be exactly what Eddie needs to make him settle down and take his responsibilities to the family and the estate seriously