“He has evidently been using the Lodge as his headquarters whilst he made the necessary inquiries. Also there is another possibility,” answered Babette.
“And what is that?”
“I have a thought that he may be desirous of assuring himself that you have arrived here. It is only a possibility, but it is there.”
“I do not see why——”
“Why do you suppose he wished to marry you?” asked Babette quickly. “Because he loved you? Possibly! But you are a rich woman, and I think that may have more to do with the question than you have yet thought. It may have more to do with his journey here than anything else. Have you made a will, Joy?”
“No!” answered Joy quickly. “I have never thought of it. My uncle never suggested it to me.”
“That is not surprising,” was the answer. “After Dick Bracknell, your uncle is your next of kin. He and your cousin are your only blood relatives. Without a will, your marriage being unknown, your estate would fall to them if you were to die.”
Joy’s face showed a dawning horror. “Oh, but my uncle——”
“Your uncle is human, Joy, and what is more he has his difficulties. Whilst we were at Claridge’s I overheard two men talking. I said nothing to you at the time, regarding it as mere gossip, but they were discussing Sir Joseph, and one of them said that he had gathered some confounded bad eggs during the last year or two, and that he must be very rich to stand it. Supposing he is not very rich. Supposing the bad eggs are more than he can stand. Then your money——”
“But I cannot think that of my uncle, Babette; it is monstrous.”