As his carriage passed the gateposts, he saw the black bunting hanging from them. If he had missed that sign indicating this was a house in mourning, the black wreath on the front doors would have informed him of that fact.
As he approached, the door was opened by the butler wearing a black armband. Zane was led towards the main drawing room. As he walked, he girded his loins for the upcoming battle he was sure would be fought with Lady Catherine when she discovered that none of her dreams of ownership would ever be gratified. Not that, in his memory, the lady had ever allowed facts to deter her. He took a deep breath, preparing himself to maintain his equanimity in the face of the woman’s stupidity and ridiculousness as the butler stepped into the room and announced him.
Rather than screeching from his client’s widow, Zane was treated to blissful peace when he entered the room. Lord and Lady Matlock, their youngest son, and their nephew were waiting for him.
Regardless of how sombre they were as they mourned Anne, Matlock had to fight a grin when he noticed Zane’s surprise at not being accosted by the former mistress’s strident tones. “Welcome. As you can tell, my sister is no longer with us,” Matlock drawled.
“Is that why the house is in mourning?” Zane enquired.
“No. Most regrettably that is for our niece, Anne de Bourgh,” Matlock clarified. “When I said not with us, I meant in this house. She is in Hunsford’s gaol. She was arrested for the murder of her daughter.”
“She thought she would inherit the estate if her daughter could not,” Zane suddenly realised.
“As disgusting as that is, yes, Mr Zane. That is exactly what my former sister-in-law thought,” Lady Elaine said with disgust. “She is far more despicable than any of us ever imagined.”
“Will you allow justice to be done, or will Lady Catherine be hidden in some asylum to avoid a possible scandal?” Zane enquired of the Earl.
“None of us will intercede; even if, as she will be, my sister is found guilty, she is sentenced to swing. Murdering my niece, who would not have harmed a gnat, ensured her fate. It is up to the courts. I sent one of my couriers to Devonshire House soon after my sister’s arrest. The man arrived this morning with the reply. Devonshire will support us and make sure that little or nothing will be turned into fodder for the gossips in London,” Matlock related.
“After the denizens of theTonsaw what happened to Miss Bingley, none of them will chance being the recipient of the same ruin,” Lady Elaine added.
Extracting a sealed missive from his satchel, Zane went on to say, “In that case, my first task is to hand this letter to Colonel Fitzwilliam from Sir Lewis. Once you have read it, I will answer any questions you have.”
Richard could not imagine why his late uncle had written a letter to him. As he accepted the sealed correspondence from the solicitor, he looked at his family members. His mother and Liam looked as confused as he did. His father, however, had an inscrutable look on his countenance. Rather than attempt to divine what his sire meant, Richard took the letter and broke the seal.
Once he unfolded the sheets, he could see that the script was a little faded, but readable, nevertheless. Richard began to read.
6 September 1791
Richard,
Be not discomposed at reading this letter. As it is in your hands, then one of two things has occurred. I will pray the first, not the second, has come to pass.
As much as I love my darling Annie, I know that her bout of scarlet fever left her seriously weakened with a damaged heart and lungs. Just as I look at my own mortality with my weak heart (which is why I am making sure my affairs are in order now,) I have to be realistic about what Anne will and will not be able to do in the future.
Hence, I have made provisions for two scenarios to make sure that my wife will never sink her talons into my beloved estate. Either:
If, as I suspect, Anne is too weak to marry and will not be able to manage her property (the estate, wealth, and de Bourgh House), when that determination is made and agreed upon unanimously by my executors (your father and Uncle Robert) and my solicitor (Rupert Zane), then what I list below the 2nd scenario will come into effect.
If the worst has happened and my Annie is no longer in the mortal world, then no determination by my executors and solicitor is needed.
Regardless of which of the above has come to pass, you, Richard, are my heir.
Before you object: at the time of writing this letter, I only have three nephews (I am the last of the de Bourghs in my line), and both Andrew and Fitzwilliam (I will not call him Fitz, as I know he dislikes it) own, or will own, large estates of their own.
Thanks to the way the entail on Matlock properties has been designed, you on the other hand, will not have any property of your own and will need to shift for yourself.
Due to the occurrence of one of the two above possibilities, it is all yours, Richard. The estate, the funds held in trust, and the house in London. You are NOT enjoined from changing de Bourgh House’s name. If you choose to do so, know thatyou have my blessing to choose a name which you prefer.
