His brows rose as if she might be right. “It is still a good thing she has ended it.”
“I don’t know. I’ve never had a broken heart.”
“Camberly’s supposed love life doesn’t interest me. My focus is on you and Logan. Come, let us see what can be done about Holwell stealing your inheritance.”
Mr. Forrester was a thin man with a pleasant disposition. He treated Soren with respect and, of course, extended that courtesy to Cassandra. He apparently was working with Soren on properly entailing Pentreath Castle. Part of the pearl money would go to that endeavor.
After Soren laid out what he and Cassandra knew about her inheritance, Mr. Forrester gave the matter a moment’s thought before saying, “You are quite right, my lord. There probably is little money left in Lady Dewsberry’s inheritance. This is not a singular case. There are often dangers when a guardian has control of a minor’s money. It is well known that MP Holwell spends prodigiously. I have heard rumors of disastrous investments he’s made. I wondered why any sane man would throw about money in such reckless manner, and now we know. Perhaps he was attempting to recoup losses. I admit I have been jealous of that new coach he purchased.”
“You mean, thatIpurchased,” Cassandra said.
“Quite so.”
“There is nothing I can do?” she pressed. “He stole my mother’s sapphires from me.”
“If the jewels had belonged to his late wife, then they would have gone to him.”
“Except my grandfather’s solicitor visited and clarified that in my mother’s will the jewels had been meant for me. He made my stepmother hand them over to me.”
Mr. Forrester leaned forward. “Do you have a copy of the will?”
Cassandra sat back uneasily. “No.”
“Do you know your grandfather’s solicitor’s name?”
“Mr. Calder. I am told he is well respected.”
“He was. I regret to say he passed away several years ago,” Mr. Forrester said. “Do you have any documents that can support your claim?”
“I do not. My father had those. I’m certain he will not share whatever papers he has.”
Mr. Forrester’s face grew long. “Then it is your word against Holwell’s, my lady, unless someone else knows he took them.”
Helen knew, but she would not side with Cassandra. Ever.
The solicitor continued, “As for the money, he will claim he spent it, as a guardian should, on your welfare.”
“Then may I claim his London house?”
“We may try... but again, do you have documents naming you as your grandfather’s sole heir?”
“Everyone knows he left his fortune to me,” Cassandra answered.
“But we don’t have papers that say as much, do we? I’m not trying to beleaguer you, my lady. However, the courts will demand proof.”
“If Mr. Calder is no longer with us, then it will be my word against MP Holwell’s.”
“Exactly. Including any discussion onhow muchmoney you were to inherit.”
“Or whether or not I owned the sapphires.”
Soren leaned toward her. “It is up to you. If you wish to go after him, I’ll give it all I have.”
But they didn’t have much. Cassandra stood. “Thank you, Mr. Forrester. I appreciate your counsel.” Soren followed her out of the office.
Outside on the walk, he placed his hand on her arm. “We do not need the money from the sapphires. Your pearls have given us enough. We will manage.”
She shook her head. “The money never seemed real to me. But those jewels are all I truly had of my mother.” She touched the pearl on its ribbon. She thought of the garnets she kept hidden. “As time goes by, I grow further and further away from her. I used to remember her perfume, but now I can’t recall it. Sometimes I can see her face, but it is hazy. And there are many things I wish I knew about her. Such as the story of my father. I wonder why he did not do what was honorable?”
