“What is it?” Lady Norah, giving up on her own search, came to stand by Beatrice. “You have thought of something?”
“The documents only said a marriage, did they not?” Beatrice asked, as Lady Norah nodded, Lord Warwickshire coming to join them. “We have been looking solely for ladies from Lord Turnhill’s family marrying into Lord Surrey’s family line.” Her head lifted as she looked from one to the next. “What if it were a gentleman marrying a lady from Lord Surrey’s line?”
Lady Norah’s eyes flared. “I had not thought of that!”
“It would not make a good deal of sense,” Lord Warwickshire told her, as Beatrice returned to the records, her finger lightlytouching the parchment as she ran down the list of names. “Why would a gentleman from Lord Turnhill’s family marry a lady from Lord Surrey’s family if they were already selling a good deal of land and property?”
“I do not know,” Beatrice answered, truthfully, “but it is not something we have considered, is it?”
Her finger stopped on a name, her heart spinning in her chest as she took in the name.
“There,” she breathed, as her brother and friend leaned in to see the name. “Miss Sarah Claypole.”
“Claypole?” Lord Warwickshire’s voice held doubt. “That is not a name I recognize.”
“Nor I,” Beatrice replied, “but look here.” Gesturing to the record, she held her finger to one name. “The gentleman she wed was the son of Viscount Turnhill!”
“Oh, Beatrice!” Lady Norah gripped Beatrice’s hand. “It may be that this is precisely what we are looking for.”
Lord Warwickshire leaned forward. “We must write this down for Lord Surrey and take it to him at once. If Claypole is his surname, if this Miss Claypole is in his family line, then the match has been made.” He looked at Beatrice. “There will be nothing tying him to Miss Burnley.”
“He will have to make certain of the date and align it with the documents demanding a marriage as well,” Beatrice added, her heart beating furiously. “Goodness, we may be looking at the very thing that will free him from it all!”
Lady Norah scrunched up her expression. “It does not explain why they were so willing to have a gentleman from the Turnhill family wed a lady from the Surrey family. I would have thought that, if they were selling land and property, they would want not only a good price for it but also ensure that their family’s connections improved a good deal. A daughter of a viscount marrying an Earl would bring their standing up a little,but for the daughter of an Earl to marry a Viscount… well, that does not hold the same strength of connection, does it?”
“No, it does not,” Beatrice agreed. “But I cannot think of that at present. Imusttake this to Lord Surrey just as soon – and as carefully – as I can.”
“And without being seen by Lord Neath or Lord Turnhill,” her brother warned. “They still must not see any sort of connection between us. You must be safe, Beatrice.”
She hesitated. “Might we go to the fashionable hour, brother?”
He looked at her. “You think he will be there?”
“I do. And if he is not, then another note will suffice. We can go again under the cover of darkness to his townhouse if required.”
Lord Warwickshire nodded. “Very well.” He looked to Lady Norah. “Lady Norah, should you like to join us?”
“I should be glad to.” Whilst there came a small smile onto Lady Norah’s face, there was also a seriousness about her expression. “This is of the greatest importance, and I would not dream about being anywhere else but with you both.”
Beatrice squeezed her friend’s hand lightly. “Thank you, Norah.” She took in a long breath, then let it out slowly as she closed her eyes. “I must pray that we have stumbled upon the truth – and that soon, his connection to Miss Burnley will come to an end.”So that my connection to him can finally begin.
15
“You have not yet engaged yourself to my daughter.”
George stiffened as Lord Turnhill, without introduction or greeting, spoke sharply and with clear irritation. “Good afternoon, Lord Turnhill.” He looked about him. “I see you have come to join the other members of thetonhere during the fashionable hour. I must wonder if – ”
“Might we get directly to the point I have only just raised?” Lord Turnhill, frowning hard, waved one hand. “You have not told me as to why you are not proceeding towards engagement. I thought that was the intention, was it not?”
“As you know, my solicitors are studying the documents again,” George replied, disliking the tone and the manner in which Lord Turnhill spoke. “I must be sure if I am to engage myself to Miss Burnley. It is not a matter that I take lightly.”
Lord Turnhill scowled. “But your father was quite sure that all was just as it ought to be!” he exclaimed, as George’s jaw tightened, his irritation growing. “My own solicitors have studied them – for it would have been foolish of me to approach you without being quite certain – and now your own solicitors are taking asecondlook at them all… if not a third look?” Hiseyebrow lifted. “Anyone might think that you did not want to marry my daughter.”
“I do not.”
The calm response seemed to shock Lord Turnhill, for his eyes flared and his eyebrows shot towards his hairline. George, however, continued without too much concern. It was best to speak openly and honestly, he decided, for Lord Turnhill seemed to think that this was all just as George desired!
“I have always had the intention of making my own match,” he said, when Lord Turnhill did not respond. “To have a match foisted upon me is not something that I wanted. I am quite sure that your daughter – ”
