Page 98 of The Wise Daughter
“Yes, but you told me there’s no history of that in the ledgers.”
“That’s right.”
“So, the real question is was Carver taking the money for himself?” She picked up the letters and handed them to Aaron. “Or was Mr. Cornell?”
Mr. Cornell laughed. “I beg your pardon?”
“What is this about, Nora?” Her father came to Aaron’s side and looked at the letters Aaron was now examining.
She rushed to explain. “Carver was selling the items he stole from Aaron, but he wasn’t selling them fast enough. It would draw too much attention, but you, Mr. Cornell, had access to Aaron’s funds.”
“Are you accusing me, Miss Lacy?”
“Carver was working with someone to prove himself a legitimate heir. I believe that someone was you. He was at your mercy if he didn’t pay you. We assumed once he was caught that we had solved this castle’s woes, but that wasn’t the end, was it?”
Mr. Cornell looked deathly still, his face entirely devoid of emotion. Nora knew she had everything right this time.
“You still have Aaron’s fortune at your fingertips, but only until he turns thirty or marries. It was always in your best interest to keep him single for as long as possible.”
Mr. Cornell’s nostrils flared. “This is an insult, Miss Lacy. I’ve served the Derricott family for years, and I take my responsibilities very seriously. I’m sorry, Your Grace, but I won’t stand for this. I’m leaving now.”
He rushed toward the door, but Aaron blocked his way. “Not yet, Mr. Cornell.”
The solicitor stopped abruptly.
“There were others who suffered besides the servants,” Nora added. “Tenants of Aaron's scattered throughout Ravenglass who struggled to pay the higher amounts you and Carver demanded from them. With access to Aaron’s inheritance, I have to wonder, just how much money have you taken, Mr. Cornell?”
His face was now an angry red. “This is all speculation. I won’t stand for it! I demand you let me pass.”
Aaron met Nora’s eye, and she knew he understood. “This is more than speculation, Mr. Cornell. We have proof.”
“Proof?” Mr. Lacy stepped closer to Nora and glanced between them all.
“Impossible!” Spittle flew from Mr. Cornell’s lips.
“It’s a match, Cornell.” Aaron held up the letters Nora had handed him and gave them a gentle wave. “From the way you cross yourt’sto the way you dot youri’s.Every swirl, every flourish is yours.”
Aaron took slow commanding steps toward Mr. Cornell who seemed to shrink as he backed straight into Aaron’s desk. Aaron’s height and breadth, however, seemed to grow.
“To think we almost didn’t see it. My father trusted you, Cornell. I trusted you. We could have worked together for years. I’ve always paid you fairly. Why would you do this?”
Cornell’s lips began to tremble as he scrambled to the other side of the desk where there was only a wall of books. “I never planned this! I never meant to take so much, but you made it too easy. My sister was sick, just like your father, and I needed a way to pay her doctor’s bills. So much money wasted on medicines and treatments that never worked.”
“Why didn’t you simply talk to me?” Aaron kept his voice controlled and calm. “I could still help your sister.”
“She died a month after your father!” he spat, then sneezed.
Scamp was clawing his way up the curtain behind Mr. Cornell.
“I’m so sorry, Cornell. Losing her must have hurt terribly. Believe me, I understand the hold grief takes on a person.” Aaron’s voice grew thick as he took another step forward, this one more cautious. “But you have to be held accountable.”
Mr. Cornell pulled a pistol from his coat pocket and pointed it at Aaron. Everyone sucked in a breath and held perfectly still.
“I’m truly sorry for this, Derricott. I really am, but we can still be reasonable. All I need is for everyone to remain calm as you let me pass. You’ll never hear from me again.”
Aaron shook his head. “I can’t do that, Cornell.”
Scamp leapt from the curtain onto Aaron’s desk and began prowling back and forth across the length of it. Mr. Cornell sneezed again, then pointed his pistol at Nora.
