Hearts of Gold Read Online Free Page B

and had fathered eleven children from two wives, now deceased.
    ‘You look more like your father and uncle every time I see you,’ Ignatious said. ‘The Kern blood runs strongly in you. They were all imposing-looking men.’
    ‘As long as it’s only their looks I’ve inherited.’
    A cackle of laughter came from the old man. ‘You would have enjoyed the adventurous life they led, I’m sure. When he was a young man, about your age, your great-great-great-grandfather cuckolded the local magistrate and had to live abroad for a while. He ended up in Corsica. There he purchased a ship and became a pirate, building up his networks. He made himself a fortune.’
    ‘And he married Esmerelda Rey, the daughter of one of his partners in crime, brought her back to England and set up house in Fierce Eagles.’
    ‘Isolated, and perfect for smuggling goods into England.’
    ‘Yes, Mr Grimble. It’s certainly that, and I’ve been brought up on tales of the exploits of my ancestry.’ Not caring if he sounded prim, he added, ‘I feel no urge to emulate them.’
    ‘I’m sure you don’t, Magnus. Nearly everyone got ahead by dishonest means in those days. Money meant power, and plunder and smuggling became a Kern family enterprise.’
    ‘Which stops with me. If I ever have sons they’ll be brought up to earn a decent and honest living. I don’t want to risk early death from a bullet or a hangman’s rope, and leave them orphaned.’
    ‘Your father made provision for you, and your uncle did a good job of bringing you up.’
    Magnus gave a faint smile. ‘John told me it was too late for him, but as the last of the Kerns it was my moral duty to redeem the family name.’
    ‘I’m sure that’s something you will do admirably.’
    As they began to head up the cliff road Magnus slowed his step to accommodate the older man’s. He chuckled. ‘Are you? Others are not quite so certain of my honesty. More often than not I manage to attract shady characters to my law business.’
    ‘Somebody has to represent them.’
    ‘But I rarely make any money.’
    Ignatious sighed. ‘You have an ample fortune in investments behind you, Magnus. You don’t need to earn more money. Look at it this way. By and large, the wealth you already have was not honestly earned. You’re giving a little of it back to the poor, in kind. I imagine that’s what your uncle meant by moral duty and redemption of the family name.
    ‘Magnus Kern, philanthropist?’ This time he laughed. ‘Considering my background, my Uncle John sets a high standard for me.’
    ‘He does, but he was of the opinion that most men would surrender pride for a price, while you would do the opposite.’
    Magnus laughed at that and his glance went to the sea. The air was fresh and bracing, the water a pewter stretch of ripples into a horizon that was almost white. The tide was on the ebb leaving a pattern of damp, ridged sand behind. Seagulls followed the foamy hem of the water, pecking up stranded baby crabs and transparent shrimps as they were uncovered. Along the water mark a man walked with his dog.
    Magnus recalled that his uncle’s old dog had died not long after his master had left. He’d gone to sleep on the rug in front of the fire and hadn’t bothered to wake, knowing his adventuring days were over. Magnus hadn’t replaced him.’
    ‘I heard from my uncle today. The letter was written six months ago. He was in a place called Coolgardie that’s situated in the west.’
    ‘An odd name for a town.’
    ‘I was wondering if you’d had any more recent news of him since.’
    ‘John’s not a man to be found unless he wants to be.’ Grimble flicked him a look. ‘But aye, he does report in to a mutual agent from time to time. There was a telegraph message from him about three months ago. He was well, and was still looking for gold.’
    ‘Is that all he said?’
    ‘He said he was managing quite well, and that the lack of personal comforts and the hardship and the