“If you will permit my advice, milady, I would only involve the queen as a last resort. She is known for being conservative and may side with the challengers in this case.”
Josephine sat down, deflated. Cousin Titus and his odious wife definitely presented a better picture of respectability than she did.
“What are my options?”
“There’s one chance… We have an old document, drawn up at the time of your engagement to Lord Montfort, that grants mutual guardianship of the heirs of each family to the head of the other family in case of the children’s parents’ deaths.”
Josephine’s heart twisted at the mention of Lord Montfort and her engagement.
Michael.
But then her brow furrowed in confusion. “But surely such a document would be invalid, since the marriage never took place.”
“Not necessarily.” The solicitor adjusted his spectacles. “That was the intention, no doubt. But the wording of the document doesn’t specify such a condition. It only says that, in the event of the death of both parents while the heir is still a minor, the guardianship of the child would fall to the head of the other family. In this case, the Duke of Aycliffe.”
“What makes you think he will be an ally? If he believed my brother’s lies, he thinks I willingly eloped with another man, breaking my engagement to his son and bringing ridicule and scandal to both of our families. He would be the last person on this earth willing to help me.”
“Perhaps. Perhaps not. Maybe you are unaware of this, but the current duke is not your erstwhile fiancé’s father. Lord Montfort, as well, sadly passed away a few years back. The title was inherited by the second son, Lord Michael.”
Oh good God. Just hearing his name aloud produced such a pang of longing that she was momentarily paralyzed. And then dread followed quickly behind. Ask Michael for help? The solicitor thought it was an advantage but few people knew about her and Michael’s history.
If he turned against her, as he was likely to do, he would be a formidable adversary. But it was worse than that. He had the power to destroy her fragile peace with one cruel word.
This was a terrible idea. What did he think of her? She had been snatched away, torn from his side, without a chance for an explanation. What did he make of her disappearance? Did he suspect foul play? Or did he believe her brother’s lies?
“No. That would not do, Mr. Cheswick. The current duke is not likely to harbor any goodwill toward me.”
“Are you sure, milady? I’ve dealt with His Grace on a few occasions, and he seems a fair and reasonable person. With all due respect, this is the best chance we have. With the support of the duke, no court would dare overrule your brother’s will.”
“And what are our chances without involving the duke?”
“I would say it could go either way, milady.”
There was no need to ask what her chances were if they involved the duke and he turned against her. It was a daring move. All or nothing.
The irony would make her laugh if the situation was not so tragic. To ensure she could protect the child she had come to love, she would have to face Michael, the man she had loved and lost. Look him in the eye and see his hatred and disdain for her. She would have to talk to him. Perhaps learn about his wife and the children he probably had by now. And face the fact that he forgot her long ago. That he’d moved on with his life and she was nothing but an unwelcome ghost from his past.
He was the only person with the power to destroy her, and she feared facing him with the same intensity she yearned forhim. But endangering little Edward for her cowardice was out of the question. He might hate her, might even take the child away from her, but she trusted him to protect her nephew better than she could against scheming relatives. In the end, that was all that mattered, so there was really no other choice.
“Should I contact His Grace myself?” Her voice trembled slightly.
“No need to inconvenience yourself, milady. I will visit the duke and present him with the guardianship document. You should probably expect his visit in the next few days.”
A few days. She would see Michael in a few days.
God help her.
CHAPTER 16
Michaelstaredatthesolicitor while his thoughts churned and his mood darkened. Bloody hell, he didn’t need this. According to this document, he was now the guardian of the newly orphaned Earl of Dunhaven. A child of only two years of age. And the nephew of the woman who had broken his heart.
Taking a deep breath, he pinched the bridge of his nose. “I would have to have my solicitor review this document, as I’m not sure it is valid. This was drawn twelve years ago, under different circumstances and regarding different people.”
“Of course, Your Grace. I’d be more than happy to discuss the terms of the guardianship with your solicitor. But I assure you the document is still valid, as its terms are not contingent upon time or circumstances.”
“But why me? Surely in the last twelve years the previous earl had time to draw a different will. I wasn’t even friends with theman! Aren’t there any relatives who can take on the duty? I know nothing about taking care of a toddler.”
“About that, Your Grace is right on both counts. The late earl did leave a will, naming a suitable guardian. Unfortunately, there are other relatives contesting that will. I’m afraid the case might come to court and the result will not be in accordance with the late earl’s wishes or the child’s best interests.”
