“That would be refreshing.”
His thick hands splayed out on the desk, ignoring Wyatt’s comment.“We had a falling out.”
Wyatt sighed.“Mr.Landry, wasn’t it?”
The other man nodded.“That’s correct.”
“Mr.Landry,” Wyatt took a deep breath, praying for patience.“I don’t need any details beyond Mr.Crosby’s dealings with the Earl of Purlington, but one way or the other, and by other I mean getting more solicitors and the law involved, I mean to know how he discovered the heir to the Purlington title.My wife, the Viscountess Ware, is the former earl’s daughter, you see, and it’s of vital importance to me.”
“I-I see.”
“I’m not a man who gives up easily and you should ask yourself how difficult you’d like this to become.”
The man’s eyes grew wide as saucers.“I told him no good would come of it.”
Finally.They were getting somewhere.“Come of what?”
He shook his head.“The man my former colleague placed in the earl’s seat,” his color went from pale to putrid green.“He’s not what he claims to be.”
Wyatt’s brows lifted, anticipation making his fist clench.“Go on.”
Reaching into his desk, Mr.Landry pulled out a bottle of whisky and taking a long swig, stood.Then he crossed to a cabinet where the pulled out a large file.“Take this and do with it what you will.I had nothing to do with any of it, other than what I found out when he was leaving.I should have taken it all to the police.I just…”
And then he dropped a large file into Wyatt’s hands.
Flipping through the papers, an outline of the truth became clear rather quickly.
Eugene was an imposter and in no way eligible to be the lord.
The solicitor had taken a large sum of money to falsify a birth document, a marriage certificate, and a sum, that if Wyatt wasn’t mistaken, had been embezzled directly from Priscilla’s accounts.
His mouth dropped open as he flipped to another page.
Eugene was going to prison.Satisfaction rippled over his skin.Priscilla would be so relieved to know she’d never have to see the man’s face again.
What would happen to her father’s seat, he couldn’t say, but as he looked at the documents, he knew it didn’t matter.
The holdings could revert to the crown, a far better place for them than in Eugene’s petty and selfish hands.
He stood, snapping the file shut.
“What…what happens next?”the other man asked, not able to keep the croak from his voice.
Wyatt frowned.How involved this man was, he couldn’t say.None of the documents bore his name.“You’ll be called to testify once the false earl is put on trial.”
The other man’s shoulders slumped.“Thank you, my lord.”
He appreciated the other man’s honesty, even if it had taken some convincing.“Thank you.”He’d have to find Eugene.But first, he needed to share what he’d learned with Priscilla.Had she thought him a hero before?Surely he’d win her affection for always with what he’d just discovered.
Leaving, file in hand, he climbed into his carriage and started for home.He couldn’t wait to see his wife, share what he’d discovered.Knowing that this time, he’d kept the woman in his care well and truly safe.
Arriving home, he made his way up the stairs to the study where he’d left Priscilla at work.
He entered the room, words ready to burst from his chest.But one look at her face made him stop.
Her accusing glare held unshed tears as she rose to standing.“My lord.”
Her voice rang with warning, tension filling ever line of her body.
