Page 37 of The Duke’s Hidden Runaway Bride

The same priority Fenwick had been promised.

Josiah swore under his breath.

Soane rested one finger on the rejected draft.

“The difficulty is that neither promise corresponds with the signed articles.”

Ophelia sat beside Adrian, reading the documents closely, missing nothing. The shy, dull Miss Jones had vanished entirely. Her pen moved over a sheet beside her, dates and sums accumulating in a small, decisive hand.

Josiah watched her work with an expression Adrian could not read.

Ophelia looked up.

“The final articles were signed nine days before Sir Hugh advanced the money, twelve days before Bellamy signed his agreement.”

“Yes,” Soane said.

“Markham knew by then that the portion would pass to trustees. He would receive the agreed income after the marriage, but he could not assign the principal because it would never become his.”

“Correct.” Soane was watching her with interest.

“Yet he showed Sir Hugh the rejected draft, which gave him wider control, and promised Fenwick the very first claim upon money to which Markham held no title at all: and then he promised the same first claim to Bellamy.”

Soane inclined his head. “Precisely.”

Josiah rose and began to pace.

“He borrowed on my daughter’s fortune before the wedding. Borrowed twice upon the same expectation and lied about the terms.”

“At least twice,” Soane said. “There may be others.”

“Is it fraud?” Adrian asked.

“It may be actionable misrepresentation. Whether it amounts to fraud that could be proved in court is a question for counsel. The immediate value is practical rather than criminal.”

Ophelia set down her pen.

“If the creditors learn that the security does not exist, they will call the notes.”

“And others will follow,” Soane said. “Markham’s credit may collapse before his claims against Mr. James reach a hearing.”

Josiah stopped pacing. “Then call them.”

Adrian looked at Ophelia. “What do you want?” he asked.

Josiah made an impatient sound. “He has threatened to ruin us.”

“He threatened you both,” Adrian said. “The decision belongs to both.”

Ophelia studied the columns she had made.

“If we destroy his credit without warning, he will have no reason to withdraw the suit. He may pursue it out of spite even while the bailiffs carry away his furniture.”

“Likely,” Soane said.

“Then the debts are a lever, more useful to be used for that purpose rather than vengeance.”

Pride flared through Adrian, sudden and unwarranted. He had no right to display it, so he said nothing.