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Authors: Kathleen Kirkwood
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and have little family on which to rely, you will necessarily feel forced to seek a new position elsewhere.’"
Vanessa kept her gaze fastened on the solicitor, aware of the others’ directed at her. Oddly, she felt the weight of the viscount's gaze most of all.
"’Vanessa, do not. Do not seek another position, I pray you. Instead, I encourage you to be daring, to take a chance—on life and on yourself. You are a first rate photographer with an excellent eye, as they say. Pursue your gift, my dear. Develop your skills to your fullest potential.
"'To help you to that end, I have written letters of introduction to some of the leading studios in London. Their owners are long acquaintances of mine. Hopefully, you will gain entrance there, if that is your wish. Another possibility you might consider is to assemble your photographs from our journeys and collect them into a book for publication. Picture travelogues are all the passion these days and should bring you a tidy sum.
"'You must find your own way, Vanessa, create your own special niche in the field. This will not be easy. It is difficult for a woman to support herself, even in these enlightened times. Still, I encourage you to attempt to establish yourself in photography. With that in mind, I call upon my nephew, Adrian, to lend his assistance.'"
Vanessa's gaze leaped to Lord Marrable's and found surprise equal to her own in their depths.
"'Adrian, it is my wish for you to be in fact, Mrs. Wynters' benefactor, temporarily at least, by assigning to her whatever remains in my accounts of my personal annual allowance.
"'In closing, I encourage you, my dear nephews and nieces, to watch over one another. Marrable blood is strong and constant and binds you together always.
"'And now I do close, content in the knowledge that as you read these words I will have taken up my long rest and sleep at Royal Sherringham.'"
Everyone sat silent as Mr. Whitmore placed Lady Gwendolyn's will on the desk, open for all to review. He then delivered into Vanessa's hands a neat stack of letters tied with a blue satin ribbon.
One by one, those in the room began to rise from their chairs. Lord Marrable remained seated, however, giving his attention to a slim ledger he'd withdrawn from a drawer. At the same time, he bid the solicitor to his side.
"So, Vanessa, what will you do?" Lawrence smiled, offering her a hand as she rose to her feet.
"I'm not sure. There is so much to think on. I imagine I'll have time enough to sort it out in Hampshire."
She glanced to Mr. Whitmore who bent to examine something in the viscount's book and then straightened and offered some comment.
Vanessa turned back to Lawrence. "Excuse me. I should arrange for the equipment and supplies to be sent on. I really must hurry if I am to catch my train."
Vanessa moved to stand before the wide desk and waited for Mr. Whitmore to conclude his conversation with the viscount. When he did, the viscount made a notation in his book that caused the solicitor's brows to rise. The men's eyes then turned to her in unison. She took a self-conscious swallow, but before she could open her mouth to make her request, Mr. Whitmore began to speak.
"Mrs. Wynters, on reviewing Lady Gwendolyn's account, Lord Marrable has noted that, it now being September, only one-fifth of the funds allotted his aunt annually now remain. They are deposited the first of each December, you see, which coincides with the anniversary of the late viscount's death and the establishment of the fund."
"Yes, of course. I understand." Vanessa's heart sank a little. Not that she hoped for a great sum, but establishing herself in the field of photography would take time and be costly. There was, also, no guarantee she would find entrance into the London studios to help sustain her.
For one brief moment she'd dared entertain the thought of following Lady Gwen's advice. But she didn't see
Vanessa kept her gaze fastened on the solicitor, aware of the others’ directed at her. Oddly, she felt the weight of the viscount's gaze most of all.
"’Vanessa, do not. Do not seek another position, I pray you. Instead, I encourage you to be daring, to take a chance—on life and on yourself. You are a first rate photographer with an excellent eye, as they say. Pursue your gift, my dear. Develop your skills to your fullest potential.
"'To help you to that end, I have written letters of introduction to some of the leading studios in London. Their owners are long acquaintances of mine. Hopefully, you will gain entrance there, if that is your wish. Another possibility you might consider is to assemble your photographs from our journeys and collect them into a book for publication. Picture travelogues are all the passion these days and should bring you a tidy sum.
"'You must find your own way, Vanessa, create your own special niche in the field. This will not be easy. It is difficult for a woman to support herself, even in these enlightened times. Still, I encourage you to attempt to establish yourself in photography. With that in mind, I call upon my nephew, Adrian, to lend his assistance.'"
Vanessa's gaze leaped to Lord Marrable's and found surprise equal to her own in their depths.
"'Adrian, it is my wish for you to be in fact, Mrs. Wynters' benefactor, temporarily at least, by assigning to her whatever remains in my accounts of my personal annual allowance.
"'In closing, I encourage you, my dear nephews and nieces, to watch over one another. Marrable blood is strong and constant and binds you together always.
"'And now I do close, content in the knowledge that as you read these words I will have taken up my long rest and sleep at Royal Sherringham.'"
Everyone sat silent as Mr. Whitmore placed Lady Gwendolyn's will on the desk, open for all to review. He then delivered into Vanessa's hands a neat stack of letters tied with a blue satin ribbon.
One by one, those in the room began to rise from their chairs. Lord Marrable remained seated, however, giving his attention to a slim ledger he'd withdrawn from a drawer. At the same time, he bid the solicitor to his side.
"So, Vanessa, what will you do?" Lawrence smiled, offering her a hand as she rose to her feet.
"I'm not sure. There is so much to think on. I imagine I'll have time enough to sort it out in Hampshire."
She glanced to Mr. Whitmore who bent to examine something in the viscount's book and then straightened and offered some comment.
Vanessa turned back to Lawrence. "Excuse me. I should arrange for the equipment and supplies to be sent on. I really must hurry if I am to catch my train."
Vanessa moved to stand before the wide desk and waited for Mr. Whitmore to conclude his conversation with the viscount. When he did, the viscount made a notation in his book that caused the solicitor's brows to rise. The men's eyes then turned to her in unison. She took a self-conscious swallow, but before she could open her mouth to make her request, Mr. Whitmore began to speak.
"Mrs. Wynters, on reviewing Lady Gwendolyn's account, Lord Marrable has noted that, it now being September, only one-fifth of the funds allotted his aunt annually now remain. They are deposited the first of each December, you see, which coincides with the anniversary of the late viscount's death and the establishment of the fund."
"Yes, of course. I understand." Vanessa's heart sank a little. Not that she hoped for a great sum, but establishing herself in the field of photography would take time and be costly. There was, also, no guarantee she would find entrance into the London studios to help sustain her.
For one brief moment she'd dared entertain the thought of following Lady Gwen's advice. But she didn't see
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