The Impossible Earl. Sarah Westleigh

not, Miss Vincent,” he allowed. “But in addition to the property, my client had investments, mostly in the five percents, and some cash in the bank. There were, of course, a few debts to be settled and the valet’s legacy to find, but the residue of the investments and cash together will total around three thousand pounds.

      “Not a great fortune,” he added hurriedly, anticipating Leonora’s disappointment, “but, together with the interest on the investments, the rent Lord Kelsey pays would provide you with a comfortable income should you decide to move into your great-uncle’s apartment. Or you could increase your competence by letting that as well.”

      Leonora was not disappointed. How could someone who had nothing be disappointed to inherit somewhere to live and enough rent and interest on capital to enable her to set herself up in modest style? In grand style for a period, were she prepared to hazard the capital in an attempt to secure a suitable gentleman’s hand in marriage.

      An idea was forming in her mind. At five-and-twenty she might be almost at her last prayers, but women older than herself did wed. And, to be quite honest, she longed for an establishment of her own. An establishment with a nursery and an agreeable husband who might, were she lucky, love her and, in turn, win her love.

      She said, “I should like to see the place before I make up my mind.”

      Mr Warwick nodded. “Very wise.”

      Rosy pictures of her future flew into Leonora’s mind and drifted out again as she forced herself to listen to Mr Warwick’s further information; but he had little more of moment to impart. It was arranged that, when she was ready to visit Bath, he would ask a colleague with chambers in the city to represent her interests.

      She signed some papers, which were witnessed by himself and the footman stationed by the door. He rose, preparing to take his leave, only to be intercepted by Mrs Farling, who, full of curiosity, must have been hovering nearby. She was not prepared to allow her governess’s visitor to depart without being quizzed.

      Her round cheeks flushed, her bosom heaving, “Surely you are not returning to London today, Mr Warwick?” she exclaimed, fluttering her hands and with them the gauze scarf draped about her dimpled elbows.

      Mr Warwick bowed. “No, madam. I shall find accommodation at the nearest hostelry and make the return journey tomorrow.”

      “You would think us poor creatures to allow you to lie overnight at an inn, sir! You must, of course, accept our hospitality!”

      “Indeed, madam, you are most kind. I gladly accept but I must dismiss the post chaise and order it to return in the morning…”

      “Bennett will do that,” said Mrs Farling imperiously. She turned to call out the order to the butler, who appeared in the doorway, bowed and departed on his mission.

      Mr Warwick would be happy to enjoy the comforts of the quite extensive country residence of Thornestone Park instead of lying in a possibly louse-infested inn, Leonora knew. But it meant that she would be called upon once again to add the cachet of her presence at the dinner table. On this occasion, though, she resented less than usual the way her employers used her breeding to add to their own consequence. Mr Warwick was here because of her.

      But the exclamations, the questions, when Mrs Farling discovered the reason for his visit, were almost beyond bearing. Leonora wanted privacy in which to come to terms with her good fortune but was not allowed the privilege.

      Mr Warwick, it transpired, had never had occasion to visit his client in Bath and so had no idea of the exact nature of the residence Leonora had inherited, or of the circumstances and person of the lord who was now her tenant. No amount of questioning or speculation could tell Mrs Farling more than Leonora already knew.

      “I must tender you my notice,” Leonora said. “Perhaps I could plan to move to Bath in two weeks’ time? Would that be convenient to you, Mr Warwick?”

      “Indeed, Miss Vincent, that will give me ample time to arrange for Mr Coggan to place himself at your disposal.”

      “You wish to leave us so soon!” cried Mrs Farling. “How my girls will miss you! Husband, persuade dear Miss Vincent to remain with us until everything is quite settled!”

      Her stout husband, a gentleman who had as little to do with the womenfolk in his household as possible, wiped his greasy lips with his napkin and grunted. “I suggest you allow Miss Vincent to do as she pleases,” he declared.

      The Earl of Kelsey, who seldom made use of the quizzing glass suspended from his elegant buff waistcoat, raised it to study the broad, open face of the young lawyer, not much older than himself, facing him over the office desk.

      “This female now owns the premises?” he enquired, a forbidding frown drawing deep grooves between the straight lines of his dark brows.

      “Indeed, my lord. The late Mr Vincent left her everything, apart from a bequest to his valet. Mr Warwick informs me that Mr Vincent’s fortune was not great, but the lady will be able to live in some comfort on the income from it and the yield from this property.”

      “Hmm.” His lordship’s slate grey eyes became thoughtful. He’d known Vincent was only modestly wealthy, but had never discovered exactly what the fellow had been worth. This lawyer would never tell him. He asked, “How much would this place sell for?”

      “On the open market, my lord? With yourself as a sitting tenant?” On Kelsey’s nod the lawyer, whose name was Coggan, named a figure.

      “And without myself here as tenant?”

      Coggan thought for a moment and suggested a larger sum.

      “As I thought,” mused the Earl. “She should be glad to be offered a figure somewhere between the two. I cannot have her living in the rooms above. Such a circumstance would be quite beyond the tenets of decency.”

      “Indeed, my lord. To have a lady walking through your part of the property would be most—” Coggan sought just the right word “—unseemly.”

      “It cannot be allowed. You must inform her so.”

      “I would, my lord,” said the lawyer deferentially, “but there is little time. Mr Warwick only instructed me yesterday. I am retained to represent her interests on his behalf, my lord, until she arrives in Bath and claims her inheritance. She is due on Wednesday, and proposes to occupy the late owner’s rooms. Since Mr Warwick was not aware of your lordship’s activities in the part of the house you occupy, neither is Miss Vincent.”

      “Is she not?” Kelsey placed a long finger against his pursed lips as he thought. “The day after tomorrow, you say?”

      He abandoned his stance by the window and began to pace the floor. He possessed a finely proportioned figure set off to perfection by the cut of his buff trousers and the fit of his green cut-away coat. He wore immaculate linen and his neckcloth had been tied with subtle flair.

      He stopped and stood tapping the long fingers of one hand with the quizzing glass he held in the other. The frown left his face as he turned to the lawyer. The skin about his dark eyes crinkled and his firm, shapely mouth curled upwards at the corners. But it was not a friendly smile.

      “Then I shall have to receive her and tell her myself. The sooner she is appraised of the situation the better. I shall persuade her of the impropriety of her proposal to occupy the rooms so recently vacated, and offer to purchase the building.”

      Her worldly possessions packed neatly into two trunks, Leonora arrived in Bath. She had persuaded her friend the local Rector’s daughter, Clarissa Worth, to accompany her as companion and seduced Dolly, one of the maids at Thornestone Park, to transfer to her employ. To her surprise and relief Mr Farling had insisted that she make use of the family chariot, drawn by post horses, and had sent a footman with them to make all the arrangements for the necessary overnight stay at an inn along the way.

      Winter’s early dusk was beginning to fall as the chariot entered Bath. The tower of the Abbey caught Clarissa’s attention while Leonora was entranced by