Read Online A Hearth in Candlewood by Delia Parr - Free Book Online Page B

and Widow Leonard will be having dinner in town.’’
    Emma’s eyes widened. ‘‘They’re not coming home for dinner?’’
    He shrugged and did not hide a grin. ‘‘Apparently not.’’
    ‘‘Where? Where are they having dinner?’’
    ‘‘She didn’t say, and I didn’t ask. She did say that she expected they’d be home by late afternoon,’’ he offered as he followed her to her office.
    Emma walked just a little more slowly than usual so she would not slip or fall again, most especially in front of him. By the time they had taken their respective places in her office, she was grateful to be off her feet again. ‘‘I trust you had no trouble helping Mother Garrett draw up her will?’’
    He shrugged. ‘‘Young Jeremy has only been in Candlewood to study law with me for the past six months, but he could have done it just as easily. The woman owns little enough, though she did mention something about a parcel of land she had recently acquired from you. In any event, her will has been duly written, signed, and witnessed.’’
    ‘‘Good,’’ she murmured. From the middle drawer, she took the paper she and Mother Garrett had signed yesterday to transfer ownership of the property on Hollaway Lane and handed it to him. ‘‘I’m not sure if this is exact enough. You might need to rewrite it or do what you lawyers do.’’
    He leaned forward to get the paper and sat back again to read it. When he finished, he shook his head and frowned. ‘‘I won’t bother asking why you didn’t have me draw this up for you, but you’re right. I need to better identify the land in question by using the survey data, but a simple addendum will do for that.’’
    He folded the paper again. ‘‘I must admit I’m rather amazed that you sold this particular parcel of land at all. The last time we discussed the matter, which was after Mr. Langhorne asked me to intervene on his behalf, you were quite adamant that the land would not be sold under any circumstances.’’
    When she started to protest, he silenced her by raising his hand. ‘‘Am I surprised you sold the land to your mother-in-law to outwit that man? In truth, not a bit. Not with the restrictions you placed on the transfer. But I am shocked at the sum you accepted. Then again, I’ve been your lawyer for five years now and should know better.’’
    ‘‘I’m quite certain you’re not as shocked as Mr. Langhorne will be when he finds out once the sale becomes a matter of public record, which will do little to support my reputation as a clever businesswoman. Not when the selling price of fifty cents is recorded. Anyone with a pinch of business sense will know that land is priceless.’’
    Mr. Breckenwith’s frown deepened. ‘‘I wouldn’t say priceless, exactly, but since it’s the last parcel of land in Candlewood proper with direct access to the canal, I’d say the land is very, very valuable. Definitely worth a small fortune, and one you might very well need, which I would have been able to explain to you if you had consulted me first before coming up with your scheme.’’
    Stung by his reprimand, she stiffened her back. ‘‘As you well know, I’m quite aware of my holdings, as well as my needs. I have fortune enough—’’
    ‘‘You have far less than you think,’’ he insisted. He took a packet of papers from his vest pocket and laid it on top of her desk.
    ‘‘You can read the correspondence I received six weeks ago, along with the documents related to the subsequent work I’ve done on your behalf, and draw your own conclusions—or I can explain them. In either case, you have much more to worry about than how Mr. Langhorne or the general public will react to the sum paid for that particular parcel of land you sold to your mother-in-law.’’
    A chill inexplicably raced up her spine, and Emma let the packet of papers lay untouched. ‘‘Correspondence? Why would you be receiving correspondence that concerns me? Or wait six