Continuing to scan the papers, he hoped to find anything he might have missed. “You pay her allowance through a lawyer or to Mr. Beauchamp directly?”
“Originally, we paid to an accountant, who then paid for her tutors and living expenses. Upon the death of the father, his son, Daniel, asked for it to go through him, as their accountant was reaching well into his later years. So, for the last, I would say ten years, we have been paying him directly.”
“How much was the last amount?” Andrew stared squarely at his lawyer.
“Let me see.” Placing a pair of circular spectacles on his bulbous nose, Gordon swallowed hard before running his fingers over the page in the account ledger. “Ah, yes. Over the last five years, we have increased her allowance from one thousand to fifteen-hundred quid. We last increased it four years prior, from seven hundred annually, to one thousand.”
“I see.”
“Is there anything else I can assist you with this evening? I will, of course, contact Mr. Beauchamp in the morning,” Gordon said in a humble voice, busying himself with the buckles on his bag.
“No.” Andrew’s voice came out harsher than intended, so he placed a smile he didn’t feel on his face, forced calm, and lowered his voice. “Make no contact with anyone regarding the matter. I will personally handle this from here.”
“Are you certain?”
“Completely. Thank you for coming so quickly. Feel free to order up some food or drink while your horse is brought around.”
Excusing himself, Andrew needed to ask Miranda what she knew and determine how much Daniel Beauchamp had thus far filched from his sister. If Gordon was to be believed, and Andrew had no reason to believe him untruthful, then a decade had passed since Daniel and the solicitor had discussed the contract. The notes on the table reflected the same information and more. For the last three or four years, Daniel had managed to convince his lawyers he’d spoken with Andrew and everyone was in agreement to the delay in nuptials. Of course Daniel would delay them, as the moment his sister wed, the money would cease.
But how would Andrew break the news to Miranda that her brother was a snake in the grass?
He opened the door to the bedroom, and Miranda’s beauty lit the room, unexpectedly taking his breath away. Sitting in the shimmering candlelight, she resembled a Botticelli goddess. The hem of her skirt had slipped up to her thigh as someone, likely the French maid, had elevated her ankle on no less than three pillows. Miranda smiled at him over the top of a book. Stepping to the side of the bed, he removed the volume from her hands. Careful not to lose her spot, he laid it on the table face down.
“So what did you learn?” she inquired.
“Quite a bit, yet not enough.” He sat on the edge of the mattress.
The swelling appeared to be getting worse. In contrast to the bluish ankle, the leg attached to it remained unmarred, shapely and appearing so soft. Temptation rolled through him, and, an hour ago he would have given in, but right then he owed her more. Before his urges overrode his good intentions, he covered her leg down to the calf with a nearby throw.“How does your ankle feel?”
“Stiff and throbbing.”
“I suspect it will hurt more in the morning. Do you wish me to summon a doctor?”
Shaking her head, she grabbed his hand, but dropped it as if realizing how bold the move was. He gripped her hand and squeezed.
“Will you please tell me what you learned?” she asked.
“We are betrothed. I am indeed your fiancé, and a lousy one at that.”
“Please don’t be hard on yourself. You didn’t know.”
How did she manage to be so understanding? He wasn’t sure if he could look himself in the mirror again as guilt lit through him like a furnace, so how could she look at him now? “I should have known. Unfortunately, four of the five people involved in the contract able to shed light on why I was kept in the dark are long dead, and their secrets went with them.”
“Five?”
“My parents, your parents, and my father’s lawyer. Both the lawyer and my parents are deceased.”
“As is my father, and my mother ran off to Australia with a soldier half her age. I doubt she will ever come back.” Miranda shrugged, but he didn’t miss the pain in her eyes.
“So now it’s only you, your aunt, and your brother.”
Nodding, she smiled. “Sarah is my rock. She took me in long before my mother left. I think my father knew I would be better off with Sarah than in my own home. He wasn’t an affectionate man, but he cared for me in his own way.”
“And your brother…are you close?”