“I’ll be right in with refreshments, Miss Essie,” Sara assured her as soon as he’d rejoined the others.
“Thank you, Sara. Why is Zander here?”
“Didn’t your aunt mention he’d inherited his family’s estate that borders your aunt’s land a few years ago when his mother died? He’s implemented some very profitable changes since he’s had control. He visited Ferguson’s Folly often before you arrived. Your aunt enjoyed his company. For several years, he’s run cattle on the back fields of Ferguson’s Folly that run along his property.”
“I didn’t know that. Taking advantage of an older lady, huh?” Essie guessed.
“I didn’t get that impression at all. He paid her well. Zander even repaired fences and reseeded the areas your aunt had left unused for years,” Sara corrected her gently.
Thinking of Zander in a positive light was too confusing in the middle of the bustle of the final services for her aunt. Essie fled into the library, remembering her manners to stop and thank the half dozen people filling the chairs and settee in the cozy room again for coming to her aunt’s funeral. She’d hosted a luncheon before the late afternoon funeral for the family and friends who’d attended. This smaller group had returned to meet with the lawyer.
Thankfully in the flurry of getting everyone settled witha post-funeral snack and beverage, Essie was able to gather herself. She sat in Esther’s favorite knitting chair and smoothed a hand over the basket sitting nearby. Marmalade, Esther’s beloved cat, climbed out of the soft balls of yarn to settle on her lap. Essie stroked her fingers over the orange creature’s soft fur. Sara hovered in the room, tending the refreshments.
“If I may begin, Essie?” Mr. Woods addressed her a few minutes later.
When Sara headed for the door to give the family privacy, Mr. Woods stopped her. “Sara, please stay.”
“The servants don’t need to know our business,” Nelson protested with a sneer.
“Sara is much more than a servant,” Essie interjected, frowning at her cousin.He’s such an ass.
“Sara, your attendance is necessary,” the attorney said. Sara nodded and hovered by the door, appearing uncomfortable.
“Go ahead, Mr. Woods. I’d love to hear my aunt’s last wishes.” Essie glared at Nelson, who harrumphed and smacked his plate down on a table nearby.
The attorney completely ignored his tantrum and cleared his throat to draw everyone’s attention back to him. “First off, I’d like to share that I met with Esther Ferguson several times over the years. Her mind was sound, and her focus never wavered. With that established, we’ll begin. I will read her wishes as she dictated them.”
To my faithful servant, Sara, I leave a permanent place in my home without condition of future work. I also leave Sara an annual stipend from an account accessible only by her and funded for fifty years.
“Oh, my. She didn’t need to do that,” Sara said, visibly shocked.
“Sara’s already old. She won’t last fifty more years. Does the money revert to the estate when she dies?” Nelson asked bluntly.
An audible gasp filled the room from everyone except Mr. Woods. Obviously, his recent interactions with Nelson had prepared him for the wildly inappropriate comment. Essie bristled and opened her mouth to come to Sara’s defense, but Mr. Woods answered first.
“No. Sara will need to designate a recipient at her death.”
The lawyer looked toward Sara. “I can handle that for you, Sara. My fee has already been taken care of for that process,” Mr. Woods told her kindly. “Now, moving on. To Nelson….”
Essie’s vile cousin leaned forward. Had Esther left the estate to him?
Mr. Woods cleared his throat before announcing, “Esther suspected Nelson would prosecute if he were left out of her Will. I do not doubt that would have been the case. He had scheduled several meetings with me before her death to attempt to access funds early.”
“I did nothing of the sort, sir,” Nelson blustered indignantly.
The lawyer met Essie’s gaze and nodded slightly to underline the truth of his previous statement before continuing.
To Nelson Ferguson, I leave a lump sum of one hundred thousand dollars with the proviso that if he legally challenges the will, that amount will drop to one dollar. The funds will be held in the local bank and dispensed at ten thousand dollars annually for ten years.
“What the hell! Ten thousand dollars a year won’t help me! That old biddy was worth a million at least.” Nelson twisted in his chair to glare at Essie. “This was your plan all along, wasn’t it, Essie? You returned from Chicago in a grandiose play to make yourself the heiress of her fortune, didn’t you?”
Marmalade stood up to arch his spine at Nelson and hiss. The cat turned away as if he couldn’t stand to look at Nelson and sauntered out the door.
“I came back when she broke her hip because she needed me.We never spoke of her money. That wasn’t important!” Essie defended herself. She glanced around the room, hoping everyone didn’t think she’d had some ulterior motive. Sara stepped forward to wrap her hand around Essie’s shoulder in silent solidarity.
“Nelson, you’re an ass. You lived in town and visited the hospital once when Esther broke her hip. When you figured out she wouldn’t die, you never checked on her there or at home again,” Zander said in a bored-sounding voice.
“I…. I didn’t want to tire the old lady out,” Nelson blustered.
