Page 104 of The Mistress of All & Torn

“Good day, Lady Augusta. Lady Barrington invited me to attend this meeting and I have gladly accepted,” Cece replied, perfectly composed.

The lady ignored her and turned to Elizabeth.

“Why is this person here? Her presence is disgraceful and appalling! She must leave now!”

“Are you referring to my friend, Miss Cecilia? She is here to support me, of course. I am counting on her advice in any business decision.”

“Excuse me??? Her advice? She is nothing! Nothing! Have you lost your mind? Not even Henrietta forced us to bear such an offence! I will not share the table with a black servant!”

“Lady Augusta, have you just insulted me and my friend?” Elizabeth asked, her eyebrow raised in challenge. “Let us be clear! I have no wish and no time for this meeting! You have requested it and I accepted. You have your companions, I have mine. Whoever is displeased, may leave at any time.”

“Let us not argue,” St. Claire interjected. “However, it shows abominable disrespect to treat Lady Augusta in such a way. Especially considering she has been deprived of both her son and her fortune.”

“No disrespect was meant. But I shall not change my habits in my own house,” Elizabeth declared.

“It is not your house! This was Henrietta’s scheme! If my brother was alive, he would have given me this house!”

“That is not accurate, Lady Augusta,” Mr. Reeves intervened. The house belonged to Lady Sedgewick’s family. And Lord Sedgewick’s will empowered his wife to make any decisions on their properties, except for the extinct earldom.”

“I did not ask you anything, sir!” the lady rebuked him coarsely, to the gentleman’s stupefaction.

“I believe this meeting has begun most unhappily,” Mr. Thorn interjected. “Lady Augusta, what is the purpose of this encounter?”

The lady hesitated briefly, attempted to look at the two men next to her, then she spoke solemnly.

“While looking through my beloved son’s papers, I discovered a note, in his handwriting, that stated that he has a debt of honour of ten thousand pounds to Mr. Lambert and one of fifteen thousand pounds to Mr. St. Claire. Since I have no means to pay these debts, due to the evil plans that left me practically a beggar, I must sell the Barrington townhouse, in the memory of my son!”

Elizabeth could not help rolling her eyes in a most uncivil manner. Her worries vanished instantly in the face of such a ridiculous claim.

“Would your ladyship show us the note?” Mr. Reeves asked. “Although I am puzzled as to why our presence was requested. Barrington House is not part of the Sedgewick trust. Based on the settlement signed between spouses, Lady Barrington and her solicitor should decide upon such a request.”

The gazes turned to Elizabeth, and she repeated, “Would your ladyship show us the note?”

“I do not have it! Unfortunately, it was ruined by mistake. But my word is just as good,” Lady Augusta declared condescendingly.

“It seems we have returned to the same conversation from two months ago. Before debating further, there is another matter that needs clarification. It was brought to my attention that several other Barrington properties have been sold and the capital is nowhere to be found in the papers. Do you have any knowledge of this?”

“You are forbidden to ask that! Those affairs occurred before your marriage,” Lady Augusta shouted.

“Again, that is not quite accurate,” Mr. Hoskins responded. “Lord Barrington offered his wife several settlements in which Barrington’s estates were mentioned. We recently discovered that those properties had been long sold. Therefore, those settlements could be considered illegal, or purposely deceptive. She is entitled to claim compensation if she so desires.”

“Lady Augusta, Mr. St. Claire, Mr. Lambert, this meeting appears to be a charade to me, although I suspect it is not your ladyship’s fault. I assume you have been poorly advised by people who are seeking their own personal gain. These supposed debts are just as questionable to me now as they were two months ago and are a waste of our time. If I remember correctly, I am not allowed to sell any property unless I marry again, when my husband takes ownership of my possessions and may choose to sell them.”

“Is that so?” Lady Augusta turned to the gentlemen of the law, growing angrier by the minute at her increasing helplessness.

“Yes, your ladyship. Or unless Lady Barrington provides a male heir in the next few months, who will then inherit the entire fortune.”

“There is another question that troubles me now,” Elizabeth continued. “If your request was successful, where did you intend to live in the future?”

“What could you possibly mean?” Lady Augusta enquired. “At my estate, of course!”

“I am afraid that is a misconception. I will certainly not provide an heir for Lord Barrington, therefore his earldom will become extinct soon. I doubt you will be allowed to reside there for much longer.”

Lady Augusta gasped, glared at each of them, then turned to her two companions, in a desperate search for air and help.

“Surely this cannot be true!”

“It is true. As you can see, the circumstances are exceedingly complicated and I have no means and no willingness to interfere.”