Sounds like they suspected the old earl may have been dotty even a few months ago when he had the codicil written. Daniel relaxed. This clearly had nothing to do with him. He must have been called here as an officer of the magistrate’s court. Perhaps he would be asked to investigate whatever claims were in the documents.

Though what this could have to do with his mother was still a puzzle.

“We wish Mr. Alonzo Darby could be here, but we are informed that he is currently out of the country. We’ve dispatched a courier on a fast ship to apprise him of today’s matters and to request he return to England as quickly as possible. His mother, Viscountess Coatsworth, who is also named in the codicil, will stand in as his representative. We would have delayed this meeting if we could, but circumstances made it necessary to continue, even in the absence of the heir presumptive.”

Haverly’s head came up, and he stared at Mr. Moody. Daniel’s senses heightened. What had the lawyer said that caused such a reaction?

“First, the codicil,” Moody said.

“‘I, John David Darby, Seventh Earl of Rotherhide,’” he read, “‘being of sound mind and ailing body, wish to set the record straight, to confess the terrible wrong I have done, and to beg the forgiveness of all those affected and Almighty God.

“‘In the year 1790, my son, Alfred Alonzo Darby, then aged twenty, against my express and implied wishes, eloped with one Catherine Swann, scullery maid, aged sixteen years. Though my men gave chase to try to forestall the nuptials, they were not in time to prevent the marriage of my son and our scullery maid over the border in Scotland.’”

Roaring began in Daniel’s ears, blocking out any other sound.

Catherine Swann.

Scullery maid.

His mother.

His chair swiveled, and he locked eyes with her.

Those eyes pleaded with him … for what? Mercy? Understanding?

Her bottom lip had disappeared, and her fingers gripped each other at her breast.

She had eloped with a viscount? Why had she kept such a thing from him?