Page 52 of A Countess of Convenience

“I so doubt it. I have counted on your father’s counsel for these last thirty years. How am I to get on?” Her sobbing grew fiercer, and the fresh handkerchief became sodden.

“Mamma, have you thought any more of going to live with Aunt Lydia?” That would be a good solution, for then the estate could be let, and the outlying land and holdings sold. She and John had talked about their options up until the day she left.

“Oh, why would I wish to reside in Nottingham?” She blew her nose and crumpled the soiled handkerchief in her hand.

“It is a thriving town, Mamma. So much to do and see there. Unlike Marholm that has scarcely half a dozen stalls on Market Day.” Her mother might take more of an interest in life if not constantly reminded of Pappa. Of course, that did not seem to be happening with her and John. Nothing here reminded her of her husband, but she conjured him in her mind, keeping him always close to her.

“I would much rather Lydia come live with me here, but she refuses outright to consider it. Can you persuade her, Judith? I have done all I can do.” She sniffed into a linen handkerchief, newly embroidered in black.

“I’m sure you’ve done enough, Mamma.” Judith couldn’t say she blamed Aunt Lydia for her firm stance. “Thank you, Mary.” The maid brought the tea tray, set out all the best rose-patterned China, curtsied, and left. Judith couldn’t help but envy her. If she could’ve fled the vicinity, she would too. “I will write to Aunt Lydia this afternoon, after Mr. Piper leaves.” The days’ duties kept increasing rather than decreasing, it seemed.

Judith poured and prayed for silence to gather her thoughts. She’d never had any business with Mr. Piper, but needs must when the devil drives.

Inman appeared, his face older than when she’d left a few weeks ago. “Mr. Piper, my lady.”

“Thank you, Inman. Please show him in.” Judith and her mother rose to greet the solicitor.

Of medium height and slight stature, Mr. Piper seemed fidgety for a man of his profession. Judith would’ve thought a solicitor would be more grave, more sure of himself, but this was not the case with the man standing before her. “Please sit down, Mr. Piper.”

“Thank you, my lady. May I render both my condolences on the loss of your father and felicitations on the occasion of your recent marriage?”

“Thank you.” Two sentiments rarely, if ever, joined in a single sentence. “I asked for you to call, Mr. Piper, so that I may begin to have some understanding of the exact disposition of my father’s will.”

“Just so, Lady Haxby.” The little man drew out a sheaf of papers from his satchel, shuffled through them, and handed her several pieces of parchment. “This is your father’s Last Will and Testament. It was drawn up some years ago, upon your marriage.”

Judith took the will and began to peruse it. Her father had spoken to her about it before her marriage, and the deposition of it was as she remembered. As she was an only child, all her father’s wealth and property was to come to her, with a generous settlement for her mother, who would be allowed to live at Ruecroft for the rest of her life should she desire it. That way, her father had said, Mamma would not be burdened with the management of the estate and could carry on with just the daily running of the house. It was a good plan, for Mamma had no idea of land management, not that Judith did either. But she could learn from John, and with John’s overall guidance, keep Ruecroft and its lands producing and profitable for years to come, should Mamma decide to reside there.

She handed the will back to Mr. Piper. “This seems to be in order. If I could get a copy of that made, I’d like to send it to my husband, for his solicitor to look over as well.”

“Very good, my lady.” Mr. Piper slipped the pages back into his well-worn leather case. “Then there is only the matter of your daughter’s inheritance to go over, my lady.”

“My daughter’s inheritance?” Shaking her head, Judith frowned at the man. “There is already a provision in the will, isn’t there? It is for future children, of course, for he wrote this document just after I married but before Anna was born.”

“The document to which I refer, Lady Haxby, is recent.” Mr. Piper dug through the case again and produced two pages. “Your father called on me not long after you returned home in March. He said your daughter was in a precarious position and he wanted to provide for her in the event you yourself did not survive your injuries. He then had me draw up this trust fund, into which he placed five thousand pounds for your daughter’s use alone when she became twenty-one years old or upon her marriage with consent of her parent or guardian. He called me here the day he was taken ill in order to sign the document.”

“May I, Mr. Piper?” Frankly stunned, Judith took the pages and read them thoroughly. It was true. The scrawled signature was her father’s, a little more ragged than usual, but his. Pappa had settled a small fortune on Anna. But why? He had known of Lord Downing’s settlement for Anna, giving the girl Simon’s portion of his estate. Now when Anna had her debut in Society, she’d be the greatest heiress of the Season. “Do you know how he came by this large a sum? It is quite substantial.”

“He told me he had sold a property he’d inherited from a great uncle. As it was quite distant from Cambridgeshire, he didn’t care to keep it and thought this a better way to make use of it.” Mr. Piper looked hesitant then added, “I believe he hoped this would safeguard the girl somehow if Lord Downing attempted to withdraw his funds should your petition for guardianship be granted.”

“Yes, we were very hopeful I would prevail when I first came home. That hope has since been dashed, although my husband is attempting to have the guardianship revoked.” Could this trust somehow be used to force Downing to relinquish Anna? “I shall require a copy of that as well, if you please.”

“Of course, my lady. I will have my clerk copy them and bring them here day after tomorrow.” Mr. Piper rose. “I was sorry to hear of your father’s passing, my lady. However, I believe his property has been left in most capable hands.”

“Thank you, Mr. Piper. Inman will show you out.” Judith sat back down after the solicitor left and turned to her mother. “You have been quiet all this time, Mamma. Is anything wrong?”

“Your pappa confided in me about settling the money on Anna.” Her mother twisted her hands in her lap. “After seeing your condition when you arrived here, he trusted his lordship about as far as he could fling a cat.”

“And neither of you thought fit to tell me this? Mamma, it may have made a difference in the petition.” Although Judith by no means thought that true, still any information could be vital. “I must write to John and relate everything about the will and the trust. He will know how best to use it.”

If only she didn’t have to waste time writing. This news would give another motive as to why Downing might have actively sought Anna’s guardianship. John should get it as soon as possible. With all her heart, she wished she could leave now and bring it to him in person.

That was the issue, pure and simple—she missed her husband. Not only their newly found physical pleasures, although they were reason enough to miss the man, but they had been friends for so long, and had been constantly together for several months now. She valued his counsel and advice quite as much as she had her father’s. And a good deal more than she had ever trusted Simon’s. That she must remain here for weeks, settling her mother somewhere, was galling. If Aunt Lydia proved difficult, the matter could drag on and on. That would simply not do. To have been given a taste of paradise then have it denied for perhaps months would not be countenanced, not while Judith had the means to remedy it. All she needed was a little persuasion.

“Mamma, what would you say to journeying back to London with me until such time as you know your mind about where you wish to reside?” The perfect plan had leaped into Judith’s mind. “You need some diversion from all the sadness here. I am certain you will find old friends in Town who will condole with you and help you to get past the first sting of grief. And it will do both of us good to remain together.”

Her mother’s eyes lit up at the suggestion before reverting to their dull glare. “I am sure dear John would not relish having his mother-in-law underfoot while he is still on his honeymoon. It would be too much of an imposition.”

“Not at all, Mamma.” The inkling of surrender had appeared in that first flash of bright eyes. Enough for Judith to press forward. “John has already extended an invitation to you to come to us whenever and for however long you choose. As to your other point,” Judith’s mouth puckered, “John can scarcely carry on a successful honeymoon when his bride is two days’ ride to the north.”