“The accountant’s number is on the document. The firm can advise on the taxation side and has a representative for wealth management. Sir Dacre had a good working relationship with them.”
Wealth management? I was barely breaking even with the veterinary practice.
“Uh, okay. Thank you for coming.”
“Good luck,” he said, but his face said, “Don't fuck it up.”
“What in the ever-loving fuckery is this?” I muttered to myself as soon as the door closed.
I began to flick through the highlighted sections of the old man’s will. I had to live in the mansion and sleep in the master bedroom. I couldn't sell any portion of the estate. It could only be inherited by my heir(s). The property or surrounding land could not be altered. If I did all this and kept the original staff, I would have access to millions of pounds.
If I hadn’t remembered the dog, I would have tossed the solicitor out on his ear, thinking it was a scam.
There was a knock on the door.
“Come in,” I said in a daze.
Aliya popped her head in.
“There is a man here saying he is your driver,” she said with a grin. “Ooh, la lah.”
“Don’t,” I groaned. “Can you call Jenna to see if she can work for the next week?”
At least I could hire the young woman now. She was a great vet and hard-working to boot. I grabbed my handbag and carefully folded the will into it.
When I stepped outside, my jaw dropped upon seeing the excessively long car. Of course, it had to be a Rolls Royce. The door opened, and a handsome man stepped out. He was giving me Thor vibes but in a suit.
“Ms Kincaid,” he said, opening my car door.
I smiled at him before sitting in the car. When I glanced at the practice, Aliya and Carolyn had their noses pressed to the window. I shook my head and sat back, wondering what a lady of a manor did all day.
The Rolls-Royce glided up the winding drive, tyres crunching gravel that sparkled unnaturally in the afternoon light. My breath fogged the window as Dacre Mansion loomed into view, its jagged Tudor silhouette cutting into the leaden sky. The mullioned windows reminded me of my village church. It seemed wrong to have them in a home—creepy.
“Ms. Kincaid?” Owen's voice startled me. He stood holding the car door, his perfect smile not quite masking how his pupils dilated black when the mansion's shadow fell across his face.
The oak doors groaned open before we reached them, revealing a skeletal woman backlit by flickering sconces. Her knuckles cracked audibly as she clasped them.
I'm Mrs. Denby, the housekeeper,” she said in a voice like dry parchment. “Welcome home.” The words slithered between teeth too uniform for a woman her age. A strange chemical sweetness clung to her woollen dress. It was not the formaldehyde I knew from veterinary labs, but something older and earthier.
“Hello,” I said with a nervous smile.
As she turned, the hallway lights revealed odd discolourations at her wrists. They weren't age spots but patches of skin that looked polished—as if her very flesh had been preserved.
I was sure her face would splinter if she smiled.
“If you follow me, Ms Kincaid. I will introduce you to the staff once you have settled in.”
When I entered the house, the stonework, woodwork, golden tapestries, and paintings stole my breath. I was in awe and instantly understood why he didn't want such a beautiful property altered.
Why would he give everything to his vet?
I followed Mrs Denby up the grand staircase. The dark wooden bannister was exquisite. We reached a partial landing, and two tall windows arched at the top. The pretty turquoise patterns made me pause to admire the classwork.
The house had been built in the 1500s with a few extensions added on in later years, or so Google told me. Mrs Denby cleared her throat, and I reluctantly went up the stairs. There would be plenty of time to explore the mansion.
Red carpet, long halls, and a sharp right. She opened a large wooden door for me. I stepped inside and saw most of the wall had crafted wooded panels. I twirled around when the door closed. Mrs Denby had left.
The bed was a huge four-poster bed. It had a wooden canopy with a green and gold covering and drapes surrounding it. I was about to step forward to admire the posts when I noticed the lump on the mattress.
