Page 7 of Loving a Dowager
Good gracious. What marriage agreement required three sheaves of paper?
“Nay, my lord. Lord Otterman’s solicitors have yet to provide the final marriage agreement. Once they were advised Neale & Sons intended to review prior to Lady Bertha signing, they claimed there were clerical issues to be fixed.”
Landon tapped his forefinger over his chin. “How interesting. If they appear, please bring them to us at once.”
“Aye, my lord.” Morris bowed and left the room.
Grabbing the bundles from his desk, Landon said, “Rather telling, is it not, that Otterman’s lawyers are not forthcoming with the agreement.”
“Aye. Pray tell, what are those?”
Landon handed him the first bundle. “Information Mama has gathered.” The top sheet was marked with the Hadfield seal.
Walter took the second stack Landon held out for him. “And this is from my sources.” Walter glanced down and noted the wax seal was of a harped angel surrounded by laurel leaves. It wasn’t anyone’s crest that he recognized, yet it was vaguely familiar.
Landon placed the last parcel on top of the others. “And this stack is from my dear cousin Theo, Lady Archbroke.”
The slight fragrance of vanilla hit him. Lady Archbroke! Good god. The woman at the cemetery was the wife of the esteemed Lord Archbroke. He tried to reconcile the quiet, reserved green-eyed beauty he’d met at various ton events with the bold, daring woman he’d encountered earlier. Absurd. He must have had too little sleep or too much brandy. He raised the third bundle closer. His sense of smell was impeccable, a hindrance most of the time, but in this instance, there was no doubt. Lady Archbroke was his mystery flower seller. There was only one way to find out what she knew and why she was involved. He took the bundle to the chair near the fire, untied the string, and began to read the missives, all neatly handwritten and signedLady A.
Chapter Five
Bronwyn gripped the back of the settee as Henrietta rubbed small circles over her daughter-in-law’s lower back. “Aww. I’m sorry the bub is causing you such pain.” It had been over three decades since she last experienced the effects of pregnancy, but Henrietta remembered them vividly. Her own body was currently undergoing another change. Back aches, knee pain, irregular cycles, and sudden changes in body temperature; all signs Henrietta was no longer in her prime. A pang of loneliness stabbed at her chest. Until her earlier encounter with Walter, forgoing the touch of another had been no hardship. Henrietta spent her energy and time on seeing to the happiness of her two boys and she had been content.
Releasing a long, slow breath, Bronwyn said, “It’s not the baby. It’s your son who is causing my distress.” Glancing over her shoulder at Henrietta, she added, “His constant hovering is not good for my constitution.”
Henrietta’s heart burst with joy. Landon’s actions reinforced how much he cared for his wife. George had mastered the art of showering her with love while simultaneously not restricting her independence. Landon would have to strive to achieve the same. “I shall have a talk with him.”
“Would you? That would be grand. He listens to you.” Bronwyn rolled her shoulders back and straightened. “Now, how can I assist you?”
For the majority of her life, she’d had only herself to oversee her schemes. Now, she had the unwavering loyalty of her niece Theo and two daughters-in-law to aid her. The girls didn’t completely fill the void left by George, but they were boon cohorts.
Henrietta beamed at her daughter-in-law. Years of patience and steering Landon in Bronwyn’s direction had proven she was a skilled matchmaker. However, with Walter’s rushed timeline to see that his nephew married by the end of the season, Henrietta needed all the assistance she could muster to find a woman for Nicholas. “What do you know of Lord Darlington?”
“Hmm...” Bronwyn pressed her palms to the small of her back, which arched as she raised her chin to the ceiling. “I can request the Network’s file on the man. However, it may not contain much.” Turning to face Henrietta, Bronwyn’s lips formed a lopsided smile. “From my foggy memory, I do recall a notation that the man is the male version of what the ton might call a wallflower. Present at all the functions but prefers to remain on the outskirts.”
Henrietta nodded, masking a grin at the Network’s observation. “From the few encounters I’ve had with the boy, I would agree. While he is of sound mind, Nicholas is not particularly striking in looks nor does he wield the charm of a rake.”
“Mayhap it is all matter of perspective. Some may even consider classically handsome men rather boring.” Bronwyn paced about the drawing room. Like Henrietta, her mind worked best while on the move.
“My dear you are quite right. Nicholas may appear unassuming to us, but I’m certain there is a lady among us who sees what no other can.” She believed the statement right down to her feet, which were beginning to ache after a long day of errands. Henrietta rounded the settee and settled upon the soft velvet cushions. “Are you acquainted with anyone you would consider worthy to be the next Marchioness of Darlington?”
“Not at this time.” Bronwyn continued to wear a path in the rug. “Cousin Theo will no doubt have a list of eligible young ladies.”
“Theo! She is mere weeks away from giving birth. Archbroke should have ensured she was safely ensconced in the country and ready to begin her lying-in months ago.” Henrietta’s opinions on her niece’s decision to stay in town had volleyed over the months. She fully understood her niece’s wish to be with her husband; after all Henrietta hadn’t spent a single night away from George starting from the day they married until his early departure from this world. However, she hadn’t been married to the Secretary of the Home Office who for certain had an undisclosed number of enemies.
“Mama, you know Theo will not leave his side, and he’s currently dealing with the political impact of the king’s impending demise. The doctors don’t foresee the king to be with us for much longer. Mayhap six months, a year at most.”
Henrietta’s shoulders rolled slightly forward. “At least Theo has kept her word and refrained from partaking in missions.” The Neale blood ran strong in her niece. A will strong enough to challenge societal norms, intelligence to manage a genius, and the physical prowess to launch daggers with deathly accuracy.
“Hmm. I don’t believe it. I’m certain she is not lying about as she has everyone convinced… but it won’t be me informing her husband of that fact.” Bronwyn flopped onto the settee next to Henrietta and stuffed a pillow behind her back.
It wouldn’t be surprising if Bronwyn was correct. “What have you heard?”
No one had entered the library, yet Bronwyn still scanned the room. Lowering her voice to a whisper she said, “With the amount of correspondence Cousin Theo is sending, she is single handedly keeping the paper industry in business.” Her gaze flickered to the door and then back to Henrietta. “She’s also been caught a time or two sneaking out once Archbroke is firmly ensconced at the Home Office.”
“We shall have to pay a surprise visit to Theo tomorrow.” Henrietta studied her daughter-in-law. A match to a lady of the ton was one thing, but the Network was another pool of women Henrietta wished to consider. “Perhaps you know of someone suitable for Lord Darlington that he might not otherwise be privy to.”
Bronwyn’s eyes widened in understanding. “I shall carry out the research myself. Do you consider Lord Darlington trustworthy?”
