A Duke in Time (The Widow Rules #1) - Janna MacGregor Page 0,11
he thinking?” Christian muttered.
“I don’t know, Your Grace.” The solicitor exhaled deeply. “I’m trying to discover how long he stayed with Lady Meriwether before he traveled to Portsmouth. That’s where he met Constance Lysander. He met Miss Beth Howell at her brother’s Cumberland estate. It’s all very complicated. It may take weeks to uncover the full extent of the scandal.”
Christian leaned back against the black velvet sofa. “Well, I don’t want you to delay. Pay Lady Meriwether’s dowry amount to her immediately. Did Meri leave her anything else?”
The man shook his head and set down his empty glass. Morgan stepped forward to offer another drink, but the solicitor declined. “According to his will, Lord Meriwether left everything to you.”
“To me?” Christian asked incredulously. “We hadn’t spoken or corresponded in over three years.”
“I’m aware of that, Your Grace,” the solicitor said softly.
Christian bristled under the solicitor’s steady gaze.
Finally, Mr. Hanes took off his glasses, then hesitated a moment before speaking again. “Seems Lord Meriwether left Miss Howell’s Cumberland residence a little more than three months ago, then traveled around the countryside before…” He released a sorrowful sigh. “We’re still waiting for the rest of his personal effects to arrive from his lodgings in Perth.”
“I’ll send two of my footmen.” Christian had the perfect footmen in mind. “Both served under me as infantrymen and are excellent at reconnaissance. They’ll get the job done quickly and efficiently.”
“Your help is appreciated.” Mr. Hanes slipped his folded eyeglasses in his pocket. “However, sir, I must recommend that you not pay anything to the wives from the ducal coffers, at least not at this time.”
“Why?” he asked. “They’re legally due their dowries.”
“We don’t have confirmation who the real wife is.”
Morgan blurted, “But you said that Lady Meriwether was the real wife and the other two married Lord Meriwether afterward.” He stepped forward, then immediately bit his lip. “I apologize, Captain.”
“No harm.” Christian nodded at his valet’s quick thinking. “I wondered the same thing.”
“If you pay Lady Meriwether, then the other two will come forward and demand payment.” Mr. Hanes lifted a brow. “I don’t have proof of the marriages or the marriage contracts. Your brother didn’t write me. Though Lady Meriwether’s dowry amount is small, there’s a great deal of money involved. Miss Lysander claims her dowry is two thousand pounds, and Miss Howell states her money amounts to twenty thousand pounds. Until we know what’s in the marriage settlements, I must advise against it. It would put the dukedom in an untenable position if you paid these women and then discovered all was for naught. What if their claims are false? That no dowry was paid? What if there are other wives?”
Christian stood, and in response, so did the solicitor.
“I plan on calling on the three tomorrow. They’ve suffered enough at my half brother’s hands. I can’t in good conscience let that stand. I will pay their dowries. If there are other wives, God forbid, then we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.” He clasped his hands behind his back.
“Of course, sir.” Mr. Hanes bowed and took his leave.
“I’ll get your evening coat, Captain.” Morgan exited after the solicitor, leaving Christian alone.
He didn’t even want to go to the theatre tonight, but it was expected of him. The Prince Regent had specifically asked if he would attend so he could be acknowledged publicly for his service. Christian walked to the window that overlooked the courtyard with the small garden attached. Instead of finding comfort, he felt nothing but emptiness. How many nights had he looked at this same scene when his father and stepmother had thrown outrageous parties with London’s most dissolute? How many times had Christian awoke in the morning only to discover the drunks and laggards, half-naked from their late-night revelries, still asleep on the lawn?
Too many to count.
One thing he learned from the war. Inside, men were still the same breed no matter their social status or where they came from. Tonight’s attendees in all their finery would not differ much from the actors and actresses who had converged on Rand House for those monstrous parties. Society would only be there for the latest on-dits they could share in tomorrow’s drawing rooms.
For some odd reason, Katherine Greer’s face wouldn’t leave his thoughts. What kind of a wife had she been to his brother? The type of woman Meri would fall in love with would want to be entertained nightly at lavish events with outlandish people.