*
“Let me try to understand what you’re telling me,” said Sir Edward after Virginia had come to the end of her story. “You met a Mr. Cyrus T. Grant III, a Louisiana businessman, at a lunch party at Harry’s Bar in Mayfair hosted by the son of Lord Bridgwater. You then accompanied Mr. Grant back to his hotel—” Sir Edward checked his notes—“the Ritz, where you had tea in his private suite, and later both of you drank a little too much … presumably not tea?”
“Whisky,” said Virginia. “Maker’s Mark, his favorite brand.”
“And you ended up spending the night together.”
“Cyrus can be very persuasive.”
“And you say that he proposed to you that evening, and when you returned to the Ritz the following morning he had, to quote you, ‘done a runner.’ By which you mean he had settled his account with the Ritz and taken the first flight back to America.”
“That is exactly what he did.”
“And you are seeking my legal opinion as to whether you have a claim for breach of promise against Mr. Grant that would stand up in a court of law?” Virginia looked hopeful. “If so, I have to ask, do you have any proof that Mr. Grant actually proposed to you?”
“Such as?”
“A witness, someone he told or, even better, an engagement ring?”
“We had planned to go shopping for a ring that morning.”
“I apologize for this indelicacy, Lady Virginia, but are you pregnant?”
“Certainly not,” said Virginia firmly. She paused for a moment, before adding, “Why? Would it make any difference?”
“A considerable difference. Not only would we have proof of your liaison but, more importantly, you could seek a maintenance order, claiming that Mr. Grant had an obligation to bring up the child in a style and manner commensurate with his considerable wealth.” He looked at his notes again, “As the twenty-eighth richest man in America.”
“As reported in Forbes magazine,” confirmed Virginia.
“That would have been good enough for most courts of law in both countries. However, as you are not pregnant, and have no proof that he proposed to you other than your word against his, I cannot see any course of action open to you. I would therefore advise you not to consider suing Mr. Grant. The legal expense alone could prove crippling and, after your recent experience, I suspect that isn’t a road you’d want to travel down a second time.”
Her hour was up, but Virginia considered it ￡100 well spent.
*
“And when is the baby due, Morton?” asked Virginia.
“In about two months, my lady.”
“Do you still plan to have it adopted?”
“Yes, my lady. Although I’ve found a new position in a good household, while Mrs. Morton is unable to work we simply can’t afford the expense of another child.”
“I sympathize with you,” said Virginia, “and am keen to help if I can.”
“That’s very kind of you, my lady.”
Morton remained standing while Virginia outlined, in some detail, a proposition that she hoped might solve her problem as well as his. “Would that be of any interest to you?” she asked finally.
“It certainly would, my lady, and if I may say so, it is most generous.”
“How do you think Mrs. Morton will react to such a proposal?”
“I’m sure she’ll fall in with my wishes.”
“Good. However, I must stress that should you and Mrs. Morton accept my offer, neither of you would be able to have any contact with the child again.”
“I understand.”
“Then I will have the necessary documents drawn up by my lawyer and engrossed ready for you both to sign. And be sure to keep me regularly informed about Mrs. Morton’s health, in particular when she plans to go into hospital.”
“Of course, my lady. I can’t tell you how grateful I am.”
Virginia stood up and shook hands with Morton, something she’d never done before.
*
Virginia had the Baton Rouge State-Times airmailed to her from Baton Rouge once a week. This allowed her to keep up with the “wedding of the year”. The latest edition devoted a whole page to the forthcoming marriage of Ellie May Campbell to Cyrus T. Grant III.
Invitations had already been sent out. The guests included the state governor, The Hon. Hayden Rankin, both US senators, several congressmen and the mayor of Baton Rouge, as well as most of the leading society figures in the state. The ceremony would be conducted by Bishop Langdon, in St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, and would be followed by a five-course banquet at the bride’s family ranch for the four hundred guests who were expected to attend.