"Ceylon. My holdings are quite diverse," he explained. "It is not wise to put all of one's eggs in a single basket, Olympia. I have taught my daughter that lesson."

"I don't know why you bothered," Lady Abbott responded. "Allegra is going to be someone's wife, m'dear. She needs little knowledge other than how to manage a household efficiently, how to direct her servants to live moral lives, how to paint pleasing watercolors, play a musical instrument, sing, dance prettily, and of course give her husband an heir as promptly as she can do so. After that she must raise her children as God-fearing and mannerly, with a strong sense of their English heritage."

"Allegra is my heiress, Olympia. She should know how my many businesses are managed else she lose them one day," Lord Morgan told his sister-in-law, who only shook her head at him.

"Septimius!" said the exasperated lady. "Allegra's husband will be in charge of her inheritance. You know that we women are not capable of such things." She laughed. "How you dote on that girl, but she is still a girl." Then she grew serious. "I know you miss James Lucian, but your son is gone, Septimius. Allegra cannot replace him." The Dowager Marchioness of Rowley's soft blue eyes filled with tears, and she put a comforting hand on her brother-in-law's arm. "He was a great hero, my nephew, God rest him. A hero, and a true gentleman."

"Do not speak on it!" Lord Morgan said harshly. "While Allegra is indeed just a girl, she is extremely intelligent. Whoever her husband is to be he must appreciate that. Until the day I die my daughter will have a personal allowance from me of two hundred and fifty thousand pounds a year. And after I am gone my estates will continue to see Allegra receives those monies. I don't intend my daughter be at the mercy of some charming blue-blooded wastrel who will mistreat her after he has captured her heart, use her dower to pay for his vices and his mistresses, and then drink himself into an early grave leaving her and my grandchildren helpless to his family."