“No, they wouldn’t have.”
“So tell me, why did you come? To gloat and report back?”
“We’re here because there’s the matter of your dowry. Father has no intention of seeing either of you. He’s given me the papers your husband will have to sign and a bank draft for the dowry.”
“All of it?” Cathryn blurted out.
“Yes.”
He held up the stack of papers and glared at Charles. “Let’s get this over with. We need to be on our way.”
Charles pointed to a small writing desk against one of the walls. “Will that do?”
“Yes.”
Charles turned to his wife. “Arthur needs to be here. Would you mind getting him?”
“Not at all,” she replied, and left the room.
A couple of minutes passed before Cathryn and Arthur stepped into the drawing room. Arthur went straight to the desk and sat down to review the dowry agreement.
“This appears to be in order,” he said. “Since we don’t have time for an attorney to look at it, I’m going to quickly read through it.”
“Thank you, Arthur.”
“No problem.”
Ten minutes later, Arthur nodded in approval and glanced at Charles. “It appears to be in order. Go ahead and sign it. I will make a note under my signature that the document had not been read by your attorney and date it.”
“There’s no need for that,” the young man sneered.
“I’m looking out for my brother and his wife. You should care as much for your sister.”
Saying nothing, he grabbed his copy of the papers once they were signed and both of Cathryn’s siblings left the room as fast as they could without a word.
After the door shut behind them, Arthur turned to Cathryn and Charles. “Would you like me to place these in my safe?”
Charles nodded. “Please.”
“Plan on going to London with me in the morning. You need to cash or deposit that check as quickly as possible,” Charles said.
“Good idea. Should we plan on spending the night?”
Nodding, Arthur spoke up, “Yes.”
“And the ladies?” Charles asked.
“If they’d like to accompany us, they are more than welcome. I’ll see what Daphne has to say.”
Suddenly, Cathryn began for the door. “If you gentlemen will excuse me, I’m going back to what I was doing.”
As the door shut, Charles turned to his brother. “She’s upset, isn’t she?”
“Yes. Give her a little time alone and then go seek her out.”
“I’m still not good at reading people’s emotions,” Charles replied.
“It’ll come with time.”
