Vergette fell silent again, the fingers of one hand drumming on the arm of his chair. His gaze never left his guest’s face, and Alex felt compelled to break that intent stare.
“What I don’t understand is why you consented to act for Greenaway in the first place, sir. By all accounts, he ain’t the sort of client you’d choose.”
The lawyer’s features took on an odd expression, as if he was considering whether to answer this. At length, his fingers became still and an edge entered his voice.
“Mr John Greenaway was never my client, my lord. He was merely the instrument through which I served Miss Greenaway.”
Mystified, Alex could only stare at the man. Vergette’s brows rose. “You are wondering how I should come to be serving Miss Greenaway. That, my lord Dymond, is a matter I could reveal only under particular circumstances.”
A sliver of apprehension ran through Alex. “What circumstances?”
Vergette put his hands together and steepled his fingers, the sphinx-like smile coming into play. “Until they arise, my lord, my lips are, so to speak, sealed.”
Baffled, his earlier disquiet rising to the surface, Alex knew not what to think, much less what to say. But one thing he could pursue. “Will you act for Miss Greenaway and set her mind at rest?”
“Act how, my lord Dymond?”
“What I mean is, will you refuse to break the trust if these wretched fellows come to you on the matter?”
“They may come, my lord, but they will not find me.”
“But you won’t break the trust,” Alex insisted.
“It is out of my power to do so. Where this notion came from that I could, I cannot imagine.”
Bewilderment wreathed Alex’s brain. “Getting confused here, Vergette. Apple’s Cousin Marjorie seemed to think the trust would be broken if she married before her twenty-first birthday.”
“There is no mystery. The trust is purely for the benefit of Miss Greenaway. It may not be touched by another, regardless of her circumstances. My task is merely to hold it until she wishes to make use of the articles therein. That is all.”
“Articles?”
“There are provisions made.”
More and more baffling. “Provisions? I thought it was money. That’s what Miss Greenaway supposes. At least, it’s what her father told her.”
Vergette merely tapped his fingers together, his features resuming that carefully blank expression. But he was not apparently as divorced from Apple’s future prospects as he appeared.
“What will your lordship do with Miss Greenaway in these next weeks?”
“To tell you the truth, I’ve no notion. My sister has to go to my mother’s for Christmas. And so have I, come to that.” He gave the man a look. “But one thing I won’t do is give her back to those schemers.”
Vergette fell into one of his habitual silences for a space. Alex half ignored him, his mind busy with the problem that now confronted him. He almost started when the lawyer spoke.
“If I might make a suggestion?”
Alex eyed him, mistrusting the resumption of the friendly manner. “Go on.”
“If I cannot prevail upon you to return Miss Greenaway to her home —”
“You can’t, for I’ve given my word.”
“Yes, I rather thought you might have done. In that case, may I request you to return to me in the New Year.”
“What, bring Apple to you, do you mean? When the time is right?”
Vergette pursed his lips. “I think not. Initially, I must ask you to come alone. By that time, I trust Miss Greenaway may have thought better of her rash action.”
“Doubt it, to be frank. But I did say I’d take her back once she was her own mistress. Got to see her safe.”
