“I have no incentive to lie to you,” he scoffed, as though she had insulted him.
“But…” Temperance felt herself growing frustrated. How was it even possible that this strange man had just walked in, and laid claim to everything that they had?
Surely, the law could not be so cruel. Even if her father could be.
“There are no buts,” he cut her off swiftly. “I have the legal documentation to prove my claims, should you be interested.”
“How is it possible that left you as the heir when I have never heard of you before?” she went on, repeating herself.
The duke shrugged.
“I suppose we would have to resurrect him from the dead to find his reasoning. But he had always expressed a disdain towards women being left in charge of anything, and we had a… working relationship.”
Temperance felt her cheeks heat.
Oh.
That would make a lot of sense, as her father had always resented her and her mother. As a final blow to them, no wonder he left his inheritance to a stranger.
“And all of this is allowed?” she asked.
“Allowed by whom exactly?” the duke asked. If he was growing impatient with her questioning, he had not shown it yet.
“The crown, the… well, the authorities and…”
“As I said, I have documentation to prove everything,” he shrugged. “Besides, this is not one of those tales where I am trying to fleece some poor women out of their inheritance. My title and estate preceding this inheritance are vast, and I have no need for any of this. And as I said, as you both are in my care now, I shall make sure that you are provided for.”
Huh.
Temperance could feel her cheeks heating up in anguish.Howwas any of this fair? Or legal?
But she understood that there would be no use getting angry in front of this man.
“How lovely,” she said. “We will speak in the morning, then. Goodnight, Your Grace.”
It was something that she had learnt in life. It was better tonotgive a reaction than give one that could be used against you in the future.
She reached down and scooped Soot from the floor, and walked back toward the drawing room without waiting for his response. Behind her, she heard nothing.
He did not know what to make of her reaction.
Good. Let him wonder.
She had the distinct and unsettling feeling that she was going to need every advantage she could get.
CHAPTER 3
Temperance walked back into the drawing room with Soot in her arms and the particular expression she produced when something had happened that she had not yet decided how to feel about.
Albina was exactly where she had left her, in the armchair with her tea, Biscuit’s head now relocated to her lap, which he had apparently decided was a better option than the settee. She looked up when Temperance came in and read her face with the immediate accuracy she always had.
“What happened?” she said.
“The heir is here,” Temperance said.
Albina looked at her.
“He arrived this evening,” Temperance said. “He is in the hallway.” She sat down in her chair and set Soot on her lap andlooked at her mother. “He has a son. The boy was in the garden. He was the one who found Soot.”
