Chapter One
Ten years later in the late spring
Ladykyrk Estate, Northumberland near the Scottish border
“The new Duke of Ferr-Colby is challenging your right to the Earldom of Eanruig. He plans on moving his staff to the estate within the next couple of days.” The old solicitor shook his head. “If the duke were alive to hear this, he’d shoot the man.”
Lady Theodora Worth, the new Countess of Eanruig, studied the cup of tea in front of her. Her throat was drier than year-old fireplace kindling, but she didn’t dare take a sip. With the trembling of her hands, she’d more likely be wearing the beverage instead of satisfying her thirst. Desperate to calm the rage that ran wild through her thoughts, she clenched her hands into fists.
“If my grandfather were still alive, we wouldn’t be having this discussion. He’d still be the Duke of Ferr-Colby and the Earl of Eanruig, and I’d still have my old life.”
Six months out of mourning, Theodora stood and smoothed the dull lilac muslin of her day gown. Her grandfather, the old Duke of Ferr-Colby, had been a typical duke, one with an ancient ancestral home, Dunbar on Ferr, and other entailed properties.
But he also held another title, a lesser one but no less noble—the Earl of Eanruig. It was an old Scottish title from his grandmother on his father’s side. The earldom’s entailed holdings consisted of property in southern Scotland. Thea’s ancestors had purchased more property adjacent to the earldom’s holding in Northumberland and built Ladykyrk. When Thea’s grandfather had died, she’d become the Countess of Eanruig, with all the dignities that came with the title. Such titles were rare, but some of the Scottish peerages allowed women to inherit.
Her grandfather’s ducal title and the entailed properties of the dukedom had passed to the duke’s heir, Mr. Garrett Fairfax, a distant cousin whom she’d only met twice during her life.
For some odd reason, the solicitor stood now too. “Is something amiss, Mr. Blaze?”
“No, Lady Eanruig. It’s custom that if a lady stands, then a gentleman should also stand.” His reddened cheeks resembled a freshly stoked fire.
Thea blinked, then waved him to take his seat. She wasn’t used to being treated as a proper lady because it had been just her and her grandfather for so long. They tended to prefer informality.
In his sixties, the old solicitor carefully took his seat once Theodora reclaimed hers. “Thank you for sitting. My knees protest all this up-and-down movement.”
Thea nodded. There wasn’t much call for the rules of etiquette around Ladykyrk. She and her grandfather had led a secluded life since he’d become ill. She’d missed her introduction to society, but it mattered little. Her grandfather had needed her. Though a duke, he employed few servants and acted more like a small farmer. He preferred to live at Ladykyrk instead of his ducal estate, Dunbar on Ferr in Norfolk.
They’d been each other’s only family, and she missed him every day. Though elderly, he’d raised her after her parents had died when she was barely a year old. Ladykyrk was her birthright, and she’d be damned if she’d let some outlier claim it as his.
“Why is the new duke challenging me?” she asked.
Mr. Blaze pulled out a piece of paper from his lap desk. “He’s well aware that the dukedom and earldom are two separate titles. The Ferr-Colby dukedom is an English title and passes through the male heirs of the body, while yours is a Scottish title that passes through the general heirs of the body. That small difference in language allows you as a female to possess the title of Countess of Eanruig and all the entailed properties.”
“Then I don’t see how he can challenge me.”
Mr. Blaze scratched his head. “We can’t find the charter bestowing your title. The fifth Earl of Eanruig gave the original back to King Charles II in 1681 as a show of allegiance. His majesty immediately wrote a new charter for the title and returned it to the fifth earl. The new duke claims it’s an English title, and English law normally dictates that the earldom goes to the male heirs. Since we can’t find the paperwork bestowing the earldom, you’re going to have to answer his challenge by producing a written history of the title.”
Thea moved to the edge of her seat. “He’s saying my title is English?”
“Yes. He believes the title should have been enfolded under the Ferr-Colby dukedom when your grandfather assumed both titles.” The solicitor swallowed hard. “The new duke wants the title and Ladykyrk and has sent his staff to take inventory of the assets. After the hearing, the duke plans a short visit to Ladykyrk.”
“He acts as if he’s already won.” She tried to swallow the disbelief lodged in her throat, but it was firmly stuck. “He can’t have it. This is my home.”
Mr. Blaze pushed his eyeglasses back in place after they slipped to the tip of his nose. When he regarded her, his eyes appeared to have grown five times in size. “But the new duke claims he’s the rightful male heir.”
All she had left in the world was her title and home. “How are we going to prove he’s wrong? What are we going to do?” she asked in a flurry of questions.
“It’s what you’re going to do, my lady.” Unease etched deep furrows across his brow. “You see, my visit today is my last duty to your grandfather. I now work for the new duke. He’s already petitioned the Prince Regent to award the title to him. You need to see this.” He handed Thea a broadsheet.
Thea scanned the paper. The title, The Midnight Cryer, sat centered at the top. Underneath, an article appeared with the headline: “Lord William Cavensham Proves Once Again He’s a Duffer When It Comes to Love.”
Copyright © 2019 by Janna MacGregor.