Pinch of Naughty by Gem Sivad Page A

her answer piddling away.
    “Didn’t know the courts would let a man out of the noose on any of those grounds.” Cyrus studied the pout of her lower lip waiting for her response. It wasn’t long in coming. Her answer was clipped, her expression outraged.
    “Four upright citizens, friends of William’s, swore under oath they’d each conducted illicit affairs with me. They hadn’t. I barely knew them. The divorce petition requested relief for reasons of adultery.”
    “Guess there was a dustup and your family shipped you here?” Cyrus scratched his jaw, thinking about swine who’d intentionally drag a lady through mud.
    “After I publicly confronted one of the prevaricators, the gossip became even worse.” Eleanor’s angry expression changed to sad.
    “You get in a good lick?” He hoped she had. It didn’t sound like anyone else in the Alcott family had the stomach to do it.
    “I wish, but—no. My aunt accompanied me to one of the miscreant’s business offices. Afterward, William’s friend swore that I’d begged him to recant his story. The conversation was just one more scandal the press seized and misrepresented.”
    “So let me see if I understand. If you’re divorced, your deceased husband’s estate belongs to someone else. If he dropped dead before the final decree, you get what’s rightfully yours?”
    “If it were only that simple. The Laceys are powerful members of Hartford society. Their family attorneys intentionally made William’s accusations public, influencing popular opinion. They will not stop just because he’s dead.” Her words were bitter when she added, “Hindsight is a remarkable thing. It seems clear now that William had this planned prior to our wedding.”
    “Why in hell did you marry a snake like that in the first place? I took you for a better judge of character.” Cyrus figured you could tell a lot about a woman by the man she hooked up with. He frowned at her doubtfully.
    “Five years ago, during the 1883 financial panic, the Alcott Bank was in trouble. William invested with the stipulation that it become the Alcott-Lacey Bank of Hartford. Agreements were finalized making me Mrs. Lacey and William Vice President of Grandfather’s bank. A stuffed doll could have been substituted in the ceremony.” Eleanor’s expression was grim.
    “Your male relatives kill him?” Cyrus could see the way it had gone down. Eleanor had been security in a financial transaction. He tented his fingers, resting his chin on his thumbs.
    “Of course nobody killed William. It’s civilized in Hartford.” She blinked, giving him a disgusted look.
    “Sure sounds like it,” Cyrus snorted. It didn’t sound very civilized to him. “You certain he’s dead?”
    “Yes. William couldn’t even die quietly. Last month, during a court hearing, he was taken with a fit of apoplexy.” Her tone was disgusted. “No doubt the Lacey family would have hidden his death if they could. But he succumbed in the courtroom. By the evening newspapers, the tabloids were already titillating the public with the question of whether William and I were divorced. Grandfather telegraphed Uncle Henry the initial news before sending the newspaper account in the mail.”
    “And they want you home to settle up accounts and claim what’s yours?” Cyrus could see why Eleanor was a tad put out. He looked at her with renewed interest. The widow was scrambling for purchase amidst upheaval. Interesting.
    “Even if the courts decide I’m truly his widow, it doesn’t matter. In Hartford I’ll be remembered by society as William’s barren, adulterous, cast-aside wife.” She brushed her hair back from her face and said defiantly, “I’m not returning.”
    “Anyone seeing to the liars?” Cyrus decided he wouldn’t mind killing a couple of the bastards for her.
    “I have no idea what progress has been made in exposing their treachery,” she admitted. “According to Uncle Henry, now that William is dead, so is the