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Elizabeth held tightly to her aunt’s tired and trembling arm as they ascended the steps to the solicitor’s office. J.R. Jordan hung out on the sign, and once she saw him upstairs, she remembered seeing him ever so often as a child, especially around the time of her mother’s death. But now, he was white-haired and whiskered, and thin spectacles hung on the tip of his nose in a delicate balance.
When they arrived, he stood and bowed politely, pointing to the chairs in front of his desk. “Please, ladies, do sit.” He paused in the shuffling of papers. “I am very sorry for your loss. I knew that it was expected, but that never makes the loss any easier.” He smiled weakly, and Elizabeth suddenly felt a wave of affection for the man. Besides her aunt, it was the first word of condolence she had heard for her father, and it made tears beg to be released from her eyes once more.
Fortunately, she was able to hold them back. “Thank you, Sir. We are grieved, indeed, but I know that my father instructed us to come and see you the very next day to make sure that all is done properly. You will assist us with the death certificate?”
“Of course, my Lady. I received your father’s letter last evening, giving me his final word on the matters at hand.”
“Final word?” Aunt Mildred asked, pale, with a handkerchief clutched in her hands.
“Yes. He had mentioned to me that he wanted to see you first, Lady Darling, before making any changes to the will.”
“I see.” Elizabeth frowned. “Well, please do go on.”
Mr. Jordan pulled the will from its envelope and unfolded its thick pages. He began to read through the preliminary items, discussing money left for distant relatives and the handling of servants, and the placement of her father’s body. Elizabeth could feel eager to get to the end when she could be released at long last from the promise that had hung over her for so many years.
He then said, “My sister Mildred will receive 2,000 pounds per annum after my death until her own death.” Mr. Jordan cleared his throat. “My daughter, Elizabeth, is to inherit the entirety of the rest of the estate, including all items belonging to her parents not previously given away in other bequests. The sum of the estate, both Mortimer Darling’s and his deceased wife, Lady Shelding, is equal to 40,000 pounds.”
Elizabeth felt her heart sped up, and she breathed out the long sigh of final relief. She was surprised at her father’s generosity. She thought perhaps he would have given much more away to King and country or other members of his acquaintance. She did not think he would wish to give so much to her, knowing that she was but a mere woman, unused to dealing with large sums.
Elizabeth then said, “Was there a mention of a promise, Mr. Jordan?”
“Promise?” He watched her over the top of the document.
“Yes, a promise.” She glanced at her aunt, feeling slightly embarrassed. “My father stated that in my mother’s will, she wished me to marry a man of wealth and status, or else her own money and belongings would be passed to another.”
Mr. Jordan laid down the paper on the desk. “I know of no such promise. Your father never mentioned it to me.”
Elizabeth went cold. “What do you mean? My father never spoke of my marriage as affecting the will?”
“Not at all,” he smiled. “You were always to inherit the full estate since your father had no sons.”
“And my mother’s belongings?”
“Were always intended to come to you, as your father expressly mentioned.”
Elizabeth glanced at Mildred again, who was looking at her with worried eyes. “What do you mean, dear?”
“My father forced me into a promise, saying that if I did not marry a gentleman of wealth and status that he approved of, my mother’s belongings would not come to me. He told me it was her greatest wish and that I should disappoint her greatly if I did not follow these rules.”
Mr. Jordan looked at her blankly. “I am sorry to have to tell you, Lady Darling, that this is the first I have heard of it.”
Elizabeth suddenly felt like the room was spinning. Mr. Jordan stood up and poured her a glass of water, handing it to her shaking hands.
I have now lost everything because my father is truly a bastard.
