care,” Dez said.
“He will know everything in a few minutes,” Lord Morton said. “I have asked him to come see me—along with his solicitor. I told him I would warrant no excuses and if he knew what was good for him, he would be prompt.”
Morton called out and the door opened. The butler ushered in Mr. Black and Dr. Caymon and they joined the group. Dez introduced Anna to them and they all sat.
“Share with them what you have learned, Mr. Black,” the earl urged.
Black explained how Lord Jergens had been thoroughly investigated and that they would press for an annulment based upon their findings. Dr. Caymon told of how he and two other physicians had examined Lady Jergens and found her to be of sound mind. Mr. Haggard added that Lady Jergens had seen no other physician before being placed at Gollingham, being committed solely on Lord Jergens’ word.
“That harkens back to the Hawley case from 1763,” the solicitor said. “Various madhouses acts were the result, though these govern facilities in and surrounding London—not ones as far away as Gollingham.”
“Then how will you fight for Lady Jergens’ freedom?” Anna asked, shuddering.
Dez threaded his fingers through hers, trying to calm and comfort her.
“Oh, Lord Jergens has definitely committed fraud,” Black assured them. “We will confront him on that issue today.”
The butler entered and announced, “Lord Jergens and Mr. Withersby.”
Two men entered. The one obviously dressed well stormed ahead of the other, ready to confront his father-in-law. He strode across the room.
“Why do you think you can threaten and demand . . .” Lord Jergens’ voice trailed off. Surprise registered upon his face. “You!” he said, spying his wife and then wheeling to face Lord Morton. “What the dickens is this bloody bedlamite doing here?”
The earl rose to his feet, towering over Jergens, and said, “Don’t you dare throw your curses at my daughter. You are the bloody bastard who should be beaten to death for what you have done to my Alice.”
Haggard stepped to the earl and took his forearm. “Have a seat, my lord,” the runner said calmly. “This will be over in a few minutes.”
Morton’s face, red with anger, looked as if he might explode but he took Haggard’s advice.
The runner said to Jergens, “You and your man take a seat. You won’t be here long.”
When an exasperated sigh came from Jergens, Dez said, “Do as you’re told, man.”
“Who are you?” Jergens demanded.
“The Earl of Torrington. Sit.”
Jergens finally did so, motioning his solicitor, who looked terrified, to do the same.
Mr. Black took the lead and said, “Lady Jergens will sue for an annulment, with her father’s support.”
Jergens shot to his feet again. “My wife will go back to where I placed her. Legally, she is mine to do with as I wish.”
“As long as you are wed,” Black continued. “Part of that is honoring the marriage settlements. The contracts you signed along with Lord Morton.”
Dez watched as a crack in Jergens’ confidence appeared and he took his seat again. Anna squeezed his fingers and he nodded to her.
“A stipulation in the settlements was for Dunhaven, one of your unentailed estates in Sussex, be made available to Lady Jergens and serve as her home in case you predeceased her in death and no issue from the marriage had occurred to become the heir apparent.”
“What of it?” Jergens asked warily.
Black cleared his throat dramatically. “When the contracts were signed, you no longer possessed Dunhaven. It had been sold to help pay off some of your immense debts.”
“So?” the viscount asked testily. “I would have merely given her another place to go. As it was, I received a wife who was damaged goods. A lunatic.”
Dr. Caymon spoke up. “A woman with whom you never bothered to consummate your marriage. Yes, I have examined Lady Jergens, as did Dr. Cheshire at Gollingham Asylum, and we both ascertained she remains a virgin.”
The words badly shook Jergens, who grew pale.
“You also did not have a physician examine her for her mental capacity,” Dr. Caymon continued. “She was committed to Gollingham strictly on your word, which violates several laws.” He looked to Black. “I believe you mentioned the Hawley case.”
Jergens’ eyes cut to his own solicitor, who began shaking his head in surrender.
“You wed my daughter strictly for her dowry,” Lord Morton accused. “Though that very act happens time and again in Polite Society, you never even bothered to make her a true wife and committed her to an asylum. You signed the marriage contracts,