Page 64 of Once Upon a Midnight Dream

Merrivale’s demands would destroy the home, the children…And Lilly.

She could not afford a lengthy court battle, and the viscount probably gambled on that. But then, neither could his lordship, or else why would he be so desperate to get his hands on his aunt’s estate?

Unless he was simply a greedy bugger who could not stand the notion of anyone who was born illegitimate, inheriting a fortune.

At the first opportunity, she intended to have a conversation with Zander regarding Lord Merrivale and see what he knew about the viscount.

Not Zander.

His name is Layton.

Captain Layton Westbrook, to be precise.

Adopted son of the Duke of Latham.

Even in Prudhoe, people knew of the prestigious duke.

It had been all she could do to keep from gasping out loud when Merrivale recognized Layton and blurted his connections.

And to think; she had stupidly fallen in love with him.

Thank God, she had never declared herself, for dukes’ sons—adopted or not—did not marry illegitimate schoolteachers.

Marry?

There she went again; putting the cart before the horse.

Lack of sleep had muddled her common sense.

Lilly had always prided herself on her levelheadedness and reason, and she did not like in the least feeling discomposed.

A shiver scuttled up her spine despite her heavy shawl.

October had turned quite cold.

She puckered her forehead.

Why hadn’t the Westbrooks looked for Layton? A family that powerful had far-reaching influence. Something did not add up, but that was not Lilly’s chief concern right now.

Figuring out how to outfox Merrivale was.

Everyone knew the courts favored peers over commoners. Bribing judges was as commonplace as beggars on London’s streets.

There must be another way to outwit Lord Merrivale.

But what?

She swiveled again, rubbing her hands up and down her shawl-covered arms. Normally on such a chilly morning, she would have lit a fire, but now she must save every cent she could.

At least Lilly knew why Miss Davenport had paid her and Charles such marked attention.

No wonder Lilly and Charles had such a keen connection.

Likely, she would never know why Miss Davenport had given Lilly and Charles the surnames they had. As with most illegitimate children, their births probably were not recorded anywhere. Despite how Lilly had learned about hers and Charles’s kinship, the knowledge was a bright spot in the otherwise sordid tale.

It took a remarkable woman to care for her brother’s by-blow, but Matilda Davenport had been an exceptional woman by any standard.

Lilly wished her mother had been brave enough to tell her the truth.