Page 125 of May I Have the Pleasure
“I apologise that the man who worked out this set of papers is ill. They all seem in hand, at least the ones I am responsible for. I must say that in my forty years as a solicitor, this will be the most unusual annulment I ever witnessed.”
“You have never seen an annulment for lack of consent?”
“I have for brides, but never grooms.”
“We must work with what we have. His uncledidactually force his hand, but he is not here now, is he?”
“And who forced his uncle’s hand?”
“Quibbles, sir. Quibbles.”
“Would it be impertinent to ask why you married the earl, only to walk to the next room to have it annulled ten minutes later.”
“It is all in the wedding contract. It is actually a bit of a legal fiction—something like they use to break entails. Lord Mawbry inherited the title on the death of his cousin but not the lands. Now I am returning the Mawbry lands to their rightful and worthy heir. This is the only way I could think to do it legally without giving anyone other than the rightful heir—a man I thought worthy of the late earl—the chance to object or take control. He acquired them as my husband on the marriage, and the articles make the transfer permanent, so he no longer requires the unpleasantness of an unneeded wife.”
“Pure genius, your highness. It is pure genius! So simple, so elegant. I doubt the king will be amused, though.”
“No sir, he will not… but the Prince Regent will be delighted.”
‘I imagine it is a good thing my colleague and I are ready for your generous pension, in an obscure and comfortable location.”
“That was part of the plan, good sir.”
“Good day, your highness. Good day, my lord.”
“Good day, sir. Enjoy your retirement in obscurity.”
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“Princess Elizabeth, has anyone ever told you that you are insane?”
“I hear it constantly, Lord Mawbry. I assume Mr Darcy told you to say that.”
“I am afraid so.”
“Lord Mawbry?”
“Yes?”
“You are in a church?”
“Yes.”
“And yourtrue loveis in the next room?”
“Yes.”
“With a parson?”
“Yes.”
“Why are you still here? Perhaps, I am not the one whose sanity is to be questioned.”
~~~
“That was fast.”
“I wonder if his clothes will catch fire, Fitzwilliam.”
