Chapter 5 - The Unspoken War
Morning broke over Ashkcom Hall in brilliant, crisp shades of gold and amber. The storm had washed the sky clean, leaving the vast estate shining under the autumn sun.
For the first time in three years, the great house woke up to the presence of its master.
By eight o'clock, Edward was already dressed in a clean dark suit, sitting at the head of the long mahogany dining table in the formal breakfast room. Servants moved around him with an air of nervous, energetic efficiency. The heavy drapes had been pulled back, letting in floods of sunlight that illuminated three years of neglected dust on the oil paintings and silver platters.
Margaret entered the room carrying a fresh silver pot of black tea. She set it beside Edward’s plate, her expression far less hostile than it had been the night before, though still cautious.
"Her ladyship is resting well, my lord," Margaret reported quietly. "The physician from the village visited at dawn. He expressed great surprise at her recovery, calling the child a miracle."
"And Henry?" Edward asked, setting down his cup.
"The young lord has a healthy appetite," Margaret replied with a soft, rare smile. "He takes after his father in determination, it seems."
Edward nodded, feeling a quiet pride stir in his chest. "Margaret... I want the estate accounts brought to my study by noon. I also want a full accounting of all repairs needed for the tenant cottages and the main roof."
"Right away, my lord." Margaret paused, hovering near the table. "If I may ask... are you staying long?"
Edward looked up, meeting the old servant's eyes. "I am home, Margaret. I am not leaving again."
A visible wave of relief washed over Margaret’s face. She bowed her head deeply. "Thank God for that, my lord. Ashkcom has needed a master for a long time."
However, establishing himself as master of Ashkcom Hall proved to be far more complicated than simply issuing orders to servants.
By eleven o'clock, Edward was seated in his late father’s grand oak study, surrounded by ledgers, tax documents, and farm reports. As he reviewed the financial records left behind by the estate steward, Mr. Gable, Edward’s blood began to boil.
The accounts were a disaster.
Julian Hargrove had not merely been "visiting" Ashkcom over the past six months; he had been systematically undermining it. Gable, a weak-willed man clearly bribed by Julian, had allowed several lucrative tenant leases to expire, re-routing grain sales through Julian's own neighboring trading companies at half their market value.
Furthermore, a large sum of money—nearly two thousand pounds—had been transferred out of the estate’s emergency repair fund over the winter, signed off with a forged authorization that claimed to come from Charlotte.
Edward slammed his fist onto the heavy oak desk, causing the inkwell to rattle.
"Gable!" Edward called out sharply.
The door opened instantly. Mr. Gable, a small, balding man with nervous eyes and a sweat-stained collar, scuttled into the room, wringing his hands.
"Yes, Lord Ashford? You called for me?"
Edward stood up, towering over the steward. He picked up the fraudulent ledger and tossed it across the desk, where it landed with a heavy thud in front of Gable.
"Explain this entry from November," Edward demanded, his voice dangerously quiet. "Two thousand pounds transferred to the Hargrove Agricultural Holding Company. Signed by Lady Charlotte."
Gable went pale, his eyes darting frantically toward the door. "My... my lord! Her ladyship was... she was very ill during the winter! She requested the funds to pay for medical expenses and—"
"Do not lie to me, Gable," Edward interrupted coldly. "My wife did not even know that account existed. You forged her signature under the direction of Julian Hargrove. You bled my estate dry while my wife was pregnant and vulnerable!"
"My lord, I beg of you!" Gable fell to his knees, trembling violently. "Lord Hargrove told me you were never coming back! He swore you were divorcing her ladyship in London! He promised I would keep my position once he took over the estate!"
Edward looked down at the pathetic man with utter contempt.
"You are dismissed, Gable," Edward said flatly. "You have one hour to pack your personal belongings and vacate Ashkcom property. If you are still on my land by noon, I will have the county constable arrest you for grand theft and forgery."
Gable didn't argue. He scrambled to his feet and ran out of the study as if the devil himself were chasing him.
Edward stood by the window, watching the steward scurry across the courtyard like a fleeing rat.
He realized then that Julian Hargrove’s scheme had been far more advanced than he had admitted last night. Julian hadn't just been waiting for a divorce—he had been actively preparing to bankrupt Charlotte and force her into financial ruin, ensuring that when Edward divorced her, she would have nothing left to defend herself with.
A soft rustle of silk made Edward turn around.
Charlotte stood in the doorway of the study. She was wrapped in a thick dark blue velvet dressing gown, her hair tied back simply with a silk ribbon. She looked pale and fragile, but she was standing on her own feet, holding onto the doorframe for support.
"You shouldn't be out of bed," Edward said immediately, stepping forward to offer his arm.
Charlotte looked at his offered arm for a second before accepting it, leaning slightly against his strength as he guided her to a plush armchair by the hearth.
"I heard you shouting from upstairs," Charlotte said softly, resting her head against the back of the chair. "I saw Gable running across the yard."
"He was stealing from you, Charlotte," Edward explained gently, sitting in the chair opposite her. "He and Julian were draining the estate’s reserves while you were sick."
Charlotte closed her eyes, letting out a long, weary sigh. "I knew the numbers didn't make sense... but I was so tired, Edward. Between the pregnancy, the fever, and the isolation... I couldn't fight them both."
Edward reached across the small space between their chairs, laying his hand over hers. For the first time, Charlotte did not pull away.
"You don't have to fight them anymore," Edward said, his voice ringing with absolute sincerity. "I am here now. The estate is secure, Gable is gone, and Julian will pay for every penny he stole."
Charlotte opened her eyes, looking deeply into his face. "You really mean it, don't you? You're staying."
"I am staying," Edward affirmed. "For Henry. And for you."
Before Charlotte could answer, Margaret burst into the study without knocking, her face pale with fresh anxiety.
"My lord! My lady!" Margaret gasped, catching her breath. "A messenger has just arrived from London! He bears the seal of the High Court of Chancery!"
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Edward frowned, standing up quickly. "Chancery? What business does Chancery have here?"
Margaret held out a heavy parchment envelope sealed with dark black wax. "It is a legal summons, my lord. Lord Hargrove has filed an official petition with the court... questioning the legitimacy of your newborn son."
