AllFreeNovel
Share Us
As Elliot looked at his sister, he realised the danger it posed to her life. Yesterday, she was a young woman, soon to be announced to theton, with the possibility of a fine marriage, a comfortable life, and money to her name. Today, she had no such prospects.
We are more likely to end up on the street than in good marriages.
“I promise to find us a way out of this, Grace. I promise you that.”
“You do?”
“I do. Trust me with this.” He held her hand tightly.
Their parents had already betrayed her by not leaving her with a dowry. Elliot was prepared to do anything to get it back.
Chapter 2
London, England
Six Months Later
“I beg your pardon?” Gertrude spluttered before Ophelia could even summon the words.
They had come to London to hear her father’s will now that a suitable time had passed. They were staying with Gertrude’s sister, the Dowager Viscountess of Chester, and had come out this morning with the express purpose of seeing the solicitor. The news he had revealed, though, had pulled the rug out from beneath them.
“It is as I said,” the solicitor said, leaning forward and pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose. “The late Mr Oliver Townsend left his estates as follows. The house in Cheltenham, the vast proportion of the money, and their possessions are to be left to his daughter, Miss Ophelia Townsend. An annuity of five hundred pounds per annum is to be made available for his wife, Mrs Gertrude Townsend.”
“Truly?” Ophelia found her voice at last.
She was stunned to hear the news. Since her father’s passing, she had given little thought to the money. She had spent her days mourning him, missing him. Though she had renewed her daily rides, she longed for his company and had sometimes found herself talking to the air, imagining it would talk back to her. Rarely had she considered how the money would be divided between herself and her stepmother.
“That is not possible.” Gertrude sat forward in her seat, shaking so much that she nearly fell out of the chair. “An annuity for myself? But it is so little.”
Ophelia snapped her gaze to her stepmother, finding the shocks just kept coming today. The solicitor seemed equally surprised, with his eyebrows shooting high on his temple.
“Forgive my impertinence, Mrs Townsend, but five hundred pounds per annum is not asmallannuity. It will offer a very comfortable living indeed.”
Ophelia nodded, but when her stepmother jerked her head in her direction, Ophelia fell still, not wanting to poke the hornet’s nest anymore. She knew Gertrude had never been particularly good when it came to money, for Oliver had handled it for her. Since then, Ophelia had orchestrated their expenses, and she had seen more than once how Gertrude could spend easily, not understanding quite how much her purchases would amount to.
Is it possible? My father left all of this to me?
Ophelia thought of the house in Cheltenham that she loved so much and smiled a little. It was to remain her home, after all. No one was taking it from her. Even if she was to marry someday, it would belong to their family.
My father was careful to take care of me, even from beyond the grave.
“May I?” Ophelia asked, gesturing to the will in front of the solicitor.
“Yes, of course.” He passed the will to her. Ophelia had to check it over, to see the proof before her own eyes, but everything was as the solicitor had said. Her father had taken particular care to spell out where everything was to go. To her delight, there were provisions for some of the staff, too, including a painting he meant to gift to their housekeeper, who had always been fond of the work. It showed her father’s benevolence.
“No. No.” Gertrude’s words were sudden as she stood to her feet, knocking back the chair. Ophelia jumped at the sound, shocked when Gertrude didn’t make an effort to pick up the chair. “This has to be wrong.” She snatched the will from Ophelia’s grasp, repeatedly shaking her head. “He cannot have left me with so little.”
“It is not a little amount…” Ophelia trailed off at her stepmother’s glare. She could not remember Gertrude ever looking at her with that sort of anger before. “Perhaps we should leave and take time to understand what we have heard today, Gertrude? We can return another time to sign the papers.”
“Yes, we must.” Gertrude took hold of her wrist and drew her to her feet.
“Ow,” Ophelia muttered, surprised at the pain.
“Miss Townsend?” The solicitor’s words brought them both up short. “I am afraid we have delayed this for as long as possible. Probate must be completed.” He waved a quill in the air and gestured to the inkwell on his desk. “Please, you both must sign.”
Slowly, Ophelia disentangled her hand from her stepmother’s.
“Ophelia, no. You cannot accept this,” Gertrude pleaded.
