After a moment of hesitation, Derek still could not bring himself to refuse.
Especially since the Palmer Family's eldest daughter... was said to be quite alluring.
But calling him brother-in-law would not do. He was about to meet his fiancée, so he had to show some respect.
As if seeing Derek's hesitation, Adrian suddenly stepped forward.
"Sir David, if the young ladies of the Palmer Family have nowhere to go for the time being, our viscount can take them in temporarily. But please do not say anything that might give people the wrong idea.
"His Lordship the viscount is about to meet his fiancée, a young lady from the Perella Family. Do you understand?"
Now that was beautifully put. How could that make him some wife-stealing scoundrel?
This was called taking them in—taking in three homeless young ladies. It was a charitable act.
Well done, cousin. He would get a raise next month.
David immediately apologized as well, solemnly addressing him as Your Lordship the Viscount.
It did not matter if he could not call him brother-in-law. So long as he had called him that once, it was enough.
The Palmer Family had never hoped for the position of viscountess. They merely wanted to use women to maintain a connection.
And not just women, either.
After apologizing, David immediately presented a list of gifts in atonement. It was clear he had prepared it long ago.
"Your Lordship the Viscount, before I came, Father told me that the Palmer Family owes its present prosperity entirely to your support.
"From now on, the Palmer Family will follow your lead. Every year, we will offer tribute worth no less than this compensation."
Adrian accepted the list and glanced over it before passing it to Derek.
Derek took one look and saw what a