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“We have so much to discuss, my lord,” the newcomer added, beaming.
Guy put the pieces together. “Sir Walter Treadgold, I presume. I was just looking for you. Thank you for making it easy.”
“Always your servant, my lord.”
This bit of nonsense made Guy laugh. “If only that were so, my dear sir! You might have bothered to reply to my letters. In the meantime, your solicitors have surely advised you that I am filing a petition to gain legal custody of my sisters.” He leaned toward him. “I trust you are excessively delighted by that too?”
Not for a heartbeat did Sir Walter’s smile slip, as he rubbed his hands together and nodded agreeably. “Let us not spoil this lovely evening by discussing tedious legal affairs. My greatest wish is that you and I might be friends.”
“And my greatest wish is that I become my sisters’ legal guardian.”
Sir Walter sighed in apparent commiseration. “If only it were that easy! A man’s will is a powerful legal document. If the Court of Chancery will not overturn your late father’s will, there is nothing I can do.”
“Yet if the court finds you are mismanaging their trusts…”
“My lord!” Sir Walter’s jaw dropped. “Whatever can you mean to imply? Why, your father trusted me to take care of things as he did.”
“Precisely my concern, given my father’s habitual corruption.”
The insult had no effect. Sir Walter merely scratched his chin thoughtfully. “Actually, my lord, I might be able to offer a solution to our little problem.”
“It’sourproblem, now, is it?”
“You’ve met our Matilda, I believe?”
“Who? Oh, Miss Treadgold. The frilly one.”
“She is my niece, by way of my dear departed brother, but she is like our daughter, just as Lady Frederica is now. Our Matilda is most charming and impeccably behaved.”
“Is she?”
“She has been tireless in assisting with my numerous charitable institutions.”
“Has she?”
“And she plays pianoforte beautifully.”
“Does she?”
Sir Walter’s expression was entirely without guile. “I hear you are seeking a bride. Permit me to remind you that your late father’s will names three properties that will become yours if you marry Miss Larke, and mine if you marry anyone else. If you were to marry our Matilda, I would include those properties in her dowry. I would also assist you to become guardian of your sisters.”
“So my sisters would also form part of your niece’s dowry.”
Sir Walter stopped short, then spluttered and laughed and spluttered some more. “You mistake my meaning, my lord.”
“Oh, I don’t think I am at all mistaken. What did you get your knighthood for, Sir Walter? Not for subtlety, clearly.”
And so it went. If Guy married Miss Treadgold, he’d get what he wanted—and become this man’s puppet instead of his father’s.
“You will require friends, my lord,” Sir Walter said, unperturbed. “I am willing to be a friend to you.”
“You and everyone else in Britain.”
“And my son, Humphrey, is a fine young gentleman. Why, he could be like a brother to you! Perhaps you could put in a word for him, sponsor him at your club.”
Guy had to laugh. He almost missed Arabella. She made demands too, but did not do it under the guise of friendship or love.
“My dear, dear Sir Walter, listen: You are up to something, you little scamp, and I mean to find out what. If you want us to be friends, allow me to see my sisters.”
