“Will be known in due time.” Dev clamped his lips together to keep from biting the man’s head off. When the solicitor went to withdraw another form from his pile of paperwork, Dev stopped him. “We’ll continue tomorrow. All of you may return then.”
The man paused and then looked to his colleagues and shrugged. It took a few moments for all of them to collect their belongings and leave.
Ignoring them, Dev sat behind the oversized desk and waited for the room to empty.
It must be a mistake.
He did not wish to contemplate more death. But whose body had the solicitors brought to them? And why had the person been wearing Harold’s ring? It could not possibly be Harold’s. It could not!
This had all been done so that Harold could live a life without fear, so that he could live!
It had been done for Sophia, and for himself, yes, but mostly, they knew, it had been done for Harold. Had it not? And if Harold had not survived, if some tragedy had befallen him somehow, then all of it had been for naught!
He was saved from further contemplation when, with a short knock, the door opened again.
“Dev.” It was the duchess. She looked more herself, these last few days, apparently finding some hope in Sophia’s condition. “I would have joined you with the solicitors earlier but did not know they had arrived.”
The duchess, even more so than the solicitors, was concerned with the matters of ascendancy. As well, any duchess would be.
Dev rose and waited for her to sit down.
Once she’d settled her gown around her, he handed her the certificate. It made no sense to hide this from anyone, especially, with the body on hand as well. He placed the ring in front of her while she perused the document. If a mistake had been made, she might clear it up rather quickly.
But Dev was quite certain this was Harold’s ring.
“A body was discovered near Priory Point. This was discovered with him.”
His aunt blinked away tears and reached for the ring. “Prescott gave it to him when he reached his majority.” She confirmed Dev’s opinion. “And so, for now, you are Prescott.”
Dev did not want to hear that. He ran both hands through his hair. “But Lady Harold—”
The duchess interrupted him. “I wish to speak with you about her.”
“Is she all right?” Sophia had looked pale as of late and had seemed to lack her normal energy. She’d been watched over closely, however, by both his aunt and her maid. He knew she was not happy. Despite residing in the same house, they’d not been alone together since before the funeral.
“She is fine.” His aunt smiled softly. “I am certain she is carrying. I think she is fearful something will go wrong. I believe that is why she is so reluctant to make a declaration. But her maid assures me…” She shrugged. “It has been over a month since his passing, and nearly two since they wed. It is the only logical conclusion.”
Dev waited. She’d said she wanted to discuss Sophia with him. Was there more?
“I think, Dev, that you and Sophia should wed.”
* * *
It tooka minute for Dev to absorb his aunt’s words.
It was the desire of his heart to take Sophia as his wife. He already considered them wed, which made no sense, and yet, all the sense in the world. But this was not something he’d expected to hear from the duchess. Had she seen something? Had she heard something? Had Sophia spoken to her?
“She is in mourning,” Dev reminded his aunt, as though she would not have considered something so blatantly obvious. “We are all in mourning.”
“She is mourning, Dev, but she is also increasing. And I think she is fond of you. I think she is lonely and frightened.”
But if Harold lived, and if he returned, Sophia would be a bigamist. Dev was torn in that he wanted more than anything to take her under his protection, to be able to give her affection without hurting anyone, without hurting his aunt. It was as though the duchess were handing her to him on a silver platter. Giving both of them what they’d wanted all along.
He needed, however, to hear from Harold.
But would he? Ever? Frowning, he glanced at the certificate sitting on the edge of the desk.
If the body that had been recovered was not Harold, then exactly who was it, and why had he been wearing Harold’s ring? Despite what the solicitor said, he was going to have to make some attempt at identifying the deteriorated remains. But for now, the duchess awaited a response from him.
