It took Henrietta a moment to recover, then she gathered up her skirt with one hand and turned to join her aunt and Lawyer Stone. ‘Legal nit-picking. Mr Stone did not see fit to tell me why you are intruding in my affairs, but since you are here I suggest it is time the will was read.’
As she reached his side the old lawyer got up with more than his usual show of reluctance at leaving a glass of wine. ‘Perhaps we should sit at the table, my dear. Cobham, the box.’
The weasely clerk sidled up and placed a battered document case on the Turkey carpet that covered the long table. Lawyer Stone sat at the head, gesturing the women to take their places either side of him. Under Henrietta's indignant stare Matthew took the heavy carved chair at the other end of the table, his clerk at his elbow. Well, if it was Lawyer's Stone's wish that this total stranger should be privy to her business, so be it. Tomorrow they would be gone and she would be left alone to manage Winterbourne.
As usual, Lawyer Stone took several minutes to prepare himself. First he produced eye-glasses which he polished at length before hooking them over his ears, then he blew his nose noisily on a vast kerchief before sorting the red-taped documents into neatly aligned piles. Henrietta repressed an impatient sigh and sat, hands folded, trying not to fidget. Why were there nervous butterflies in her stomach? She knew this would be a sad and evocative occasion, but she was prepared for it and it would soon be over. Reading the will would finally lay Francis to rest.
Lawyer Stone cleared his throat portentously. ‘The entail under which the estate passed from your father to your brother James, and from him in the absence of sons to your younger brother Francis, still stands. You are of course aware of those terms, Henrietta. We discussed them on the melancholy occasion of James's death.’
Henrietta nodded. ‘I remember. And I remember too how the threat of sequestration hung over us then because neither Francis nor myself would pledge our allegiance to Parliament. Does my godfather's influence with Parliament still protect us from the danger of confiscation?’
‘Indeed, it would do so, if you still needed such protection.’ The lawyer exchanged a sharp glance with Sheridan, then dropped his gaze to the papers before him. 'I am happy to say you no longer need Sir Andrew's influence.’
‘If that means that this pernicious persecution of those whose only crime is loyalty to their sovereign lord the King is at an end, then I am glad of it, although I shall always be grateful to my godfather.’
Aunt Susan stifled a slight yawn. It had grown warm in the long gallery and her mind was doubtless half on the preparations for dinner.
‘So with that threat lifted I am free to continue to manage Winterbourne and its estate? There are many decisions I need to discuss with you – ’
‘Wait.’ Lawyer Stone brought his hand down heavily on the table, making Aunt Susan start guiltily. ‘As you know, the estate is entailed in the male line.’
‘Indeed, yes. When I have a son he will inherit,’ Henrietta stated, surprised this needed repeating.
‘No, what I mean is that the nearest male relative of your father inherits.’ His eyes were fixed on her face, resolution and a strange pity in them.
‘But there are none. My father had no brothers.’
‘Your great-grandfather had.’
‘But surely long dead. My father never spoke of great uncles.’ Henrietta smiled at him, wondering if the Canary wine or increasing age was affecting him, making him pedantic.
‘Yes, but not dead without an heir. Your great-grandfather had but one son by his first wife, but he married again and had another, a half-brother to your grandfather.’ The words fell like stones into a room suddenly silent.
‘Then why have I never heard of these relatives?’ Henrietta demanded. ‘Are you telling me some impostor has emerged hoping to benefit from my bereavement?’
‘My grandfather was estranged from his family over his choice of wife, so much so that he forswore the name of Wynter, adopted his mother’s name, moved to London and took up the profession of the law.’ Matthew's cool voice was like a douche of water, knocking the breath from her lungs.
‘Your grandfather?’ she managed to whisper, although the room was tilting before her eyes. ‘You are my cousin?’
‘Yes, distantly, of a sort. My grandfather was your grandfather’s half brother.’ Suddenly there was concern in his look. ‘Mistress Wynter, you look faint. Nathaniel, fetch wine quickly!’
‘No.’ Henrietta shot the clerk a look of loathing, ignoring Matthew as she turned vehemently to her lawyer. ‘Be plain with me, sir. What does this mean?’
‘It means that Matthew Sheridan, Sir Matthew Sheridan, is heir to Winterbourn.’ Stone removed his eye-glasses and patted her hand. ‘When you have had a moment to compose yourself, my dear, you will realise what a relief it will be to have this heavy burden of responsibility lifted from your frail womanly shoulders.’
Chapter Three
Henrietta rose to her feet, her fingers gripping the silken edge of the table carpet for support. ‘Do you tell me,’ she managed to ask, ‘that this man, this Parliamentarian, is the true heir to Winterbourne?’ She held the lawyer's gaze, refusing to look at Matthew Sheridan, although from the corner of her eye she could see he had pushed back his chair and made a move towards her.
‘That is what I said.’
‘You have seen the proof? There can be no doubt?’ she persisted.
‘I would not be here with him else.’ Mr Stone's professional dignity was affronted but for once she could not care about anyone else’s feelings. ‘Here, read for yourself.’ He pushed a small pile of papers towards her.
Henrietta waved them away. ‘If you say so, then I believe you.’ She bit her lip, trying to order her thoughts, her words. ‘Is there no way it can be set aside?’
Lawyer Stone turned sharply, wincing as he hit his gouty leg against the table. ‘Henrietta, for Heaven’s sake, consider what you are suggesting. It would be exceptional for an unmarried girl to inherit in any case, and certainly not where there is an entail in force. An entail can only be set aside with the agreement of the adult heir in the lifetime of his father.’ He subsided and mopped his reddened face. ‘As a single woman you could never have governed this estate and you should be thankful the Lord has sent a fit and worthy man to relieve you of this unwomanly burden.’