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The urge to suggest she might find refuge at Hefferwickshire House thrummed against his tongue, but he subdued the improbable conjecture. It was quite possible her husband would deny Beatrice her pets as well.

He’d bite his tongue in half before he spoke those unkind words, however.

Women had so little power in most circumstances.

His parents’ union was truly unusual. Father treated Mother as his equal.

“Lord Cassius?” Disillusionment shadowed Beatrice’s pretty hazel eyes. “I wonder, how would a person find out what the conditions of an inheritance are?” She jutted her chin out. “I wish to know if I retain control of my trust fund if I marry.”

Cassius didn’t blame her for wanting to know that very important detail. Her future happiness might well depend upon it.

Eyes narrowed, he rubbed his chin.

“A solicitor would have a copy of the original bequest and likely the trust documents too.” She gazed up at him with such trust that his heart turned over. “Do you know the solicitor’s name? I could ask my father to make inquiries on your behalf.”

She crinkled her nose in concentration. “I don’t know for certain, but I’ve seen correspondences from Hargreaves & Drummond Solicitors on Fleet Street in London. They might not have anything to do with my trust or inheritance, however.”

“That’s enough information to start.” Cassius gave a satisfied nod. “Who bequeathed the funds to you?”

“My maternal grandmother, Euphemia Fairfax, Countess of Highbury. She died a month after my mother. I don’t remember her at all.” A precocious smile tilted her pretty mouth upward, replacing the lingering sadness in her eyes. “It always infuriated my uncle that Grandmother didn’t disown Mama. He would have inherited my funds had she done so.”

Cassius set his jaw against the uncomplimentary reference to an equine’s rump her uncle reminded him of.

“Your grandmother loved you despite the circumstances of your birth and wanted to provide for you.” How brave and noble of the countess. “Typically, families engage the same solicitor, so there is every chance that the countess retained the same one as your uncle.”

Something fluttered behind Cassius’s heart again. He could do this for her. Help Beatrice in this small way. It did little to alleviate his guilt, but it was a start.

“I hadn’t considered that.” She gave a slow nod. “I have asked to see the trust more than once, but my uncle always refuses. He says women shouldn’t worry about such matters.”

Of course Highbury did, the spawn of Satan.

And why would he do so?

Unless the donkey’s hind end was hiding something.

Now, there was an interesting notion.

Cassius would write to Father this very afternoon.

Beatrice switched the dogs’ leads to her other hand.

“May I ask something else of you, Lord Cassius?”

“Of course, I shall help if I can.”

Warning bells tinkled, but he ignored them. He wasn’t getting involved, just helping an unfortunate woman.

“I would like to learn how to best invest my funds.” A wry smile tilted her mouth upward. “In general, men aren’t keen on advising women regarding such matters, and I have no one else I can ask.”

Cassius liked that she spoke with optimism, as if she would come into her inheritance and control it and her future.

She gave him a wry smile. “Women are capable of understanding such things, you know.”

He chuckled and stepped over a small piece of driftwood. “I do not doubt it in the least. However, that is not my area of expertise. Fletcher and Adolphus are both quite adept at investing, as is my father. I shall write and ask them for suggestions today.”

“Thank you. I appreciate your assistance.” Her grateful smile momentarily blinded him. “Now, I must go. I’ve been gone overly long already.”

“We can discuss both topics in detail on your next visit to the studio.” Cassius was quite looking forward to spending several hours with her.

A pained, almost desperate expression whisked over her features.

“What is it, Beatrice?”

Her name slipped from Cassius’s tongue as if it were the most natural thing in the world, and he could not regret it. Any more than he could regret helping her.

“This morning, my uncle informed me that he met a gentleman at The Old Ship Hotel who may be interested in my hand in marriage.”