AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Emmeline exited the coach and walked into the building with Mary trailing behind her. She was immediately approached by a lanky man in a tan jacket and matching trousers.
“May I help you?” he asked kindly.
“I am looking for Mr. Clarke.”
The man gave her a polite smile. “If you will follow me, I will show you to his office,” he said as he spun on his heel.
She followed him for a short distance before he stopped by a closed door. “This is Mr. Clarke’s office,” he revealed. “Would you care for me to announce you?”
“That won’t be necessary.”
The man tipped his head in acknowledgement before he walked away from them.
Emmeline approached the door and knocked with her gloved hand. It only took a moment for it to open, and Mr. Clarke stared back at her in disbelief. Her father’s solicitor was a rather unassuming man with thinning brown hair and thick spectacles that sat on a rounded face.
“Lady Oliver,” he greeted, opening the door wide. “Please come in.”
“Thank you,” she murmured as she stepped into the office.
A large window along one wall provided the room with ample light. A mahogany desk sat in front of the window, and upholstered chairs were strategically placed around the room.
“I hope you do not mind that I came unannounced,” Emmeline said.
“Not at all,” Mr. Clarke replied, closing the door. “You are always welcome.”
“I appreciate you for saying so.”
Mr. Clarke went around his desk and gestured at the two chairs facing it. “Would you care to take a seat?”
As Emmeline gracefully lowered herself onto the chair, she explained, “I was hoping to receive some clarification.”
“I would be happy to assist you with that,” Mr. Clarke replied as he sat down and pushed in his chair.
With a side glance at her lady’s maid, Emmeline asked, “Did my father leave me a dowry?”
Mr. Clark nodded. “He did, and it was rather a generous one.”
“Did that money go to pay for my father’s outstanding bills when he died?”
Mr. Clarke gave her a baffled look. “Your father had no bills when he died,” he said. “Why do you ask?”
“I’m afraid I am rather confused. My uncle informed me that my dowry went to pay for my father’s outstanding bills.”
“I am not sure why he told you that, since you are now eligible to receive fifteen thousand pounds upon your marriage to Lord Oliver Radcliff,” Mr. Clarke explained. “Your father set up a separate account just for your dowry. The will stipulated that you were to inherit the money on your twenty-first birthday or when you wed, whichever came first.”
Emmeline’s eyes grew wide at that unexpected news. “I was set to inherit fifteen thousand on my twenty-first birthday?”
“You were, but you were wed first.”
She pursed her lips together as she worked to collect herself. Finally, she murmured, “My uncle never told me that.”
“That is most unfortunate,” Mr. Clarke said. “Then I must assume that he didn’t tell you about the property you also inherited.”
“No, he did not.”
“It is a small estate in Whitstable,” he shared. “It was the only unentailed property that your father owned. It is known as Lockhart Manor, and it sits on a cliff overlooking the outlet of The Swale leading into the Thames Estuary.”
“Is it profitable?”
