Lynne Connolly by Maiden Lane Read Free Book Online Page A

weren’t married. They didn’t shock many people, as most assumed they were married. They didn’t go out of their way to disabuse anyone, and they didn’t move in high society. After a disastrous first marriage, Alicia refused to consider handing over her private fortune to anyone else, even the man she loved. And she did love him. Her gaze softened as she looked up and saw him. He smiled easily and crossed to her side of the desk before bending to kiss her cheek. He shook hands with Richard and bowed to me, then dragged a chair over to sit next to Alicia.
    He glanced at her, brows up. Timothy Dixon worked out of Lincoln’s Inn as a man of law, one of the most well-known of his kind in the country. Richard’s family used him, and his mother declared herself scandalised that Richard occasionally hobnobbed with him socially. Not that her comment gave my husband a moment’s pause.
    Richard rejoined me and brought Timothy and Alicia up to date. Alicia frowned and pursed her lips when she heard what John had claimed, but Timothy merely watched him, his pale eyes concentrated in thought. When Richard paused after his admirably succinct, dispassionate account, he sat back. “Well, Timothy? Could he disturb us?”
    Timothy leaned back and steepled his fingers. He sighed. “He could. It would prove expensive, but he could. I suspect he’ll try to do it informally at first, carry on his campaign of appearing in public places, making himself agreeable, allowing people to come to their own conclusions. If he claims to be your son in front of witnesses, you can sue him, if you wish. If you don’t, it makes you look weak.”
    “I’m already aware of that,” Richard said. “I presume he can acquire a good forged certificate to show that I married his mother.”
    “Forgive me,” Timothy said, “but how far does this go? Did you have an affair with his mother? Is he your son? If you want me to act for you in the future, you need not answer.” Just in case he wanted to lie.
    “Yes.” Richard reached for my hand and I gave it willingly. He gripped it like a lifeline, although the rest of his body suggested complete relaxation. I gripped back and I doubted I appeared serene too. “I had an affair with her when I was fourteen and she was at least three years older than me. I didn’t know about the pregnancy because my mother sent her away. She had twins. Susan is one, John is the other. John made himself known to us last year.”
    “Have you ever acknowledged him publicly?”
    “No.”
    Timothy nodded. “Did you make Lucy Forder any binding promises? Especially in front of others?”
    A telling pause followed. I wanted to believe that Richard found it difficult to remember. Eventually he gave a firm “No.”
    “Did you go through any form of marriage with her, however outlandish you might have thought it at the time?”
    This time a swift “No.” He pressed the fingers of his free hand to the bridge of his nose. “I did say I’d marry her, once, but we were alone. I’m positive that nobody heard us.” And I guessed where. A pavilion in the grounds of Eyton, one where an occupant could detect any approach well in time. One where I’d spent some romantic time with Richard. I wouldn’t be doing that again. Not in that place.
    “That shouldn’t count, legally. I can’t advise you officially, but it’s best to let your memory of past events grow vague if anyone asks you about that incident.”
    I appreciated Timothy’s advice, and so did Richard. “She might have told my mother, because shortly after that Lucy disappeared. My mother had caused her to move to France.”
    “And found a husband for her,” I put in. “A husband who acknowledged the children as his own. He’s dead now, but surely someone will remember them.”
    Richard shocked me by planting a kiss on my mouth, a noisy, playful buss. “You wonderful woman! I’ll send someone across to get statements that the man said the children belonged to