Weatherwax leapt to his feet. “A confession!”

“It will save time later should you choose to deny your actions.” Alex collected blank paper, quill, and ink from Laura’s desk. He thrust them into the solicitor’s hands and ushered him out of the bookroom. “You may perform the task in the kitchen.”

The last thing Alex was going to do was leave the man alone with the household ledgers. God only knew what sort of underhand business he might get up to.

“Mr. Archer!” Mrs. Crabtree appeared in the hall, the tea tray in her hands. “The wedding guests are arriving!”

“I’ll fetch my wife.” Alex shoved Weatherwax forward. “In the meanwhile, if you would be so good as to show this fellow to the kitchens? He has some work to do.”

The housekeeper scowled at Weatherwax, but she asked no questions. In the Hayeses’ household, it seemed that the solicitor was universally known—and disliked.

Alex could muster no sympathy for the man. He’d crushed Laura’s dreams. Stolen the future she’d planned right out from under her. Alex was half tempted to thrash the fellow.

A fine sight that would be for Laura. Her new husband engaged in fisticuffs with the family solicitor on their wedding day.

He sighed heavily.

“What’s going on?” Teddy appeared in the hall in his wheeled chair. “And why the devil is Weatherwax here? I haven’t seen him since my father’s funeral.”

Alex looked at his new brother-in-law. “He brought news about your father’s will.”

“Bad news?”

“It isn’t good.” Alex frowned. Laura was accustomed to keeping things from her brother. Alex wasn’t so circumspect. He could see no reason for it. “You and I need to have a talk.”

Teddy’s face grew solemn. “Very well.” And then: “It’s about time.”

Chapter 19

Later that evening Laura readied herself for bed with some trepidation. Alex was downstairs speaking with her brother. He’d said he’d join her in half an hour. Not to bed her, she didn’t think. It was their wedding night, true, but neither of them were in any mood for romance.

She’d stumbled through their wedding breakfast as if in a dream. Greeted their guests with a brittle smile pasted on her face, and partaken of Mrs. Crabtree’s carefully prepared dainties, never tasting a morsel. It had been so much sawdust in her mouth.

Alex had done better than she had. Every time she’d glanced in his direction, he was smiling or laughing. Ever the chameleon.

They’d had no time alone in which to talk. Even when the last guest had gone, there was still Teddy and Aunt Charlotte to contend with. It was an awkward business being a newlywed couple without a home of their own, or a place to depart to for their honeymoon. Instead, they were obliged to remain at Bramble Cottage, very much at loose ends.