Page 42 of The Duke In My Bed (The Heirs’ Club of Scoundrels #1)

A heavy heart bears not a nimble tongue.

Louisa and Mrs. Colthrust sat in uncomfortable chairs and waited in the vestibule of the Court of Chancery building.

She had asked to see either the Master of the Rolls or the Lord Chancellor but was told she must talk to a Chancery solicitor first. He would evaluate her petition and decide if it should be considered further by anyone else.

It had taken three days and a basketful of persuasion, but Louisa finally wore down Mrs. Colthrust’s reluctance and convinced the woman to go with her.

Louisa had promised her that she wouldn’t have to speak but simply act as her chaperone, as she had for all the parties, teas, and balls they attended.

She also promised that she would never breathe a word to her uncle that his sister-in-law had gone with her to the court.

Louisa was not unhappy that she had given her innocence to Bray a few nights ago. She wished with all her heart that somehow they could be together again, and that was what had her sitting here, waiting to find out what she needed to do to have the duke removed as their guardian.

She had to deny her own loving feelings for Bray and focus on her sisters.

She couldn’t marry and give a husband and children of her own the attention they deserved until all her sisters were wed.

She couldn’t leave them as her parents and brother had, and if she kept up her association with Bray, she feared she might give in to his charms again.

Bray had no tolerance for her younger sisters. It was best that they cut all ties with him—and the sooner, the better.

After more than an hour of waiting and listening to Mrs. Colthrust grumble, they were finally ushered into a small office to meet Mr. George Thurgood.

“Come in, come in,” said the short, heavyset man in a white curled wig jovially. “How are you lovely ladies doing today?”

“We are quite well, thank you, Mr. Thurgood,” Louisa replied, thankful the man wasn’t dour. He held out chairs for them and then walked around to his desk and eased his bulky frame into a squeaky leather chair.

He picked up his quill, readying it to dip in the ink and write on the vellum before him. His smiled and in a friendly voice said, “What can I do for you?”

“I had wanted to speak with the Master of the Rolls or the Lord Chancellor about having the guardianship of me and my sisters changed.”

He smiled again. “They are much too busy to see everyone who comes to court wanting their attention. I’m sure you can understand that. I’ll be happy to answer your questions if I can, and if not, I’ll take your information and speak to them about your concerns at a later date.”

She supposed that would have to do. “Thank you. My uncle, Lord Wayebury, signed the guardianship of me and my four sisters over to the Duke of Drakestone.”

His eyes lit with recognition. “Yes, yes. I thought I recognized your name. I remember when that happened. Quite frankly, we were all surprised Lord Wayebury wanted to do that, until he explained he was going out of the country on an extended holiday. And we were even more surprised when the duke didn’t protest his actions. ”

“No one more than I. That is why I’m here. I would like to petition the court to have the duke removed and someone else appointed as our guardian.”

“What?” He laid the quill down and laced his chubby fingers together across his girth. “Surely you can’t be serious.”

“Of course I am.”

Mr. Thurgood looked from Louisa to Mrs. Colthrust. He then leaned back in his chair and laughed.

“I don’t know what kind of trickery you are trying to come up with, Miss Prim, but I really don’t have time for this today.

My schedule is hectic, and there are people with real problems to solve.

So unless you have something important to discuss with me, I’m very busy. ” He started to rise.

“Wait, Mr. Thurgood,” Louisa said, moving to the edge of her seat.

“I assure you, this is not a trick of any sort. I don’t know how I could have given you that idea.

The duke is not an acceptable guardian for us, and I have the right to ask the Lord Chancellor to remove him and appoint another in his place. ”

“Yes, you have the right, but there must be strong reasons. What has the duke done? Has he harmed you or your sisters?” he asked, sitting back down again.

“No, of course not. Not in any physical way. I shouldn’t have to tell you of the duke’s reputation.

You’ve probably been in London much longer than I have.

He is not a good example for my sisters.

Our father was a vicar, and my sisters are used to a kind and gentle man.

The duke is not only known for his excessive gambling and debauchery, he is also impatient with my sisters, uses inappropriate language in front of them, and he even called them banshees. ”

The corners of his mouth twitched with a smile. “Banshees?”

Louisa cleared her throat. “Let’s suffice it to say, we need a well-respected, kind, and older gentleman to be in charge of us. Not a young and careless duke.”

The man looked baffled and turned his attention to Mrs. Colthrust. “You’ve been quiet thus far, madam. What do you have to say about this accusation against the duke?”

“Ha! As little as possible,” Mrs. Colthrust said.

“Do you agree with her complaint?”

“Not at all.”

“Mrs. Colthrust, how can you say that?”

“Because it’s true and you know it. It’s foolish to have a duke removed as your guardian.

Mr. Thurgood, I am Lord Wayebury’s sister-in-law, and I am here only because I am her chaperone.

I have tried to tell her many times: No one tries to have their guardian dismissed if he is a duke—and a handsome one, at that. ”

“I’m afraid I have to agree with Mrs. Colthrust,” he said.

Louisa lifted her shoulders and straightened her back, and remained calm. She smiled pleasantly and said, “Mr. Thurgood, I don’t want to seem unfair about any of this, so would you please be so kind as to write down my information and ask the Lord Chancellor to speak with me about this?”

He rose. “I will be sure to speak to the Lord Chancellor about this for you, Miss Prim.” Mr. Thurgood walked from around his desk and over to the door and opened it. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, Miss Prim, I have others waiting for my time.”

Louisa held her head high, though her heart was aching as she and Mrs. Colthrust walked out of his office.

“I do hope you can now forget this silly notion of having your guardianship changed, Louisa,” Mrs. Colthrust said as they stepped out onto the pavement.

“You are the only one unhappy with the duke. The other girls seem to tolerate mention of him with no problem whatsoever. In fact, they quite enjoyed their day in the park with him. I’m beginning to believe the reason you want to have him removed has nothing to do with your sisters but lies solely with you.

And I don’t think it has anything to do with his reputation. I think it has to do with your heart.”

Louisa remained silent and kept walking.