I snorted. “Even my lion is smart enough to know not to engage in a fight he can’t win. This is a whole other level of stupid that’s insulting to animals. Like it would all go away if they beat you or even killed you in front ofwitnesses?” I made it clear I was mocking the Graves men. “She’s an attorney. A very prestigious one. She has a fucking will, idiots.”
Theresa snorted, confirming it. “Of course I updated it.” She shot me a curious look like she was surprised I knew that… But with a hint of guilt. She explained once we were through the portal an hour later. “I left it to Ellie because she could handle the politics, not to punish Aurora.”
“I know. I would have done the same.” I extended my hand to her. “You did this for her. I know you did.”
“Not just me,” she warned, and gave my hand a quick shake. “I still worry about your past, but you’re a better man than I gave you credit for. I wish you luck in the unbinding. I look forward to seeing what you accomplish with your new life.”
That was about the nicest thing Theresa could have said to me that I wouldn’t wonder if she was drugged or I was dreaming. I thanked her and decided to give her an inch going forward as well.
Aurora and the others cried as Theresa told them the truth. Apparently, Ellie had put up most of the money since Theresa hadn’t had the hundreds of millions needed to buy the decade of property taxes… Which were rolled together and with penalties. Wow, I couldn’t even imagine how much that was for such vast, prime land in France.
“Are you really going to rent it back to them?” Aurora asked when she finally wrapped her mind around it.
Theresa snorted. “Of course not. I just said that to taunt them. I have no idea what we will do with it, but I could not stomach allowing horrors to continue there as if they were acceptable. That part of history is over. They still have generations of wealth.” Her lips twitched when I snorted. “Yes, for now.”
Aurora glanced at me. “I am so jealous you got to beat Andrew twice.” She winced when his wife flinched.
Yeah, there were definitely going to be a lot of hurt and sensitive feelings to tiptoe around for a while. I was glad I wouldn’t have to be a part of that constantly.
Unless they were Aurora’s feelings. I only worried about hers.
15
Aurora
There was too much madness constantly and some new female relatives—by birth or marriage—that seemed to be coming out of the woodwork. Then the onslaught of maids and servants and their bastards that came and… Madness. Absolute madness.
Luckily, a few of my older cousins immediately took control of the situation. They handled the servants and made it clear that for the moment, they were working for room and board and understood this was an extreme situation. Especially that we now hadwaymore people than the massive, resort-like house could fit.
Which was why some were demanding we go take over the castle now that Theresa owned it, but most didn’t want to go back to that evil place.
I agreed. I was one of them. It was cursed and would takeyearsfor people to recover enough to not be retraumatized from it. It was mostly the ones who were a bit pompous and wanted to be saved but keep their standing, not liking the idea of becoming working women and “commoners.”
So yes, I was glad my cousins were laying down the law and handling several situations.
One of which was teaching those women how to survive. The servants were going to be in charge of that, most of us repeatedly beating it into others that they needed to learn these skills. It wasn’t an option.
And then of course I had to help teach the servants how to use current machines because my parents had lived so far in the past it was a miracle that the castle even had electricity. Only anything that improved Father’s life was allowed or a consideration. Washing machines to help the servants?
Oh, that was nonsense and a waste.
Uh-huh, sure it was.
He probably spent more having inefficient servants dragging water around and clothes not being as clean as they could be in modern washers than if he just got updated machines and piping. He certainly looked outdated and silly to others. I saw it all of the time even with as much as I was locked up.
A few of my other cousins were married into families who fell onto hard times and they basically became the servants of their in-laws. Their daughters too.
Lovely.
Butit meant they knew how to cook and more. They jumped on the idea of a meal planning business and took charge of that area. I had wanted to remind them that I had money, they were going to sue for money, so there was no reason to push all of this.
Alexis reminded me how much I’d looked for projects and jumped into moving forward. Everyone needed different things, and when people had never had anything of their own, some immediately grabbed onto the chance to fight for more.
It made complete sense and it would keep people focused. I just didn’t want people to think I would be cheap and selfish with them. It was also nice to have all the help because it left me to breathe a bit when I had so much else going on.
Like my first real date.
Ever.
