About this story
Your father's family, it turns out, is the Earl of Dorincourt's — and with both elder sons dead, you are the heir, summoned to England on Saturday's steamship. You bargain for your mother to come too, then carry the news to the friends you may be leaving, purse untouched, still yourself.
How it opens
Mr Hobbs's grocery smelled of apples, coffee, and the stove polished every morning.
Mr HobbsCedric, monarchs remain a public nuisance even when newspapers admire them.
You sat on the flour barrel while he condemned the English aristocracy between customers.
Dick TiptonAsk him whether lords pay extra for a proper shine on their boots.
Mr HobbsLords expect the shine from tenants already paying for the privilege.
Choose
I suppose a lord can be good if somebody tells him how.
Dick would charge him before shining anything.