“What are you going to do about this?” Stratton asked. “Can you disprove her claim?”
“I’m the one holding the lands. Let herproveher claim, not that there is anything to prove.”
“I doubt that is how the king sees it,” Langford said. “He probably wants you to fix the problem.”
He probably did. Haversham had all but said as much. Damnation.
“Maybe you can just buy her off somehow,” Stratton said. “Find a compromise.”
“I am not inclined to compromise. Nor would either of you if you were in my position. Are we all to give away parts of our estates to any swindler with a sad story? I intend to prove she is the fraud she is.”
“You are sure of that?”
“She has no damnedproof.”
“I suppose if you need to prove she is a fraud, you will have to get to know her,” Langford said. “Spend some time with her to catch her up on her inconsistencies. That sort of thing.”
“Probably so, hellish though it will be.”
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Langford grin broadly across at Stratton. Stratton responded with a slow smile of his own.
He turned to give Langford a furious glare, but by then Langford looked as innocent as a babe.
Chapter Six
It was all Davina could do to keep her mind on the lessons. She kept finding ways to avoid having to, by giving Nora mathematical problems to work on her slate, and a Latin passage to translate. All the while, she sat with books open in front of her, pretending to prepare for tomorrow, while in reality her thoughts dwelled on Mr. Jacobson.
It would be helpful to find another Northumberland native who had the same memory, but she doubted that would be likely. It would have to be someone at least Mr. Jacobson’s age, and from the area around Caxledge. What were the chances of that? Even Mr. Jacobson would have never been found if he had not gotten into an argument with Mr. Hume at a recent meeting.
She had learned that much at dinner last night, after returning from the boot shop. Mr. Hume had been all curiosity. When she described Mr. Jacobson’s dislike of him, he explained about the argument. It had yielded the information about Mr. Jacobson’s history, however, so he considered it a row worth having.
Then he had said he would think about her next move and they would discuss it later. She assumed that meant today.
She had already decided her next move. It waited on her writing table in her chamber. Last night she had composed a letter to Mr. Haversham, explaining she had met a man whose father knew her grandfather as the baron. Perhaps Mr. Haversham would take her a little more seriously when he learned that.
As expected, Mr. Hume wanted to discuss her problem. He waited until his mother and daughter left, but asked her to stay in the dining room. To her discomfort, he then moved to sit closer to her. Not right beside her, but closer than normal. Within arm’s reach.
“I have ruminated on your discovery,” he said. “I think there are several options for further action.”
“I agree. One is to go to Northumberland.”
He drew back, horrified. “And what of us—I mean, what of Nora’s lessons?”
“I am sure a good finishing governess could take over.”
“I don’t want her finished. I want her educated.”
“Surely there are women who can provide an education besides me. This is London. And I only said it is obvious that is one path, not that I am leaving tomorrow.”
“I was thinking more of a newspaper advertisement, seeking others from that area. There must be some in London. Probably many. I would gladly pay the fee.”
She had not considered using the newspapers that way. She admitted to herself that Mr. Hume was proving useful. “I would prefer to pay the fee myself. How do I accomplish this? Present myself at the paper and ask to put in a notice?”
“I will help you. We only have to write it out, then I will bring it to them.”
They spent some time deciding which papers to use. Fifteen minutes later, they had a plan. Mr. Hume insisted that contact be through a third party, and recommended a stationer nearby.
“I thank you for your advice, sir.” She slid off her chair and stood. “I will go and compose the notice and make several copies. I will leave them in the library with some money, because you have offered to bring them around.”
