Auberon Fitzgrenford

Auberon Fitzgrenford is steward of the estate at Haverford Castle, responsible for everything that happens outside of the castle, and Aldridge’s trusted deputy inside the castle when the housekeeper or the butler are unable to make a decision within their respective spheres.

Auberon’s father Evander Fitzgrenford was the son of Aldridge’s grandfather by a daughter of a local merchant. The boy proved to be very smart, and when this was drawn to the duke’s attention, he decided that he was proud of the lad. He acknowledged him and sent him to a decent school where he could be educated sufficiently to become land steward to his half-brother the duke. Auberon grew up to succeed his father.

Auberon is in his late forties when he appears in To Tame the Wild Rake. Peregrin Fitzgrenford, Aldridge’s secretary, is his son.

He had another brandy later with the estate’s steward, Auberon Fitzgrenford, the grandson of an indiscretion of a former duke.

“The doctors will keep His Grace dosed with laudanum, on my instruction,” Aldridge told Auberon. “It will make his care easier and reduce his suffering. If it shortens his life, as the doctors warn it might, I take full authority for the choice.”

Auberon shrugged. “No argument from me. I would rather not have more injuries amongst the staff. If the old man was a dog, we’d have put him down months ago, either out of mercy or to avoid bites.”

“He is not a dog, however,” Aldridge said. “We will do what we can to keep him comfortable and under control, Auberon, and that will have to be enough.”

He sat over his brandy after Auberon said good night, staring into the fire. The old man would continue to breath for another few months, and give his reluctant heir a brief respite before he had to step up into the spotlight.