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Authors: Tracie Peterson, Judith Miller
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apology.
“But still, you don’t want to just ramble around this big place alone,” Sophie put in. “It might be very frightening—especially at night.”
“I don’t think I would ever be afraid here.” Fanny looked around the room and felt tears come to her eyes once again. “Leaving here will be like leaving them all. Father. Grand-mère, and Grandfather. I don’t know how I will bear it.”
“We will bear it together,” Amanda said softly. “Won’t we, Sophie?”
“Absolutely. We’ve always been there for one another. Nothing is going to change now that you’re far richer than the rest of us.” She grinned.
“Sophie!”
Fanny actually smiled. “It’s all right. I don’t mind her teasing. It’s the anger of the others that hurts me.”
“Forget about them,” Amanda said, getting to her feet. “Come on. Let’s get you packed. There’s nothing to be gained by standing here shedding tears. It won’t change the fact that Grandfather is gone. We will all miss him, but perhaps none of us will miss him as much as you, dear Fanny.”
Jonas leaned against his father’s desk and waited until Victoria and his niece were well out of earshot. “We need to talk, Mortimer. My father’s bequest to Fanny came as a shock.”
The lawyer dropped into a chair opposite Jonas. “Obviously! Your behavior nearly set off a storm among the family. I must say I’ve never seen you lose control of your emotions at such a critical moment. You usually play your cards close to the vest, Jonas. Such restraint would have better served you today, also.”
“I know. I know. But something must be done in regard to my father’s bequest to Fanny. He blindsided me.” Jonas attempted to hold his irritation in check. Mortimer settled back in his chair. “How so?”
Several relatives gathered in the entrance hall, and Jonas couldn’t be certain if they were bidding each other farewell or attempting to overhear his conversation with the lawyer. “Just one moment, Mortimer.” He strode to the library door and waved to the gathered relatives before sliding the pocket door closed. He returned to his chair. “I’ll be glad when they’ve all departed.”
The lawyer retrieved his pocket watch and, after a glance, shoved it back into his vest. “You said your father had blindsided you.”
“Yes. He called me to his bedside last week and advised me that he’d made me executor of the will and Fanny’s guardian and trustee until she reached her age of majority. Of course I agreed. The old man has been dying for years. I didn’t count on him actually up and completing the process before Fanny’s next birthday. I also didn’t think to question how much of an inheritance he had left her. I assumed he would leave a small bequest—enough for her to make her grand tour and keep up appearances until she made a proper marriage. He certainly gave no indication she would receive a full third of his estate or that we’d be required to return to Broadmoor Island in order to receive final distribution. An abomination, as far as I’m concerned. The girl knows nothing about handling money. Is there no way my father’s bequest can be set aside?”
“I’m afraid not, Jonas.” Mr. Fillmore shook his head. “And have you considered the effect such behavior would cause throughout the community? You would appear an ogre who is attempting to take advantage of a poor defenseless young woman. There are other ways to overcome this bit of difficulty. We need only to plan a strategy and work within the purview of your father’s will.”
“What do you have in mind?”
“You know the girl much better than I. Does she trust you?
Will she comply with your decisions? If not, we’ll need to rely upon a more cunning method.”
Jonas edged forward on his chair. “I have no doubt she’ll be difficult. My father mentioned she’d likely object to the grand tour. Knowing Fanny, she’d much prefer to spend the remainder of her days
“But still, you don’t want to just ramble around this big place alone,” Sophie put in. “It might be very frightening—especially at night.”
“I don’t think I would ever be afraid here.” Fanny looked around the room and felt tears come to her eyes once again. “Leaving here will be like leaving them all. Father. Grand-mère, and Grandfather. I don’t know how I will bear it.”
“We will bear it together,” Amanda said softly. “Won’t we, Sophie?”
“Absolutely. We’ve always been there for one another. Nothing is going to change now that you’re far richer than the rest of us.” She grinned.
“Sophie!”
Fanny actually smiled. “It’s all right. I don’t mind her teasing. It’s the anger of the others that hurts me.”
“Forget about them,” Amanda said, getting to her feet. “Come on. Let’s get you packed. There’s nothing to be gained by standing here shedding tears. It won’t change the fact that Grandfather is gone. We will all miss him, but perhaps none of us will miss him as much as you, dear Fanny.”
Jonas leaned against his father’s desk and waited until Victoria and his niece were well out of earshot. “We need to talk, Mortimer. My father’s bequest to Fanny came as a shock.”
The lawyer dropped into a chair opposite Jonas. “Obviously! Your behavior nearly set off a storm among the family. I must say I’ve never seen you lose control of your emotions at such a critical moment. You usually play your cards close to the vest, Jonas. Such restraint would have better served you today, also.”
“I know. I know. But something must be done in regard to my father’s bequest to Fanny. He blindsided me.” Jonas attempted to hold his irritation in check. Mortimer settled back in his chair. “How so?”
Several relatives gathered in the entrance hall, and Jonas couldn’t be certain if they were bidding each other farewell or attempting to overhear his conversation with the lawyer. “Just one moment, Mortimer.” He strode to the library door and waved to the gathered relatives before sliding the pocket door closed. He returned to his chair. “I’ll be glad when they’ve all departed.”
The lawyer retrieved his pocket watch and, after a glance, shoved it back into his vest. “You said your father had blindsided you.”
“Yes. He called me to his bedside last week and advised me that he’d made me executor of the will and Fanny’s guardian and trustee until she reached her age of majority. Of course I agreed. The old man has been dying for years. I didn’t count on him actually up and completing the process before Fanny’s next birthday. I also didn’t think to question how much of an inheritance he had left her. I assumed he would leave a small bequest—enough for her to make her grand tour and keep up appearances until she made a proper marriage. He certainly gave no indication she would receive a full third of his estate or that we’d be required to return to Broadmoor Island in order to receive final distribution. An abomination, as far as I’m concerned. The girl knows nothing about handling money. Is there no way my father’s bequest can be set aside?”
“I’m afraid not, Jonas.” Mr. Fillmore shook his head. “And have you considered the effect such behavior would cause throughout the community? You would appear an ogre who is attempting to take advantage of a poor defenseless young woman. There are other ways to overcome this bit of difficulty. We need only to plan a strategy and work within the purview of your father’s will.”
“What do you have in mind?”
“You know the girl much better than I. Does she trust you?
Will she comply with your decisions? If not, we’ll need to rely upon a more cunning method.”
Jonas edged forward on his chair. “I have no doubt she’ll be difficult. My father mentioned she’d likely object to the grand tour. Knowing Fanny, she’d much prefer to spend the remainder of her days
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