“Fine, I won't be able to sell the house,” Thaddues replied. “But I will find a way.”
“It will not be the house of the estate’s holdings,” Cedric said. “And if you try, I will have you arrested.”
“It’s not illegal to try to sell a house,” Thaddues said.
“No, it's not, but investing in a criminal organization and reaping the benefits is,” Cedric replied.
Scoffing, Thaddues feigned ignorance. “I have no idea what you mean. Everything I do is by the book.”
“If Frankford’s Corporation is by the book, you can go ahead and call me the Regent,” Cedric said coldly. “That Covent Garden scapegrace has a parent company of sixteen organizations and growing. He has created everything from a textile group to a children’s hospital, none of which have ever drawn any clientele.”
Marigold cleared her throat, “Pardon me, Your Grace, but what is wrong with those?”
“Because they are fraudulent,” Cedric said. “You see, Hargrave, that fifty pounds you invested and reaped five hundred from itis… let’s say concerning. What you do not know is that the Crown is investigating this Corporation and the money it is funneling.”
“I still don’t understand—” Marigold’s voice trailed off.
“Ever since the income tax was created, as a wartime measure to fund Britain’s fight against Revolutionary France, sinister people have been looking for ways to avoid paying it.
“Setting up a series of false charities is a good way to go about that. These banks are reporting deposits to the Crown, but if they make it look like donations …” Cedric let his words trail off
Marigold’s face cleared up. “Oh.Oh!”
“I cannot believe you,” Ophelia said to Thaddues. “How could you involve us in such unsavory things! Did you not care about our lives at all!”
Jaw tight, Thaddues said, “This is not about you.”
“You can either talk to the magistrates and confess your mistake in this corporation and get some sort of leniency, or you can go to jail when the hammer comes down—’tis up to you. Either way, you are going to sign this Deed of Trust for the estate to me.”
The color drained from Hargrave’s face. “You’re blackmailing me?”
“I am giving you a choice,” Cedric corrected. “Whether you wish to keep your activities free from public knowledge or would you prefer to wither away at Newgate?”
Thaddeus’ eyes landed on the deed of trust, “If I sign this, I am not leaving empty-handed.”
“I suspected such. I’ll give you a thousand pounds.” Cedric offered.
“What is a thousand pounds going to do for me?” Thaddeus gave them a nervous, braying laugh. “Surely a man of your means will do a little more than that?”
“Two thousand, and that is going to be sent after you speak with the magistrates,” Cedric said while sliding the paper and pen over. “There is a word I know you have not heard in a long time, it is called employment. Sign this and then find one.”
Chapter Thirty
The door slammed behind Thaddeus as he stormed out of the room, leaving the signed deed on the table to dry. Celestine was staring at the door in shock, while Marigold’s lips were parted in awe.
“Gadz,” Marigold exclaimed as she fixed her spectacles. “I never thought uncle was a criminal, or well, criminal adjacent.”
While nursing another cup of tea, Isolde muttered, “I’m not surprised.”
“I wish I could study law,” Marigold sighed as she took a sliver of orange cake from a tiered tray. “I would switch needlework and sewing for… erm….De Donis Conditionalibus.”
Cedirc’s lips flickered. “I have no doubt you would make an excellent barrister if only the schools were not so biased.”
“So what—” Isolde, who had been quiet all the while, waved her hands “—does this all mean? Is our house going to be yours or is it going to be ours, or half and half?”
“It means I hold your property in trust, not as owner,” Cedric explained. “In trust means that property is placed under the legal control of one person to benefit all of you.
“I will hold the legal title, but it is my task to manage or safeguard the property until your mother tells me what she wants the title to be returned to her or one of your children as specified in the trust.”
