Chapter 5 #3
"You speak the truth." She hesitated, then threw up another glance towards his face. He was not looking at her. "And yet, there is more to the inheritance than I think you are aware of."
Lord Ashcombe turned his head towards her in an instant, his eyes widening. "I beg your pardon?"
"Do you recall that the solicitor came to speak with me shortly after I had stepped out with my aunt?"
He nodded, his steps slowing even more.
"He informed my aunt and me that there is a condition to my inheritance. I will share it with you, but I must beg of you to keep it to yourself for the present, Lord Ashcombe."
Halting, Lord Ashcombe drew himself up, his shoulders pushed back, his gaze fixed on hers. "You can be assured of my silence and my discretion."
It was surprising how quickly she felt able to trust him.
Perhaps it was because she had seen his fervent concern over his family line and his title and, in that, had realized the reason for his first visit to her and the harshness with which he had spoken.
Perhaps it was the clearness of his emerald eyes that settled on hers.
Perhaps it was that her heart simply sensed that he was not about to betray her, not when there was so much at stake.
Whatever it was, she allowed herself to lean into it, choosing to tell him all.
"Lady Warrington informed the solicitor that unless I could find the connection between myself and your great-aunt within a three month period, then the inheritance I was to receive would return to the estate. "
Lord Ashcombe reared back, her hand falling from his arm. "Then... then there is a connection?"
Eliza spread out her hands helplessly. "There must be, but I cannot see what that might be.
I am quite sure we are not related in any way, although I suppose I cannot be entirely certain.
" Her head tilted, her eyes tugging away from his as thoughts began to pile into her mind.
"I suppose that could be the very first thing that I might do, might it not?
I could make certain that I am in no way related to Lady Warrington. "
Passing a hand over his eyes, Lord Ashcombe shook his head and then dropped his hand back to his side, the shock on his face unmistakable. "I did not know any of this."
"I would not expect you to."
He met her eyes again and then, to her astonishment, stepped closer to her, reaching out one hand to grasp hers. "We have little time, then. We must investigate with both speed and diligence. The truth must be uncovered."
Eliza's eyebrows lifted, hearing the urgency in his tone and seeing the fervor burning in his eyes.
He had no desire to take her inheritance from her, she realized.
Instead, he wanted to protect his family name, to keep the rumors at bay so that both he and future generations remained unstained by whispers and gossip.
This was about finding the truth, about uncovering what, as yet, remained hidden — and he, it seemed, was eager to find it alongside her. "You — you wish to help me?"
His fingers tightened around hers. "Yes, I do.
" Pausing, he looked down at their joined hands, then quickly released her hand, stepping back.
"That is to say, I should be very glad indeed to assist you in this matter, in any way I can.
I have my own reasons for it, as you well know, but I am certain that I could be of aid to you in your endeavors.
After all, I was close to Lady Warrington and would be able to speak to my own relations about the matter — discreetly, of course. "
For the first time since she had been summoned to the reading of Lady Warrington's will, a sense of relief and hope lifted Eliza's heart, freeing her from the bonds of sorrow and confusion.
She had never expected Lord Ashcombe's help, but what he offered her was a great boon — something she would never even think to refuse.
She met his eyes for a moment before looking away. "I would be very glad of your help, Lord Ashcombe. Mayhap, together, we will be able to discover the truth."
"Then let us begin at the beginning." He clasped his hands behind his back. "You told me that you were introduced to Lady Warrington once, some years ago. Think back to that day, Miss Fairleigh. Who made the introduction? Who else was present? Any name you can recall may lead us somewhere."
Eliza shook her head slowly. "That is the difficulty, Lord Ashcombe. I cannot recall who made the introduction, however I reach for it. It was all so long ago."
"Then do not begin with the name," he said.
"Begin with the day itself — where you were, who stood nearby, who spoke with whom.
Write down whatever returns to you, however small it may seem.
We shall speak again in a day or two, once you have had time to search your memory — and once I have spoken to one or two of my relations. "
"Then I shall begin this very evening." She lifted her chin, a small, determined smile chasing away some of the weariness in her face. "Thank you, Lord Ashcombe."