Page 2 of The Lion Duke's Proposal
Her hand trembled slightly as she lifted the latch.
She opened the door herself in her haste to see who was behind it and was startled to see their father’s solicitor, Mr. Harold Brown. She’d only met him a few times when he’d come over to manage business affairs or have documentation signed. He was an older, balding man with a combover that failed to hide the top of his shiny head and glasses that seemed to be a little too small for his round face. Julia quickly realized she was still in her nightdress as his eyes roamed over her.
“Mr. Brown! Goodness, I’m sorry, we weren’t expecting you!” She grabbed at one of the coats on the hooks beside the door and quickly covered herself in it. “My father isn’t here, I’m afraid, and I don’t know when he’ll be back, but you are welcome to wait if you’d like.”
“Miss Norish.” The lawyer inclined his head. “I know Lord Norish isn’t home. It’s actually you and your sister I’ve come to talk to tonight.”
“Oh,” Julia frowned. “I see. Is - is my father all right? Has something happened?”
“It would be best if you fetched your sister,” Mr. Brown replied. “I think this is something both of you should hear together.”
“No need,” a voice issued from the top of the stairs. Thankfully, Poppy had thought of putting on proper clothes before leaving her bedroom. She gripped the banister hard as she descended into the foyer, her white knuckles and pale, false smile the only indicators of her nervousness. “As you can see, I have fetched myself. Hello to you, Mr. Brown.”
He inclined his head in greeting. “My apologies, ladies, for calling on you both at such an hour.”
“Not at all. Would you care for some tea?” Julia offered, ignoring the thumping in her heart and the sick feeling in her stomach. Even at a time like this, she refused to forget her manners.
“I do not, thank you. This will be a short visit, I’m afraid.” The man shifted uncomfortably, looking down at his slightly muddied shoes. “I’m here to tell you both that, unfortunately, there have been some irregularities found in your father’s business. It appears that he has been borrowing from some very unscrupulous creditors and has failed to pay the debt owed. I was contacted by these men yesterday, demanding payment of eighteen thousand pounds, including interest.”
“Eighteen thousand?” Julia’s mouth hung open. “That - that can’t be possible!”
Mr. Brown cleared his throat. “I regret to say that, having received the call, of course, I immediately looked into the matter to verify its authenticity. Your father would not take my call, but I checked with his business manager, and he confirmed the same. It appears that Lord Norish somehow found out thatthese men were coming to collect on their debt and has fled the country with his remaining assets.”
“I don’t understand.” Julia’s brain was still trying to process this information. “He wouldn’t just leave. He - what about us?”
The solicitor did not meet her eyes. “Your father has arranged for the family home to be sold in order to pay off the debt.”
“Sold? To whom? What will become of us?” Poppy cut in, her mask of politeness beginning to crack and threatening to give way to tears.
“Lord Norish has left no instructions concerning the two of you.”
Julia had a feeling that if Mr. Brown could have sunk directly onto the floor to avoid continuing this conversation, he would have.
“You’re both of age, after all, so there is no guardianship to be appointed; and he will maintain control of the business and its remaining assets.”
“So we’re to be evicted?” Julia realized, reading between the lines. She swallowed. “How long do we have?”
“One month from today, the new buyers will take possession.”
“A month,” Poppy said faintly. Her hand reached for the banister. She ran her fingers along it, as though trying to remain grounded. Julia knew this was a habit of her sister’s when she felt especially nervous or scared, so she took a deep breath and gritted her teeth, determined not to show any weakness, to look like she had a plan. Whenever Poppy was afraid, she always remained strong, and this time would be no different.
“What about our dowries?” she asked. “Surely we still have some money of our own?”
“Your mother insisted when the funds were created that your dowries remain protected under any circumstance.” Mr. Brown nodded. “You each have five thousand pounds. However, because your father is the only living signatory, I require his consent and signature in order to release the money. This must be done in person to be valid, and I have no reason to believe he intends to return to England soon. He still won’t even answer my letters.”
“There’s nothing you can do to have the money released to us?”
He shook his head. “I’m so terribly sorry, Miss Norish. While your father lives, even if he is abroad, there is no way to circumvent it.”
“So we’re to be homelessandpenniless?” Poppy was taking short, sharp breaths as if she were about to suffer a spell of faintness.
Julia rushed to her side, taking her shaking hand between both of her own. “We’ll be nothing of the sort, Poppy. Please, don’t worry.”
“Even you can’t fix this, Julia.” Her sister shook her head. “How could he do this to us? Our own father?”
Mr. Brown coughed. “Once again, ladies, I really am terribly sorry to have to bring you this news. I will take my leave now. If you have any questions, I’ll leave you my card. You may call me any time.”
“Thank you.” Julia took the card and curtsied automatically as he hastened to the door, even forgetting in her shock over the whole situation that she was wearing just a nightgown and a coat.
