“Is there more?” he asked. “Go on, you can tell me.”
“I also found, among your father’s personal effects that he left to our firm when he died, several letters from Lord Dubois. Letters that are relevant to this contract.”
Lucien felt his mouth go dry. “What do they say?” He had a feeling it wasn’t good, from the way the lawyer was looking at him.
“Well, in them, the deal is discussed at length. It seems that Lord Dubois had proposed the deal to your father, at some earlier date, most likely in person. Your father, apparently, refused the deal.”
“Then that is good!” Lucien said, seizing upon this at once.
“There is more,” Mr. Hartfield said patiently. “In the letters, Dubois intimates that your father has changed his mind. Or at least, that he isconsideringchanging his mind. There is a piece of land that Lord Dubois owns, which he has offered to sell to your father, in exchange for your sister’s hands. This land is said to contain coal, and while Dubois has not yet exploited it for that resource, your father hopes to, in order to save the estate.” Mr. Hartfield cleared his throat again. “As you know, your father left the duchy in considerable debt.”
“Yes, he was a profligate spender,” Lucien said impatiently. He had been trying to right his father’s wrongs and save the finances of the estate ever since he’d become the duke. “But turning a piece of land that is rumored to have coal into a profitable coalmine would have taken years! It doesn’t seem like the kind of practical thing my father would do--especially if it involved selling my sister to a man he hated!”
“Well, yes, you would think,” Mr. Hartfield said with a heavy sigh. “But it seems that he was becoming desperate, or at least that is how Dubois makes it out in the letters to your father. I think your father worried about the state of the duchy that he would leave to you. And you must remember, he was not expecting to die so young. He probably thought he would see the profits of the mine in his lifetime, and that the duchy would be returned to full health by the time you became duke.”
“And my sister?” Lucien demanded. “Does he mention in these letters why he no longer cares for her happiness?”
“No, he doesn’t mention that,” Mr. Hartfield said, smiling wryly. “The letters are all from Dubois. But Dubois does say at one point that while the Duke and Duchess married for love, he understands that not all the Duke’s children can do so. Not with the estate in so much trouble.”
“Trouble my father caused!” Lucien yelled, before taking a deep breath and trying to get control of himself. It wouldn’t do to yell at his solicitor. It wasn’t his fault.
“Yes,” Mr. Hartfield said. “It is unfortunate. And to your father’s credit, Dubois never says that your father has said yes. But the tenor of the letters suggests that your father was wavering and that Dubois was beginning to feel certain the contract would be signed. The letters do not unequivocally point to him agreeingto Dubois’ proposal. But I am afraid, especially if Dubois has the letters from your father, that they will carry great weight with a judge. They are persuasive. Even I, who knew your father well and never believed he’d be capable of something like this, am persuaded by these letters.”
Lucien was dumbfounded. He was also furious. He had always known that his father was a self-involved, frivolous man who put his relationship with his wife above his children’s best interests. But he had never thought it could come to anything this villainous. He had never thought his father would willfully harm his children--only accidentally harm them through neglect.
At last, he looked back up at Mr. Hartfield and cleared his throat. It was time to focus on the practicalities and not get waylaid thinking about how his father had wronged their family.
“What do you recommend that we do?”
“I recommend that Lady Leah marry someone else, and quickly,” the solicitor said. “Otherwise I am afraid a judge will rule in Dubois’ favor. Even if he does not, these revelations will rock theton, and I cannot imagine it will be good for Lady Leah or her sisters.”
“I understand,” Lucien said. “Thank you for your advice and counsel.” Mr. Hartfield nodded and began to pack away his briefcase. Lucien leaned back in his chair, lost in thought. He had to talk to Leah.Now.Find out if any of her suitors were about to propose. There was no time to lose.
“Do you mind if I don’t show you out?” he asked Mr. Hartfield. “I am feeling rather ill at ease after this meeting.”
“Of course,” Mr. Hartfield said, bowing. “I understand it comes as quite a blow.”
After the solicitor was gone, Lucien turned his chair around to face out into the garden. It was a small garden, but as he stared out into it, memories of the times he and Emery had strolled there filled his head, and he felt a sweet calmness settle over him. His wife, his love… He knew not everyone could marry for love, but he would have wanted that for Leah as well. Now, she would be condemned to marry whatever man would have her, as long as he was better than Lord Dubois. His heart went out to her. He wished there was more he could do. Feeling powerless like this was hardly a feeling that the Duke of Dredford enjoyed.
There was a knock on the door, and Lucien grunted, “Enter,” before turning around and seeing Dorian standing in the doorway.
“We need to talk,” Dorian said, closing the door behind him. “It’s important.”
Lucien looked worried . Dorian knew his friend well enough to know that. He was a little surprised to see it, though. Lucien Grove, Duke of Dredford, was not the kind of man who ever showed his stress. But seeing as how they were just a few days away from the deadline Lucien had given, and Lord Dubois’threat loomed greater than ever, he could understand his friend’s concerns .
“You stink,” Lucien said, wrinkling his nose as Dorian sat down across from him. “Were you drinking all night again?”
“Yes,” Dorian admitted. There was no point in lying about it.
“You need to get your life together,” Lucien said, shaking his head.
“I know.” Dorian shook his head, marveling at the irony. “That’s why I’m here.”
Lucien’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Is this about Leah?”
“Yes. How did you know?”
“It’s more that I hoped. My solicitor was just here.” Lucien swallowed, and Dorian saw a flash of fear cross his face. “The contract isn’t faked.”
