“Do you want to leave?”
Lily looked unsure. “I think it would be best if I go speak to the housekeeper. She will tell me what my duties are, won’t she?”
“I’m sure she will,” Emilia assured her. “Mrs. Harvey has only been kind to me.”
“Yes, but that is because you are the mistress of the house. I am just a lady’s maid.”
Emilia gave her friend a pointed look. “I hired you to be my lady’s maid and to keep me company. You are a cross between a lady’s maid and a companion.”
“I wouldn’t dare consider myself a companion,” Lily said. “Companions are generally genteel women, not country bumpkins.”
“You are not a country bumpkin, but I understand how you feel. I feel out of place here, too.”
Lily glanced at the open door before asking, “How does it feel to be wealthy?”
Emilia hesitated before revealing, “It feels wonderful.”
“You don’t have to worry about working for your income, and you get to wear the most beautiful gowns,” Lily said.
Emilia smiled. “I feel as if I am in a fairy tale.”
“At least you don’t have any evil stepsisters to contend with,” Lily joked.
Dalby stepped into the room and announced, “Mr. Rymer would like a moment of your time. Would you care to receive him?”
Emilia always welcomed a visit from her solicitor. “Yes, please send him in.”
Lily rose from her seat and said, “This would be a good time for me to go speak to Mrs. Harvey. Unless you would like me to stay.”
“No, that won’t be necessary,” Emilia assured her.
After Lily departed from the room, Mr. Rymer stepped in and approached her with a satchel over his shoulder.
“Thank you for agreeing to meet with me,” the solicitor said. “I do not intend to take up too much of your time.”
Emilia felt like laughing at Mr. Rymer’s innocent remark. All she had was time, and she was rather bored just sitting around the drawing room. She gestured towards a chair and asked, “Would you care to sit?”
Mr. Rymer moved to sit in the proffered chair and retrieved his satchel. “I have a few things I wanted to discuss with you.” He reached into the satchel and pulled out a piece of paper. “I need to draft your will.”
“Pardon?”
Mr. Rymer gave her an understanding look. “It is commonplace for someone of your position to have a will on file in probate court. This will also ensure that your wishes are honored after your death.”
“That does make sense, but it seems rather morbid.”
“I assure you it is all innocent enough, and you can change it as often as you like, especially as your situation changes,” Mr. Rymer said. “But for now, who would you like to name as your beneficiary in case of your untimely death?”
Emilia grew silent. The only two relations that she had were Calvin and Clarissa, and it would only be fair of her to leave them their father’s fortune. At least until she had a family of her own.
Coming to a decision, Emilia said, “I would like to leave Lily ten thousand pounds, but the rest will be given to Calvin and Clarissa, to be divided up evenly.”
Mr. Rymer’s eyes widened slightly but he didn’t dare contradict her. “Very good,” he said. “That is most generous of you.”
“I think it is only right since it is our father’s fortune.”
“I shall see to that. Do you have any requests that you would like honored?”
Emilia nodded. “I want to be buried by my mother,” she replied. “A headstone would be nice, too.”
