“What investigation?”What had the weasel found out?Jamie almost stopped breathing.
“It appears your estate is bankrupt,” the auditor said.
Breath left his body in a long slow thread, his heart regained its beat, and his shoulders relaxed in relief when they didn’t bring up the Avante.
“That’s true, gentlemen,” he said. “My business in England allowed me to arrange for the settlement of my debts.”
“How do you plan to support yourself in that case, sir?”
“Unlike most gentlemen of my class,” he said, “I do not disdain work for hire. I plan to seek employment.”
Hushed voices and rustling paper erupted on his right. He could make out Filiberto’s voice, strident and demanding, but not his words.
“Does Castellimonte object to honest labor?” Jamie asked. “The count’s father put me to work as a teacher. I found I quite liked it.”
“Surely the court does not consider employment as a common teacher fit for the guardian of a child of Savoy,” one of Filiberto’s lackeys attempted to say.
“That matter is irrelevant to the case at hand, Eminence,” Wentworth was on his feet objecting like a true solicitor. The man’s defense of Nora almost wiped away Jamie’s resentment at the man for his part in Richard’s efforts to locate Jamie. Almost.
Once again the auditors demanded silence. Jamie spoke into the quiet.
“Eminence, I believe we can settle this in a friendly manner. If I could have but a few moments alone with the Count di Castellimonte, I am certain I can provide the assurances he seeks, and we can resolve it.”That or I’ll kill him, he thought.
Jamie pinned his false smile on those at the judging table and waited.
“May it please Your Eminences,” one of the lackeys oozed, “Baron Ross obviously fails to appreciate the seriousness with which this court takes its responsibility.”
“Actually, Monsignor Aste, the court values Baron Ross’s offer. If this matter can be resolved within the family, so to speak, the court would be grateful,” the senior auditor said. Relief gave the wizened old cleric the look of a benign leprechaun.
Within moments guards ushered the count into a small salon off the courtroom. Jamie, as protocol demanded, followed him. He turned to the guards when they moved to close the door. “Don’t go far,” he said, “we won’t be long.”And you may be needed, he thought.
“What game are you planning—Ross is it?” Victor spat as soon as the door closed. “Do you think you can challenge Castellimonte?”
Chapter Forty-Two
The vision of her husband’s retreating back filled Nora’s mind, burned there long after the merciless doors closed. She remained cut off again from the proceedings that would decide her future one final time. Now she also sat cut off from the exasperating man who came to speak for her.
“He came,” she murmured.
She sank down on the bench and put her shaking hands in her lap and repeated herself. “He came.”
“Of course, my dear, did you doubt it?” Mother Margarita smiled from the seat next to her.
“I wrote and wrote, but he never answered,” Nora said through a throat thick with a knot of confused feelings.
“He didn’t receive your letters.”
Nora’s head jerked up to face the kind black eyes of Mother Margarita. Her eyes darted to Archie Campbell.
“Didn’t receive them, how can that be? I gave them to Archie Campbell.” She gestured toward the man who stood at the courtroom door as if he couldn’t decide whether to stay or go. “He said they could go in the diplomatic pouch. He sent twenty-three letters for me. One of them must have gotten through.”
“The major did get them eventually. It seems they had been held up.” Mother Margarita shot Campbell a shrewd look. Nora followed her gaze and glared at the man. “One might expect the British courier system to be more efficient,” the nun continued.
“I may be needed inside,” Campbell said abruptly. “Good day,Mother Margarita,” he said through stiff lips, bowing, “Nora.” He slipped into the room.
Nora waved a hand as if to brush the subject aside. “He got them,” she sighed. “He came. It isn’t too late, is it?” She sounded more hopeful than she felt.
“We’ll pray that it is not. Baron Ross is a good man. He’ll show them reason.”
