Page 4 of The Widow’s Christmas Surprise

Avoiding Jane’s gaze, Maria tucked her arms beneath the covers. “I suppose I could have done, but Mama was so adamant about having a midwife attend me, and since she could not be here, I felt that I should at least take her wishes into consideration.” Jane was a dear and had been by her side ever since the revelation of Alan’s infidelity. Still, a woman wanted her mother with her at such a time as childbirth. “Besides, having Dr. Gilliam attend me would not have changed the fact that Jane is a girl.”

Her cousin’s eyes lit up. “You have decided on a name, then?”

“Of course she must be named for you, Jane.” Maria pulled her arms free of the covers and sat up to hug her cousin. “You have been my staunchest supporter these many weeks.” She sighed and leaned back on the bed. “And now you must help me decide what to do.”

“What do you mean, Maria?”

“Jane cannot inherit the Kersey title and estates, so another heir must be found.” Alan had impressed that upon her, the need for this child to be a son to secure the line. “When he is located, Jane and I shall quite likely be made to leave.”

“You don’t know that, Maria.” Though Jane surely meant to be comforting, her downcast eyes spoke more eloquently than her words.

“I must be prepared for it. Whether or not he meant to torment me, Alan made my options perfectly clear only days before he—” Oh, but she didn’t want to cry for the wretch again, but here were tears trickling down her face once more. She sniffed them back and wiped her eyes with the sleeve of her white gown. “He told me if he survived there would be nothing to worry about. But if he was killed, I had to pray hard our child was a son, because if it was not I would likely be turned out by the next Lord Kersey, who had no obligation toward me.”

“What a horrible thing for the wretch to say. And at such a time as that.” Narrowing her eyes, Jane looked as though she itched to plant Alan a facer if only he were here. “But what about your settlements? Your dower rights? My father negotiated a jointure with Tark before our marriage, which is why I am in no hurry to remarry.” Jane frowned. “Surely your father made arrangements for you and your children in your settlements?”

For the thousandth time, Maria admitted to herself that she had been a fool for Alan Garrett in more ways than one. “I have none.”

“What?” Jane sat back, her mouth agape.

“If you remember the circumstances, I had just discovered I was with child when I arrived at Charlotte’s house party last October. Alan had been beaten almost senseless by Lord Wrotham. I still have no idea why.” She glared at Jane, who looked away. “He was unceremoniously thrown out of the house and so I went with him. By the time we reached London he had agreed to our marriage, but I was so afraid he would change his mind if we waited even a day, that I encouraged him when he said he would get a special license so we could be married at once. My parents didn’t know about the marriage until after I was Lady Kersey. They were thrilled, make no mistake. But because of my haste there are no settlements, no dowry, no jointure.” Tears welled again. “There are only Jane and I, with nowhere to go.”

Jane sat still, her brow furrowed as if in deep thought.

Could her cousin come up with some way for Maria and her daughter to remain here at Kersey Hall? That would be a miracle indeed.

“Did Lord Kersey have a will?”

The question caught Maria off guard and she stared at her cousin. “I . . . I don’t know. Would that matter?”

“Oh, yes. Very much so.” Jane smoothed the covers down. “If he made a will after his marriage, he might very well have left you money or jewels or property for your continued maintenance.”

Maria frowned. This had never occurred to her. “I thought everything went to the next Lord Kersey.”

Jane shook her head with vigor. “Oh, no, my dear. Only the title and any lands or property that are part of the earldom’s entailment. If there is anything unentailed, even though it was inherited from the previous Lord Kersey, it would have been your husband’s to dispose of.”

Hope rose in Maria’s heart for the first time since learning her child was a girl. “How do I find out if he made such a will?”

“The family solicitor would have it. Did he not contact you after Lord Kersey’s death?”

“Well, yes, he wrote to tell me that we needed to wait until the child was born before he could make any determination about the estate.” Mr. Clarke’s message had confirmed Maria’s suspicion at the time that if her child was not a boy, she’d be in dire straits indeed. She frowned at Jane. “That does not sound as though I am to inherit anything.”

The lines around Jane’s mouth tightened. “I admit it does not. Still, you must write to him now to advise him about Jane’s birth and to inquire directly about any will or provisions Lord Kersey may have made.”

“I shall do so first thing tomorrow.” Despite the recent food, Maria’s strength was waning again. She stifled a yawn. Another nap would not be amiss.

Rising from the bed, Jane shook her head and straightened the covers. “If the worst comes to pass, can you not go home to your mother and Cousin Edward?”

“Father has been ill for months. Mother attends to him night and day. That’s why she couldn’t be here for my lying-in. I could take the baby and move in with them, but it would be an increased burden on them.” She looked hopefully at Jane. “Might I stay with you, Cousin? At least until I am out of mourning.” The ghastly crepe awaited her after her confinement. She’d only worn the deep purples and dark browns of half mourning since Alan’s death. Her mother had feared wearing black would harm the child. “Hopefully by then I will be able to figure out where to go. What to do.”

Jane’s pained expression foretold what her words would be. “I am afraid I can offer you no sanctuary, my dear. When in London I still reside with my brother-in-law, although the marquess is a gravely ill man. I am not quite sure what I will do if he succumbs to this odd sickness Fanny related to me at her wedding.” Clasping Maria’s fingers, Jane looked deep into her eyes. “I stayed in London only briefly before coming here, but long enough to tell you that even if I did have a place to offer you, I would not do so.”

“What?” Her cousin’s statement startled Maria more than anything else she’d said. “Why not?”

“Because I must advise you, whatever you may do, do not to go to London.”

Why on earth would Jane say such a thing? “I don’t understand.”

Drawing a deep breath, Jane paused, as if words failed her. When finally she spoke, she did so very unwillingly. “I have kept this from you because of your condition, but now you must be warned about what the ton has been saying. About Lord Kersey and about you.”