Read Online Moonshadows by Mary Ann Artrip - Free Book Online Page B

their cars to drive the short distance back to the house. Duffy held open the door of the Rolls and Janet crawled in. The rain drummed on the roof of the car and the continuing slap-slap-slap of the wipers and the warm air humming from the heater had a hypnotic effect on her. She would have liked to curl up in the corner of the back seat and go to sleep, but procedure took precedence over preference.
    Back inside the house, Cook began shedding her outer garments before she cleared the front door. “Tea will be served in ten minutes,” she announced.
    Janet climbed the stairs to her room and peeled away the wet clothes and towel-dried her hair. Moments later, they all gathered around the dining table as Cook scurried about seeing that everyone’s needs were attended to.
    A short time later the small group of visitors started to disperse. Janet stood at the front door shaking hands and nodding with a sad smile at offered condolences. Once they were all gone, only the Lancaster intimates remained. Ian Newkirk, properly clad in formal funeral attire, stepped to the doorway of the kitchen. The elderly gentleman, reared in the old guard of gallant chivalry, waited for a break in the conversation before he spoke.
    “Janet, I’m sure you already know the contents of your grandmother’s Last Will and Testament. She informed me just last week that she intended to tell you exactly how it was set forth.” Looking around the table, he pushed back the sides of his broadcloth cutaway and hooked his thumbs into the slit pockets of the gray-striped vest. “While I understand that this is neither the time nor place to be bringing up the matter, I just want all of you to know that you have been more than adequately provisioned.” He nodded. “Janet, when do you plan on returning to Middlebrook?”
    “I thought Saturday, Mr. Newkirk. I promised to be back to work on Monday. So yes, Saturday afternoon, I think.”
    “Very good. Why then do we not schedule the reading of the will for Saturday morning? We can do it here, in your grandmother’s study. With few exceptions, all parties named in the will are present in this room, so I can see no reason for a delay.”
    “Thank you, Mr. Newkirk,” Janet said.
     
    On Saturday morning, the reading of the will held no surprises. The four servants were to continue receiving their full salary for the remainder of their lives. The generous deed was apparently more than expected of the late Madam. Lettie and Cook fought back tears, and Trent and Duffy seemed to have developed the sniffles. Janet thought it little enough for the many years of service rendered. The conditions for the bulk of the estate were set forth in precise detail. It was just as her grandmother had related to Janet the evening before she died.
    Mr. Newkirk refolded the stiff, blue-bound paper.
    “This document will go into probate and be filed at the courthouse for public inspection. Once that is done, we can only hope that either Isabella or Etienne hear about the death and chooses to come forward.” He removed his glasses and placed them on the desk. “In the meantime, the entire estate will remain as it exists today until the year has ended.” He returned his glasses, settled them on his face, and began stacking papers back into his briefcase. “Do you have any questions, Janet?”
    “Has there been no news about Etienne—nothing at all?”
    “I’m afraid not. I’ll let you know when I hear something.”
    Janet nodded.
    He snapped the lock on the case and picked it up. “Fine. I’ll leave you then.” He gathered his hat and walking stick and strode to the entrance of the study. At the door, he placed the hat on his head, patted it lightly and turned back toward the group. “Good day to all of you.”
    The five remained seated, each entertaining their own personal woolgathering. Finally Lettie spoke.
    “I had no idea Madam would be so generous.”
    The others looked up and nodded at what must have been a