Julia’s parents and Amanda’s had their own estates, town houses, and fortune, and certainly had no need of this small estate in Surrey.Perhaps she and Amanda would be allowed to call this place home if they never married?
“Arrangements were made,” the lawyer began, “between my dear husband, Lord Gerard Roxburgh, and Lord David Harding, the then Earl of Wolfingham, that the estate of Roxburgh Manor would, upon both our deaths, by prior agreement, become part of the Wolfingham estate.Our eldest granddaughter, Lady Juliet Chalmers, would, also as agreed between both parties, marry Lord David Wolfingham’s eldest son, and in doing so become the Countess of Wolfingham, and so unite our two families.”
Julia was vaguely aware of Amanda’s gasp before a rushing noise in her ears blocked out all other sound.
She also felt dizzy.
A sense of disconnection.
As if she were far removed from anything that was being done or said in this room.
Such as hearingour eldest granddaughter, Lady Juliet Chalmers, would, also as agreed between both parties, marry Lord David Harding’s eldest son, and in doing so become the Countess of Wolfingham, and so unite our two families.
It could not be true.She must have misheard?—
“Do you need a few minutes to compose yourself?”Giles Masterson inquired of her coolly.
Did she need?—
“No, I do not need any time,” she scoffed, “because there will notbea betrothal or a marriage!”Julia stumbled to her feet, feeling dizzy from what felt as if there was a vise of some kind wrapped about her chest preventing her from drawing air into her starved lungs.
Amanda also stood, her face as pale as Julia believed her own must be.“Surely this has to be a jest of some kind?”She gave a nervous laugh.“One without any real humor, admittedly.But this clause in Grandmama’s will cannot possibly be real.”She looked as bewildered as Julia felt.
TheEarl of Wolfinghamalso rose to his feet before turning to face her, his expression once again one of sympathy.
Sympathy!
Julia did not need his sympathy; she needed him to be gone.From this house, this county, thiscountry,if it could be arranged.
Although she could not help but notice that her mother and father, and her aunt and uncle, all looked far less shocked by this last clause in their mother’s will than their daughters did.
Her eyes narrowed.“Did you know about this?”She included her father and uncle in her sweeping gaze.“Did you all know and keep it from me?”
“Julia—”
“Do not touch me!”she warned Nicholas Harding from between gritted teeth as he stepped toward her.Her hands were clenched into fists at her sides, her whole body now shaking with fury.“Who on earth eventhoughtof such a disgraceful arrangement?”she demanded to know.
Nicholas slowly lowered his hand back to his side.“I believe the agreement was suggested between your grandparents and my parents many years ago.”
“Why?”
“A marriage between the two of us is a good social connection for both of us.”
“I asked why it was ever a consideration, not its social advantages,” she repeated fiercely.“And do not attempt to lie to me,” she warned icily.
He nodded.“Your grandparents were somewhat…short of funds fifteen years ago, your grandfather having experienced a bad year on the ’Change, I believe.My father loaned him the money to keep this estate and your grandparents in their London lifestyle until such time as your grandfather found himself back in funds.”
“Which he did.”Julia knew that her grandparents were extremely wealthy before her grandfather’s death and now her grandmother’s.
“Yes, he did,” Wolfingham acknowledged.“But instead of accepting the repayment of the loan, the two men came to a further agreement.”
“Which was?”
“That your grandparents would continue to live on this estate until their deaths, when the two of us would marry and the land and house would become part of the Wolfingham estate.”
“This makes no sense.”Julia shook her head.“Why didn’t my grandfather ask my parents or my aunt and uncle for financial assistance?They are certainly rich enough to have loaned him the money.”
Wolfingham shrugged.“I believe your grandfather felt…uncomfortable asking either of his sons-in-law for money, even if it would eventually be repaid.It was a matter of pride, I expect.”
