This was the moment John had been dreading. They rose and followed his future brother-in-law out of the room. He’d sent a note to his solicitor about his financial information but did not know if it had been delivered to Worthington. Although from what Kenilworth had said, it wouldn’t matter.

They entered the study, and John was struck by how light the room looked even with the dreary sky. Ash wood bookshelves lined three walls, while a bank of windows covered the fourth wall. Unlike the parlor, where he’d met with the other gentlemen, there was no door to the garden.

Eleanor gracefully lowered herself onto one of two dark leather chairs before a large mahogany desk. He could see now what she had meant when she mentioned dark pieces in a light-colored room. He took the chair next to her and wished they were close enough together that he could hold her hand. He shouldn’t be so damn nervous.

Worthington took his place behind the desk, and John noticed three small stacks of paper.

“Now, then.” Worthington placed a hand on one of the stacks. “I received your financial information this morning Fortunately, my solicitor is used to being called upon to draft settlement agreements without much notice.” He moved the hand to the top of the next set of documents. “These are Eleanor’s assets. They will be put in trust for her use and the use of any children after the heir is born.”

John’s jaw clenched. “I am well able to provide for our children.”

“Very well.” Worthington inclined his head and glanced at her. “Eleanor, if you have no objections, I will be your trustee.”

She sat with her hands demurely in her lap, but John could tell she was paying close attention. “I have no objections.”

Her brother-in-law must have appointed himself trustee for all his sisters.

The man looked at him. “It is your right to review her property.”

What did it matter what she had? It would never be his. “It does not matter. It is hers.”

“The last issue I will mention before you read the agreements is that of custody of the children in the event you die while the children are still minors. Eleanor will be granted custody of them.” Worthington’s gaze on John was steady. “My wife fought tooth and nail to keep her brothers and sisters together. I will not have any of my sisters suffer the same hardship.”

For a moment, John couldn’t speak. He had never even thought of what would happen if he died and left her with minor children. The demand was fairly unusual, but knowing what he did of Eleanor and hearing the story about how Lady Worthington had fought for her family, he would agree. If anything were to happen to him, Eleanor would be surrounded by a family who loved and helped her.