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Authors: Callie Hutton
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the wife stashed at Coventry Manor.
The wife he’d never bedded.
The thought of an annulment had reared its head more than a few times since the disastrous morning of his wedding. Now that he’d calmed down, perhaps he should make a trip to Coventry Manor and discover how Lady Coventry felt about calling an end to this farce of a marriage.
Surely she would be amenable to the idea. Aside from their marriage vows, they hadn’t spoken two words to each other, and by now she must realize she’d married a cad. Since no one knew of the arrangement, they could seek a quiet annulment. He would do the gentlemanly thing and set her up with whatever she wanted, wherever she wanted, and they would be free. He would be free—to explore his attraction to the delectable Lady Olivia.
He cursed at the irony. After years of his father’s threats, he had finally found the woman he could imagine as his countess. Too late, thanks to the old earl’s machinations.
“I want you to investigate something for me.” Jason leaned back in the large leather chair behind his desk as he regarded young Mr. Meyer. Even though the solicitor was well into his fifties, Milton Meyer would forever be known as the ‘young’ Mr. Meyer, in deference to his father. David Meyer, founder of the business, passed on to his eternal reward some thirty years before.
“How may I be of service?” the man replied.
“I would like to know the possibility of securing a quiet annulment from Lady Coventry.”
The solicitor regarded him in frowning silence. “My lord, I would have to go over your late father’s will. I don’t remember offhand if there were any contingencies placed on the marriage. The Earl made that particular provision somewhat hastily—against my advice—I might add.” He cleared his throat briefly. “However, since parliament passed the Hardwicke Act, it is very difficult to obtain an annulment. The usual excuse of non-consummation is only acceptable if,” he lowered his voice, “the gentleman is unable to perform his husbandly duties.”
Jason opened and closed his mouth a few times before shaking his head. “That will never do.”
The solicitor nodded. “I had no reason to believe it would, my lord.” He removed his spectacles, and rubbed them in concentration. “However, there is a clause that states if you were not in your right mind when you spoke your vows, that condition could be grounds for an annulment.”
“Are you saying if I contend I am crazy, I may be granted an annulment?” Jason said without a trace of humor.
“No, my lord,” Mr. Meyer hurriedly added. “But since your lordship was not, shall we say, completely sober when the vows were spoken, that may leave grounds to pursue an annulment. But, in any event, I would need to research if there were any conditions placed on the marriage to Lady Coventry via the terms of the will.”
Jason sat for a while, staring in the distance, then closed his eyes to press his fingers against them. “See what you can find out and keep me posted.”
As Jason moved to dismiss the man, the solicitor continued. “One more thing, my lord. I have been in contact with Coventry Manor since your ah—wedding—and I find it most peculiar Lady Coventry has requested no funds in all the time she has been there.”
Jason frowned and sat back down. “No funds?”
“None, my lord.” He shook his head.
A woman who had no need for funds? Who was this strange woman his father had foisted on him? “Had she funds of her own transferred from Italy?”
“Not that I was aware of. Although, it is indeed quite possible she retained her own solicitors to do so on her behalf. I find it odd she has requested nothing. Most unusual for a young bride.” He stared at Jason, his spectacles making his eyes large and disturbing.
“Yes, a mystery. Thank you for bringing it to my attention.”
The solicitor nodded his understanding, and left. What the devil was going on with the woman
The wife he’d never bedded.
The thought of an annulment had reared its head more than a few times since the disastrous morning of his wedding. Now that he’d calmed down, perhaps he should make a trip to Coventry Manor and discover how Lady Coventry felt about calling an end to this farce of a marriage.
Surely she would be amenable to the idea. Aside from their marriage vows, they hadn’t spoken two words to each other, and by now she must realize she’d married a cad. Since no one knew of the arrangement, they could seek a quiet annulment. He would do the gentlemanly thing and set her up with whatever she wanted, wherever she wanted, and they would be free. He would be free—to explore his attraction to the delectable Lady Olivia.
He cursed at the irony. After years of his father’s threats, he had finally found the woman he could imagine as his countess. Too late, thanks to the old earl’s machinations.
“I want you to investigate something for me.” Jason leaned back in the large leather chair behind his desk as he regarded young Mr. Meyer. Even though the solicitor was well into his fifties, Milton Meyer would forever be known as the ‘young’ Mr. Meyer, in deference to his father. David Meyer, founder of the business, passed on to his eternal reward some thirty years before.
“How may I be of service?” the man replied.
“I would like to know the possibility of securing a quiet annulment from Lady Coventry.”
The solicitor regarded him in frowning silence. “My lord, I would have to go over your late father’s will. I don’t remember offhand if there were any contingencies placed on the marriage. The Earl made that particular provision somewhat hastily—against my advice—I might add.” He cleared his throat briefly. “However, since parliament passed the Hardwicke Act, it is very difficult to obtain an annulment. The usual excuse of non-consummation is only acceptable if,” he lowered his voice, “the gentleman is unable to perform his husbandly duties.”
Jason opened and closed his mouth a few times before shaking his head. “That will never do.”
The solicitor nodded. “I had no reason to believe it would, my lord.” He removed his spectacles, and rubbed them in concentration. “However, there is a clause that states if you were not in your right mind when you spoke your vows, that condition could be grounds for an annulment.”
“Are you saying if I contend I am crazy, I may be granted an annulment?” Jason said without a trace of humor.
“No, my lord,” Mr. Meyer hurriedly added. “But since your lordship was not, shall we say, completely sober when the vows were spoken, that may leave grounds to pursue an annulment. But, in any event, I would need to research if there were any conditions placed on the marriage to Lady Coventry via the terms of the will.”
Jason sat for a while, staring in the distance, then closed his eyes to press his fingers against them. “See what you can find out and keep me posted.”
As Jason moved to dismiss the man, the solicitor continued. “One more thing, my lord. I have been in contact with Coventry Manor since your ah—wedding—and I find it most peculiar Lady Coventry has requested no funds in all the time she has been there.”
Jason frowned and sat back down. “No funds?”
“None, my lord.” He shook his head.
A woman who had no need for funds? Who was this strange woman his father had foisted on him? “Had she funds of her own transferred from Italy?”
“Not that I was aware of. Although, it is indeed quite possible she retained her own solicitors to do so on her behalf. I find it odd she has requested nothing. Most unusual for a young bride.” He stared at Jason, his spectacles making his eyes large and disturbing.
“Yes, a mystery. Thank you for bringing it to my attention.”
The solicitor nodded his understanding, and left. What the devil was going on with the woman
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