Page 83 of The Unfortunate Debutante
“No,” Eliza said, with a shake of her head, “this is Lockhart’s fault. But he made a mistake.”
“What is that?” Downshire asked.
Adrien smirked. “Lockhart has no idea who he’s up against.”
“True,” Downshire admitted. “He is no match for agents of the Crown, especially of your caliber.”
Simeon cleared his throat. “And a Bow Street Runner.”
“Yes… uh… you, as well,” Downshire acknowledged with a look of pity.
Eliza smiled kindly at him. “We will get Emma back, Simeon. Do not fret.”
Downshire glanced between Eliza and Simeon with a baffled expression on his face. “Why are you informing Simeon of that fact? You should be comforting me.”
With a light laugh, Eliza replied, “You are quite oblivious to certain things, brother.”
“What are you speaking of?” Downshire asked, wincing as he cradled his left arm.
“Never mind,” she remarked, “you’re injured.”
Downshire grimaced. “It’s merely a flesh wound.”
“Should we call for a doctor?” Eliza asked.
“Not necessary,” Downshire said. “We need to focus on the task at hand. We don’t know where Lockhart took Emma.”
“We do not, but Uncle Charles did send over a file this morning with some rather telling information,” Benedict said, walking over to the desk and grabbing a file. “We were going to inform you of this interesting turn of events when you arrived with Emma.”
“Which was?” Simeon asked.
Benedict opened the file. “A man named Daniel Booth has been depositing £75 each month into Lockhart’s account on behalf of Sir Alymer Blackmore…” He paused, looking around. “Blackmore is Emma’s grandfather.”
“What?” Luke roared. “Impossible. Both sets of her grandparents are deceased.”
“That’s what everyone believed. However, Uncle Charles sent agents to question Sir Alymer about the payments, and that’s when they discovered the truth,” Benedict shared.
“Why was that kept from Emma?” Adrien inquired.
“Sir Alymer informed us that Emma’s mother was disowned after she chose to marry Constable Pearson, and they lost contact until Lockhart sent him a missive informing him of his daughter’s death,” Benedict explained. “Then, Lockhart requested on behalf of Constable Pearson that Sir Alymer pay for boarding school for Emma. In hopes of reconciling with his granddaughter, Sir Alymer sent over £75 each month to be given in support of Emma.”
“If I had to guess, Constable Pearson knew nothing of those payments,” Adrien commented.
“That would be my guess, as well,” Benedict said. “About two months ago, Sir Alymer demanded Lockhart to produce Emma when he discovered that Constable Pearson had died two years prior. It was his intention to present Emma for the Season.”
Simeon frowned. “Was Sir Alymer not aware that Emma was Lord Downshire’s ward?”
“No, he was never informed,” Benedict said, reading a paper. “However, that’s when Lockhart informed Sir Alymer that he and Emma had eloped, and he requested her dowry.”
“How much was Emma’s dowry?” Adrien inquired.
“£15,000 pounds,” Benedict answered.
Downshire huffed, “That’s a paltry sum. I’m offering £25,000 as Emma’s dowry.”
“Regardless, Emma does have a living grandfather that we must consider now,” Eliza commented.
“Absolutely not,” Downshire said. “Emma is my ward. She belongs inourfamily.”
