Miss Fanshawe's Fortune - Linore Rose Burkard Page 0,24

strongly indicative that your mama was right about its existence.” He looked about before slapping the reins to start the team. “I left my card. I expect Mr. Fanshawe will call upon me in King Street very soon; and then we shall untangle this hobble.”

Frannie nodded gratefully, but fear nibbled at her heart. If Mrs. Baxter and Mama were correct about the trust belonging to Frannie, why was it all shrouded in mystery? Surely a simple letter from a solicitor could prove everything to everyone’s satisfaction. What if it was all a mistake and it was indeed Charles Fanshawe’s daughter who held the proper claim to the fund? But why should her mama fill her with false hope? Why invent such a thing? No, it must be true.

There was a trust fund just as she had always been told. Elsewise, Mrs. Fanshawe would have claimed ignorance of it in the strongest terms. And it must follow then, that Mr. Fanshawe was concerned in the business. But how? Could it be he was her father? This is what Frannie most wished to know. And, if not he, who? Would she ever meet him? Would he desire to know her? She had so many questions! Oh, why had Mama not revealed her father’s name? How much vexation would thus have been spared her!

Mr. Withers said her father was a right honorable gentleman—and that he’d married her mother against his father’s wishes. This was news to Frannie. Defying one’s father was dire, indeed. But at least he had pronounced them to be married! Better a frowned upon union than an unholy one. And if they had indeed married, she had no fear of being branded as illegitimate. Her heart rose and sank as these succeeding thoughts made their way through her mind.

The rest of the drive she spent in a sad reverie, imagining herself quite without friends or hope in the world. Despite Sebastian’s efforts, it all might come to naught. He told Mrs. Fanshawe that she had powerful friends, but aside from his family, there were none. He had said she had a solicitor, but this was not true. And now, with Mrs. Arundell’s hearing problem solved (for she was certain it would be; she had that much faith in Mr. Withers’ device), her services would no longer be necessary. Had she been respectable, she might have hoped to be kept on. But if Mr. Withers was mistaken! A blow-by child! She did not expect they would consider keeping her.

As they neared the corner of King Street, Frannie said haltingly, “Sir—as your mother will no longer need me for a companion—and if Mr. Fanshawe does not call upon you shortly—may I ask? What is your best advice? Would Mrs. Arundell recommend me to another lady for a situation? I am sure I cannot apply without a recommendation—”

Sebastian glanced at her warmly. “If that little gadget cures her defect, my mother will not repay your kindness by throwing you to the street.” Keeping his eyes ahead, he added, “And neither will I.”

That gave Frannie a small lift to her spirits, but the stark reality of her situation in life still weighed heavily upon her, and once more her spirits sank accordingly. Oh, why hadn’t Mama made the situation plain! Why hadn’t Mrs. Baxter? Her birth was no doubt a mistake! They had shrouded her situation in mystery because she was not by rights a member of the gentry, as she’d always thought. Illegitimate children were a disgrace. That meant she was a disgrace.

She thought back to her first meeting with Edward, how she’d told him she was an heiress! He’d have reacted mighty differently, she was sure, had she realized then the truth about herself and presented herself differently. Her thought of someday meeting Princess Charlotte now seemed like the utmost presumption! It astonished her, in fact, that Sebastian hadn’t sent her packing the moment he heard her tale of woe. He, surely, had understood it at once, better than she. He knew her to be completely without consequence, without honour, without a shred of merit in society. That he was championing her cause seemed nothing short of a miracle.

Looking at the profile beside her she was filled with sudden admiration. Indeed, it bordered upon affection. As he handled the team, she had a full minute to watch him and decided that Sebastian had not the sort of face that appeared beautiful upon first inspection, but that it was a noble, pleasant face