“So who is she if she’s not Jessamine? And why is Wynn pretending she is?”
Elise shrugged. “I expect she’s an actress or some such. Probably sleeping with Wynn by now; she’s clearly enterprising. As to why, are you aware Wynn’s dying?”
“He says he is.”
She paused for a second. “Have you reason to doubt it?”
“He’s lied about everything else. And it’s been a very useful way for him to get everyone worked up to fever pitch about the imminent inheritance.”
An expression of slight annoyance crossed her lovely face. “Well. In any case, my view is that Wynn doesn’t want to give his money away.”
“If he’s not dying, he doesn’t have to.”
“Even when he’s dead,” Elise said. “I think he’s worked himself into a frenzy about any of you getting your hands on it, because I think he is exactly like Bram, and like his own father come to that, and the very idea of being obliged to part with his fortune puts him through the agonies of the damned.”
“A bit harsh?” Zeb suggested. “I know Bram doesn’t like to share—”
“Wynn’s father falsely imprisoned a woman rather than give her her lawful inheritance.”
Zeb stared at her. “What do you mean?”
“Laura’s mother. Walter’s last wife. Did you not know?”
“I thought she was unwell.”
Elise gave a mirthless smile. “Walter left her a very generous legacy, which Wynn’s father was disinclined to hand over. He didn’t want her spending his money, you see, any more than Bram wanted you spending his. So he kept her confined to the house after the child was born, and brought in a series of complaisant doctors to agree she was ill, then unfit, then mad. I believe she lived some seven years in those conditions beforeshe put an end to herself.”
Zeb’s stomach lurched. “But—how do you know? I didn’t know anything about this!”
“Bram had it from your father. Oh yes, your father knew all about it, but he greatly disliked the idea of a housemaid running around calling herself Wyckham. It would have been so embarrassing, and your father did loathe embarrassment, didn’t he?”
“That’s not a reason to lock someone away!”
Elise didn’t answer. In particular, she didn’t say,Wouldn’t he have locked you away if he could?Maybe she didn’t even think it, but Zeb felt the words anyway, felt them heating his face, squirming in his stomach.
“If Wynn’s father did that to save money, he was a monster,” he said. “And if my father knew and could have stopped it and didn’t, then I am ashamed to be his son. But you said Wynn’s doing the same thing, and we’re talking about the disposition of money after hisdeath.”
“Maybe he wants to take it with him,” Elise said. “There is an Egyptian pyramid in the grounds, after all. Or perhaps he has something else in mind. I am merely speculating, and it scarcely matters anyway.”
“It doesn’t?”
“You came here to tell me Wynn isn’t to be trusted, and I quite agree. I resent being made a part of this as much as you do. And? What’s your conclusion?”
Zeb opened his mouth and found he wasn’t sure what to say. “Um—well, it’s all awful?” he tried. “I want to go home, onlyWynn’s refusing to let me have the motor or any sort of ride to town and one can’t leave terribly easily without that. And I’m afraid Bram is determined to stay—”
“He won’t leave while he thinks there’s money on the table.”
“No. But if you and I both insisted on going, we might force Wynn’s hand, and I could escort you back to London.”
Elise considered that. “You are offering to travel across the country with me, and without my husband?”
“I’m your brother-in-law. Nobody could think that inappropriate.”
“I feel quite sure a number of people would consider it highly inappropriate. In fact, if there is anything that would help your brother get his precious divorce—”
“That is absolutely not my intention.”
She folded her arms. “I dare say not. Whose intention was it?”
