Chapter 54
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 54
Regardless of his evolving feelings for Vanessa or the “fair and equal” contract they had established, Theodore considered this a sufficient reward for a pleasant summer.
He had, after all, deceived her and benefited from her misunderstanding. Edgar, completely unaware of this, looked shocked, assuming Theodore was going to such lengths purely out of love.
“Are you serious? You’re going to pour a fortune into this worthless land, but you won’t marry her?”
Theodore relaxed his posture, leaning back in his chair.
“She is worth that much, and marriage offers me no benefits. I am perfectly satisfied with our current arrangement.”
“…Does the lady know you’re doing this?”
“No. And she doesn’t need to.”
Edgar stared at his cousin, uncharacteristically speechless.
“I rarely say things like this. In fact, I never imagined I’d ever say this to you…”
“What is it?”
“Don’t regret this later, Theodore.”
“…”
“What… Why are you looking at me like that?”
Edgar flinched, raising his arms defensively in a comical gesture. It wasn’t as if they were six-year-olds about to trade blows.
“Say that again.”
“Say what?” Edgar asked, retracing their conversation before looking back with suspicion. “Your name? Theodore?”
“Don’t. It sounds disgusting coming from you.”
“…Wow.”
Just as Edgar sputtered in disbelief, the heavy door swung open. Count Essex hurried across the room and sat opposite them. Having apparently concluded his business successfully, his plump face was filled with a misplaced hope for the future.
“My, my. I am terribly sorry to have kept you waiting so long.”
The Count gestured as if to scratch his balding head, where only a few strands of hair remained, as he settled into his seat.
“As for the terms… Well, since Your Grace is investing such a vast sum to develop the South, I would love to hand over the land for next to nothing… But an estate is not a property I can dispose of on a whim, is it? It has been in our family for generations…”
“You must have a figure in mind.”
“Ah, well, to be frank, yes… Our legal advisor will be here shortly with our terms. Count Somerset is also expected to arrive within ten minutes.”
“Excellent.”
Theodore checked his pocket watch and snapped it shut. Ten minutes was more than enough time to size up a man. He elegantly crossed his long legs, clasping his hands lightly over his knee.
With that simple gesture, the young Duke exuded an intimidating aura that far exceeded his years.
“Shall we begin, then?”
* * *
“As you know, My Lady, the will was a notarized deed, and there were no issues with its registration. I fail to understand why you are pursuing this.”
Vanessa bit her lip, tightening her grip on the telephone receiver. The businesslike voice on the other end made her feel like a child throwing a tantrum.
“I’m not questioning the deed’s validity. I simply wish to consult with the person who notarized my parents’ will.”
“I’m afraid I can’t help you with that.”
“You only need to give me their address.”
“If you wish to verify the notary, you can go to the state court. The notarizing attorney’s name and address are on public record there.”
“I’ve already looked into all of that.”
“…You’ve looked into all of it?”
Vanessa sat up straighter, as if the person on the other end of the line could see her. She couldn’t let her wavering confidence show.
“Georges Heder. He is currently missing, is unmarried, and has no living relatives. I even visited the address listed as his office, only to find it closed down years ago. And…”
This was a connection she had barely managed to uncover after scouring old records at the North Somerset State Court. She couldn’t let the lead go cold. Hesitating for a moment, she carefully broached the subject.
“I also confirmed that during the time Mr. Heder served as our family’s legal advisor, your office was registered at the exact same address.”
A heavy sigh came through the line, followed by a loud crackle of static. Vanessa pulled the receiver from her ear for a second before pressing it back desperately.
“Do you have any idea how many lawyers share an office?”
“But it’s rare for them to write letters of recommendation for one another. It was through Mr. Heder’s recommendation that you were hired as our family’s advisor. Am I mistaken?”
“…How in the world did you find that information? No, never mind. It’s not some great secret. In any case, I have nothing more to tell you about him.”
“According to the information I gathered…”
“Lady Vanessa.”
The lawyer’s voice, thick with exhaustion, cut her off. His tone made it clear he wanted to hang up but was restraining himself only because she was his employer’s niece.
“Since you seem to have your reasons, I’ll be frank. We shared an office for about six months after being introduced by chance. We hardly ever spoke.”
“You haven’t seen him since?”
“As God is my witness, no. Does that answer your question?”
“Then just one last thing.”
Vanessa spoke quickly, her fingers tracing the coiled telephone cord.
“I confirmed that three lawyers were registered to that office at the time: you, Mr. Heder, and one other. I heard he was the very first to work as our family’s lawyer. However, the person who told me said his records were expunged upon request. Legally, five years after dismissal…”
“Does the Count know you are investigating such things?”
“Not yet.”
Vanessa ignored the sharp prick of her conscience. Even if unintentional, the lawyer’s words sounded like an accusation, questioning how she could suspect her own family of something so terrible.
“I know this is an unreasonable request. But can’t you understand that this matter is important enough to me that I have no other choice?”
A long silence followed, so long that she might have thought he’d hung up if not for the faint sound of his breathing.
Vanessa anxiously clutched the gold locket around her neck. The jeweler’s appraisal had arrived that morning. The locket was solid gold, and judging by the craftsmanship, it was almost certainly not an imitation. It was undoubtedly an heirloom that a wealthy member of the gentry, or even the nobility, would have treasured.
Ever since hearing that, her mind had been racing.
Perhaps there’s something I don’t know about my parents’ death.
Her suspicion solidified when she visited the Metropolitan Police to find the vagrant again. The officers looked bewildered, telling her they had never taken a vagrant into custody, nor did they know of any officer matching his description. They insisted no patrols had been sent to that area that morning, and there was no record of such an incident.
If he was so desperate for money, why didn’t he sell this sooner?
There was only one answer: it was stolen. If he were caught selling it, the truth of how he obtained it would be exposed. Yet he couldn’t bring himself to throw it away, so he must have carried it for years, not even daring to get it repaired. If the hinge hadn’t been loose, she might have lost it forever.
Any thought that it might not belong to her parents was just a desperate excuse. What were the chances that an ornament identical to the one in her memory would also have her mother’s initial engraved on it? And the portrait inside…
Vanessa quickly reined in her thoughts. This was no time for idle speculation.
“I need to know about that lawyer. If you give me his name or address, I promise on my name that I will never bother you with this again.”
“Why on earth are you looking for your predecessors? You already know a woman cannot inherit land or a title.”
“I can’t go into detail, but it’s related to a… a painting I found. One my parents had commissioned.”
Static crackled through the receiver again. Suddenly anxious, Vanessa gripped the phone with both hands.
“Hello?”
“…I will give you only the address and name.”
“One moment.”
Vanessa hurriedly pulled out a clean sheet of paper and dipped her quill in ink, pinning the receiver between her cheek and shoulder.
“Just a second… Alright, go ahead.”
“Viscount B. Dawson. If he hasn’t moved, he should still be at 427 Lethe Street. He retired some time ago due to his age, so I doubt he takes on clients anymore.”
“Lethe… 427 Lethe Street… Thank you. Thank you so much.”
As she breathed a sigh of relief, a faint grumble came from the other end of the line. It sounded as if he was already regretting his decision.
“And keep this in mind. If the Count asks, you never heard this name from me.”