He nodded. ‘He forged your signature on the papers.’
That knowledge twisted like a knife in her heart. He had forged her signature. What else had he done?
‘What did he spend it on?’ Every word came out with an effort.
Sebastian shrugged. ‘Apart from his gambling debts at Whites, it seems a large portion went on a gold mine venture in Guinea.’
She let out a heavy breath, fighting tears.
‘And what charlatan got him to invest in such a venture?’
Sebastian shook his head. ‘I don’t know. It was called theGolden Adventurers Clubbut who its members were, I have no idea. I have asked Bragge to look into it further.’
She looked away, her hand to her mouth and her heart hammering as she battled her emotions. It had all gone and with it her freedom, her dreams... the school... What would she tell Harriet?
With difficulty, she brought her attention back to Sebastian, seeing the concern in his eyes.
A good man, she thought,but how could he possibly even begin to understand?
‘I want to assure you, Lady Somerton, that it will be my responsibility to ensure you want for nothing. The dower house is yours, and I will provide a monthly allowance?—’
‘The dower house?’ She heard her voice catch, and she rose to her feet. Swallowing, she managed to say, ‘It is not the dower house, Lord Somerton... it is my life. Please excuse me.’
Without looking backwards, she left him and barely made the sanctuary of her own bedchamber before the flood burst. She fell face down on the covers of her bed, curling into a small ball as her heart broke.
Just when she thought Anthony could hurt her no more, he had reached from the grave and stolen the last of her dreams from her.
Chapter Twenty
The day of the horse auction dawned bright and clear. From early in the morning, a large crowd began to gather in the grounds, where Sebastian, at Freddy’s suggestion, had obligingly arranged for the erection of a large marquee and light refreshment. In discussing the plans over dinner, Freddy had pointed out that a crowd that had been fed and watered with a pleasant ale would be more likely to be feeling in an expansive mood when the bidding began.
Sebastian had twelve horses to sell and, to judge from the crowd, they would fetch a pretty penny. Not for the first time, he considered that Anthony’s eye for horses could have been the man’s one redeeming feature. It may well be the saving of the estate.
As he circulated among the crowd, he noticed Lady Kendall in conversation with her brother as they inspected a handsome bay mare. They both looked up as he approached. Lady Kendall smiled as Sebastian took her outstretched hand.
‘Do you have an interest in horses, Lady Kendall?’ he enquired.
Her eyes crinkled at the corners. ‘Indeed I do. My lasthusband owned several winners at Newmarket and I rather enjoy carrying on his tradition.’
‘Are there any horses here that take your eye?’ Sebastian indicated the magnificent beasts being paraded around the crowd.
‘I rather fancy that chestnut with the white sock on his off foreleg,’ Lady Kendall said.
‘I don’t believe he has any wins to his name,’ Sebastian responded.
‘Not yet,’ she said. ‘What about you, Harry?’
‘My man is bidding on the sorrel filly,’ Harry said.
She nodded. ‘Excellent choice, but I doubt Father will be quite so sanguine if you are successful. Now I really must go and talk to my own man about the chestnut.’ She dipped a curtsey, and smiling sweetly at both men, excused herself.
Sebastian stared after her as the crowd parted to let her through. Although it was predominantly a male occasion, a few wives and families had accompanied their menfolk, no doubt, Sebastian considered ruefully, hoping for a chance of an early encounter with the new, and eminently eligible, Lord Somerton.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw one of the county mamas, with her clutch of eligible daughters in tow, bearing down on them.
‘Come inside and join me in an ale,’ Sebastian said, grasping his friend by the elbow and propelling him bodily towards the house.
Inside the cool hall, they encountered Fanny tying on her bonnet.
