“She was my ex’s best friend. Do you remember me talking about her? The one who moved to New York?”
“Not much,” I reply, laconically.
“You’re great fun, aren’t you, Ashford!” Jemma remarks with sarcasm.
“And you’re very polite. Your feet should be on the ground, not on the chair,” I say, giving her a look of disapproval.
“It’s a single foot. And I’m very comfortable like this, cheers.”
“Please, don’t be childish,” Derek scolds us.
I’m losing my patience. “Derek, would you tell me why Tarzan was invited to this dinner we arranged to talk about me?”
Jemma adds fuel. “No, Derek, this ismydinner. And why is the fun police at my table?”
We’re all sitting tight around the table and we only move to let the waiters deliver our dishes.
Derek takes his time while he cuts into his grilled bass. “I’ll explain in a second, but let me finish before interrupting me.”
Jemma and I are silent, we’re all ears.
“As I mentioned earlier, Jemma is the granddaughter of one of my clients, now deceased. Ashford, my old friend, is the son of Henry Parker, also deceased, who was a client of my father’s. Both of you have very complicated situations that, unless miracles happen, are very hard to resolve satisfactorily. And, in the legal profession, miracles don’t happen, I’m afraid.”
An alarm rings in my head: why the hell did he text me that he had found a solution if it’s not true?
“Jemma could receive a significant inheritance: her grandmother’s family worked in the munitions industry, in weapon manufacturing. However, her inheritance is tied. Ashford’s situation is the other way round: he is a legitimate heir but his father, due to some reckless investments, lost most of their fortune and Ashford has to face lots of debts. This is the situation: if Jemma doesn’t get married, she will never inherit her grandmother’s property; if Ashford doesn’t restore his financial situation, his properties will be foreclosed on, and this would dishonour his title. My solution, as I told you, is rather unconventional: in order to receive her inheritance Jemma must marry a nobleman with a title. Jemma, are you currently in a relationship?”
“Since yesterday, not any more,” she mutters.
Derek’s introduction sends shivers down my spine.
Derek continues: “And yesterday, Jemma, were you in a relationship with a man who owns a noble title?”
“He’s a salsa dancer.”
“Very well. Jemma can’t inherit anything because she is not married to a nobleman. You, Ashford, have officially been the Duke of Burlingham since the death of your father. However, according to the financial analysis we did yesterday, many of your assets are at risk. Can you confirm it?”
My head feels heavy. “Yes.”
“Can you also confirm that you haven’t found the money to repay the banks in the last twenty-four hours?”
“I haven’t,” I reply, annoyed.
“Have you at least considered selling one of your properties?”
“Absolutely not. My mother would die if she knew about any of this.”
“And can you also confirm that, apart from you, nobody knows about your financial situation?”
“Yes, up until ten minutes ago, when you started giving it all away in front of her, Derek,” I say, pointing at Jemma with irritation.
“If we really want to dot the i’s and cross the t’s, my situation isn’t much more private than yours right now, is it!” She replies.
“It doesn’t matter now. In the light of what I explained, if Jemma married you, Ashford, she could have her inheritance and, with part of it, you could repay the banks and get back on track. You would retain your title of duke and all your properties, and nobody would ever know anything. As for you, Jemma, with your inheritance you would never have to work again in your life.”
Even though I think Jemma is a lunatic, she seems as upset as I am, so much so that we start protesting as one.
“Hold on a second. Yesterday I told you I needed a solution, not a husband.”
