Farnwell seemed to gain confidence the more he thought about it. His panicked air receding, he squared his shoulders in a more belligerent frame. “I demand to see this imposter for myself.”
“You needn’t be concerned, Edgar. She has no intention of making our father’s sordid history known or resuming her former life.”
He might have replied, but just then Rachel entered the drawing room, accompanied by Cornelius and Isabella. Reaching back, Rachel shut the door carefully behind her, no doubt to keep their conversation from the servants.
“We heard shouting,” she murmured with concern. “Are you all right, my dear?” she asked Daphne.
“I am quite well, thank you, Mrs. Donnelly,” Daphne assured her.
Edgar had frozen and was scrutinizing Rachel as if she were some sort of strange mythical creature.
“Allow me to introduce myself, Lord Farnwell,” Rachel said with composure. “I was wed to your father in another lifetime.”
He responded with an angry sneer. “You cannot deceive me, madam.”
Rachel moved toward him. “Why would I even attempt a deception?”
“Because you covet my fortune for yourself and your daughter.”
“You are mistaken, my lord—”
Farnwell cut her off with a scoffing sound. “I warn you, if you dare try to claim my inheritance, I will bring criminal charges against you.”
Rachel tilted her head serenely. “On what grounds? Lord Hawkhurst’s solicitor has advised us on the law regarding deceased spouses. My case against you would be good. I would first have to prove that I am Lady Farnwell, but that could be achieved by finding reputable witnesses who once knew me.”
Her assertion made Farnwell clamp his lips shut in outrage.
Rachel smiled politely. “But please, rest assured I have no intention of mounting a legal challenge. I won’t contest your legitimacy.”
“Why the bloody hell not?” he ground out through his teeth, earning a sharp glance from Hawk.
“Because as I said, that was another lifetime ago.”
Of course there was a paramount reason she would not seek to elevate her daughter in Edgar’s place, Skye knew. Daphne was not actually William Farnwell’s daughter, so morally the inheritance didn’t belong to her, even if legally a case could be made. They couldn’t risk the truth coming out, however. Not only would an explosive scandal result, but Daphne would forever be shunned by polite society.
Moreover, Daphne had no idea of her true parentage yet—and certainly her brother could never be allowed to learn of it.
Fortunately Farnwell was focused on his own complaints. “There should not even be a question of my legitimacy. You were thought to be dead when my father remarried. The validity of his second marriage should be unassailable.”
“But it is not.”
“Then the law is monstrously unfair.”
“Perhaps, but you have nothing to fear from me. Daphne and I have discussed the matter. We believe it is best to let sleeping dogs lie.”
When suspicion suffused his features, Daphne voiced her agreement. “Mrs. Donnelly had to persuade me to go along, but not for the reason you think.” She gazed at her mother solemnly. “What disturbed me most was that you never received a proper burial. I wanted the world to know that you did not kill yourself, so the stain on your memory would be erased.”
Rachel returned a poignant smile. “My reputation isn’t important, my dear.”
Farnwell broke in again. “If you bring me down, Daphne will be mired in scandal as well. I will make certain of that.”
“Which is why I intend to keep the secret.”
“There will be no possible way to conceal your existence,” Farnwell refuted, his voice rising an octave in frustration.
“I beg to differ, my lord. I assumed the name of an Irish relative years ago, and I shall continue the pretense for my remaining lifetime. Any resemblance to Daphne can be brushed off as a family similarity. Even if, by an unlucky chance, someone happens to recognize me as Baroness Farnwell, I will deny it and laugh it off. My identity will remain a strict secret—unless you choose to advertise it by shouting to Lord Hawkhurst’s entire household.”
“What about Nibbs?”