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little detail.” Her guardian would know about her trust. Rafe must have thought he’d won the lottery the moment he’d heard her name. No wonder he’d insisted on accompanying her to the bank. He expected to twist her trustees around his thumb – and might already have done so. How had he arrived so providentially outside the church?
    Rafe shook his head. “I don’t know where he got that idea. It’s the first I’ve heard of it.”
    “Right.” She swallowed more brandy.
    He frowned. “I suppose it’s possible. Alquist married my mother’s sister. We’ve been close for ten years.”
    “But you were at his burial. You must have seen his will. And he would hardly pass the duty without warning.” It wasn’t logical, yet Rafe’s eyes seemed honestly puzzled. Was he truly ignorant or a better actor than even Alex had been?
    “I rode down to Hampshire immediately after his death,” he admitted. “But my aunt’s grief made mine so unbearable that I left from the churchyard. I wasn’t up to facing society, so I stopped in Oxford to visit a friend. When I arrived home yesterday, my father’s summons met me at the door. I was returning from Hillcrest Manor when we met.”
    “I don’t see—”
    “I didn’t stay to hear Alquist’s will – aside from a few books, I wasn’t expecting anything. His solicitor will have sent me the details, but I wasn’t here to receive mail.”
    “Then let’s look at your mail.” She stood.
    His desk was in a corner of the bedroom, stacked with a mountain of cards, unopened letters, and newspapers. So he’d spoken truly on that point.
    “Why would he put you in charge of his ward without discussing the matter first?”  Such negligence seemed odd. Of course, Alquist had made no attempt to see her during his tenure as guardian, so perhaps he was heedless.
    “How should I know?”  Rafe dropped into the desk chair. “Maybe his will offered an explanation.” He grabbed a stack of mail and started sorting.
    Helen shrugged. The truth would come out eventually. Until then, she must guard herself. She picked up the Morning Post and moved closer to the window.
    “The Regent created Wellington a duke,” she murmured moments later.
    “Hardly a surprise.”
    “I suppose not, now that the war is over.”
    “Why don’t you help me sort these?  There should be something from Alquist’s solicitor even if Sir Steven lied about the guardianship.” His voice sounded odd.
    “He wouldn’t lie about something so easy to check. He expected you to know about it. He came here to demand your assistance in finding your runaway ward.” Which meant that Steven had intercepted the letter notifying her of the change. She frowned. How many other letters—
    “Are you sure he didn’t trace you here?”
    “Positive. He was shocked to see me and concluded that he’d missed at least one letter – he must have been confiscating my mail. I’ve received nothing from Alquist since Father died. Not even a note of condolence.”
    Rafe nodded. “Alquist would never ignore a duty – even an unwanted one. You can read the paper later, Helen. I need help. There are too many invitations. We must leave for the bank, but sorting this will take half the morning.”
    “I doubt it. Besides, that errand is less urgent now. Steven will be too busy confirming our marriage to bother the trustees yet. I haven’t read a paper in months – Steven wouldn’t allow it. It’s a pleasure I’ve missed.”
    Rafe sorted faster, scattering invitations right and left as he searched for personal letters.
    Helen turned a page. “The allied leaders will arrive next month to celebrate Napoleon’s abdication, but this story gives no details. Do you know what is planned?  I’ve been so out of touch since Father died that I’m amazed I even know the war is over.”
    “The details will probably be in last week’s papers.” He gestured to the pile.
    “I’ll look when I’ve finished this one.”
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