Debtor’s prison.
“And your sister? Life will change for her, too. You have to tell her, Elliot. This isn’t a secret that can be kept from her.”
“I know. She already knows the situation is not wonderful, but I have yet to tell her the full extent.” Elliot returned his gaze to his friend, seeing the pained expression on Harrison’s face. “I vowed when I heard of my parents’ death to come back and care for her in the way they never did. What care can I offer now, Harrison? Without a penny to my name.”
Harrison had no words of comfort to offer, but he clapped Elliot on the shoulder in silent support.
***
“Grace, do sit down for five minutes, I beg of you,” Elliot pleaded with her. His sister was so caught up in her excitement that she hopped on the other side of the room, then turned in a quick circle.
“Do you not think it is beautiful, Elliot? Oh, I think it is stunning!”
The last dress their mother had ordered for Grace had just been delivered by the modiste. Covered in ruffles and ribbons, it was an over-the-top display of wealth. Even the silk was embroidered in such a way that announced money.
Money we do not have.
“Yes, it is beautiful, but I am trying to be serious here,” Elliot pleaded.
At once, the smile vanished from Grace’s face. She lowered the dress to the box beside her and gave the box to her maid, who curtsied and hurried out of the room.
“Oh dear. I do not like serious, Elliot. He’s rather miserable.” Her words sounded like she was younger than she really was at six and ten. Elliot thought that Grace sometimes held onto the innocence of childhood.
He couldn’t blame her for it. He had often wondered if it was her way of drawing attention from their parents who were not able to give them much love at all. Elliot had coped in quite a different way, by ignoring his parents as they did him and running off to the continent.
“Please, Grace, bear with my misery for now. It is important.” He held out a pleading hand toward her. She hurried across the room, bobbing on her toes as a child might, until she reached his side of the room and sat down in a high-backed chair.
“What is it you wish to speak of?” she asked. She had dark eyes, a brown so deep it was almost black, just like his own—though where hers often sparkled with excitement, Elliot knew his own had an intensity.
Apparently, that intense gaze was with him now, as she stopped fidgeting in her chair and her smile wavered.
“What is it, Elliot?”
He checked that the maid had closed the door behind her as she left before he leaned forward and took his sister’s hand. “I hinted to you the other day that the situation our parents had left us in was one that was less than ideal.”
“I remember.” She nodded, quite calm now.
“I have been talking to the solicitor about the death tax, and our parents’ lenders.”
“Lenders?” Grace repeated the word, her body stiffening before she glanced back to the box that carried the dress. Without uttering a word, she gestured to it.
“Yes. I have reason to believe that most purchases our parents have made over the past few months have been made entirely through borrowing.”
“Oh.” Grace’s breath hitched. She blinked a few times, as if fighting tears, but to her credit, she didn’t let them come. “So, what does this mean for you and me, Elliot?”
“It means we are in heavy debt.” His words made her spine crumple, in much the same way as his own had done. “We owe money to many people. One bank has called in a loan, and we must find money from somewhere. In the meantime, we will have to economise. Any extra expenses must be cut. You understand?” He made his voice soft, not wanting to scare her, but pleading with her to see why he was doing this.
“Yes, of course I do.” She laid her other hand over his. For a moment, she didn’t seem so young, but quite like a grown-up woman. “Which expenses will have to be cut?”
“Many. Some of our staff have been dismissed, many of the regular outgoings on food have been slashed to come from cheaper sources, and…” He paused, holding his sister’s gaze before he uttered the next words. “And I’m afraid your pianoforte and singing lessons will have to be paused for now.”
“I see.” She chewed her lip. There was the sign of those tears again, and she was back to appearing like a child in front of him. “Yes, of course, if you think it necessary.”
“I’m sorry, Grace, truly. If I knew of a better way out of this mess, I would take it. I do not want your life to be impacted by the mistakes our parents have made, but at the present time, I see no other way than to cut our expenses.”
“I understand, Elliot.” She gave him a smile, though its forced nature was obvious. “We must do what we can, mustn’t we?” The smile vanished. “Why did our parents leave this mess for us?”
“I wish I knew.” Elliot sighed, fearing he knew the truth. It wasn’t that their parents had been intentionally cruel, wishing to leave them without a shilling to their name. But the truth was, they had not cared. They had enjoyed their lavish lifestyle a little too much and they did not see any reason to economise, even as they bankrupted the dukedom.