Looking thoughtful, he nodded, then he smiled more broadly for the first time, and to her surprise, a single dimple appeared. It was quite attractive, and she had the odd desire to touch it.
“You are correct, Miss Rare-Foure,” he said, making her quickly look into his eyes. He wasnottalking about his dimple.
“Am I?” she asked.
“You are. If you like to sip your tea, who am I to judge you?” Leaning forward, he tapped the contract with the arm of his spectacles. “As to this lease, I am not an expert in English land law or even real property law, but this lease is straightforward. He is already your current landlord, correct?
“Yes, ever since my parents opened the shop. And suddenly, the upstairs has become vacant for the first time.”
“From what I see, it doesn’t quite double your rent, but close.” He pointed to the final clause on the second page where the monthly payment was stipulated. “Why aren’t you speaking with your parents?”
That made her sound like a child, but she supposed he had the right to ask. With a lifting of her chin, she told him, “My parents are away, and I’ve been left in charge. I spend more time in the shop than anyone in my family.” She hoped she didn’t sound defensive.
He nodded. “Nonetheless, do you think you ought to discuss this with your sisters?”
“May I pour myself another cup of tea?” she asked, wanting to consider her answer.
“Yes, of course,” he said.
Milk, sugar, tea, stir.Sitting back, Charlotte finally told him, “You may know that your friend the duke is soon to be a father. My eldest sister, without saying anything personal, needs to spend more time with her feet up. I wouldn’t want to worry her about the confectionery right now. And, in any case, she will be even less involved in the coming months. Not that I’m saying the decision isn’t hers to make,” she added, “although actually, that is exactly what I am saying.”
“And what about the snap—?” he stopped abruptly.
“The what?” she asked, leaning forward.
“What about your other sister?”
“I’m sure she would have something to say about it,” Charlotte agreed, “but she has always spent the least time in the shop, and as little as possible with the customers. Undoubtedly, she would leave it to me and to my mother to make a decision.”
Truthfully, Charlotte was fairly certain Bea’s opinion would be not to expand if it meant she might have to serve upstairs. Moreover, the last thing her sister wanted at that moment, with a new husband and a home in Scotland to renovate, was a larger confectionery. But Charlotte had been left in charge, not Bea.
Lord Jeffcoat sighed, poured himself another cup of tea and took a biscuit. “Miss Rare-Foure, this clause here,” and he pointed to another higher up on the page, “says this is absolutely binding between the signer — meaning you — and Mr. Richardson. If you change your mind, he won’t excuse the fact that it’s you and not your father signing the document.”
“Or my mother,” she said.
He raised an eyebrow. “As it turns out, you have the power to sign but not your mother.”
“I beg your pardon.”
The viscount leaned back, not looking comfortable, but that was undoubtedly due to the stiff sofa. “Under traditional English common law, you are afeme sole, or a single adult woman.”
“Yes.” She wasn’t sure what he was getting at.
“Strange as it might seem, you can own property and make contracts in your own name. However, your mother, as a wife, is considered afeme covert, a covered woman. Of course, you’re aware that she cannot hold property in her own right or enter into a contract.”
“I suppose I knew it, but since she has always been in charge of Rare Confectionery, I never thought about the ramifications.”
“She is considered to be the same entity as your father. At least, that’s the nicest way I can put it. They are one person under the law.”
“But that one person is my father, not my mother.”
“Precisely.”
“It seems ... antiquated at best and ridiculous at the very least. My mother has built the shop up to what it is,” Charlotte pointed out.
“To be fair, the law of coverture also protected women at a time when they were considered feeble-minded or weak-willed.” He held up a hand when she started to protest.
“It ensured that a wife could perform all manner of heinous acts or even drive a couple into bankruptcy,” he further explained, “with no consequences to herself while her husband would be held accountable.”
