Page 56 of The Detective and the Baroness

Fifteen minutes later, they were shown into Mr. Dobson’s plush office. After introductions and taking their seats, Mr. Dobson opened his desk drawer and put on gold spectacles. “Right. I have all the relevant papers before me. My condolences, my lady, for your loss. First, let me state that there is an heir presumptive.”

Corrine gasped. “Travis never said. Not ever.”

“We only learned of that fact recently, my lady. It is standard practice to investigate the family tree, and I did so the moment Travis Addington became the new baron. It’s called agnatic primogeniture. A male heir is discovered by tracing shared descendants through the male line. I found one. His name is Patrick Addington-Wells, and he is currently living in Ireland. I mailed a letter to him last month. He replied swiftly, stating his shock, and agreed to the terms.”

“Terms?” Corrine asked.

“That when he becomes baron, he drops the Wells part of his name and only goes by Addington. There are other issues to iron out, like a deed of settlement. He is twenty-five and recently married into a well-to-do family. They are the ones who insisted he add Wells to his name. Many wealthy families do so when all they have are daughters. It is a way to carry on the name.”

“Married?” Corrine whispered. “So what does that make me?”

“Lady Corrine, Dowager Baroness Addington.”

How many more shocks could Corrine endure? If Travis had recently learned of this, why the push to advance his heir scheme? It made his suggestion all the more sordid. It also explained his haste in trying for an heir, by whatever means. To deny an actual relative a chance to be the heir for one that did not have Addington blood was decidedly selfish. It proved she didn’t know Travis at all.

“Mr. Dobson, when did you tell Travis of the discovered heir?” Corrine asked.

“Only last week, my lady, when I received Patrick Addington’s reply. I wanted to have all the details in place before I informed his lordship,” Mr. Dobson replied.

So Travis had been told after he’d revealed his scandalous heir plan. Would he have kept this newly discovered information from her? She would never know.

“Before I go over the relevant part of the will,” Mr. Dobson said, bringing Corrine out of her thoughts, “there is something I must reveal. The baron asked me to do so in the event of his death. When we read Gilbert Addington’s will, the old baron attached a letter.” He held it out toward Corrine.

“Could you read it aloud?” she asked.

“Are you certain, my lady? There are personal revelations within.”

“Mr. Chambers is my solicitor, and Sergeant Simpson is my trusted protector and advisor. Please, read it.”

“Very well. ‘To Travis Addington. The barony is now yours, and with it, the responsibility of producing an heir by whatever means necessary. As we discussed, this is of paramount importance. There might be another heir out there. I never bothered to have it investigated. But concerning this particular branch of the family tree, you are the last man. See it done. I left you plenty of money and investments. Use them well to ensure the family’s future. Speaking of family, I have a confession to make, a shame I have carried with me for more than forty years. A thorn in my side. I have an illegitimate son. Have a care. He is a loathsome human being and a criminal besides. He may come looking for money. Arm yourself. He is dangerous. His name is—Jedidiah Danaher.’”

Chapter Twenty-One

Mitchell came out of his chair so swiftly that his cane clattered to the floor. “Danaher? Jedi Danaher?”

Mr. Dobson looked up from his papers. “You know of the man, Sergeant?”

“Unfortunately. Danaher was the rookery boss in Notting Dale, better known as The Potteries and Piggeries. The area is located within my police division. He supposedly died in a fire, but there was no way to identify the charred corpse the firemen came upon. Still, the Baroness and I had reason to speculate that Danaher might still be alive, and that he contacted Travis Addington, looking for money. Now we know the reason why.” Mitchell could not believe this. Gilbert Addington’s illegitimate son? He sat and then glanced at Corrine. She had gone as white as a sheet. He briefly squeezed her hand before turning his attention back to Mr. Dobson.

“I notice that you said ‘know’ the man and not ‘knew,’ Mr. Dobson,” Mr. Chambers stated. “You are aware of Mr. Danaher’s current situation?”

Mr. Dobson sighed. “Yes. I am aware. His lordship recently informed me that Mr. Danaher had made contact, seeking money as the old baron had predicted. I immediately urged him to go to the police. But the baron wanted to pay him a lump sum to be rid of him once and for all. So I drew up a legal paper stating Mr. Danaher, in accepting the payment, would not be entitled to any further money from the estate.”

As far as Mitchell was aware, no such document had been found at the murder scene, but he would have to check with Mahone.

Mr. Dobson flipped through the sheaves of papers. “Ah. Here it is.”

“May I see that, Mr. Dobson?” Mr. Chambers asked. He took the document and quickly scanned it. “The amount of money being paid has been left blank.”

“Quite so. The baron was to get back to me with the amount. Although he said something strange before he departed. He said, ‘I have ways to make Danaher sign’.”

“Did Travis take the money out of the account?” Corrine asked.

“That I do not know, as he did not ask me to do it, my lady. I will speak to the bank immediately. Before the baron left our meeting, I urged him again to go to the police. He said he would think about it. I assumed he was still considering it because the baron did not contact me to withdraw money. Unless he did it himself.”

“Mr. Dobson,” Mitchell interjected. “As you saw in this morning’s papers, the baron was murdered. Of that, there is no doubt. You must tell Detective Mahone, D Division, about Danaher.”

“I will contact him once this meeting is concluded. Now, we come to the will. I only finalized it last week.”