Chapter 6

“ ... our people are tearing apart his associates and their financial history to find out how a public servant amassed a fortune of nearly fifty million dollars. When we do, it might point towards some of the main people behind your abuse and attack.

“It is possible that winning this suit spurred someone into trying to kill Terry. My security people tell me that there has to be a good reason for someone hidden to take a chance on being discovered by their involvement in an attempted assassination. The fact that someone did try might mean that they know you would, or could, recognize them if you ever came face to face. Having seen you attach everything Arthur owned was proof enough that we intend to continue to look under rocks, and kick down doors. It might have been all it took to set him, or them off.”

Mr. Wellington was explaining that there might be much more than thirty-six million dollars for us to recover from the late Attorney General. “I’m especially interested in finding out if Mr. Arthur had offshore accounts, hidden assets, large holdings of gold, or diamonds. We hired some very ruthless and determined people to tear his back-story to pieces, and see where it takes us.

“For now, we’ll call it a win, and keep digging.” He seemed happy to be back in the US, thrilled to reunite with his daughter, and pleased to be away from the sporadic violence still plaguing the eastern states. We chatted for hours. Chasen had dinner delivered from a very nice restaurant, and hopped up on to the bed eat with us Indian style. Deirdre and Chasen enjoyed our time together immensely. It was obvious that they craved time to relax, let their hair down, and act like all was well, and nothing was pressing.

Evie stayed with us all evening. I could see that she was tired after all she’d been through, so I patted the mattress beside me and invited her to come and share it with me. It was just a short time later that a nurse bustled in and tried to make her move. “Leave her alone,” I croaked. “She’s scared, exhausted and too tired to walk out of here right now.” It may have sounded harsher than I wanted, but she needed to leave Evie alone.

Chasen smiled when he saw my protective streak surface. “I can see you really are a Wellington. That is exactly what Nolan would have done in the same circumstances.” Deirdre nearly blinded us both with her smile.

Eventually Evie woke up and headed for the hotel with two of Chasens’ bodyguards, leaving us free to talk openly.

“We have more to discuss,” Chasen Wellington had a very serious look when he said that. “I’ve been in England for the past couple of weeks, tending to Nolan’s properties there.” I didn’t know anything about Nolan Wellington, including any English properties he might have owned.

Chasen waved his hand in a motion that included us both. “You and I have a trip to take, Terry...” He talked for a very long time after that and what he said got stranger and stranger. “My lands in England are quite extensive. I’ve farms, factories, several blocks of prime commercial real estate, and a number of other money makers...” The list went on and on.

“The King knighted my father, your great grandfather in nineteen forty-five. Grandfather had married into royal family and was made a Duke both because of who he married, and because of his wartime efforts. My grandmother was the sister of a royal. At that time of my father’s death I became Lord Wellington. My father, the first Lord Wellington, provided enormous supplies to the British troops throughout the war. Our American holdings produced fantastic yields, and my fathers’ ships were never pursued, or sunk by German U-boats.

“Father insisted all shipments of food be part of the American resupply effort, meaning that US military vessels included his ships in a protected flotilla to safely cross the Atlantic and bring needed supplies to our soldiers – American and British. I think my father would have been passed over but for the decision made by Winston Churchill to refuse the title so he could serve in the House of Commons in his declining years.

“When my father passed away, I inherited his title and became the Second Lord Wellington. By then I had taken over management of my father’s operations and lands. Nolan was to succeed me but Clarice interrupted those plans. Nolan was a genius in his young adulthood. Because of his innovations in crop yields and intercropping, which led to lower food prices and more supply, he allowed Britain to help lead the western world providing humanitarian aid to those nations struggling to resist the Nazis. When he was murdered you inherit his title upon my death.

“You will become the third Duke of Wellington when I die...”

What in the world did the universe get me into, this time?

“We have an appointment to tour your lands and mine as soon as you are fully recovered. You need to heal, get your strength back, and prepare to take possession of your burgeoning empire. Nolan’s patents alone are worth tens of millions of dollars a year. And that’s not even mentioning his investments, and how they’ve grown over the last fourteen years as we searched for you...”

I was stunned silent. It was a good thing Evie was back in the hotel, because the news that Chasen Wellington gave me was not meant for her ears. If I understood some of the sums involved, Nolan Wellington was worth an enormous amount of money, all separate from Chasen Wellingtons’ fortune. And it was expected that I would become rapidly educated enough to manage those affairs.

Deirdre and her father were smiling at my obvious discomfort as I tried to imagine all that he had just dropped me. Absorbing the import of all the revelations was far beyond my capacity. Chasen saw me struggling to keep up, and put a sympathetic hand on my arm. “Terry ... It’s going to be fine.

“We hired Evie not just to see you through your school studies, but because she has a fine education in economics. Between her and us, you will find all the help you need.” He hugged me, placing a gentle kiss on my troubled brow.

Deirdre finally spoke. “I love you Terry. You’ve come to mean so much to Daddy and me. We have lived with all of this responsibility for what seems like, forever. I promise you we will be there to help you every step of the way...”