“Miss Sterling is pretty but who is she? My father would never allow me to court a lady whose background is such a mystery.”
“I agree. Where has she been? Where is her family? My father even questions whether Lord Foxton disappeared in disgrace. You just don’t know what you will be getting.”
Tony frowned into his coffee. This was worse than he feared. It could even affect Marianne’s prospects by proxy and that was not fair on her. He needed to know more about her father’s demise but that would mean a trip to Prussia, and he feared Stafford would not allow him to go.
He saw a tall young man enter and look around and lock eyes with him. “Milord Ashton? Mister O’Neal is ready for you now.”
Tony stood and followed the assistant back to O’Neal’s office, gasps and twitters behind him.Good, he thought but the uneasiness of Lucinda’s situation stayed with him.
There were several items spread on the desk when he took the wobbly seat opposite the solicitor once more.
“I’m not sure exactly what you are looking for,” Mister O’Neal said. “But there are a few things that are to go to Miss Sterling upon her majority or marriage.”
“What are these things?”
“We have miniatures of what I can only assume are Lord and Lady Foxton. Some jewelry, and of course her dowry and herinheritance.” The man looked Tony up and down. “I suppose you want to know how much she shall inherit?”
“That is not my affair, but I do need to know her dowry as she is currently looking for a husband and I shall need to make negotiations on her behalf, as her guardian, you understand.”
“Of course.” The solicitor shuffled some papers. “I believe the sum is thirty thousand pounds upon her marriage.”
Tony sat back. That was a fortune. “Her inheritance, has it any constraints?”
“It was from her fraternal grandmother and specifically for her use only. She can sign it over to her husband if that is her wish.”
“Has anyone else questioned you in recent years about it?”
Shuffling through more papers the man replied, “A Captain Markham did write to ask that her allowance be paid to a Miss Covington of Cardinal Street in Sussex. As you are now her guardian, I will have the amount transferred to you. Will you require me to ask for any overlap in payment be requested back from Miss Covington?”
“No. That will not be necessary. Is it possible for Miss Sterling to have the miniatures now? They are of no monetary value but will mean a great deal to her.”
The solicitor nodded and made a note on a fresh piece of paper, indicating the transfer of the two painted portraits.
“Are you sure there was no letter or even a note for Miss Sterling?”
“All I have is here, my lord.”
Tony stood holding his hand out to the man who placed the two portraits in his palm. “Thank you, Mister O’Neal. I bid you goodbye.”
“Good afternoon, Lord Ashton.”
Miniatures in his possession, Tony left the cramped office and headed back onto the street. How would she react uponseeing the pictures of her parents? It would be a comfort to her to know that she would be independently wealthy whether she married or not. That she had the freedom that most young women did not have.
Would it change her mind about marriage? She said she wanted to belong and be part of a family, so maybe not. He hailed a hack and once inside he looked at the pictures in his hands and studied the faces of Lucinda’s parents. Her mother was blonde and blue eyed, the very definition of an English rose. He could see that Lucinda shared her mother’s mouth and nose, but her eyes and hair were all her father’s. There was no question that these people were related to her. It was there right in front of him. At least it proved that she was the daughter of Foxton after all. Not that he had ever doubted it but after these afternoons of overheard conversations, it was now clear that not all were convinced of her parentage.
A letter containing the infamous secret would have been convenient, but he was not surprised there was nothing. He would write up a report to Stafford and send it off before the ball tonight. He and his mother would need to do some damage control and make sure that Lucinda was prepared for some of the questions she may receive.
He put the portraits in his pocket and imagined the tears of joy she would spend upon seeing his gifts to her.
When he walked into the house, his brother was in the foyer, which was unusual.
“Ah, Tony. I need to talk to you. Follow me.”
“As you wish, Your Grace,” Tony said under his breath.
He ascended the stairs and entered his brother’s study. It was a large room. At least twice the size of his own downstairs. His desk was piled high with papers and letters, not unlike the solicitor’s office he had just left.
Tony sat in the chair opposite and watched his brother settle into his leather chair. “You need a secretary. Mother is worried about you.”
