“I appreciate that more than you can know.”
She began to leave, but a sudden thought made her pause. She considered it quickly. It would be an outrageous thing for a woman of good birth to do, but also it would be an opportunity that the owner of Hepplewhite’s Office of Discreet Inquiries would be foolish to lose.
No one notices servants. Her best chance of learning about this family was to enter the duke’s household as one.
“I have one other request,” she added on impulse. “I would like you to recommend another brief hire to Hollinburgh’s housekeeper.”
“Who might that be?”
“Me. I assure you that I am capable of housemaid duties.”
Mrs. Drable frowned at her, then peered at the card. “I expect until this new enterprise gets on its legs you can use the coin, though it is a big step down for you. However, dabbling in service is not the same as becoming a servant forever, is it?”
“That is my thinking. If you will do this, I will be grateful. And I will return to meet Miss Turner this evening.”
Minerva made her way back to the street, with her excitement building. It had been a good meeting, in more ways than she had anticipated. Not only might she have new clients with Mrs. Drable’s help, but she also might have a new employee. Both notions gave her optimism about her plan. What really interested her, however, was the information that Hollinburgh was hosting a family gathering.
Jeremy now observed the house, but she had just found a way inside it for herself. That meant not watching from a distance, but from a few feet away.
* * *
That afternoon, Minerva presented herself at the chambers of Mr. Sanders, solicitor. She had changed into one of her best dresses, and worn her favorite bonnet, a blue one with crimson lining. Even so, her confidence wobbled as she entered the office the solicitor used with clients.
He seemed a kind man, mild mannered and given to measured speech. Not too young, which reassured her he might know what he was about. Not too officious, which hopefully meant he would not be looking to cause her trouble.
After greeting her he proceeded to question her about her relationship with the duke. The lack of one did not dismay him at all.
“It is possible, of course, that an error has been made. If so, I am abjectly sorry.” He flipped through the pages of the will. “Did you once live in Dorset, and were married to one Algernon Finley?”
“I was.”
“Is there anyone who can support this?”
She told him about Beth and Jeremy. “They lived in my husband’s house, so they knew me then.”
“Do you have family in Dorset still?”
“My parents have been dead for many years. My relatives for the most part emigrated close to eight years ago. Nor did they live in Dorset, but in the county over.”
“Any others who have known you under both names?”
“I don’t think so. Although I visited London with my husband, I did not make friends or participate in society.”
“I suppose a few more notices in the papers here will confirm there are no other Minerva Hepplewhites in London who once lived in Dorset under the name Finley. I think we can go forth on the presumption that you are indeed the woman in question.” He jotted some notes. “I am curious. Is there a reason you changed your name?”
She had prepared for this. “My husband died with debts. More than his estate could pay. I chose to leave the area and change my name so creditors would not continue to hound me.”
“Understandable.”
He wrote again, then set his pen in its inkwell. “I can imagine you were surprised to receive a legacy from a man you say you never met. Actually, it is more common than you think. In all likelihood it was your husband who had known the duke. His Grace, in making his will, felt some desire or obligation to leave the money to him. Since Algernon Finley was dead, it was left to his widow instead.”
It sounded almost plausible. Only she found it hard to believe Algernon had met a duke and not told her about it, repeatedly. He was the kind of man who would hang a sign on his home announcing his connection to such a title.
“How did the duke know I now live in London?”
Mr. Sanders shrugged. “No doubt he conducted an inquiry. Not himself, of course. Now, I need to describe the details of this inheritance.”
To her amazement, that was that. Mr. Sanders seemed not the least interested in her past, her present, or how the two had connected.
