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Authors: Kathleen Kirkwood
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how it would be remotely possible to do so.
"However," Mr. Whitmore continued, "Lord Marrable, in assuming you wish to pursue your photographic endeavors, desires you have funds enough to carry you for an entire year. Therefore, he proposes to provide you the full annual amount, if you decide to follow that course, that is."
"What?" Majel shrieked from where she now stood, several yards away.
Vanessa ignored the woman's protests, turning widened eyes to Adrian Marrable. She couldn't seem to get her voice to leave her throat.
"I—I don't understand," she managed at last.
"Lord Marrable means to quintuple this figure." The solicitor scribbled numbers on a slip of paper and laid it on the desk before her.
Vanessa gasped aloud at the sum staring back. "Oh, but he can't!"
"No, surely he can't!" Majel rushed forward, intent on viewing the figure for herself. But Lord Marrable stayed her with a hard, layered look.
Slowly he rose from his chair and stood to full height.
"I believe I can do as I please," he said without the trace of a smile, pinning his sister with an icy gaze. "I am, after all, viscount and Master of Sherringham."
Majel took a step back.
"B-But this amount, your lordship." Vanessa's words tumbled over one another. "It's far too excessive. And Lady Gwen had much to say of excess in her will, if you remember. I doubt she'd approve."
Lord Marrable turned toward her, trapping her in his midnight gaze.
"She'd more than approve, Mrs. Wynters. We both know what a generous person she was."
Generosity surely runs in the Marrable family, she thought to herself.
"But why would you make such an offer? You've seen nothing of my work."
A light appeared in his eyes. It was like a small glowing window suddenly illumined from somewhere deep inside.
"I trust in my aunt's faith in your abilities and only wish to honor her request. I would also remind you that my sister, Cissy, has seen your work and spent a good portion of the luncheon praising your skills. The offer stands, Mrs. Wynters. The decision is yours."
Vanessa glanced to the paper again, still stunned by the sudden shift of events. "I—I don't know quite what to say."
"Say yes," Cissy urged as she came to Vanessa's side. "Why, I have a sensational idea. You can stay here and begin your new career, photographing Royal Sherringham. It would be a marvelous project for a picture book."
Lawrence moved to Vanessa's other side. "What a splendid idea. Sherringham is a masterpiece of Gothic Revival architecture and has a long and fascinating history to tell."
"What Lawrence says is true," Cissy quickly added. "We could all help you with the text."
Lawrence pressed closer. "And don't forget the photographs you took on your travels. Aunt Gwen's too. You could publish them in association with her estate. The public is always eager for exotic photographs. Indeed, you must stay at Sherringham." A note of eagerness grew in his voice, and he looked to his brother, smiling. "What do you say to that, Adrian?"
An indefinable look entered Lord Marrable's eyes as his gaze passed from Lawrence to Vanessa and back.
"You are welcome to stay at Royal Sherringham for as long as you please, Mrs. Wynters," he said stiffly but graciously, his dark eyes pulling from Lawrence and returning to her.
Cissy grabbed Vanessa's hands at once and turned her toward her. "Do say you will stay. It's a wonderful idea and the books will be wonderful too. Henry and I plan to remain a while longer. Think of the fun it will be."
Vanessa felt quite overcome, but the plan seemed sound and not even Majel voiced further objection. Of course, that had much to do with the silencing hand Lord Pendergast had placed to her shoulder. In truth, Majel appeared ready to burst with emotion.
Vanessa's eyes drew once more to Lord Marrable. "How can I refuse so generous and kind an offer? Yes, I accept and I will happily
"However," Mr. Whitmore continued, "Lord Marrable, in assuming you wish to pursue your photographic endeavors, desires you have funds enough to carry you for an entire year. Therefore, he proposes to provide you the full annual amount, if you decide to follow that course, that is."
"What?" Majel shrieked from where she now stood, several yards away.
Vanessa ignored the woman's protests, turning widened eyes to Adrian Marrable. She couldn't seem to get her voice to leave her throat.
"I—I don't understand," she managed at last.
"Lord Marrable means to quintuple this figure." The solicitor scribbled numbers on a slip of paper and laid it on the desk before her.
Vanessa gasped aloud at the sum staring back. "Oh, but he can't!"
"No, surely he can't!" Majel rushed forward, intent on viewing the figure for herself. But Lord Marrable stayed her with a hard, layered look.
Slowly he rose from his chair and stood to full height.
"I believe I can do as I please," he said without the trace of a smile, pinning his sister with an icy gaze. "I am, after all, viscount and Master of Sherringham."
Majel took a step back.
"B-But this amount, your lordship." Vanessa's words tumbled over one another. "It's far too excessive. And Lady Gwen had much to say of excess in her will, if you remember. I doubt she'd approve."
Lord Marrable turned toward her, trapping her in his midnight gaze.
"She'd more than approve, Mrs. Wynters. We both know what a generous person she was."
Generosity surely runs in the Marrable family, she thought to herself.
"But why would you make such an offer? You've seen nothing of my work."
A light appeared in his eyes. It was like a small glowing window suddenly illumined from somewhere deep inside.
"I trust in my aunt's faith in your abilities and only wish to honor her request. I would also remind you that my sister, Cissy, has seen your work and spent a good portion of the luncheon praising your skills. The offer stands, Mrs. Wynters. The decision is yours."
Vanessa glanced to the paper again, still stunned by the sudden shift of events. "I—I don't know quite what to say."
"Say yes," Cissy urged as she came to Vanessa's side. "Why, I have a sensational idea. You can stay here and begin your new career, photographing Royal Sherringham. It would be a marvelous project for a picture book."
Lawrence moved to Vanessa's other side. "What a splendid idea. Sherringham is a masterpiece of Gothic Revival architecture and has a long and fascinating history to tell."
"What Lawrence says is true," Cissy quickly added. "We could all help you with the text."
Lawrence pressed closer. "And don't forget the photographs you took on your travels. Aunt Gwen's too. You could publish them in association with her estate. The public is always eager for exotic photographs. Indeed, you must stay at Sherringham." A note of eagerness grew in his voice, and he looked to his brother, smiling. "What do you say to that, Adrian?"
An indefinable look entered Lord Marrable's eyes as his gaze passed from Lawrence to Vanessa and back.
"You are welcome to stay at Royal Sherringham for as long as you please, Mrs. Wynters," he said stiffly but graciously, his dark eyes pulling from Lawrence and returning to her.
Cissy grabbed Vanessa's hands at once and turned her toward her. "Do say you will stay. It's a wonderful idea and the books will be wonderful too. Henry and I plan to remain a while longer. Think of the fun it will be."
Vanessa felt quite overcome, but the plan seemed sound and not even Majel voiced further objection. Of course, that had much to do with the silencing hand Lord Pendergast had placed to her shoulder. In truth, Majel appeared ready to burst with emotion.
Vanessa's eyes drew once more to Lord Marrable. "How can I refuse so generous and kind an offer? Yes, I accept and I will happily
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