Page 21 of Her Impeccable Scoundrel
A peer of the realm but which one?
Sir William rose and greeted Graeme; the other man did not. His superior quickly made introductions.
Lord Vernon had been wrong about his father. The Marquess of Diddenton had apparently decided to wait on the Earl of Chilcombe after all, albeit in the lair of a government official.
“I’ve had a chance to read your report. I’ve a few questions which I’ll deal with later,” said Sir William, glossing over the apparently less important business of the Crown. “Diddenton asked for some of your time this morning.”
Then Sir William left, closing the door behind where Graeme was standing.
A second chair had been placed in front of the desk. No invitation was forthcoming to utilize it.
The rudeness pricked Graeme’s temper. Pompous old prig, his son had called him, and he was reminded of one old sheik he’d encountered—stiff, haughty, and disdainful. And as dangerous as a viper.
He was an earl now, with a license to play that same game. He seated himself and nodded to the older man.
Diddenton raised an eyebrow. “You’ll know why I’m here, Chilcombe.”
Graeme settled back into his chair and picked an invisible spot of lint off his sleeve. “It would be helpful for you to tell me.”
The older man’s mouth primmed and his gaze sharpened. “I hope that you do not plan to be coy with me. My son has informed you about the problems with your predecessor’s will.”
He couldn’t very well say no. “It’s true that he has spoken to me.”
“Then you will know the court has delayed proving the will because the signed copy could not be found, nor did they wish to proceed on the matter until you returned.”
“I understood that the delay resulted because you were contesting the late earl’s will.”
“The earl made a new will before he died. There were two signed copies of that new will. I want at least one of them found.”
“Yes, I understand that would be to your advantage.” Graeme let the comment hang in the air before going on. “How do you know there were two signed copies of this new will?” he finally asked.
The color rising in Diddenton’s cheeks flamed higher and a finger twitched on the arm of the chair. “Your superior here is a close friend of mine. He has told me of your ambitions, and I am not without influence. It would be to your advantage to take this matter seriously.”
The words had dripped with disdain. What sort of person would discover a last minute will so punishing to a widow and so favorable to himself?
The sort that would send his son scurrying and sniffing around Blythe and himself. But he wasn’t Diddenton’s son and he didn’t have to kowtow to him. He’d been schooled by some of the greatest snobs in international diplomacy. “And what is it you suggest I do?” he prodded.
“Find it.” This time, two fingers had twitched. “I know it was signed. There were servants who saw that it was signed. The one copy never reached the solicitor in London. The late Lord Chilcombe claimed the other was placed in the muniment room for safekeeping. It’s not there. Both copies might be somewhere at Risley Manor. Or someone took them.”
“The steward?—”
“Bah. Claims to know nothing of it. He wasn’t there at the signing. He didn’t return to Risley Manor until just before the earl’s death.”
Would Blythe have taken one or both copies? It would be understandable. Unethical, illegal, as well. A crime, but an understandable one.
“Speak with Jarrow, the magistrate. He searched the house for me.”
“For you?”
Diddenton’s eyes gleamed at his reaction. He stood. Reflexively, Graeme did as well and regretted it almost immediately. Diddenton didn’t deserve such courtesy.
“There’s a plum assignment at the Persian court.” Diddenton walked to the door. “It won’t be available for long.”
Graeme watched as the door closed on the man, shaking his head. He’d wanted a juicy assignment, one in a hotbed that challenged his skills. He didn’t have to leave England at all.
Diddenton wanted that land badly. Why?
If the will couldn’t be found, Diddenton would sue Graeme for the property, but that meant the marquess would have to produce more documents related to the land dispute, documents that perhaps didn’t at present exist.
