“You yourself said you doubted James’s ability to inherit, being the son of Lord Hastings’s bastard brother,” Randall put in. “You had it right all along.”
Zeke spoke through a mouthful of stew. “That was before James produced the Royal Writ of Summons, calling him to appear at the House of Lords this spring.”
Caden nodded. “That certainly had me convinced. Lucky for you, you asked the earl’s man-of-affairs to look into James’s backgroundbeforethe writ arrived to throw us off.
“When I arrived in London, I went to him for help digging into Hastings. Imagine my surprise when he handed me a set ofdocuments showing Hastings, and not James, to be the, as yet, heir to the Maidstone barony.”
Zeke broke off a piece of bread. “The mystery of the writ aside, I can see James being unable to qualify, but Hastings was pronounced dead.”
Caden and Randal exchanged looks. “That’s just it, Zeke. The crown only just began looking into his so-called death at James’s insistence. Evidently, the powers that be never got any official certificate. Not one that got filed properly, at any rate. James did make a claim on the title, citing Hastings abandoned his estate, even if he wasn’t deceased. His claim was summarily denied on the basis of bloodline.”
Zeke sat back. “So James assumes he’ll inherit. Finds out he’s not only been beat out by a dead man, but prohibited from inheriting.” He drummed his fingers on the scarred wooden table. “Theories?”
Caden shrugged. “Maybe James planned to act the part indefinitely. Hoped no one would notice?”
Zeke shook his head. “He’s too crafty for that. He’d have to know he’d be found out sooner or later. No. He had an ace up his sleeve.”
“Maybe James filed a petition with the queen? Maybe he’s expecting his claim to come through any time?” Randall surmised.
“I could see that being relevant before Hastings showed up. But now James is bartering his supposed title with Hastings, the legitimate heir, in exchange for Kitty’s hand. It makes no sense. We’re missing something. Something vital.”
Time to break down what he knew. Take each individual fact to its logical conclusion. He held up one thumb. “First off, Hastings clearly does not know he still holds right to the title, or he wouldn’t be wasting time placating James by dangling Kitty under the cove’s nose.”
“Agreed,” Caden murmured.
His pointer finger joined his thumb. “Second, clearly Kitty hasn’t a clue, or she wouldn’t have agreed to marry her cousin for her brother’s sake.”
“I still can’t believe she has,” Randall muttered.
“Zeke’s not going to let that happen. Are you, brother?” Caden asked in a deadly soft voice.
Zeke slid a hard gaze to his brother in answer and lifted a third finger. “Which leaves James knowingly bartering a nonexistent title for Kitty. The bastard is bloody obsessed with her—so much so he produced a phony writ summoning him to parliament, then waved the damned forgery under our noses.”
Caden knocked a fist against the table. “But why? Why would James want to make anyone believe he held the title? What would he gain?”
“Besides Kitty?” Zeke closed his eyes and blew air out his cheeks, trying to recall inheritance laws. He’d been forced to study the damned things in secondary school, but that was a long time ago.
Randall spoke up. “If we assume the Crown would eventually have concluded Hastings dead, what would have become of the barony?”
`“You mean, who would inherit?” Zeke asked.
“Precisely.” Randall said.
All at once, the truth dawned. “Randall, you’re a genius,” Zeke said.
“Thank you,” the viscount said with a jaunty grin. “Why, exactly?”
Zeke leaned across the table. “The title would have gone into abeyance ’til Kitty married.”
A moment of silence passed as Zeke allowed his words to penetrate. It all finally made sense. Why James had been so intent on marrying Kitty—and Holy Christ—why he still was. Hewas after the title, and he wasn’t letting anything like a prodigal son returned from the dead get in his way.
“My God,” Caden whispered. “At her marriage, the title would pass to her husband.”
“I am a bloody genius,” Randall murmured, his hand to his heart. “Where are you going? Caden, where’s your brother going?”
Zeke was halfway to the door, but he thought he heard his brother answer, “I think he’s going to get his lady.”
***
