“No,” the earl agreed. “However, a letter ofone’s wishesdoes speak to the man’s intentions. Is that not true, Mr. Shielding?”
The lawyer looked uncertain. “His wishes are best outlined through a will.”
“Or a letter of one’s wishes,” the earl answered. “We are here to determine what Old Andy wanted, will or not.”
“Property should not be left to a female.”
“That old saw?” The earl shook his head. “Many women in this country own property. Some purchase it themselves and others inherit it. Your views are outdated. Furthermore, The Garland is not some grand estate, although if Mrs. Estep keeps making her improvements, such as curtains, it may begin to look like one.”
Mr. Shielding frowned. Apparently, he wasn’t expecting the earl to be so reasoned, especially in Gemma’s favor.
Neither were the women in the room. Eyebrows were raised in surprise and lips lifted into smiles of hope.
Mr. Thurlowe spoke up. “May I address thematter, my lord?” The doctor and Lord Marsden were great friends. Gemma held her breath for what Mr. Thurlowe would say against her.
He didn’t mince words. “Then the question is, what were Old Andy’s wishes? He purchased this tavern from your father, my lord. Did they not have an agreement?”
Lord Marsden sat back in his chair. “Actually, my father lost The Garland in a game of cards to Andy, and they did have an agreement. Andy was to allow my father to drink his fill whenever he wished.”
“And to use The Garland as the base for the Logical Men’s Society, no?”
“Father supported the Society. He was a member when he was single. However, when he sold the tavern to Andy, he wasmarriedto my mother. So he wasnota member. Such is the problem with our rules of membership. You know, having to be a bachelor or widower and all that?”
“But your father didn’tdisapproveof the Society,” Mr. Thurlowe pressed.
“No, my mother did.” That drew laughter from the ladies.
“She did,” the dowager chimed in.
Mr. Thurlowe ignored them. “Andy was a member of the Society. We were his friends. He wanted it to go to us. I’m even willing to pay Mrs. Estep for her claim, either valid or not.”
“I understand your position,” Lord Marsden said. “However, this letter says differently. Andy’s intent according to his own hand—and wecan all recognize it, few people had a scrawl like Andy’s—is that whatever he owned, which includes The Garland, he wished to go to his niece.”
There was a pause of dead silence.
Gemma could scarcely believe her ears.
“It is my judgment that Mrs. Gemma Estep is entitled to the tavern and all its contents.” Lord Marsden rapped the table in front of him with his empty tea mug as if he had a gavel, and it was done.
She owned The Garland.
Gemma wasn’t the only one stunned, but then a great cheer went up from her supporters. Both Clarissa and Mrs. Warbler put their arms around Gemma and gave her a squeeze.
Several of the Society members had things to say that were not congratulatory, but no one paid attention to them. The duke opened the door. With a nod of his head, he silently ordered them to follow him, and out they stomped. The door’s merry bell tinkled its goodbye.
Gemma saw the dowager watch her son leave. The duchess frowned and then sighed heavily as if there was some burden there. As she turned, her eye caught Gemma’s. “We won,” she mouthed.
Beside her, Clarissa murmured, “I wonder why Lord Marsden was so reasonable. It is certainly out of character.”
“Well, today is a good day for him to turn a new leaf.” Gemma moved to Lord Marsden, who was listening to Mr. Shielding carrying on about the “unfairness” of such a verdict and how itwould destroy good order in the village. The earl seemed to welcome her interruption.
“Thank you, my lord,” she said. “Thank you.”
“Wewillchallenge this,” Mr. Shielding declared.
“That you can,” the earl agreed. “But why?” He’d risen from his chair in that lazy way of his and offered the letter to Gemma, who gratefully took it. “I’d keep that safe if I were you,” he told her, before addressing Mr. Shielding. “There will be a circuit riding judge from London through here sometime soon. You may put your petition to him. Or give it your all and take the matter to Chancery Court. Of course, it will cost money.”
“But we could try.”
