Her words were a little uneven, her voice a little unsteady, but Lord Thornbridge did not seem to notice. Instead, he smiled, dipped his head, wrote his name, and then returned the card to her.
“I look forward to waltzing with you, Lady Emma,” he murmured, offering her his arm again. “Let us return to the other guests before the next dance begins.”
Managing a smile and feeling her heart race furiously as she accepted his arm, Emma found herself smiling with relief that she was now able to return to her mother and her father, more away from the watchful eyes of theton.
It was not until they began walking that she finally comprehended the significance of what he had offered her.
In front of everyone, in front of all of watching society, Lord Thornbridge had chosen her as the object of his interest. He hadneverdanced twice with any young lady of thetonbefore; he was well known for it. She could not guess what such interest might lead to, but at least now there was a little hope. Hope that she might become significant to Lord Thornbridge, hope that she might find herself as the chosen young lady of his affections, hope that she could, with any luck, become his bride.
It was a joyous moment indeed.
Chapter One
“This cannot be.”
“I am afraid it is, my Lord.” His solicitor looked back at him with a somewhat befuddled expression, although Henry was sure that it matched his own. “You yourself came in here very early this morning. I had only just arrived. You insisted that near to two thirds of your fortune be signed over to the gentleman who accompanied you. I did ask whether or not such a thing was truly what you wished, but you were quite determined.”
“I do not recall any of this.” Henry thrust one hand through his thick, light brown hair and shook his head. “I cannot understand what has taken place. I should never have done such a foolish thing as that.”
“I confess myself a little surprised, my Lord,” his solicitor replied, frowning slightly. “But you must understand, you were most insistent and a little angry, I would add, when I did not do as you had asked immediately.”
Henry winced, aware now that the man before him had done everything in his power to make certain that all was well. For whatever reason, it seemed that Henry himself had been the one to give away his fortune to some unknown gentleman.
“This cannot be,” he muttered again, although the heaviness of his situation began to weigh down on his soul. It was not something he could escape, not something he could turn away from. Not anymore. His life, as he had known it, was at an end. “It must be reversed.” Snapping himself to attention, he shot a hard look at his solicitor, ignoring the radiating pain which began to creep up from his back towards his shoulders. “There must be some way to reclaim the money. Might you be able to come up with a legal document?
The man blinked rapidly, his face now a little pale.
“I would do such a thing if it were possible, my Lord.” Licking his lips, he spread his hands. “I could make up the legal document required, but it would need the signature of the gentleman you handed the money to in the first place. Would you be able to bring him here for such a thing?”
Groaning, Henry dropped his head into his hands.
“Given that I cannot even recall his face, I certainly cannot offer you his title.” An idea came to him, and he lifted his head. “His name must have been on the initial document, however, must it not? The one where my money was given to him.”
“Yes, my Lord, it was, but I was not permitted to see it. You are the only one who could read the document and all I procured was the signatures.”
“And where is this document now?”
“You… You took it with you, my Lord. I wished very much to make a copy given the situation and circumstances but-”
“You need not say it,” Henry interrupted. “No doubt I objected, or some such thing is that not so?”
“It was most extraordinary,” the solicitor answered, his hands still out to either side. “As your humble servant, however, I must do as you request. It is your fortune, after all… as you reminded me yourself on many occasions this morning.”
A thick, paralyzing darkness seemed to rush over Henry as he thought about his future. As it stood, his circumstances were very dire indeed. A large amount of his fortune was gone. His estate was currently undergoing some repairs, and some of what was left of his fortune would have to pay for that – but what was he to do thereafter? Live on the meager amount for the rest of his days? The planned redecoration of some of his estate rooms could certainlynotgo ahead now.
He rose abruptly.
“My… my Lord?”
“There is nothing to be done.” Hardly able to look at the man, Henry shook his head. “There is nothing to be done at all. It seems that I am now in a very different circumstance from the one I was secure in only last evening – and all supposedly at my own hand! I do not understand any of this.”
“I am sorry.” The solicitor’s face was now sheet white, perhaps fearful that he was to bear the brunt of Henry’s wrath. “I could do nothing else. I –”
“I do not blame you for this,” Henry interrupted quickly, aware that while he wished to direct his anger somewhere it ought not to go anywhere near his solicitor. “You need have no fear of me blaming you. I would ask, however, that should you see this fellow again – the one to whom I seemingly willingly gave my fortune – that you inform me of it at once. In fact, when you have a few moments, might you write me a detailed description of this fellow?
“I shall write it and send it to your townhouse, along with the document which will permit you to regain your fortune, should you find the man and have him sign it in response,” the solicitor suggested.
Henry nodded firmly.
