To Save a Love - Alexa Aston Page 0,64
to him before she had been taken away.
“If this is the case,” Mr. Black said, “Lady Alice is still legally married and the marriage could not be annulled. Non-consummation is not grounds for an annulment.”
“Then what is?” Dez demanded. “I am appalled that Jergens wed her for her dowry and never touched her.”
The solicitor said, “The grounds for annulment include three instances. One is impotence—and a couple must have been wed three years before this charge can be brought.” He cleared his throat. “Insanity is another instance. Very few families are willing to seek an annulment claiming this since it taints the entire family. From what you say, Lord Torrington, Lady Jergens could actually be sane but has been legally declared to be mad. This does occur when a man wants to discard his wife, I am afraid.”
Dez began to lose hope but asked, “What is the third circumstance? You mentioned three.”
“Fraud,” Mr. Black said. “This would involve promises in the marriage that were not kept.”
“What kind of promises?” demanded Lord Morton.
Black thought a moment. “Breach of contract might include a non-consenting bride at the ceremony, which wasn’t the case with Lady Jergens. Or a promise of housing that has already been sold. A vanished dowry.”
He jumped on that. “Wouldn’t Jergens’ use of the dowry apply in the case?”
Black thought a moment. “I did draw up the marriage settlements, along with Lord Morton.” He turned to the earl. “Do you remember the clause in regard to where your daughter would live if Lord Jergens predeceased her and no heir had been born, allowing his lordship’s younger brother to assume the title?”
“I do,” the earl said. “Alice was to be given an unentailed estate in Sussex. Why do you ask?”
“We should investigate that at once,” Black recommended. “If Jergens’ debts are so large and the estate unentailed, he might have sold it—which would breach the marriage contracts established.”
Morton’s eyes narrowed. “I wouldn’t put it past the bastard. He is young and arrogant. He would think he would outlive Alice—and me. If I weren’t around to hold him to the marriage settlement, and poor Alice was already locked away, he would believe he could get away with it.”
“If that is the case,” Black continued, “then we could have the marriage annulled due to fraud. Jergens would have to return the entire dowry, which I am sure would be impossible, considering his gambling debts.”
“I don’t care about the damned dowry!” shouted Lord Morton. “I just want my Alice back.” He looked to Dez. “I have heard rumors of these places. Is it as horrifying as they say?”
“You will want to remove Lady Alice as soon as possible,” he said gently. He turned to the solicitor. “As a peer, I wasn’t aware of non-consummation not being grounds for an annulment. I doubt the physician running the asylum or any attendant would be, either.”
Understanding dawned in the earl’s eyes. “You are saying we should go and claim that anyway in order to have Alice removed and placed into my custody.”
“I do,” Dez said. “Even if Mr. Black cannot prove fraud and annul the marriage, she would be free of that place. I know legally Lord Jergens could simply send her back—but he would have to find her first. You could have her go abroad. Even to America. Anywhere would be better than Gollingham.”
“I agree,” Lord Morton said firmly.
“My carriage is waiting and we can leave for Hampshire immediately. We could be there by late afternoon.” Dez hesitated. “That is, if you would allow me to accompany you.”
Morton sprang to his feet. “I am ready and would appreciate your company, Torrington.” He looked to the two men who had accompanied him. “Will you go with me?” he pleaded.
Dez added, “Mr. Black will be able to explain the so-called legalities to the physician in charge. I thought it would be wise to ask Dr. Caymon to come, as well, so that he might examine Lady Alice and verify that her hymen is intact. Even though we now know that is not grounds for annulment, I believe we can get away with it and spirit her away.” He gestured to Haggard. “Mr. Haggard helped me track you down, Lord Morton, and verified the connection between you and Lady Jergens.”
The earl went to Haggard and offered his hand. “I regret I was so dismissive of you before, Mr. Haggard. I offer you my thanks from the bottom of my heart.”
The runner shook Morton’s hand. “I only hope you can