Arscott snorted. “If you would have bothered to come home more than once since you returned five years ago, you would know that with the end of the war that smuggling has actually increased and so have our profits.”
“Well, then, that is good to know,” she answered without commenting on her absence.
“What do you need to tell us?” Orlando asked.
“A charter was established nearly a century ago as to the division of the profits.”
“Yes, I am aware,” Blythe answered then turned to Orlando. “It does not just benefit us, but everyone in the town because at least one person from each family works to unload the boats and deliver the items.”
She had explained that to him previously.
“As you know, the residents of Laswell took their lead from the Osborns,” Arscott continued. “Our family still controlled the caves, but my grandfather was not well liked and Mr. Osborn held more power and could sway the residents of Laswell.”
“A mister had more power than a duke?” Orlando asked in disbelief.
“They are also much wealthier because they had been wiser with their funds whereas my grandfather spent as many dukes did and went into debit. In order to save the estate my father married Mr. Osborn’s daughter, Hester.”
“I had no idea it was an arranged marriage,” Blythe offered. “Or was it a love match?”
“It was a union of two individuals who got on well, but I am certain that my mother would always love Captain Jonathan Vail more.”
“Who was he?” Orlando asked.
“They were betrothed but his ship crashed upon the rocks when he was sailing to Laswell to marry her and he was killed.”
Blythe gasped and placed a hand on her heart.
“Were they smugglers too?”
“I am not at liberty to say.”
“Vail?” Blythe asked after a moment. “That was Miranda’s surname.” She turned to Orlando. “She married Wesley, my eldest brother.”
“I know the names dear. We have been married for two years. Is she not the one who sees ghosts?”
“Do not even mention such silliness,” Arscott complained. “But yes, she is the great-niece of my mother’s betrothed who was killed.”
This could not be what Arscott was here to tell them, but Orlando held his tongue. The man was a duke and doted on his granddaughter and had been generous to them even though it wasn’t asked for. But more importantly, he had accepted Orlando despite his family history and respected his choices to remain a doctor with little argument, other than he wished he earned more. But that was where his interference ended.
Well, until he left a deed in his granddaughter’s bassinet today.
“Does this have something to do with the charter, whatever it is?”
“Your grandmother Hester established the charter because she did not trust that future dukes would not ruin their family financially again.”
“Have you?” Orlando asked, knowing that it would irritate his father-in-law.
“No. I have not, or I wouldn’t have handed over a deed.”
“Which we do not need.”
“It is so if there are difficulties, my granddaughter will still have a home,” he argued.
“We appreciate your concern, Father,” Blythe said after a warning glance to Orlando. “Tell me about the charter.”
“Your grandmother insisted that for each grandchild born to the Duke of Arscott that they would share in the profits from smuggling from the day they were born until death.”
“How come I was never told?” Blythe asked.
