Page 99 of Yours Truly, the Duke
Finally, they were invited into the Lord Chancellor’s book room. The man stood and bowed when Wyatt and Fredericka entered, but wore his displeasure on his lean, wrinkled face.
“Please, sit down, Your Graces,” he offered, though he never bothered to look at Fredericka. Most men felt ladies had no place in matters of business.
“We’ll stand,” Wyatt said. “This won’t take long.”
“I am glad to hear it. My days are busy and long. I don’t usually receive anyone at home or my office thisearly in the day. I do this out of respect to your titles. If you say it’s urgent, I take you at your word it is.”
“We appreciate your concession.”
“Let’s get to it, shall we? What can I do for you?”
Wyatt and Fredericka walked in tandem closer to the desk. Wyatt took an imposing stance. He didn’t want there to be any misunderstanding about how important this was to him. “Mrs. Nelson Tomkin has my wife’s children. I want them back.”
“The matter has been handled.” He waved his hand dismissively. “I was told the children were neglected to the point they were put in harm’s way. When Mrs. Tomkin entered the room there was no adult present. A decision was needed immediately for their safety. I’ll make the official ruling next week and award her husband, Mr. Tomkin, guardianship of the children.”
Wyatt felt Fredericka start to move forward to confront the man but he stayed her by putting his hand out in front of her. The Lord Chancellor’s flippant attitude infuriated Wyatt as much as it did Fredericka, but staying calm was necessary. “You might want to listen to what I have to say before you do that.”
“I don’t,” he said, this time including Fredericka in his glance. “I believe I told you when we met, Your Grace, I rule on what is best for the child if he is in danger.” He looked down at his desk as if he couldn’t be more uninterested. “However, if you insist, go ahead, and I’ll listen.”
The Lord Chancellor was making it easy for Wyatt to do what he had to do. “I’ve tried to handle this matter between my wife and her cousin honorably. But you have allowed yourself to be used by your friendship with Viscount Longington and perhaps my political leanings as well to punish my wife.”
“I’ve done no such thing.” He looked at Fredericka as if she was the one who had done this to him. “I don’t know what you’ve heard, but you do me a discredit, Your Grace. I was told the children were in serious danger by ingesting unknown amounts of spirits and tobacco. I acted only in their best interest.”
He was making this too easy for Wyatt. “I’m glad you mentioned a child’s best interest, but perhaps you are selective about that. When you indicated you sometimes grant political favors, I think one of them was to save your own political power. I hadn’t wanted to say anything about your wife’s only brother, whom she adores.”
The Lord Chancellor went still. His eyes seemed to want to burn holes into Wyatt. “Now see here, Your Grace, I will not discuss my family with you.”
“But you are more than happy to discuss mine or anyone else’s,” Fredericka said in haste.
“It is my sworn duty to do so.”
Wyatt stepped closer to the desk, keeping his gaze pointedly on the man’s ashen face. “I don’t like discussing my family with you either. The truth is that I could have told the story about your brother-in-law when I learned of it, but you see, I have always considered wives and children off-limits to gossip, scandal, and people who are self-serving. Something that you, Viscount Longington, and the Tomkins don’t seem to have a problem with. I didn’t want to hurt or punish your wife and her family with gossip that might or might not be true. However, you leave me no choice but to reveal it because you have so ruthlessly wounded mine.”
“Are you threatening me, Your Grace?” His stare was unyielding.
“I’m making you a promise.” Wyatt put his hands on the desk and leaned toward the Chancellor.
Fredericka put her hand on Wyatt’s arm. “Allow me to say this, Your Grace.”
Wyatt straightened and Fredericka leaned on the desk in his place. She looked directly into the man’s eyes. “You either bring the children to us before we leave this house today, or we are going straight toThe Timesand telling them all we know about your wife’s brother, both his marriages, and the children’s inheritances. What would the head of your party think if it was suspected the man who is in charge of trusts, wills, and guardianships for all children has allowed his own brother-in-law to pilfer and raid his stepchildren’s inheritances?”
“All lies,” the Lord Chancellor said, his head tremoring. “That was gossip started by a disgruntled family member.”
“As was what you heard from adisgruntled family memberabout our children,” Fredericka said without blinking a lash. “Gossip hurts whether or not it’s true.”
“And not just the children of your brother-in-law’s first wife,” Wyatt reminded him for emphasis, “but also his second wife’s children, so he could keep his gambling habits and debts a secret. What do you think your party will do about a man who would allow something like that to happen?”
The man’s lean frame shook with fury.
“So tell us, Chancellor,” Wyatt continued. “Should we sit down and wait for the children to arrive so we can take them with us, or should we walk out the door?”
EPILOGUE
DAISY—BEAUTY AND INNOCENCE
—L. H.
A wearied man seeks not the smiles
