Milly’s head had been whirling as she left Joseph’s house. Her father had left her money. She had money... a great deal of it.
Pulling up the hood of the cloak so no one could see her face, she had walked aimlessly for a while, until she could at least find a rational thought inside her head.
What should I do now?
For so long her course had been to stay out of sight, find work, and simply exist, but now everything had changed. If, as Joseph suspected, the danger no longer existed due to her father’s death, then was she free to live the life she chose?
“Dear God, is it possible?” she whispered.
Looking at the sheaf of papers still clutched in her hand, she saw the name of her father’s lawyers on the top piece. Surely that was a good place to start?
She had some coins in her purse that the Wimplestow family had given her, so she would use those to get a hackney there. She soon flagged one down.
“Where would you like to go, madam?”
“Well as to that, sir, I know the name but not the address.”
“What’s the name?”
The man wore a cap low over his eyes, and a thick scarf pulled up to his ears to ward off the cold.
“Harby, Newman, and Stathe. They are lawyers, sir.”
The man thought about that.
“I think their rooms are in Bell’s Court, madam. Shall we try there first?”
Milly fished out her coins and handed them to him.
“Take me as far as these go, please.”
“Right, they’ll get you there and back again, should you wish it.”
“Thank you.”
The drive was not a long one, and Milly once again grappled with her change in circumstance and what this meant for her. What did she want to do with this sudden wealth that she had acquired?
“I want a home,” she whispered. “A warm one, with plenty of food.” For the first time since leaving the Wimplestow family, she smiled.
The offices of Harby, Newman, and Stathe were indeed in Bell’s Court. She gave the name of Lady Millicent Lawrence to the clerk, and was asked to wait while he went to tell someone she was here.
“Lady Millicent!”
A tall, immaculately dressed man appeared suddenly before her. He wore small round spectacles and had a wide smile on his face.
“My name is Mr. Harby, and how I had hoped this day would eventually come!”
The man rushed forward and took her hand. Squeezing it, he urged her to follow him into an office.
“Your father told me to expect that one day you would arrive in my offices. I am pleased today is that day!”
“Ah... yes, I see. But how is it that I have this money, when I know there is a distant cousin somewhere who has inherited my father’s title?”
“Your father made a special provision for you before he died. The new Marquess has considerable wealth, and had no wish to contest your portion. He is a man who is used to frugal means, and lives in the country with his wife and children.”
Milly nodded, trying to take in this news.
“Indeed, he was most adamant that should you come to me, I direct you to him, should you wish to meet with him and his family, that is.”
