Complicated stuff. He said it lightly, as though making idle conversation. As though he had not just dropped a very specific piece of information in a very deliberate way. Nora's expression did not change. Land disputes are common in rural counties, she said.
I imagine you encountered several in your travels. Certainly, he agreed. Though most of them are resolved without much difficulty. He smiled again. This one I recall was not quite resolved.
He let the sentence sit there. Then he excused himself to refresh his cup and crossed the room to where Lady Mirabelle was standing. And Nora watched him go and kept her face entirely still. Tilda was beside her in a moment, her voice low. What was that about?
Our land, Nora said quietly. There is a dispute about the boundary of the property my father left. It has been in legal uncertainty for two years. If it goes the wrong way, the eastern field is lost. He knows about it.
He knows about it specifically, Nora said. Which means he has been busy since this morning. Tilda looked at Lord Harwick across the room with an expression that was not remotely 17. He is trying to find something to use against you. He already has something.
He is deciding how to use it. They moved to the far side of the room near the window. Through the glass, the late afternoon light was going golden and thin, the kind of winter light that did not warm anything, but made everything look briefly beautiful. On the lawn outside, two groundsmen were clearing dead growth from the borders. The land dispute, Tilda said.
How bad is it? My father borrowed against the eastern field The lender has been patient. If the boundary question is settled in the wrong direction, the field's value drops significantly and the lender could call the debt. Nora kept her voice even. If that happened, my mother and I would lose the house.
Tilda said nothing for a moment. Then, does the Duke know any of this? No. Mirabelle is going to make sure he finds out. Tilda said.