“I’m aware of that. But sometimes it takes years for the Court ofChancery to act,” Mr. Pitney said. “I did warn you when I took on your case.”
“Yes, but Evan won’t be twenty-one for more than two years. By then, Yates could loot his property entirely.” Lord Heathbrook let out a surprisingly rough oath. “Why Father chosethat manto be their guardian, I’ll never understand. If Mother had lived—”
“But she didn’t.”
Behind Giselle, her own mother had risen and ventured close enough to pull at Giselle’s arm and hiss, “Come back, you foolish girl, before they see you!”
Giselle shrugged off her mother’s hand and made a motion for her to return to the settee. Maman did so, muttering about “girls who don’t listen to their mothers,” then sat turning her cane round and round in her hands as Giselle leaned closer to hear.
“My point is,” Lord Heathbrook said to his lawyer, “Father should have listedmeas guardian when he wrote his will.”
Mr. Pitney released a heavy sigh. “We went over this, my lord. You were sixteen at the time.”
“Then he should have done it once I turned twenty-one,” the earl said irritably.
Mr. Pitney shook his head. “You were being detained in Verdun.”
“So was my father,” Lord Heathbrook bit out. “God knows he had plenty of leisure to change his will. There was nothing else to do in that godforsaken place. And by the time he died, I was twenty-six, more than old enough to be their guardian.”
“And still, again, in a French prison,” the attorney pointed out.
“The prison came later,” Lord Heathbrook snapped. “I was at that time in Verdun, technically not a prison. In any case, Father could have written a codicil to the will and given it to me, so I could become guardian the moment I set foot on England’s shore. Then I wouldn’t be having to endure this Court of Chancery nonsense.”
“Forgive me, my lord, but from what I’ve determined of your situation before you went to France, he was concerned that your temper would make you inadequate to be your brothers’ guardian.”
“I was sixteen then, for God’s sake! Show me a sixteen-year-old who hasnotgot a temper!”
“You’re showing your temper right now, sir.”
As a frosty silence ensued, Giselle arched an eyebrow.Touché, monsieur. You tell him.
Then Lord Heathbrook dragged in a heavy breath that made his broad back rise, then fall. “You’re right. Forgive me. I’m not putting my best foot forward.”
His apology surprised her. Her stepfather had never apologized for his temper, not even in situations that warranted it far less than this one. That the earl would do so relieved her a bit. But only a bit.
Meanwhile, Mr. Pitney winced as if realizing he might have spoken too boldly to his lofty client. “I am merely saying that perhaps your father believed that a more … shall we say … even-tempered guardian was in order. And he did also seem to think that your … er … fondness for the ladies might be a problem.”
She rolled her eyes. She could have told the lawyer that. Lord Heathbrook had come by his reputation honestly.
Lord Heathbrook sighed. “Knowing my father, I’m sure he thought precisely that. No matter what I did to change his opinion of me in our later years together at Verdun, it remained fixed.” The touch of bitterness in Lord Heathbrook’s voice saddened Giselle. “And whose side are you on, anyway?”
Mr. Pitney colored. “I’m merely pointing out that appearances are everything to the Court of Chancery, and their investigators probe everywhere. Your cousin is older than you and seems less … susceptible to strong emotions when he comes before the chancellor. You must learn to be just as dispassionate. Or at least give the appearance of being so.”
“Right.” The earl rubbed the back of his neck. “Certainly. I will try. Besides, how do you know so much about my father’s opinions?”
“I have my own investigators, my lord.”
“Well, I hope they are investigating Yates, sir, and not just me. Or, for that matter, my relationship with my father.”
“Investigating your cousin is their first priority, of course. But it always helps to know what the other side plans to useagainstyou as well.”
“I’m sure that’s true,” Lord Heathbrook said, a bit stiffly.
“Next week should be better. By then, my spies will undoubtedlyhave turned up information we can use to reinforce your opinion of Mr. Yates when we counter his arguments for keeping the lads.”
“I hope so. My friend, Captain Scovell, speaks highly of you, so I’m willing to give you a chance.”
She knew Captain Scovell because he, too, had been in Verdun, living in the same house where she had worked and where her father and his other friends had lived. It did not surprise her that his lordship would trust the captain’s recommendation.