They call him the Devil Earl-a scoundrel and accused murderer who grew up on the violent London streets. A proper young lady risks more than her reputation when consorting with the roguishly handsome Hero Fiennes Tiffin , but Lady Josephine Langford...
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"I have it on good authority that Mr. Gabriel Fiennes Tiffin has filed a bill in the Court of Chancery in order to reclaim his English estates. It is a start toward reclaiming his rightful title," Lady Charlotte said.
Josephine and Amelia, along with the Countess of Chesney, were having afternoon tea in Lady Charlotte's garden. While she'd only recently had her coming out, her father, the Earl of Mill-bank, was most anxious for her to marry. Who could blame him? She was the first of four gossipy daughters, which was one of the reasons she had frequent visitors. She seemed to know things before most people did.
"Then you mustn't do anything to discourage his interest," the Countess of Chesney said.
Lady Charlotte smiled knowingly. Obviously her good authority was Mr. Fiennes Tiffin himself. Josephine had seen them dancing together at balls and walking through Hyde Park. Still, she hadn't realized Lady Charlotte's interest in the untitled gentleman was so intense.
"But the Crown has already declared Hero Fiennes Tiffin as the rightful earl," Josephine felt a need to point out. She knew Mr. Fiennes Tiffin—he was quite social—and she liked him well enough. He was no doubt the rightful earl. Hero Fiennes Tiffin had not denied the truth of that matter, to her at least. But still she had a difficult time imagining Gabriel Fiennes Tiffin as earl. Or perhaps it was simply that she couldn't see Hero Fiennes Tiffin as not being earl.
"Mr. Fiennes Tiffin's contention is that King William was deceived, and being quite up in years—he was seventy at the time, after all—he was taken advantage of. Queen Victoria can set the matter to rights. If Mr. Gabrie lFiennes Tiffin can simply get the courts to recognize that the property is truly his, then he will have the weight of the courts behind him when he petitions Her Majesty."
"I daresay, he's a very brave man, your Mr. Gabriel Fiennes Tiffin," Amelia murmured. Then all eyes came to bear on Amelia, and she seemed to wither beneath the scrutiny.
Josephine hated that Avendale had transformed a once-vibrant woman into such a mouse. She reached across the table and squeezed Amelia's hand. "No doubt you're quite right about Mr. Fiennes Tiffin. After all, Hero is not called the Devil Earl for nothing. I don't expect he'll go quietly into the night."
No indeed. He would fight this latest attempt to usurp his position. He was a man who wore power like a comfortable old cloak. He'd not give it up easily.
"I'm always amazed by how eloquent Hero is," Lady Chesney said.
Josephine felt her heart lurch. "You've spoken with him?"
Lady Chesney pressed her hand to her ample bosom, and judging by the shock on her face, Josephine might as well have asked if she'd lain in bed with him. "Of course not. Just the thought of conversing with the man sends my heart into palpitations. I daresay, if he ever addressed me, I would expire on the spot. No, no, no. I'm referring to the letters he's published in the Times."
