Chapter Fifteen
Aplan, evena questionable one, is better than no plan, Eli thought, nursing a pint of ale at the Willow the following afternoon while the ladies took over the Bensons’ riverside bower to plan a London visit. Eli’s plan didn’t include that particular complication, but Lucy, backed by Maddy, had insisted. Fanny and the ducklings were to stay with Rob and Lucy. It was to be Rob’s gift.
Eli had spent the morning at the hall, double-checking his numbers and polishing the aforesaid questionable plan so long that the earl had left with Lady Marj and the little viscount to visit with the Rundle children. Eli had followed them to the Willow, where he now waited for his employer, tried not to second-guess his decisions, and pored over a law book.
“Intestate law?” The earl slid into the seat across from Eli in the snug in the corner of the Willow’s taproom. He tipped his head to read the title. “The Disposal of a Person’s Estate…”
“Who Dies without Will and Testament,” Eli finished for him. “Two years ago, I would have said wills are simpler.”
Clarion laughed and smiled his thanks at Annie, the server who brought him a mug of ale. “I would have thought you were totally weary with inheritance law. Rundle?”
Eli nodded and finished the dregs of his ale, signaling for another.
“How bad is young Wil’s situation?”
“Bad enough. If we can sell the store quickly, what he’ll have after the mortgage is paid, along with the sale of the assets, should be put aside for his education—if the Clarion estate can provide enough to support his sisters until he reaches his majority.”
The earl nodded. “You can see to it?”
“We left Manchester without completing the legalities.” Eli shifted uneasily. “I’ll need your leave to go back to deal with the ecclesiastical courts and estate agent.”
Clarion watched him pointedly. “No wonder it has taken you so long to give me a simple recommendation. You’ve been dealing with a two-headed monster. The Rundle situation on the one hand and the estate’s assistance to our forgotten heir on the other. You care about her.”
“Of course I care about them. How can I not? Horace Rundle left them in a dire situation.” Eli rushed his words, emphasizingthem. Clarion’s implication made him uneasy.
“I’ll hear this plan of yours, and then we’ll talk about Manchester.” Clarion waited patiently.
Eli handed him the carefully worded report, complete with figures and estimates. “First of all, I’m obliged to make it clear you have no legal obligation to assist Miss Hancock.”
“And I’m well aware. My father couldn’t bestir himself to remember her existence. Moral obligation is something else.”
“I suspect the lady’s mother never informed him of her birth, but that’s neither here nor there. Last night she made it clear she wants neither ongoing support nor an allowance.”
The earl opened his mouth to object, but Eli raised a staying hand. “I factored it in. Are you aware Miss Hancock writes novels? She is convinced they will be able to live on the proceeds, but to my knowledge, she’s yet to have one published.”
Clarion absorbed that thoughtfully, surprising Eli, who expected vociferous skepticism.
There being no comment, Eli went on, “What she wants is simple. A small house for the three of them. She has two stipulations, that it be a freehold and that she have enough space for herself to do her work.”
“Can we afford it?” the earl asked.
“I think so. Most certainly if we find a tenant for the dower house. With some shifting and economies, even if we don’t.” Eli laid out the probable range of costs. “It will be easier here than in Manchester. I believe she has become convinced of that. It may take time to find one that fits.”
The earl nodded. “One more auburn-haired Caulfield won’t shock the neighbors,” he said ruefully. “The plan, then, as I understand it, is (1) you will find a suitable property to purchase within the range of costs you quoted and (2) the estate will send you to Manchester to settle Mr. Wil’s inheritance as a kindness to my sister.”
Annie brought Eli his refreshed ale. He hardly noticed. “In a nutshell, yes.”
“When will you go north?”
“I wrote to the bishop’s court, requesting hearing dates, this morning. We’ll see.” Eli shrugged. “I also sent a formal request to the chancery court to delay repossession of the store pending outright sale. They are notoriously slow, so that is in our favor.”
“Good. Then you have time for plan point three,” Clarion said.
“There is no three,” Eli said, sipping his ale.
Clarion ignored him. “Point three. You will investigate publishers. Rob and Lucy will return to London at the end of the week, bearing Miss Hancock and her siblings with them. You will accompany them. You can stay at Caulfield House.”
Eli blinked. London with Fanny? His foolish heart rejoiced. His good sense objected to that nonsense. “You wish me to investigate publishers? She probably knows more about them than I ever will.”
