“I admit to attempting some research on the legal question of whether a man officially dead and buried can be murdered, but the law offered no comforting insights. To fake one’s death is not a crime, though. Deception is a sin, but that particular deception is not an actionable crime.”

“I find that hard to believe.” MacKay paused while a murmur of voices came from the direction of the foyer. “To put family and friends through such an ordeal ought to be a crime.”

“The cases I found related to people wiggling out of debts, betrothals, and contractual obligations such as articles of indenture. To the extent fraud resulted from the faked death, the fraud is a crime. I’d have to prove, after all these years, that Merridew was attempting to defraud somebody other than his wife. She, having become his legal chattel upon speaking her vows, cannot sue him for anything. The judges opine that a cow cannot sue its owner, hence a wife cannot take her spouse to court.”

“And Merridew, as a professional swindler, would think nothing of defrauding that good lady out of her meager savings or what she could borrow from Mrs. Oldbach. Harry Merridew makes up in cunning what he lacks in honor.”

“And he is Matilda’s lawfully wedded spouse.” A fact that would not budge, no matter how long Tremont pondered it. “I’m hoping he’ll divorce her, for a sum certain.”

MacKay rose to set his glass on the sideboard. “You propose to bargain with the devil.”

“Whether Matilda marries me or not, she and Tommie deserve to be free of that man. He might allow her a separation from bed and board, but my objective for her is a divorce.”

“The penny press will have a field day.” MacKay said this as kindly as it was possible to pronounce a capital sentence on a woman’s good name. “Not fair, but there it is. She’ll be the merry widow, and her cuckolded husband the victim of the rapacious lord.”

“I usually play a convincing buffoon,” Tremont said, finishing his drink and getting to his feet. “Playing the villain will be a refreshing change, however ironic, given Merridew’s behavior toward his wife. I will understand if you cease to be at home when I call.”

“The day I am not at home to you, Tremont, is the day Dorcas disowns me for hypocrisy. What’s your next move?”

Tremont had been prepared to do without MacKay’s support, without anybody’s support, but the major’s loyalty meant worlds. Not only for Tremont, but for Matilda, who’d had so few allies.