Free Loving Lucy by Lynne Connolly Page A

society’s finest, not only to investigate credentials, but also to draw up marriage settlements, his speciality, and he provided estate management for absentee landlords, particularly in the more urban settings. He managed Lucy’s holdings in London , and must know how much she was worth, virtually down to the nearest penny.
    There was little small talk now, and no need of it. Lucy took off her gloves and bonnet, and laid them on an empty chair next to her. Lord Royston was on her other side, but not too close, and his friend next to him. When Mr. Chumleigh cleared his throat Lord Wenlock stood up again. “I don’t think I should be here.”
    “If it was merely family business, I would agree with you, Edward,” Lord Royston said. “But I think I’d like a witness to what we’re about to hear. If we have to tell anyone else, your backing will be invaluable.”
    Lord Wenlock looked at Lucy for confirmation, and after her brief, chilly nod, sat down again. “Very well.”
    Mr. Chumleigh pulled a stack of papers towards him. “These pertain to your betrothed husband, Sir Geoffrey Sanders,” he told Lucy. “It took more research than usual to discover the truth, but some disparities in the papers I was given made me wish to look further. Lady Royston has seen the original papers, and has declared herself satisfied with the results.”
    He looked up. “On the surface, Sir Geoffrey is a prosperous man. He has a country estate in Hertfordshire, and enough funds to enable him to support a wife in comfort. He has been on the town, as the saying goes, for years, and has shown interest in one or two females, but has never been contracted to anyone before. Therefore, my lady, the contract you recently signed with him is legally binding. You are bound to marry him in a month’s time unless either of you withdraws from the contract, or the date on the contract passes its expiration date – your marriage day – without the wedding taking place.” Lucy nodded, her apprehension increasing with every measured word. She trusted Mr. Chumleigh as she trusted few other people, and whoever brought her here, she knew he would tell her the truth.
    “Unfortunately, in recent years Sir Geoffrey has been drawn to the City. He has speculated in various ventures. At first these speculations enhanced his fortune, and he didn’t invest too much of his capital, but then he was tempted by a venture which would take more of his money than he’d invested heretofore. “ Lucy smiled slightly, delighted to hear a word like heretofore used in conversation, and then mentally scolded herself for letting her mind wander.
    “I’m afraid he overextended his resources. A sugar plantation in the Central Americas .” Mr. Chumleigh sorted one of the papers from the pile. “The set-up costs were large - clearing the land, the cost of the slaves to work it, the machinery to process the sugar and so on - and Sir Geoffrey was hard put to find his share of the capital, but he managed and the work went ahead.
    “It seems they didn’t take enough account of the weather. It kept delaying completion, and when the first crop was planted, it was lost in several violent thunderstorms. They planted again, but by now, Sir Geoffrey needed a return from his investment. So this is what he did.” She found a few more papers and pushed them across to where Lucy sat. “I know you can read a balance-sheet, my lady. These are copies of the originals.”
    Lucy picked up the first sheet. Her father had taught her to understand accounts, and had once or twice praised her ability to do so. She looked down the first column then picked up the next paper and looked down that.
    She put the papers side by side on the desk in front of her and then put another one next to it. Gentility forgotten, she leaned over them and used her finger to trace the movement of capital. “He’s split his estate into three parts,” she said softly. “And he’s using the same parcel of money