Page 72 of Her Impeccable Scoundrel
“You may have a point,” Graeme said. “He told me he promised my cousin he would marry her.”
“Thus giving him a backup plan if the new will doesn’t hold,” Morley said.
“Yes, that was my thought also, though you may be right that there’s more to it than merely obtaining the property.”
“Is the lady willing?” Ashley asked.
“Not at all.” Graeme shook his head. “She loathes him, and I’ve assured her that she will always have a home. She is under my protection.”
And right now, he needed to see her, needed to know she was still safe and not haring off trying to pursue the copy of that will on her own.
He stood. “Gentlemen, I must return to Chilcombe House. Lord Ashley, I know that Lady Chilcombe will be grateful for your support. Mr. Fleming, Morley’s recommendation is a wise one. We will wait a few days before approaching the court again.”
He pulled Morley and Jarrow aside as the others were leaving. “Will you ride with me back to Chilcombe House? Lady Chilcombe will want to hear our progress.”
When they had settled into the Chilcombe town carriage, Jarrow turned an assessing gaze on him. “I noted that you didn’t say where you obtained that letter from Lord Vernon to his father.”
“Yes, I did not. I have it in safekeeping.”
“I should like to see it,” he said.
“As would I,” Morley said.
“I also didn’t mention that Lady Chilcombe and I paid a visit to an address in Soho this morning. We did not find Lunetta Casale, but we did speak with another woman whom Blythe recognized as someone who’d visited Risley Manor to attend to her husband. Blythe found the encounter quite unsettling.”
“Attend to her husband…” Morley shook his head. “What did she say about the woman?”
“I did not press her,” Graeme said.
“Well, that will save me some time searching.”
“How did it come about that you knew to look there for her?” Jarrow asked. “You have only just arrived in England.”
He could outright lie, but he’d just as soon save the untruths for more damning issues. “In fact, since her return to London, Lady Chilcombe has been looking for the woman.”
“Why?”
“You can imagine why. To see if she has the signed copy of the will.”
Morley chuckled and shook his head. “No one could blame her if the will—if it exists—disappears.”
“Has the woman sent a demand for money?” Jarrow asked.
As the carriage stopped in front of Chilcombe House, Graeme put on his best diplomatic mask. “None that I’ve seen.”
The answering look Jarrow sent was keen, but he said nothing and climbed out.
While a footman took their hats, Graeme asked Morley and Jarrow to wait for him in the library, then he pulled Adwick aside and asked him to have Lady Chilcombe meet him in his private sitting room.
Blythe watched the arrival of Graeme, the magistrate, and the inquiry agent from the drawing room window.
“They’re back, finally.” Coralie had edged close to her.
She’d remained with Blythe while Lady Hermione and a newly designated nursery maid escorted Nicholas upstairs for tea and some play time with Roddy. Lady Hermione had begged leave to retire to her room and write letters.
“Is that Mr. Morley?” Coralie whispered. “He’s rather handsome.”
Blythe noticed the sly grin on her ward’s face. “What?”
