“Heaven forbid,” Colin said as he walked towards his study.
Once he stepped inside, he saw his solicitor already seated in front of the desk, reviewing a document in his hand. Mr. Hardwick was a round man with a full head of red hair and had been with his family for many years.
“Good morning, Mr. Hardwick,” Colin greeted as he came around his desk. “Thank you for coming so early.”
“It was the least I could do for my favorite client,” Mr. Hardwick said, smiling. “Besides, I believe congratulations are in order.”
“That is only if she says yes.”
Mr. Hardwick’s smile dimmed. “Pardon?”
“I am teasing,” Colin said, taking his seat. “Forgive me; I’m afraid it is a little wedding humor.”
With a chuckle, Mr. Hardwick remarked, “You are in a pleasant mood for a man who is about to get caught by the parson’s mousetrap.”
“Why wouldn’t I be?” Colin asked. “I fought hard to convince Lady Arabella to marry me.”
“The good ones usually need more convincing.”
“Well said, Mr. Hardwick.”
The solicitor extended the paper he had been holding towards Colin. “This may put you into an even better mood, if that is at all possible.”
“What is it?” Colin asked as he accepted the paper.
“It is the marriage lines for Mr. and Mrs. Burkard,” Mr. Hardwick revealed.
Colin stared at the document in disbelief. “How were you able to acquire it?”
“It was quite simple,” Mr. Hardwick smiled, “once I threatened to refer the matter over to the magistrate.”
“Perhaps you should start at the beginning,” Colin said, putting the document down.
“I visited Langham and went to the vestry to see the parish register book,” Mr. Hardwick started. “But the parish clerk was being rather unreasonable when I explained my purpose for being there.”
“Why was that?”
“He said he did not remember attending a wedding on the date in question and that I should let the matter drop,” Mr. Hardwick revealed. “But it all changed once I explained that I was your solicitor, and you were deeply vested in finding the truth.”
“How did he respond to that?”
“His face grew white, and he shut the door on my face,” Mr. Hardwick shared. “But that did little to deter me.”
“I am pleased to hear that, considering what I am paying you.”
Mr. Hardwick grinned. “I went around back and found an unlocked door. I entered the vestry and found the parish clerk rifling through a book. When he saw me, he slammed the book shut and held it behind him.” He paused. “That is when I threatened to refer the matter to the magistrate, and he relented rather quickly thereafter.”
The solicitor shifted in his seat, then continued. “Apparently, Mrs. Burkard’s father paid the parish clerk some money to not release the book to his daughter, casting her marital status into question.”
“How awful,” Colin said.
“I was informed that Mrs. Burkard’s father is not known for his scrupulous business dealings in the village,” Mr. Hardwick remarked.
“That is most unfortunate, but not unexpected.”
Mr. Hardwick pointed at the marriage lines. “The document is missing a few signatures, but this should provide enough proof that she was indeed married, as she claimed to be.”
“I never doubted her.”
