Page 69 of Baron in Check
“Me, your Majesty.” Arnold bowed deeply.
“But he’s a Jew,” Nagy protested. “Your Highness, he’s?—”
But the prince held his hand in the air. “Is this about the Jewish Disability Act, Stone?”
“Yes, but not only.”
The prince looked at him as he used to when they played chess alone. It was as the Black Knight that Greg had caught the Prince’s attention and secured a spot among his entourage, but it was as Gregory Stone that he’d gained his trust.
“I understand that Jews cannot take the guardianship of a daughter of the realm.”
Nagy puffed up to emphasize that he’d been right all along.
“It’s not right, and if I had a vote, I’d lift the Jewish disabilities,” Prinny said.
Nagy’s mouth fell open, and Greg might have found humor in it, if the consequences weren't so grave.
“Did you get a special license?” Prinny asked.
“Yes, Your Majesty.” Fave stepped forward. “The Archbishop of Canterbury signed it yesterday.”
“But it’s invalid. She relinquished residence at Willowby Park,” Nagy spluttered.
“She was evicted by her brother’s solicitor and sought my help.” Greg tried to control his demeanor, but his veins felt as if they were freezing solid.
“Is that true?” Prinny asked Arnold, who nodded.
“So the abeyance is invalidated, and the earldom passes from the heir named in the will,” Nagy said, his cold blue eyes narrowed.
“Lord Chanteroy lost his rights to Baron von List in a chess game and Mister Nagy used the funds he held in escrow to pay off the entailed properties,” Greg said.
The prince narrowed his brows. “You withheld the money I paid for an order that I placed to clear the title of an estate that had already reverted to the Crown?”
Nagy paled and his hands turned an unhealthy shade of chalk white.
“When did I grant my permission for this nonsensical transaction?”
Nagy stepped back and began to tremble.
The prince inhaled and turned to Gustav. “Mister Pearler, I apologize for the misunderstanding and will arrange for all of the unauthorized transactions to be reverted to their prior status. And I will, of course, pay for the orb that I ordered.”
Gustav bowed deeply and mumbled his thanks.
“Now, to you.” The Prince turned to Greg. “What do you want?”
“To marry the woman I love.” Greg shoulders finally lost their tension.
“I have a wedding present for you then.”
CHAPTER 33
Greg and Arnold had taken the horses back to London in a haste, while Hermy took the carriage back with Hannah and the children. The way back was agony, hoping Greg could execute the last move—that he even wanted to in light of the coup List had landed.
Hannah brought Hermy home with her and told Rachel and Lizzie about the events, but Fave had been called to an audience.
The sun had just gone down, but Hermy felt as though she hadn’t seen Greg in hours. Days.
When Greg, Arnold, Fave, and Gustav returned from St. James, she rushed to the door at the Pearlers’ to hear what had happened. “The Prince?”
