Chapter 26
CHAPTER 26
A delaide had been so wrapped up in her post-wedded bliss with Michael that she had nearly forgotten about the chief magistrate until he showed up on the doorstep shortly after noon the next day.
She was in the drawing room with Dot, Mabel on a blanket on the floor before them as they tried to encourage her to crawl.
“That’s it!” she said, as Mabel rocked back and forth from her position on all fours. “Come see Mama!”
Adelaide was lying on the ground in front of the baby when Jones stopped in the doorway.
“My lady? Mrs. Redgrave? The chief magistrate has returned.”
Dot and Adelaide exchanged a glance.
“Where is Michael?” Dot asked.
“I believe he went to speak to Edward in the study,” Adelaide replied, her brows furrowing.
“Please show the chief magistrate into Edward’s study to see our husbands,” Dot said. “We will join them shortly. And please ask Mrs. Adams to come look after Mabel.”
The butler nodded as Adelaide lifted the baby in her arms, giving her a quick kiss on the nose before passing her to Mrs. Adams, who was in great spirits to see her.
Dot squeezed Adelaide’s hand as they entered the study, finding the chief magistrate sitting at the table in the corner, the gentlemen with him.
The fact that he was alone and had not brought any other men with him was a positive sign, she had to hope.
Perhaps this was how one dealt with others when one was now part of high society.
“Mrs. Redgrave,” the chief magistrate greeted her before clearing his throat. “I would like to ask for forgiveness of my intrusion yesterday. I was aware that you were to be married but did not know that yesterday was your wedding day.”
“Nothing to forgive. How could you have known?” Adelaide said with what she hoped was a welcoming smile. She had to stay on this man’s good side.
“I would usually have heard the banns or read about it in the papers.”
“We wanted to be married more quickly so that we could leave in due course for we just purchased an inn,” Michael interjected. “Now, let us get to it. What are your intentions here today?”
“I must still question your wife,” the chief magistrate said, his leg bouncing up and down. “I am also suspicious of the timing of your marriage, despite your explanation. It is a difficult situation. I?—”
“If I may,” Edward said, placing a letter before the chief magistrate. “We received this from Bert Rawlins, the third man implicated in the counterfeit scheme. He made it clear that Adelaide was not involved in what they were doing.”
“Where did you get this?” the chief magistrate demanded, jumping to his feet. “We are looking for the man, and if you know anything of his whereabouts?—”
Edward lifted a stately brow. “Are you threatening my sister-in-law?”
“No, of course not. My apologies, my lord, but as you can imagine, I am rather desperate to find him.”
“Well, unfortunately, we cannot help, for this was delivered to us by a messenger. However, I believe this proves that my brother’s wife is innocent. Her brother named her in a vindictive scheme because he was jealous of where she is compared to how he has fallen. Tell me, what has happened to Lord Gregory?”
The chief magistrate swallowed hard. “Lord Gregory and his family have agreed that it is best Lord Gregory leave the country. I am uncertain which colony he has settled upon, but his brother has guaranteed his departure. If he stays, he will have to be tried.”
“And this is a man whose guilt you are assured of. As for Mrs. Redgrave, do you have any evidence showing any wrongdoing?”
The chief magistrate shifted back and forth. “Not besides her brother’s word.”
“Which we know means nothing. Therefore, I would appreciate it if you would drop this line of inquiry and focus on other issues more deserving of your time.”
Adelaide blinked a couple of times before glancing over at Dot, whose lips were upturned in a satisfied smile. She enjoyed this side of her husband. Adelaide supposed she could understand why.
Finally, the chief magistrate sighed, seeming to come to a conclusion. “If I find any evidence that indicates otherwise, then I will return, but you are correct in that I would never convict anyone based on the word of another alone, especially with a counter testimony. I would ask should you hear from Rawlins that you please contact me. Now, Mrs. Redgrave, I wonder if you have any information on your brother that might help in the case against him. Perhaps you saw or heard something you didn’t understand then but now makes sense?”
“I cannot think of anything at the moment, but if I do, I will be sure to share it.”
“Very good. I did have the opportunity to speak with a man named Abraham, who provided me with more information.”
“Did Abraham have anything to say about me?” she asked, knowing he would never have implicated her.
“No, he did not.”
“You could have led with that,” Michael interjected, earning a look of warning from Edward.
“I could have,” the chief magistrate agreed. “But then I would not have received any further information from you.”
“What will happen to Jack?” Adelaide couldn’t help but ask.
“He will be tried, and his punishment will then be served accordingly,” the chief magistrate responded, and she nodded.
She had said that he deserved the punishment coming to him, which he did, but at the same time, it didn’t seem fair if he had to give his life while Lord Gregory, who had driven this entire scheme, was able to start a new one.
“If you need to contact us for any reason, you can find us at the inn in Tunbridge Wells.” Michael said, and the chief magistrate thanked them for their time before excusing himself.
“Shall we go to the drawing room?” Michael said. “I think I might need a drink.”
They left the darkness of Edward’s study for the drawing room, requesting a round of brandy for everyone except Dot to be poured. They sat and stared at one another for a moment as the liquid burned down their throats.
Michael was the first to break, as the grin spread over his face. Adelaide laughed, and soon enough, they had all joined in, drawn together by their love for one another as well as all they had been through.
“A toast,” Edward said, lifting his glass. “To Adelaide, who fits into our family better than anyone else ever could, and to Michael, who has proven what a loving father and husband he can be.”
Michael smiled. “To Dot, who began to heal our family, and to Edward, who, in fixing all of my past mistakes, led me to the best mistake I have ever made.”
They raised their glasses once more as Adelaide leaned into Michael, enjoying his firm, hard chest against her back.
She would never have imagined that he would be her rock, nor that she could be his. But here they were, tied together by so much more than their marriage vows, by the love and family they would forever share.
“When do you plan on leaving?” Edward asked, causing Dot’s expression turned to sadness.
“I had thought to leave within the week, but Adelaide had another idea.”
“I would like to wait until your baby arrives, Dot,” she said. “I cannot imagine leaving without meeting the little one.”
“Oh, that would make me so happy,” Dot said, a smile forming on her lips. “Thank you for staying with me.”
“I cannot help you as you did me,” Adelaide said with a laugh. “But I will do whatever is needed.”
“You will be a comforting presence,” Dot said, patting her hand. “Thank you ever so much.”
Adelaide felt the sadness herself as she realized that by leaving, she would miss this. Time with Dot, moments together as a family. But Michael was right. It was not goodbye forever, and they would always be welcome here, as Dot and Edward would be with them.
Adelaide had spent her entire life trying to find where she belonged and had left Michael because she thought he would unintentionally hold her back from her dreams.
But that hadn’t been the case at all.
As it turned out, sometimes a pause or even a few steps backward was all that was necessary to find the momentum to begin again.
He was what she had never known she needed.
They had started their lives together with nothing more than a spark of desire, one that had grown into a well-tended flame.
Separately, they had been struggling to find purpose and belonging.
Together, they were better than either of them could ever have imagined.