“I’ll cable you as soon as possible what needs to be done. And there are some mining conglomerates forming in East Africa that I’d like to investigate. What is your opinion regarding Billy’s other investments?”
“As I said, you’ve done well with them. I think they will continue to provide a good return. Have you made any plans for the girl?”
“My plan,” Jonathan countered dryly, “was that she would remain in school for about half a dozen more years.”
“And now?”
“She’ll have to stay where she is until I can return from Africa to fetch her. By then, I’ll have made new arrangements for her. She’ll be all right at Forsyte Academy in the meantime, I trust? Looked after, chaperoned, all that?”
“Oh, yes. Mrs. Forsyte is an excellent woman and most capable chaperone. How does the girl feel about remaining behind? I imagine she was disappointed at not being able to accompany you to London?”
“She was, but I explained that it’s the only thing to do.”
“And she took it well?”
“Well enough.” As he spoke, Jonathan felt a sudden uneasiness—doubt or guilt, he couldn’t be sure. “It can’t be very amusing for her there. Look in on her often while I’m away, see how she’s getting on. Bring her down to the city to stay, take her to dinner, or the opera once she’s in half-mourning.”
“My wife and I have done such things in the past. We would be happy to continue.”
“And double her pin money. Those things may take the sting out of waiting until I return.”
“But what will you do with her then?”
He considered. “She has no family at all?”
“Her mother is from South Africa and has some relations there—very distant ones, I’m afraid. Her father was an orphan, so she has no connections here.”
“Which means the Knickerbockers won’t accept her, all her millions notwithstanding. Given that, the girl herself may have already determined the best plan for her future.”
“Possibly. But would Mr. McGann approve?”
“I know he would,” Jonathan said with a sigh. “Shortly before his death, when he told me he’d made me guardian to the girl, he admitted part of the reason was my connections. The girl will need ladies to chaperone her, and I know he hoped my sisters could do that.”
He didn’t add that he wasn’t sure his sisters would agree, not after he’d let them down six years ago. “I have no right to commit my sisters to this until I’ve discussed it with them. But an heiress worth millions can’t be shut away from good society forever, and marriage to a peer would give her a position.”
“True, but there are risks. Her money remains in trust only until she marries, or she turns thirty, whichever comes first. Word of her father’s death and rumors of her enormous inheritance have already made the New York papers. We must do our best to protect the girl from fortune hunters.”
“Of course.” Jonathan met the lawyer’s shrewd gaze with a hard one of his own. “But I trust your firm is capable of drafting an ironclad marriage settlement, should the need arise?”
Mr. Jessop smiled. “We can tie up the money tight as a drum.”
Satisfied, Jonathan glanced at the clock on the wall and set aside his glass. “If that’s all, I shall be on my way.”
“Before you go, there is one more thing we need to decide. What are we to do with her jewels?”
Jonathan paused, frowning in puzzlement. “The Rose of Shoshone, you mean? I thought her father had Charles Tiffany cut and set it. Isn’t it in the Tiffany vault?”
“Oh, yes,” the lawyer hastened to assure him. “There’s a substantial quantity of uncut stones in the vault as well. Being a mining engineer, Mr. McGann acquired many gemstones over the years.”
“Yes, I know. Silver made him wealthy, but gemstones were his passion. That’s why he went to South Africa—Idaho, too, for that matter. But to address your question, why do we need to do anything with the stones?”
“Your plan is to remain in Africa for the next eight months?”
“About that, yes. What of it?”
“The girl is supposed to receive the jewels when she turns twenty-one, and her birthday is August thirteenth. At that point, the gems cease to be part of the trust, and we are obligated to hand them over to her.”
Jonathan considered. “Does she know about the gems?” he asked after a moment. “Does anyone?”
