Free A Most Unconventional Match by Julia Justiss

Scarbridge, his solicitor, is a complete incompetent. Heaven knows, I know nothing about finance!’
    â€˜Well, I should hope not!’ Sir Gregory exclaimed. ‘You, dear lady, have no need to trouble your pretty head over complicated matters that were best left to your husband’s discretion.’ He cast a mildly reproachful look at her dress. ‘All the financial expertise you require is knowing which dressmakers create the gowns that best display your beauty.’
    â€˜Indeed,’ Elizabeth said flatly. Somehow that caveat seemed to have escaped the notice of the tough who’d come to threaten her. Apparently Sir Gregory was more pained by her choice of raiment than by the possibility that the estate’s finances might be in total disarray.
    Before she could decide whether or not to tell the baronet about Mr Smith’s alarming visit, Sir Gregory said, ‘I must confess to be feeling somewhat…slighted. I would have hoped that if you felt the need for someone to look into your finances, as Everitt’s closest friend, you would have asked me.’
    â€˜Did you know Mr Scarbridge was incompetent?’
    â€˜Of course.’
    â€˜Then why did you not warn me? How am I to protect myself and my son when I have no idea what…obligations are currently being pressed against Everitt’s estate?’
    Sir Gregory patted her hand. ‘ You protect yourself and your child? My dear, you needn’t even consider attempting something so alarming! I know how cast down you’ve been by Everitt’s demise, but remember, you’ve not been left entirely alone and friendless. I fully intended to visit Mr Scarbridge and see what needed to be done once I completed the my own estate business. Everitt was a gentleman, after all. If there are obligations against his estate, the creditors can wait until I have time to deal with them.’
    At least one of them wasn’t prepared to wait, Elizabeth thought. And though she frankly avowed that she knew nothing about wills or finances, she wasn’t sure she appreciated Sir Gregory’s cavalier dismissal of her ability to protect her son.
    Still, it was vastly comforting to know that in addition to Mr Waterman’s competent assistance, she might count upon Sir Gregory as well.
    Though she still must consider it fortuitous that his friendship with Nicky had propelled Mr Waterman to come forward, for his sense of urgency in setting the estate to rights seemed to exceed Sir Gregory’s. Indeed, he must have begun asking questions immediately if the baronet had already heard of his investigations.
    â€˜With you at present so preoccupied, I should rather think you would find it very convenient that Mr Waterman offered to attend to my small affairs. You will not need to put yourself out after all, Sir Gregory.’
    â€˜You misunderstand, dear lady! Any service I can render you would be a pleasure!’ he protested. ‘Besides, though I’ve heard Waterman is quite competent, I’m not sure of the…propriety of him investigating your husband’s finances. There are no blood ties between you, after all, and, as a new widow, you must be careful of appearances.’
    Since no blood ties existed between herself and Sir Gregory, his meddling in her affairs wouldn’t be any more proper. But though she’d certainly not intended to do so, apparently she’d wounded his feelings, so she refrained from pointing this out.
    Instead, she replied, ‘It’s true that we are not blood kin. But you may recall that my sister Sarah is married to Mr Waterman’s best friend, Lord Englemere, who recently took his family and all my siblings on a Grand Tour of the Continent. Before he departed, he asked Mr Waterman to assist me with any difficulties that might arise during my family’s absence.’ Which was not precisely true, but close enough that it should soothe Sir Gregory’s injured