"The agreement was buried in a box of miscellaneous documents from your great-grandfather's era. It's entirely possible no one has looked at it in fifty years." Sebastian set the document on the desk before her. "I'd like to have a surveyor examine the land, if you're willing. It would cost something upfront, but if the coal is viable..."
"It could save us."
"It could help significantly. I don't want to promise more than that as there are too many unknowns. But it's worth investigating."
Harriet stared at the yellowed paper, her mind racing. A coal seam. Mining rights. Money buried beneath their feet all along, waiting to be discovered. It seemed too good to be true.
"How did you find this?" she asked.
"I've been going through every document in this study since dawn. Mr. Thornton organised everything by date, which is sensible but not always helpful. I reorganised by category andstarted looking for anything related to land use, mineral rights, or long-term agreements." Sebastian shrugged, as though this Herculean effort were merely a minor inconvenience. "It took some time."
"Some time? Sebastian, you must have been at this for hours before I even woke up."
"I couldn't sleep." His voice was carefully neutral. "I thought I might as well make myself useful."
Harriet thought of him in the library, confessing his fears, sayingI simply thought you deserved to know. She thought of the way he had looked at her when she said she didn't despise him. She thought of all the years she had spent believing him to be her enemy, and how wrong she had been.
"Thank you," she said. “I am at a loss for further expression. I can only offer you my deepest heartfelt gratitude.”
"You can thank me if the survey shows something promising. Until then, I've simply found a very old piece of paper."
"A very old piece of paper that could change everything."
"Perhaps." Sebastian's expression was guarded, but something warm flickered in his eyes. “Do not set your heart too firmly upon it, I beg of you. I've learned that expectations are best kept modest."
Before Harriet could respond, a knock at the door announced the arrival of Mrs. Briggs, bearing a silver tray with the morning's correspondence.
"The post, my lady. And there's a letter for you specifically…arrived by express."
Harriet took the proffered envelope, noting the unfamiliar seal. She broke it open and scanned the contents, her pulse quickening with each line.
"It's from Lord Davies," she said. "He'll see me."
Sebastian went very still. "When?"
"As soon as I can arrange to travel. He says…" Harriet frowned at the letter. "He says he is 'intrigued' by my proposal and would welcome the opportunity to discuss the matter in person. He asks that I attend him at Davies Hall at my earliest convenience."
"That's rather fast."
"Is it? I thought prompt responses were considered good form."
"They are. It's just..." Sebastian trailed off, his expression troubled. "Davies has a reputation."
"What sort of reputation?"
"The sort that involves young ladies and compromising situations."
Harriet felt a flash of irritation. "I am perfectly capable of handling myself around men with reputations, Sebastian. I have survived five London seasons without incident."
"I don't doubt your capability. I'm merely suggesting that Davies may have ulterior motives for wanting to meet with you privately."
"He's a creditor. I've asked to negotiate. It would be strange if hedidn'twant to discuss the matter in person."
"Harriet…"
"I'm going." Harriet folded the letter and tucked it into her pocket. "This is the best chance we have. Lord Davies holds the largest non-forgiven debt against the estate. If I can persuade him to accept some kind of arrangement, it changes everything."
"Then I'm coming with you."
