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Corran awoke in the night with a panicked start. A painful gasp escaped his lungs as he sat straight up in his bed. Howling had begun directly below his open window and his shaking legs rushed to look out. There in the grass, half lit by moonlight, lay the form of his elder brother Theodore. Clad in nightshirt, dressing gown and his thick riding boots, Corran rushed down the stairs and burst (quietly, if you will) out the door.
His brother was cold as death, but still breathing when the young man finally reached him. One of the dogs, who produced the frightful howl, stood at Theodore's side. Two years ago, this had been a common occurrence, a routine. But tonight of all nights, Corran stormed inwardly at his elder brother's drunken carelessness. He had been drinking and gambling once again and tonight managed to stumble in a stupor to his father's front door. When the first of these episodes began, Corran vowed he would never permit knowledge of Theo's behavior to reach Sir Edward, for his father's sake as well as Theodore's. The aging man already knew his eldest son's (once his pride and joy) gambling habits and loose acquaintances-- what would happen to Sir Edward's health and dignity if he knew the full extent?
Corran dragged his unconscious brother up the staircase without a sound. Thankfully, Theo did not begin groaning until he was safely down the long dim hallway and behind a closed door. Corran administered a glass of something to delude the concentrated effects of the liqueur, set an empty basin beside the bed and left his brother to recover. He would not sympathize with Theodore's certain head pains in the morning; he only hoped the booze and brandy would not have any lasting effects.
The next day did not set Corran's nerves at ease. He was troubled and nervous all morning at his brother's disturbing aspect. A haze from the previous night's drinking bout still lingered in Theodore's eyes and his mind and voice were confused. Exhaustion, it seemed, produced the beginnings of a fever and Corran feared calling for a doctor. He managed to obtain the services of the local town doctor, the physician of one of Sir Edward's tenants, who knew how to keep a secret.
Near evening, however, the haze and fever subsided, and Theo fell into a heavy sleep. Corran thought it safe enough to let his brother to himself. This meant, unfortunately, that word had to be given in some form or other to Sir Edward that his eldest son had returned home, never mind under what circumstances. Corran's instinct was to enlighten his father through Pearl somehow; as his only daughter and sweetheart, she had a knack for softening the blow of troublesome news. But this was a trick he'd long outgrown. It was, in any case, he who discovered Theodore on the doorstep and if he was any kind of man he would have the courage to approach the subject himself, despite his father's uneven temper.
The conversation began, as Corran was well prepared, with initial anger. The trust Sir Edward had once placed in Theodore Lennox had long since declined and the truth Corran carefully omitted about his situation, Sir Edward quickly suspected.
"What is possibly left to him now?" Sir Edward said despondently. Hands clenched behind his back, he paced the polished floor before the fireplace.
Corran knew better than to attempt an answer.
Sir Edward stopped and turned to his son. "I might as well tell you now, Corran, that your brother will not retain much inheritance when I am dead. There is not much now that I would trust him with and I know that you will dutifully care for your stepmother and sister when I am gone."
Corran's eyes darted to his father's face. "I don't understand you," he said, a painful feeling of apprehension growing in his chest.
Sir Edward let out an impatient sigh. "Of course you do. I know full well how you recoil from participating in the prosperity this family enjoys. It is a responsibility I would rather not impart, knowing how it would burden you. Still, there is nothing else for it. You had better grow accustomed to the idea and rest your thoughts on future plans."
Corran rose from his seat, gripping his fists at his sides. "You cannot think of tying me here... surely you're not serious!" he said, completely abandoning his calm disposition.
Sir Edward's eyes flashed. "Understand, Corran, this estate and the wealth it entails will be yours and you must accustom yourself to the idea. Take pride in what generations of men have worked to vouchsafe you."

Corran sat where his father left him for hours, attempting to dispel the combination of dread, anger and disbelief that invaded his thoughts. He could not possibly accept sole inheritance of his father's wealth; yet it seemed he had no choice. Something dark and heavy lingered on his chest; it would cost him many sleepless nights and more.