Chapter 81

“Most of the money invested in that ship was Leander’s,” Chance explained. “Kit is holding it until his return.”

“What if he doesn’t return?”

“Then Kit will hold it for him until he is found.”

“That hardly seems fair.” Morleigh’s tone became commiserating. “You and Christopher were the ones who risked your lives locating the ship.”

There was a long silence before Chance spoke again. “That’s what I told Kit. And even once Leander does get it, all he’s going to do is throw it away on stacks of books.”

“And if it should transpire that Leander is…has passed?” Morleigh pressed.

Chance’s silence was even longer. “Kit has the Dearborne fortune, so I suppose I’d get it. Not that it does me much good now.” He let out a contemptuous snort. “When he was younger, he was always on the verge of dying and now…” There was another pause, so long that Julien thought Chance might change the subject. “Now that it would actually be useful to someone, he’s disappeared instead.”