Chapter Text
Samuel Colbourne sighed as he read through the last pages of the document. He removed his reading glasses and placed them on top of the pile of paper, as he shot a glance across the desk at Peter Mackenzie, Esq.
As a family lawyer, Peter often needed someone to dig into someone’s past or present. Which was when he turned to Samuel Colbourne. He eyed the man in front of him.
Samuel Colbourne was tall, lean, and good-looking enough to set female hearts aflutter when he walked by. Samuel was notoriously immune to the flutterings of the female heart. Somehow, Peter guessed it had something to do with his past, but he never probed. Good friends did not probe, but waited on the flood gates to open.
An independently wealthy gentleman, Samuel had access to people and places a less expensive investigator would not. Since Peter’s clientele consisted mainly of wealthy gentlemen, and the disposal of their estates, Samuel was perfect for the job. He was also one of the best investigators in the business, and a well-kept secret known only to a select few.
‘So. Sidney Parker,’ Samuel said in his deep voice, that had a hint of huskiness in it. He shook his dark head, a sardonic expression on his lean face, his dark brown eyes tinged with sadness. ‘I go away for a vacation and come back to this news? Such a pity, he was a good man. Far too young.’
‘Yes, indeed,’ Peter replied. He pulled open a drawer to take out a bottle of whisky. Pouring out two small measures into two glasses, he handed one to his companion. Raising it, he said, ‘to Sidney!’
‘To Sidney,’ echoed Samuel, raising his glass as well.
They swallowed their drinks and thumped their glasses down.
‘What do you need me for, then, Peter? I assume that’s why you summoned me - because you needed me for something related to Sidney?’
Peter leaned back in his chair, his rangy body sliding down, as he rested his arm on the side rest. ‘Sidney had a ward. Miss Georgiana Lambe,’ he began. ‘She will be twenty-one in a few months. Till then her guardianship lies with Tom Parker, according to Sidney’s will. The thing is, she received a vast inheritance from her father, which she gets full control of when she is twenty-one. Her father was Sidney’s friend, and on his death, etc.’
He waved a hand to circle back to the beginning of his recital. ‘Cut chase, the will was contested in the Antiguan courts by Miss Lambe’s father’s family. The man who brought it to court was one Mr Charles Lockhart, an artist, and according to Sidney, a dangerous man. Charles returned to England, but then we lost sight of him.’ He searched through the files on his desk and picked one out.
Samuel reached out to take the file as Peter held it out to him. ‘Charles Lockhart?’
‘Everything we know about him is in that file.’ Peter picked up another letter, and handed that to Samuel. ‘This came in two days ago. It seems Mr Lockhart was heading to Sanditon.’
‘Sanditon?’ Samuel struggled to control his surprise. ‘Why Sanditon?’
‘The Parkers live there, and if memory serves me right, you have some connections to Sanditon too, do you not?’
Samuel nodded. ‘I do. My brother inherited Heyrick Park. A rather extensive estate, I might add, where we grew up.’
‘Alexander,’ Peter nodded slowly. ‘How is he?’ His keen eyes scanned Samuel’s face, but could read nothing.
Samuel was not prone to displaying his emotions on his face.
‘Well, I would think,’ Samuel replied shortly, his eyes on the letter from Sidney.
Peter raised a brow, but said nothing. He kept quiet as Samuel continued reading.
‘So Sidney found out that Miss Lambe’s mother was alive as of five years ago. He was also given a necklace from amongst Miss Lambe’s father’s effects, which he had intended to give to her, but then he passed away. Now he wants you to continue the search for Miss Lambe’s mother. Which, I understand, is why I am here?’
‘You understand correctly, my friend.’ Peter regarded his friend closely. ‘You are also to stop Charles Lockhart from trying to take this to court again. This is not Antigua, where there might have been sympathy for her. This is England.’
‘Are you implying that the English courts would not honour the will of a dead man?’ Samuel sat back and smirked at Peter.
‘No. All I am saying is that the English courts would be less inclined to favour a …’ Peter stumbled over the word he uttered, ‘a … quadroon - I believe the term is - over a White man.’
Samuel winced. ‘Quadroon. What a loathsome word!’ he almost spat in disgust.
‘Indeed,’ Peter said. ‘But we must acknowledge that these prejudices exist in society. As Miss Lambe’s de facto lawyer, I have to take into account that this may work against her, should another contest be made in the English courts. We do not have to like it, but thankfully, the law is supposed to be applied equally to all people, and we have to leverage that.’
Samuel rubbed the cleft in his chin thoughtfully with one long finger, ‘I will concede your point, Peter. What about the legal part of it?’
‘It is as tight as a drum. Legally, Charles Lockhart does not have a foot to stand on. Miss Lambe’s father was legally married to her mother, when Georgiana was born, thereby making her the sole heir. Lockhart’s father’s sister, i.e. the current Mrs Lambe, was Georgiana’s father’s second wife. She may, of course, petition for a portion of the estate, but not the whole. Charles as her sole heir, stands to inherit it.’
‘Does Lockhart have any siblings?’ Samuel made a notation in the file, and asked.
‘None that we are aware of,’ Peter sat back. ‘Sidney has done a thorough job of the discovery.’ He watched Samuel gaze off into the distance, a slight frown on his face. ‘What is troubling you?’
‘I have a condition for taking on this job.’ Samuel turned his attention back to Peter. ‘Miss Lambe is not to know my surname until I deem it necessary.’
Peter looked quizzically at Samuel, for it was a strange request. ‘May I ask the reason why?’
‘You may not,’ Samuel said crisply. ‘The reasons are my own.’
‘I presume it has something to do with your brother, Alexander?’ Peter quizzed.
‘You may presume all you like,’ Samuel smirked.
‘As your friend, Samuel, I think you should bury the hatchet with him. Surely it is not that insurmountable an obstacle?’ Peter asked.
Samuel’s face broke into a rueful grin. ‘I do not know. Alexander is prone to keeping things to himself.’
He stood up and held out his hand. ‘If that is all, Peter, I will see myself out and get cracking on the missing lady.’
***