It was a condition he rarely found himself in and did not like it. He was usually a man of sharp judgment, of accurate first impressions, and of swift action. Now he felt off-balance, strangely unsettled and unsure how to proceed. He had traveled to Devonshire with a clear idea of what was expected of him: come to the aid of the betrayed husband, take legal steps to assure she and her lover gained nothing by his future death, beyond the jointure agreed to in the original marriage settlement. Of course he had never expected to find Sir John lying insensible and close to death already. Even if he drafted a new will for him, Sir John could not sign it, nor could he honestly say his client was presently of sound mind. Yes, he had Sir John’s letter in which his intention to otherwise disinherit his unfaithful wife seemed clear. But the man had written with a modicum of discretion, to protect himself from more scandal should the letter be misdirected, James supposed. Such a letter could be presented to a judge in court, but it was unlikely to take precedence over Sir John’s last signed will and testament.
