Read Online A Lesson in Pride by Jennifer Connors - Free Book Online
Authors: Jennifer Connors
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chest, he said, “You are too kind, my lady. Truly, your husband laid out how everything should be arranged if he were to predecease you. As you may know, Lord Essex had some heart issues recently, and it spurred him to make all arrangements for his family should he be taken.”
Be taken? Ginny resisted the urge to raise an eyebrow. The man was a pig and his body finally gave up. She doubted he had ever done even the bare minimum to ensure better health. Regardless, Ginny returned the attorney's smile and asked, “My father told me of certain... requests he had Lord Essex put in the marriage contract. I have to say that I'm not entirely comfortable with those arrangements.”
Putting his teacup down on the small table next to his chair, Mr. Thornberry asked, “Which arrangements are you referring to, my lady?”
“My inheritance, to be more precise. Twenty thousand pounds and five thousand a year.”
“Oh,” Mr. Thornberry responded before looking down. “I assure you that Lord Essex will take care of you, my lady. At least until you remarry.”
“Remarry?” she asked. Of course. Drake would not continue to pay her after she became another man's wife. Was that the story? She would end up married to Grant and her father would have no further claim to her? It sounded just contrived enough to be true.
“Yes, my lady.” Mr. Thornberry turned a shade of pink and looked over her shoulder. Something was clearly bothering him.
“Is there a problem, Mr. Thornberry?” Of course there was a problem. It was a romance novel after all.
Leaning forward in his chair, Mr. Thornberry took on a conspiratorial posture. Placing her cup on the tea tray, Ginny leaned forward as well. The attorney licked his lips, probably trying to put off what he was about to say. Ginny raised her eyebrows in question and it finally sparked the man to speak.
“Your father never read through the final wedding contract, my lady.”
“Didn't he?” she asked, not knowing where the conversation was going.
“No. Lord Essex made some essential changes to their agreement counting on your father to be... inattentive.”
“Changes? How?” Ginny was beginning to feel a ray of hope. Did Lord Essex screw over her father? As wonderful as that thought was, did he also screw over Ginny?
“Your father demanded twenty thousand pounds and five thousand a year, my lady, which Lord Essex did grant. However, there are many strings attached to the money.”
“For instance?” Ginny was beginning to grow a little impatient with the man. Why couldn't he just spit it out?
“You will stop receiving the annual stipend upon remarrying, but I already told you that. The twenty thousand pounds will be placed into a trust to be administered by myself. The trust is very specific in how the money can be spent.”
“Meaning?”
“None of the money can be used to benefit your father in any way.”
A bubble of joy rose in Ginny's throat, and she stopped herself just in time to keep from laughing out loud. Drake hadn't been stupid. He knew that the Thomas family had been playing him for his money. He meant to punish Nigel in the event Drake died first. Brilliant.
“Is that the only stipulation or does that include my brother as well?”
“I am afraid that your brother is also named as not being able to benefit, my lady.”
“How are you to administer it, Mr. Thornberry? Is there any way that my father can get around the stipulation?”
“Not that I can see, my lady. You will be given allowances for clothing and personal needs. All the bills will come directly to me and I will pay them myself. If you wish to give your father your pocket money, I will not be able to stop you, but he will not be able to make any large purchases.”
“I see,” Ginny muttered, looking down at her hands and trying to decide the best way to break the news to her father.
“You
Be taken? Ginny resisted the urge to raise an eyebrow. The man was a pig and his body finally gave up. She doubted he had ever done even the bare minimum to ensure better health. Regardless, Ginny returned the attorney's smile and asked, “My father told me of certain... requests he had Lord Essex put in the marriage contract. I have to say that I'm not entirely comfortable with those arrangements.”
Putting his teacup down on the small table next to his chair, Mr. Thornberry asked, “Which arrangements are you referring to, my lady?”
“My inheritance, to be more precise. Twenty thousand pounds and five thousand a year.”
“Oh,” Mr. Thornberry responded before looking down. “I assure you that Lord Essex will take care of you, my lady. At least until you remarry.”
“Remarry?” she asked. Of course. Drake would not continue to pay her after she became another man's wife. Was that the story? She would end up married to Grant and her father would have no further claim to her? It sounded just contrived enough to be true.
“Yes, my lady.” Mr. Thornberry turned a shade of pink and looked over her shoulder. Something was clearly bothering him.
“Is there a problem, Mr. Thornberry?” Of course there was a problem. It was a romance novel after all.
Leaning forward in his chair, Mr. Thornberry took on a conspiratorial posture. Placing her cup on the tea tray, Ginny leaned forward as well. The attorney licked his lips, probably trying to put off what he was about to say. Ginny raised her eyebrows in question and it finally sparked the man to speak.
“Your father never read through the final wedding contract, my lady.”
“Didn't he?” she asked, not knowing where the conversation was going.
“No. Lord Essex made some essential changes to their agreement counting on your father to be... inattentive.”
“Changes? How?” Ginny was beginning to feel a ray of hope. Did Lord Essex screw over her father? As wonderful as that thought was, did he also screw over Ginny?
“Your father demanded twenty thousand pounds and five thousand a year, my lady, which Lord Essex did grant. However, there are many strings attached to the money.”
“For instance?” Ginny was beginning to grow a little impatient with the man. Why couldn't he just spit it out?
“You will stop receiving the annual stipend upon remarrying, but I already told you that. The twenty thousand pounds will be placed into a trust to be administered by myself. The trust is very specific in how the money can be spent.”
“Meaning?”
“None of the money can be used to benefit your father in any way.”
A bubble of joy rose in Ginny's throat, and she stopped herself just in time to keep from laughing out loud. Drake hadn't been stupid. He knew that the Thomas family had been playing him for his money. He meant to punish Nigel in the event Drake died first. Brilliant.
“Is that the only stipulation or does that include my brother as well?”
“I am afraid that your brother is also named as not being able to benefit, my lady.”
“How are you to administer it, Mr. Thornberry? Is there any way that my father can get around the stipulation?”
“Not that I can see, my lady. You will be given allowances for clothing and personal needs. All the bills will come directly to me and I will pay them myself. If you wish to give your father your pocket money, I will not be able to stop you, but he will not be able to make any large purchases.”
“I see,” Ginny muttered, looking down at her hands and trying to decide the best way to break the news to her father.
“You
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