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“I’ve been studying the accounts. It’s taken me until now to get them in some sort of order. Mr Edwards was terrible with notetaking, and he didn’t keep things laid out in an understandable way. What I found isn’t good.” He turned to them, his expression blank. “You’re in debt, Lady Dunley. Your husband was a heavy gambler, and he used everything he could get his hands on to play the cards or bet on the horses.”
Isabel felt like he had grabbed the rug and whipped it out from under her. No, this couldn’t be true. Her father wasn’t a gambler. He didn’t drink, and he was terrible at cards! This couldn’t be right.
“But ... are you sure about this?” she asked.
“I’m afraid so. I double-checked everything myself, as did Lord Dunley. What little you do have will be used to pay part of the outstanding debt, but after that …” Mr Joyner shook his head. “There’s nothing left. You wouldn’t be able to feed yourself, never mind the servants. Of course, you will be given a generous allowance from Lord Dunley out of his own account for rent and food, but that will be it. You’ll be destitute.”
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Lady Dunley whimpered and staggered over to a chair, sagging onto the cushions as she clutched her chest. She was gulping in lots of air in ragged gasps. Isabel swayed as the room tilted one way and then the other.
This couldn’t be happening. This had to be a cruel joke or a nightmare. Isabel had to be still asleep. That was the only explanation. She pinched the back of her hand and felt her body respond to the pain.
No, she was awake. This was really happening.
“But ... why didn’t Father say anything to us?” she cried. “Why are we only hearing about this now?”
“As I said, Miss Moore, it’s taken this long to get the accounts in order. They were in a complete mess.” The solicitor shook his head. “If we had noticed it earlier, you and your mother would have moved out by now. Lord Dunley was willing to wait out the mourning period …”
“How very generous of him,” Isabel sneered.
“But it’s been six months, and his wife is pregnant with their second child. He wants to have her safely set up here before the baby arrives.”
“But ... he has his own home across the country! I remember him saying that he would never live out this far as it was too boring. He likes being close to London.”
“He has the title now, so he can live here if he so wishes.” Mr Joyner watched her with that blank stare that was beginning to really annoy her. “The fact he allowed you two to stay here for six months when he had every right to throw you out was nothing short of generous. But he’s not willing to extend that generosity any longer. He has his family to think about now.”
Isabel could feel the anguish and the anger building, and for now, the anger was winning. She bared her teeth at Mr Joyner.
“We’re meant to be his family as well. We’re the ones who lost someone dear to us. He barely knew Father, and he thinks he can waltz in and snatch our home away from us? Has he thought about that?”
“Isabel …” Lady Dunley murmured.
That was when Isabel remembered her mother. She started towards her.
“Mama?”
“I ... I think it’s best that you leave the room.” Lady Dunley was slowly sitting up, still pressing a hand against her chest. “It’s best that you do.”
“But ... you asked me here.”
“And you’re getting overwrought. I think it’s best you go and calm down while I discuss things more civilly with Mr Joyner.”
Isabel stared in disbelief.
“You ... you can’t be going along with this, Mama! This is our home!”
“I know that, darling,” Lady Dunley said quietly. She drew herself up to her full height. “And I’m going to be making that very clear. But someone needs to be calm right now, and that person is me.”
“I can be calm.”
“No, you can’t.” Her mother touched her daughter’s arm. “Go, darling. I’ll speak with Mr Joyner. I’m sure we can work something out.”
Isabel couldn’t believe what she was hearing. How could her mother even think about negotiating with this man? They shouldn’t be doing that at all. Mr Joyner should be getting thrown out and told to report back to his client that they wouldn’t be forced out of their home. How could she allow this?
But she could see Lady Dunley was not prepared to argue with her, the viscountess walking past her daughter without looking over and heading towards the solicitor. There was a slight wobble in her step, which gave away her nerves, but that was it. Overall, she was composed and collected.
Isabel had no idea how anyone could go from upset and breaking down one moment to looking like nothing could get through a wall of ice the next. She certainly couldn’t do it; her anger would be burning the ice down.
