“No, there certainly was not. So, I am not surprised at your difficulty, Mr. Beaumont. But here I am. I'm glad I can be of assistance. Is there a problem with the will?”
He turned to Jane with a look of concern, or what he hoped was concern. Jane smiled encouragingly at him.
“No, but Jane did send a message to me to ask a few questions, and now that you are here, you can hear an official reading of it. It is important that you hear the details of the will, since I could not find you originally to discuss the title officially.
He cleared his throat. “As you know, my lady, your father has already given you some funds as well as this house.” Mr. Beaumont looked around. “That is your money and property entirely for the moment. He hoped that it would give you time to find a suitable marriage partner. But once you are married, the full sum of his wealth and properties will go to you. You know, it is rather unconventional.”
Edward noticed that Jane glanced at him. He wondered if she felt guilty about it all. Could he use that to his advantage to press her into marriage?
“Yes, quite unconventional,” she said. “I wonder, Mr. Beaumont. Why is it that my father wanted me to be wed in order to gain my entire fortune? For will it not all go to my husband then? Isimply wonder what your conversations were at the end of his life.”
“Not exactly,” Mr. Beaumont said. Edward tensed, his gaze turning to the old man, who shifted his glasses again. “Well, the law states that the properties must all go to your husband, yes. The money too, but your father has stipulated how much money should be given to you as your marriage portion.” He pointed at the page.
Edward frowned. That did not sound at all simple.
“And if my husband does not provide that money?”
Mr. Beaumont sighed. “Well, then you would have good reason to take him to court, of course, although in the eyes of the law, I’m afraid, they usually lump the wife in with the husband. They are one in every way.”
Edward tried to keep a satisfied grin from his face. He would certainly win in a court case against her, of course.
“I see.” Jane looked thoughtful. “Thank you, Mr. Beaumont. You have been very helpful. And is there a ‘date’ by which I need to have married?”
“No, but for yourself, I would say the sooner, the better. You have funds now, which I have assisted you in getting intoinvestments, but after a busy season, you may find yourself lacking.
The sooner you marry and come into your fortune and property, my lady, the better. Your father would have wanted it so. Too many people may wish to take advantage. It can be very difficult for a young woman on her own with so much wealth at her fingertips. Your father would have wanted you to be safe.”
Edward saw Jane’s faint smile, but she only looked at Mr. Beaumont briefly before she turned her gaze to her hands. “Thank you again. I will do my best this season.”
Feeling very hopeful now, Edward said, “I think it is wonderful, Jane, that you’ve called in the solicitor to ask your questions. Do you feel they are all answered now?”
She looked at him with a grateful expression. “Yes, very much so, Edward. Thank you.”
“Excellent.” He leaned back in his chair. “Now, Mr. Beaumont, I should like to hear the reading of the will, if you don’t mind.”
“But of course, Lord Claridge. I would be happy to oblige.”
***
An hour later, Jane and Margaret were walking arm in arm down the street to the nearest bookshop.
“I thought we were going to have tea,” Margaret said, putting a hand on her bonnet to keep it from blowing away in the blustery day.
“Can we not feed on books for a time?” Jane asked. “It was far too stuffy in my house with Edward and the solicitor there. He is now speaking with Uncle Hamish, and I wished to leave for a little while.”
“Very well.” Jane could feel Margaret looking at her. “Did it not go well?”
“No, it went well, and there is nothing new that I wasn’t sure about. But it only reminded me of the rush I must be in to get married so that the wealth and property can be secured for me.”
Margaret pulled on her arm with a smile, nodding at an acquaintance as they passed by. “But surely it is all easier now that you have met Lord Balwood.”
Margaret put a hand to her chest and sighed, making Jane roll her eyes even if inside. Her heart flipped. “Why do you say his name as if you are fainting?”
“Because he’s deliciously handsome and a good man, so everyone says. He loves his family dearly, and it may be that he will be the duke sooner rather than later, since his father is in ill health.”
“What do I care about being a duchess, Margaret?” Jane asked a little sharply.
“I am only mentioning it,” Margaret replied, and they paused outside of the bookshop door. She put both hands on Jane’s shoulders and smiled. “You like him; I can tell. I saw the way you looked at each other at the ball, and you’ve told me about the wonderful time at the opera. Please say you will consider him.”
