“Thank you, Nora.” Lord Hampshire’s eyes settled on her again, and warmth spread through her at the gentleness in his gaze, a gentleness which had only just appeared. “Might I come to call on you tomorrow? Or mayhap we could meet in the park for a turn about the grounds?”
Her eyes flared, hope spilling into her again. “A walk?”
“I want to tell you what I have discovered,” he said, plainly. “Nora, you told me that I should search everything, look for any path, any possibility that might free me from this engagement and allow both myself and Frederica to make our own choice. You were quite right to say and suggest such a thing, for I did not ever think to test and compare and search in such a way. I thought my fate was settled, but now – especially now that there is some confusion with the fellow behind me – I am beginning to wonder if there is more to the situation than I have known. I willfind out more this afternoon, but then, Nora, I should very much like to share with you.” His eyes searched hers. “By tomorrow, I might know if there is any hope whatsoever.”
“I would take even the smallest sliver,” she whispered, tears of relief beginning to press into the corners of her eyes. “Yes, of course, Hampshire. I will walk with you tomorrow.”
The smile that flashed across his face was there for a moment and then gone the very next second as he glanced back over his shoulder. “Then pray that I find something out from this man, whoever he is,” he said, grimly. “Excuse me, Nora.”
She watched as he spun on his heel and strode forward with swiftness, making his path towards the man and the gentleman clear. Her hands clasped in front of her, ignoring her sister’s gentle question as to what Lord Hampshire was doing, praying that he would soon be given the answers he required.
The stocky, brown-haired man shifted, his eyes going to Lord Hampshire. Nora watched as he smiled tightly, looking back at the gentleman he spoke with. He said something hurried, rushing the words as he began to step back.
“No,” she breathed, her hands clasping in front of her as Lord Hampshire’s quarry turned himself and faded into the crowd. She watched Lord Hampshire begin to hurry, not running for fear of drawing attention from the ton but with longer strides than before. Her fingers tightened as he followed after the man, soon himself disappearing into the crowd and being quite lost from her sight.
I pray you find him, Nora whispered inwardly, casting a prayer to heaven. I pray that it will lead you back towards freedom – and to our future.
11
First thing the following morning, still scowling, David climbed out of the carriage and walked directly into the solicitors. Having failed to catch the man in the park, he was all the more determined to discover his identity through other means.
I shall have to speak plainly to Frederica this afternoon, he thought to himself, his mouth pulling into a thin line.She will need to tell me the truth about it all. I do not know what is holding her back from it, but it cannot go on.
“Lord Hampshire, good morning.” David was quickly ushered into the solicitor’s office, the scent of leather drifting towards him. “Please, do sit down.”
“Thank you, Mr. Bolton.” David seated himself in the chair opposite the solicitor’s desk, eyeing the man carefully.
Mr. Bolton was an older fellow, with sharp grey eyes and a pair of pince-nez perched carefully on the end of his nose. “I have come to speak with you about one of your solicitors. I am afraid I do not know his name, but he was the solicitor for the late Lord Cheltenham.”
Mr. Bolton frowned. “I am not certain of whom you are speaking, I am sorry to say. I was Lord Cheltenham’s solicitor, and now, I am yours also when it comes to all matters of his estate and the like. I am grateful for your ongoing requirement of our services, of course.”
David hesitated, then went into a further explanation of the man he had seen. Perhaps Mr. Bolton did not understand what he meant. “When I say that this man was Lord Cheltenham’s solicitor, I mean to say that he is now dealing with matters pertaining to Miss Longleat specifically. He met with her recently, I understand – or was going to, before my presence interrupted it.”
Mr. Bolton’s expression eased in an instant. “Ah, of course. Forgive me, I quite forgot. You must be referring to Mr. Rathbone?”
Hearing the man’s name brought David such a great relief, he sighed and dropped his chin, nodding. “Is that his name, then?”
“He is no longer employed here, however,” Mr. Bolton continued, making David’s eyebrows shoot high. “That instruction came from the late Lord Cheltenham, shortly before he died.” He paused, his expression briefly troubled. “It was a difficult business. Mr. Rathbone had been with us for some years and was, in his own way, capable. He had lost his wife some years past, I am told, and was left with young children.” Bolton adjusted his pince-nez, as if the recollection had cost him something.
“I confess the matter sat uneasy with me at the time.”
“I do not understand.” David sat forward in his chair, his elbows on his knees and hands clasped in front of him. “Lord Cheltenham directed you to end the man’s employment? How could he have such sway?”
Mr. Bolton shifted in his chair, his eyes darting away. “He – he informed me that Mr. Rathbone had behavedsomewhat inappropriately during one of his meetings with Lord Cheltenham. This was at a time when Mr. Rathbone had been summoned to the house here in London, you understand. We work for many upstanding families, Lord Hampshire, and I did not want to risk injuring our own reputation. Therefore, I did as was instructed.”
“Do you remember when precisely this was?” David asked, feeling more and more unsettled. Mr. Rathbone appeared to be a somewhat unsavory character, and yet, for whatever reason, Frederica had been willing to meet with him. “When was he asked to quit your employ?”
Hesitating, thick grooves drove themselves into Mr. Bolton’s forehead as he frowned. “I think – I think it would have been about the same time as news reached us of Miss Longleat’s engagement,” he said slowly. “Yes, it would have been at that time, I think.”
David pressed his thumb against the bridge of his nose. “At the same time as the codicil was given to you?”
Mr. Bolton blinked. “Codicil?”
“Yes, the codicil.” David frowned. “Lord Cheltenham informed me that he had added a codicil to his will. I presume you know of what I am speaking?” When Mr. Bolton’s expression did not change, David threw up his hands. “I am well aware that the will has not been read as yet, but surely you can admit to something that both you and I are aware of.”
“Except I am entirely unaware of it,” Mr. Bolton said, slowly, rising from his chair, his hands planted flat on his desk. “Are you quite certain of this, Lord Hampshire? Are you certain that Lord Cheltenham spoke of adding this codicil?”
“Yes, I am quite sure.” David’s heart was beating so hard and so loudly that it was difficult to make out the sound of his own voice over the top of it. “The night he spoke to me, he informed me that he had very recently added a codicil to his will – in fact,he said to me that he had done it the day before our meeting, so it was very recent indeed!”
