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Papa’s firm hand, the servants are taking advantage.”
    â€œBut some of them have been with us for years!”
    â€œAlec will have to nip this in the bud,” he replied in an offhand manner. “Someone has been taking advantage of you, Mother, in Papa’s absence.”
    She looked down and paused. Her bosom heaved anxiously as she gathered her thoughts. She knew that her son would not care to hear what she had to say next.
    â€œI think it would be best if you returned to the Hall and took care of it for me,” she said firmly.
    â€œAlec is more than capable of doing it himself,” he replied wearily, as he threw himself down on a button-back chair. “Write to him and tell him of your suspicions and he will act accordingly.”
    She bit her lip. Her gentle approach had failed and now she would be forced to use a sterner hand.
    â€œBut, darling, you are the Earl now, it is your duty.”
    He stared at her and a mist descended unbidden in front of his eyes. He clenched his fists and banged them on the hard chair arms, hurting his hands in the process.
    â€œDammit it all, Mama!” he snapped. “Why should I? Alec is doing a fine job and he will take care of this problem once I draw it to his attention. It does not require my presence at Ledbury Hall.”
    â€œRobert,” said his mother in a voice like iced steel. “It is plain the servants believe that they can pull the wool over his eyes. Although they might respect him, they do not fear him in the same way that they do you. No, I am sorry – you must go to Ledbury Hall as soon as possible. Your father would turn in his grave if he could hear you show so little concern for his beloved estate.”
    â€œI don’t care a fig for the estate!” shouted Robert; his blue eyes red balls of fury. “I did not ask to be born first and I do not see why I should interfere when Alec is perfectly capable of clearing up this awful mess himself.”
    With that he rose and tore open the door.
    Tears pricked her eyes as she listened to his angry footsteps thundering down the corridor and up the stairs.
    Upstairs he nearly wrenched his bedroom door off its hinges and locked it behind him.
    Almost immediately he became consumed with remorse for speaking to his mother in such a disrespectful manner.
    Of course, she was right. It was his duty to take charge and discipline whosoever was responsible for the goings-on at Ledbury Hall. Indeed he already had his own suspicions as to who the culprit might be.
    But the yoke of responsibility was strangling him and made him unable to breathe or to think.
    This was not how he imagined life after the Army would be. He had never envisaged that his father would die so early and leave him to cope so unprepared.
    â€˜When I was in the Army, my life had meaning,’ he mumbled, holding his head in his hands. ‘And now, it has none. With Papa gone I feel like a rudderless ship.’
    Suddenly as if from nowhere, great heaving sobs wracked his body. He missed his father greatly and wished he was still here to guide him and, yes, he did want him to be proud of him.
    Yet he still could not grasp the nettle and do what was required.
    A soft knock followed by Monkhouse’s low tones forced him to pull himself together. Steeling himself, he moved to the locked door and turned the key.
    â€œMy Lord, her Ladyship has asked you to be ready at seven o’clock. I believe you are dining out?”
    The Earl nodded.
    â€œThat is correct, Monkhouse. Please make certain that the carriage is on time. And have my evening clothes ready for me in an hour, please.”
    The Earl sank down on the bed and felt a wave of despondency. Even the thought of Constance’s charms did nothing to lift his spirits. At least in the Army he had something to live for and to spur him on. And now?
    â€˜I am a man without purpose,’ he murmured, as he moved towards the tall cheval mirror near