“An understandable habit—if not a helpful one.” He lifted her hand briefly to his lips. “Trust Hartley. Trust the truth. And trust me. I will not allow anyone to harm you.”
“You cannot protect me from everything.”
“I can try.” His smile softened. “That is one of the principal duties of a husband, I believe.”
“I had thought it was to provide heirs and manage estates.”
“That as well. But the protection comes first.” He rose, offering his hand. “Come. You have been shut indoors too long. Walk with me.”
She allowed him to lead her out into the weak sunshine and tried to believe that everything would be well.
Chapter Nineteen
The findings arrived five days later, and they were worse than anyone had anticipated.
Mr Hartley presented his report in the study, with Sebastian, Cecilia, and the Dowager in attendance. His expression was grave as he arranged the documents he had brought.
“Miss Ashwood,” he began, “your father’s estate was not consumed by debt, as you were led to believe. Sir Edmund Ashwood died possessed of modest but sufficient resources—approximately three thousand pounds in investments, together with the contents of Thornfield House, which were sold when the entail transferred the property to Sir Horace Ashwood.”
Cecilia stared at him. “Three thousand pounds?”
“Yes. The sum was placed in trust for your care and maintenance, to be administered by Mr Grimsby until you attained your majority or married.” Mr Hartley paused. “According to the records I have obtained, Mr Grimsby disbursed the whole of that money to Sir Horace and Lady Ashwood—quarterly payments of one hundred and fifty pounds—purportedly for your support.”
“They took my inheritance.”
“They took your inheritance,” Mr Hartley confirmed. “The final disbursement occurred six months ago, at which point the trust was exhausted.”
Cecilia felt as though the floor had dropped away beneath her. Three thousand pounds. Enough to have secured independence, to have given her choices—an entire future stolen while she kept accounts, dressed hair, managed lessons, and was told to be grateful.
“There is more,” Mr Hartley continued. “I have obtained correspondence between Lady Ashwood and Mr Grimsby which suggests a—collaborative understanding. Lady Ashwood appears to have persuaded Mr Grimsby to misrepresent the state of your father’s affairs, arguing that you need not be informed of your inheritance since the money was, in her words, ‘being applied to your benefit’.”
“She lied to me.” Cecilia’s voice emerged flat, emptied of feeling. “For five years, she lied to me.”
“She committed fraud,” Mr Hartley replied. “And Mr Grimsby appears to have been complicit. Both may face legal consequences—civil, at the least, and potentially criminal, depending upon the judgment of the court.”
“What consequences?” Sebastian asked.
“Repayment of the funds, certainly. Damages for the injury sustained. And if we press criminal charges—” Mr Hartley hesitated. “Transportation is improbable, but imprisonment is not beyond possibility. Fraud of this nature is regarded seriously.”
Silence fell. Cecilia tried to comprehend the scale of the betrayal—the years of deprivation that need never have existed.
“What of the rumours?” the Dowager said. “The lies Lady Ashwood has been circulating?”
“Defamation. Actionable, should Miss Ashwood elect to pursue it. Combined with the fraud—” Mr Hartley allowed himself a small, contained smile. “Lady Ashwood has placed herself in a most precarious position. If this information becomes public, her own reputation will be ruined far more completely than any reputation she sought to injure.”
“Then we make it public,” Sebastian said.
“Wait.” Cecilia lifted a hand. “I must think.”
“What is there to consider? She stole from you—lied about you—attempted to destroy your name—”
“I know precisely what she did.” Cecilia’s tone was sharper than she intended. “But I also know what public exposure would mean. Not only for Lady Ashwood—for Georgiana, for Dorothea, for everyone attached to that household.”
“They are not your responsibility.”
“Perhaps not. But I am not Lady Ashwood.” Cecilia met his gaze. “I will not wreck innocent lives in order to punish a guilty one. There must be another course.”
Sebastian was silent for a moment; then he inclined his head.
