Talia did not feel elated. In fact, she did not feel anything. She had not been anticipating receiving anything from Jonathan, and hearing it now only sharpened the numbness that had settled in her heart since she had laid him to rest.
In a way, she was glad she could continue treating her patients, and with the additional income, she would be able to procure costly ingredients that had run out.
She thought of Jonathan’s cousin and vaguely remembered Jonathan speaking of him fondly. Apparently, he was much too far away to visit, so they had never been introduced. Shewondered if he would come visit once he heard he had an inheritance to claim.
Shaking the thoughts out of her head, she turned to the solicitor.
“What is the bad news, then?” she asked.
“Neither ye nor Mr. Boyd’s cousin can claim the inheritance until ye are married,” he stated. “He has given the responsibility of yer care and finding ye a suitable match to his cousin.”
“Pardon?” she sputtered, rising from her seat in her outrage.
“Those were the conditions set by Mr. Boyd,” the solicitor said, looking remorseful. “I understand it may nae be palatable to hear, but?—”
“Indeed, it isnae palatable,” she interrupted. “I told him I never wished to marry. Why would he do this? And I daenae need anyone to be responsible for me. I can take care of meself. Ihavebeen taking care of meself.”
“I believe he wanted to see ye protected, Miss Collins,” the solicitor suggested in a placid tone. “And what better protection is there for ye than to be with a husband to care for?—”
She shot him such a scathing glare that he clamped his mouth shut.
“What danger could I possibly be in?” she scoffed. “I am perfectly content and happy with me work as a healer. I daenae need a husband.”
“I am sorry, Miss Collins,” he said, rising, “but those are his conditions. Ye either marry, or neither ye nor his cousin get anything.”
Talia was filled with anger at the man who had loved her like his own, but now was too far for her to voice her displeasure at his underhanded tricks.
She had thought her well-stated arguments against the institution of marriage had finally made him accept her decision, but it seemed that he was still adamant on the matter even in the hereafter.
Well, if he was intent on being an odious oaf, she could very well be the same. After all, he had raised her to be like him.
She had already gotten by without his money these past two months. She would continue to sustain herself even if it meant that she would have to find other accommodations. No matter, she would survive.
“I thank ye for coming, Mr. McCain, but I believe I am perfectly fine without the inheritance,” she declared. “I daenae wish to marry, so ye might as well just donate it to charity.”
“I daenae think the other inheritor would agree with yer decision, Miss Collins,” he cautioned, rising from his seat.
“Let’s just hope that he continues to think I am too far for him to concern himself with me business,” she answered, squaring her shoulders. “Since he has stayed away for so long, he had better keep doing so.”
She had no intention to change her mind, and some distant relative would not change that.
“Miss Collins?—”
“I shall see ye to the door, Mr. McCain,” she interrupted, turning to the door. “I believe we have both made our points sufficiently clear to each other. I daenae wish to be married, so I forfeit all that was left to me. Ye wasted yer time in coming here.”
She stepped out into the hallway, breathing deeply, and went to the front door. She needed this man with his aggravating news to leave her in peace.
Her mind was running in many different directions, and she knew it would not settle until she was left well alone.
“I am sorry to have offended ye, Miss Collins,” he said contritely as he stepped out into the cold air. “But I must tell ye that it is stipulated that I cannae give the money away until a month from the day ye’re informed of the terms of the will.”
“I have told ye that I daenae intend to marry, so I daenae care about the money,” she told him with a frown. “Daenae wait on me account.”
After slamming the door in his face, she leaned back against the wood and let out an angry breath. Her bravado left her as soon as she heard his steps retreating, her knees trembling.
She had wanted to escape this house since Jonathan’s funeral, but she did not think it wouldnotbe on her own terms.
Squaring her shoulders, she steeled her resolve.
