Page 198 of Taken Away

Beautiful.

Complicated.

Exactly the kind of thing that had consumed Mabel's entire life.

Anne shook her head.

"One year," she muttered.

Aubrey glanced up.

“Did you say something?”

"Nothing."

Anne continued climbing.

One year.

Anne ran her hand lightly along the polished banister.

Even now...

Mabel was still calling the shots.

Still telling Aubrey where to live. How long she had to stay.

Anne's jaw tightened.

Typical Mabel.

Always believing she knew what was best for everyone else.

Well...

Not this time.

One way or another, Aubrey was going to get her inheritance.

Without spending the next year letting Mabel Blackwood run her life from the grave.

Anne continued up the stairs.

The thought should have satisfied her.

Instead, it reminded her that Mabel Blackwood always expected to have the last word.

Anne had never been very good at letting that happen.

FORTY-TWO

Blackwood Estate Winery

Thursday Morning

Aubrey hadn't slept much.

Not because of Bennett.