The Possessive Lord's Contract Wife

"What are your father’s and uncle’s names?" Nathan said, taking a paper and a pen to record with.

"My uncle is Clive Wilkins, and my father is Thomas Wilkins. Was," Eloise corrected herself. "My father was ill, so I was sent to live with my uncle until he got better."

"Now your father has passed, and your uncle is trying to claim your father’s possessions? Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for the next male in the family to step forward. Do you have a brother?" Nathan asked as he scribbled down what Eloise said.

"No, but I am getting married. What you must record is that I overheard my uncle confess to having killed my father. We were at a ball when I overheard it. He spoke of my father leaving the home to me, so he killed him and burned the body. I found the ashes when I visited the home," said Eloise.

"Why aren’t you writing?" Eloise asked, puzzled as to why Nathan’s hand stopped moving. "It is the truth. I heard it."

"I believe you, but for the others in the court to believe you, you would need proof. Your word alone cannot have him brought before the court. If that were the case, there would be a lot of people brought before the court for judgment," Nathan explained.

"But the ashes," Eloise said, angry that nothing she said could be considered. "They are still in the vase I found them in. Do you not think it is suspicious that he burned my father’s body instead of having a proper funeral?"

"For a man who claimed to love my father, why wouldn’t he wait to have a funeral? Why didn’t he inform me about my father’s passing?" Eloise asked, frustrated that she seemed to be getting nowhere, though she had only begun.

"It is suspicious, but even if I bring this case to court, you might not win. You would need proof that someone saw him commit the act and get him to confess. Since the body has been burned, no one in the court can inspect it. I want to help you, but this is how the court is," said Nathan.

"It is odd your uncle would burn the body," Nathan agreed with Eloise. "A burial wouldn’t have been expensive, but your uncle can claim he was acting on emotion. If your father didn’t have it in writing that his possessions would go to you, the court will place your uncle as the heir since you are not yet married."

Eloise gripped her dress and restrained herself from lashing out at the wrong person. "I did not like to hear it because it sounded like he would leave me, but my father always assured me that I would be well cared for if he died."

"I knew her father in my childhood. I would expect him to leave most, if not all, of his belongings to his daughter. What if we can prove her uncle changed her father’s will? I’m certain he will soon present a will that suits him perfectly," said Damien.

"Well, that would work in your favour, but it would be hard. If your uncle is foolish enough to change a court document, it would need to look very real because we can tell if it is fake. He would need to go to an expert, but they don’t show themselves easily," Nathan said, feeling the odds were stacked against Eloise.

"I will find him," Damien said.

"We have been searching for the criminals who change wills, and all this time you knew how to find them?" Nathan asked, annoyed that Damien waited until now to be helpful.

"I don’t work for the court, so why should I help you back then? You are in luck that I have a little motivation now," Damien said, but even now, he wasn’t helping for the court’s sake.

Nathan glared at Damien. "At least there is some use for the court with you being engaged. Before you get your hopes up, you must know that exposing your uncle for changing the will won’t prove he killed your father. His punishment will be to be imprisoned for a few months and to pay a fine."

Eloise didn’t find satisfaction in the punishments. "He killed my father. He could not look me in the eye after he did it, and he intended to marry me off to a man I did not like."

"Before this, I adored my uncle. I cared for him just as I cared for my father. I did not wake up one day and decide to throw this accusation at him. Being imprisoned for a few months after killing my last living parent is not enough for me," said Eloise.

Eloise stood up since she felt the court was of no use to her. "I thank you for offering some of your time to speak with me, but I must be on my way."

"I know it isn’t the outcome you wanted, but getting arrested for the will is better than no punishment. Perhaps he would be afraid and confess to his crimes. It would not be the first time a criminal has crumbled under the pressure. There is still a chance," Nathan assured Eloise.

"I shall keep that in mind," Eloise said, but she was yet to feel satisfied. "If you two must speak, I will stand outside and wait for you."

"I won’t be long," Damien said, getting up from his chair to see Eloise off. "Do not move, and if a guard comes to speak to you, knock on the door. I will be with you soon."

Nathan watched as Damien held the door open for Eloise and closed it when she left. "I’m surprised. If I didn’t know any better, I wouldn’t think you are the real Damien. Does her uncle approve of this union?"

"No, and the few months jailed don’t sit well with me either. Surely, you would hate for someone to take justice into their hands," said Damien.

"Damien, you cannot kill anyone," Nathan warned Damien.

"I never claimed I would do it. I said someone might take justice into their hands. You must listen better," Damien said, shaking his head. "I believe all that she says."

"And I don’t find it unlikely someone would go so far to claim a home, but there is not much I can do without proof. Exposing that he changed the will is a start. I must warn you that since he is now her guardian, there might be some objections to your wedding," said Nathan.

"I know. That is why I am preparing for it. I’m afraid she will miss me if I stay too long, so excuse me," Damien said, opening the door to join Eloise. "I will come back another day."