Loving a Fearless Duchess: A Historical Regency Romance Book(52)

Her next stop was the solicitor representing the Finch family and the Norfolk County seat. A clerk ushered her in to see Mr Matheson, and he closed the door behind him.

Mr Matheson stood and bowed when Penelope walked in. “Tea, Your Grace?”

“No. I won’t be here that long.”

Mr Matheson was a man in his late 30s who wore little round glasses. He constantly moved his head, shifting left, right, up, down to get the best angle to read a document in front of him.

For now, he put aside the document he had been reading before Penelope arrived and folded his hands on the bare wood of his desk.

“Mr Matheson, are the files you have on our business dealings locked?”

Mr Matheson looked surprised at the question. “Yes, Your Grace. Unless I am actively working on a folder, your papers are always locked.”

“And Mr Matheson, who can access these files?”

Matheson furrowed his brow but continued, “I have the only key. My clerks need to ask me to unlock a cabinet if they need access to a file.”

Penelope gave a small smile. “And Mr Matheson, besides my husband and myself, who can direct you to open those files?”

Mr Matheson patiently answered, “No one. Until you have a child. If you have a child, and the child has a guardian, then the guardian could direct us to open your files. When the child is old enough, no matter if under your care or the care of a guardian, he or she has access to the files.”

Penelope sat back in her chair. She smiled. “Thank you, Mr Matheson.” She took the letter out of her reticule and handed it to the solicitor.

“This is a letter summarizing the harassment I have received from a gentleman. The harassment has escalated to his threat of my death. I want you to lock it in your file and do nothing with it unless you hear of my death. If you do hear of my death, please take it to Scotland Yard so they can investigate and find the killer.”

“Your Grace, shouldn’t your husband be handling this?”

Penelope sighed. “I am a very capable person, Mr Matheson. I fear my husband would be very angry about these incidents, and someone might be beaten so bloodied that my husband’s actions would be counterproductive.”

“I see.” Mr Matheson nodded.

“Yes, I believe you do,” Penelope said. “So, here is the letter, to be opened upon my death.”

Mr Matheson came around the desk. He dug out his keys from his vest pocket and put a key in one of the cabinets located in his office. He opened the door and pulled out the files belonging to the Duke of Norfolk. After putting them on his desk, he took the letter Penelope gave him and added it to one of the files. He put the files back in the cabinet and locked the cabinet drawer.

Two out of three complete.

Avery’s butler Waters was surprised and pleased to see Penelope. He gave a small smile, but his eyes danced. She wanted to hug him, her fondness for him bubbling up, but of course, she did not.

“Waters, I am here to see Avery. Is he at home? I have a business matter I must speak to him about immediately. Preferably, in his study.”

Waters bowed. “I shall return shortly.”

True to his word, Waters returned. “He will see you in his study.”

“Uncle Avery,” Penelope said and curtsied.

Avery bowed.

“Have a seat, my dear,” he said while sweeping his hand toward a seat across from his desk.

“May I call for tea?” he asked.

“No, Uncle, not on my account.”

Penelope was surprised that Avery took the chair next to her instead of the one behind his desk. She adjusted her seat slightly and began.

“I’m not sure if you are aware of it, but Henry has been following me around. He is no longer welcome at the Duke’s home, so he follows me on the street. While following me, he makes wild remarks about how I became a Duchess as well as threatening me with bodily harm and even death.”

Penelope stopped, searching for a reaction in Avery’s eyes, but she found none. His mouth had a slight upturn on one side. She knew he thought she had no power against him or Henry, and this was a waste of his time.

She proceeded, “I had to give a lot of thought to how I could make Henry permanently stop harassing me. You may have already discounted me in your mind, thinking I, as a woman, even a Duchess do not have any rights and need to live with Henry.

“I have left a letter with the London Times and another with Nash’s and my solicitor explaining the circumstances under which Henry has threatened me.

“Should I die, the editor of the newspaper, as well as our solicitor, has been instructed to open the letters and use them to investigate Henry as the killer.

“An unflattering write up in the newspaper would, on its own, cause concern among your peers. A murder investigation would end your carefully constructed reputation.”

Avery was pale. So pale, Penelope thought he might pass out. He stared straight ahead avoiding Penelope’s eyes.

Penelope continued. “Uncle Avery, I never want to see or hear from Henry again. I believe you are the only person who can make this happen.

“I am going home now to tell Nash. I haven’t told him yet because I thought he might beat Henry to death and end up in jail. He may take out his anger at Henry on you and your reputation. I will attempt to stop him, but he won’t take the threat of murder lightly.