Page 65 of Snowbound Regency Christmas
Taking the letter, Devin nodded his head. ‘Sounds like your grandfather had a very good family lawyer working for him. He must have set up what is called a separate estate or a separate property for your mother when she was a bride. The lawyer would have made a separate trust for your mother which is typically overseen by the Court of Chancery. A woman can have access to her funds or property once she applies for them through her trustee. There’s usually more than one to make sure that everything is financially above board.’
‘Then, her husband, my father, could not access the money?’
Devin’s gaze returned to the letter. ‘It appears that the yearly income from the separate estate was to be given to your father while your mother was alive. But he would have been unable to access the principal. Nor could his creditors seize the property or money to pay his bills… And after your mother’s death the yearly income was to go to her children—which is you. How old are you?’
‘I turned one and twenty on December 6 this year.’
He gave a low whistle that made her overly warm body even more aware of him. ‘It would seem that your father calling you home right now is probably not a coincidence. Perhaps the trustees will not release next year’s income unless you are living under his care.’
‘But the money should be mine, correct?’
Devin rubbed his eyes and shook his head. ‘By law, yes, but since women are rarely given access to a great deal of money—in this case the yearly income should be at the very least twenty-five hundred pounds—your father might have been able to persuade your trustees that he is handling your fortune for you.’
Julia gritted her teeth. She would still be underneath her father’s thumb. ‘There must be something that I can do.’
His lips twitched and then he smiled. ‘You should hire a good barrister and make sure that all payments are given directly to you… I happen to know a really good one who would be happy to represent you.’
A laugh escaped her lips. Devin was talking about himself and despite the rocky start to their relationship, she believed him. In their time together she’d discovered that he was hard-working, intelligent and loyal to a fault. All things that would make him a wonderful lawyer.
‘How do I engage your services, sir?’
‘I prefer that you call me Devin, or hedge-bird. That insult has really grown on me.’
Julia gave a watery chuckle. ‘How do I engage your services,Devin?’
‘Do you have a coin in your possession? Even a farthing.’
She scrambled to her feet and went to her trunk. She opened it and took out her purse—which only had a few coins in it. Sighing, she took out a ha’penny and placed it in the palm of his hand. ‘You now work for me.’
His fingers closed around the coin, but his arrestingly mismatched eyes were staring into her very soul. ‘With your permission, Julia, I will hold onto this letter from your mother until I have been able to contact the Court of Chancery and learn the names of your trustees. Then I will write directly to them as your representative and hopefully they will release the funds directly to you. If not, we can take the matter to court.’
‘You will keep the letter safe?’
‘Safer than your coin purse,’ Devin retorted, pointing to her open portmanteau. ‘You haven’t even hidden it. Anyone could have stolen it, like the diamond necklace.’
Standing up, she climbed into her separate sheets and turned to look at Devin on the other side of the bed. She was so glad that he was beside her. Devin made her feel safe and he was quite nice to look at as well. ‘Goodnight, Devin. And don’t forget, I have given you a ha’penny to be my barrister, so now technically, you’re my servant and I should be telling you what to do.’
His low chuckle set all of her nerves on end. ‘You are my client, Julia. Not my master.’
She wanted to touch him again. Just to feel his fingers intertwined with hers. The warmth of his body near hers. With a deep breath, Julia scooted closer to Devin until their shoulders were touching. This might be the last night that they spent together and she didn’t want to waste it. ‘Or mistress?’
Devin squeezed his eyelids closed. ‘Do you always play with fire?’
With the last of her courage, she took his warm hand and held it in hers. ‘Are you going to burn me?’
Opening his eyes, he turned his head to look directly at her. ‘I would never hurt you, Julia. You are too precious to me. I only wish… There’s no point in wishing.’
His words caused her entire body to tingle with want; however, his expression was not one of desire but of regret. It didn’t matter how much they cared for or were attracted to each other. There could never be a relationship between them. Julia had already embarrassed his brother and caused a great scandal.
She should have let go of his hand, but instead she held it tightly until she fell asleep.
Chapter Nine
Christmas Day
‘Wake up, termagant,’ Devin said fondly. ‘It is Christmas Day and the mail coach is finally going to take us home.’
He’d awoken first this morning, performed his ablutions and changed his clothes. He’d even watched her sleep for a little while, but then realised that he didn’t want to miss even a moment of her awake. Today they would part and whatever this wonderful feeling between them was would have to come to an end. He watched her yawn and stretch out her arms.
