“No, I know my father a little better than that. He liked the thrill of such things. He would bet on anything, as long as there was something to be gained from it. I daresay that, in the end, with the thrill lessening, the only way to get that same excitement back would be to gamble larger amounts.”
“Whatever the reason, my dear Miss Darrington, it would appear that he has left you in rather a sorry sort of a state.”
“I simply cannot imagine, nor do I really want to hear, the figure that my father owed. Our townhouse in London, when it is sold, would certainly fetch a tremendous amount of money. If that barely pays my father’s debts, then I feel truly ashamed of him.”
As she spoke of their London townhouse, Georgette felt her throat tighten. For the first time since the terrible news had been delivered, she rather feared that she might cry. In her mind’s eye, she was looking up at the huge house with its white stone frontage and great columns either side of an immense black door. There were four floors to the great house and windows everywhere. She could hardly believe that it would very soon no longer be her home.
And what of the staff? Her father had kept a butler and housekeeper, a valet, a cook, and two maids. Not to mention a stable-hand.
“Oh, my goodness, I am going to have to tell the staff, am I not?” Georgette’s voice trembled audibly. “And really, I have no idea what I am to say to them. They will have to find work elsewhere and at such short notice.”
“Just be sure to promise them all a very good character reference. If they are good staff and are provided with a good character, then they will manage perfectly well. They will find work very easily in London in another home of good standing,” the attorney said kindly. “You have other concerns, Miss Darrington. It is time to think of yourself and only yourself.”
“I do not know where to begin.”
“Forgive me for asking, nay intruding, Miss Darrington, but do you have an understanding of any sort with a young man? Is marriage a possibility at this juncture?”
“You need not ask for my forgiveness, Mr Wharton. It is clear that you are simply trying to help me,” Georgette said, blinking hard. “And no, I do not have an understanding with anybody. And I daresay that now, that would be quite impossible.”
“Perhaps not impossible,” Mr Wharton said, but Georgette could tell from his tone that he was simply trying to soothe her.
For Georgette knew that it was impossible. Even if she had hoped to marry for love, still there would have been certain expectations of finance, status, and class that any future husband would expect. Of course, had she already been well on her way to marriage, it would likely not have been an issue. However, to actually tempt a young man into matrimony when she had nothing to offer but her homeless and penniless status would be impossible. Not only that but where was she to meet such a young man now?
Despite the fact that she was the daughter of a minor baron, the Honorable Miss Georgette Darrington, no less, still, she had nothing. And her title was so minor that it would not matter to anybody, and she would probably do well to forget it. In truth, it was barely a title at all.
“Mr Wharton, you know as well as I do that invitations are not going to come quite thick and fast to me anymore. After all, where would they be sent? I have no home.” Georgette felt thoroughly miserable. “I suppose this shall be the test of my friends, shall it not? Let us see, when all is known, and everybody has heard of the downturn in my fortunes, just how many of my friends and acquaintances are keen to see me.”
“You are looking into the future already, Miss Darrington. You will upset yourself even more than is necessary with thoughts of friends and acquaintances. They are, as are the staff, much further down your list.”
The ageing attorney rose from the seat behind his desk and strode towards the door of his office. When he opened it, Georgette could hear him speaking to the housekeeper and asking for some tea to be sent in. In truth, Georgette thought that she would hardly be able to swallow the tea, even if she tried.
For a few moments, Georgette simply looked around the austere office. She wondered if she would ever see inside it again, or ever need the services of an attorney. After all, the very poorest would hardly expect such things, would they?
Feeling almost as if she had slipped into a dream, Georgette stared hazily around the room. She let her eyes fall upon the two walls which were lined with shelves. There was not a spare space on any of the shelves, each and every one of them crammed to capacity with great leather-bound legal volumes and stated cases.