The Passing Bell Tolls for Thee

15 Tea and Taxes

April warmed her hands on a mug of strong, hot, black tea and honey. She watched Ben eat a savory tart, then select a scone. The body in the bog hadn't bothered his healthy appetite.

"I need to talk something over with you, Ben," she said. "Now is not a good time, but it can't wait. It affects inheriting Oakton."

Drew froze. What's wrong now? Has the silly chit fallen in love with Geoff. Could she possibly be stupidly romantic enough to give up her inheritance for the handsome vet? He set the half-eaten scone down, and said, "Tell me everything. Start at the beginning."

The news upset him, and she wondered why. She drank her tea to gain time. Smokey looked up at her from his place on the floor by her feet. She gave him a morsel of beef sandwich, then looked directly at Ben.

"Two days ago I got a letter from the accountant who does my taxes. As an American citizen, I'll owe income tax for income over the threshold for income earned here. I'll earn that much this year with the farm income. I'll also owe British inheritance taxes for inheriting Oakton. Plus, there are the expenses of rebuilding the barn and the last few years of the pandemic the farm profits are down. If I sell any part of my inheritance, that's taxable, too. I'm like 99.5% certain I can't pay it without going into major debt." She sighed, but was startled by Drew's reaction.

Drew threw his scone across the kitchen. April turned to watch the pastry fly, and gasped when it hit the window and fell onto the counter. April turned to Drew, scowling, lips tight. "What was that all about?"

"Damn," Drew whispered under his breath. He hadn't considered taxes enough in making out the new will.

"What?"

"Drat. Didn't realize that." Drew hadn't mentioned to the solicitor who drew up the new will that April was a US citizen. He anticipated her inheriting the entire estate, which he would have when he took her as a vessel. Ben had been too supportive of inheriting the majority of the estate to mention. Drew had a thought. Perhaps Ben had understood the taxes and expenses of the new will, and not mentioned them to increase his chances of getting Oakton. "Sorry about the crumbs." He went to the counter and swept the crumbs into the dustbin.

"Yeah, well," April said. "It's going to make a difference. Just working for Mr. Ramsey taxes were OK, since he paid my expenses. I saved a lot of money. If Oakton is worth £1,500,000, I'll have to sell it to pay the taxes. Or, part of it, at least. I know that baron, um, Lord Kennet, wants to buy the oak forest and some of the pasture that borders his land."

"Oakton remains intact. Nothing will be sold."

"What?"

"There's a clause in the estate that it must remain whole. Oakton has belonged to the Ramsey's since before the Norman conquest. You can't inherit if you sell before a year. If the estate is broken up, you'll get the other inheritance."

"I wondered about that. Maybe that's why its best to find someone who'll buy it all. I think I'm going to have to take the other option."

Drew's hand tightened on his cup. He wanted to hurl it against the wall, and smash everything he could. He hadn't prepared for this. If April took the £100,000 instead of inheriting Oakton, and left Wiltshire, he was stuck in Ben's body. He couldn't live as Ben much longer; he didn't know enough about him. Too many people already noticed changes in his personality and talked about it. Ben's parents called and called, wanting him to visit. No way. They'd never accept the changes in their son or his ignorance of their lives.

People were gossiping. People Ben should know, he didn't. Ben's ex-girlfriend, the Hon. Anabel Lyon-Wisse, was telling people he was like a stranger. Of course he was. He was Drew Frances Ramsey, born in 1631, and had been master of Oakton since 1658, and intended to remain master.

"If that's how it has to be, don't rush it. You'll being paid your wages till Ostara. It's a lot of money. You'll forfeit that and the £100,000 if you go earlier."

"I know." She eyed his hands gripping his mug till the knuckles turned white. Why is he so upset? She reached for another beef sandwich. "I'm going to stay until Ostara. I just wanted you to know it looks like I'll have to give Oakton up. That means you'd be the heir, right?"

"Yes," he said slowly, furious that his plans had again been altered. First, she wasn't available because of her sister-in-law's funeral; now she might give up the inheritance because of taxes. He didn't dare let Ben inherit Oakton. He'd never be accepted as Ben. He had to have a vessel who could inherit Oakton and be accepted by the local people. Years wasted if April got away.

He examined the young woman sitting across from him. Perhaps he could marry her. She wasn't his type, not English enough or with the right breeding. He reconsidered Ben's former girlfriend, Anabel, with aristocratic English good looks, an athletic body, and the right, wealthy, titled family, and still in love with Ben.

April looked back at him, puzzled by his scrutiny. He knew for some reason he didn't appeal to her, so marriage was off the table. Marrying her, then killing her and inheriting? No. Too many questions, and too dangerous to live as Ben.

Taking over a new vessel had never been so much trouble or so dangerous. Never. He sent his heirs to schools where he could avoid contact with their classmates and friends after he took the body. People in Pelham didn't know them well, and never thought much of any differences in the new heir. The staff at Oakton was always pensioned off if they'd been at all familiar with the new master. The heirs' names always included Drew, or Drea for heiresses. Having the same or similar name saved him much trouble over the centuries.

He'd find a new vessel; he always had. He smiled at a sudden inspiration. Anabel. He could take her as vessel, if there was no other. He'd known her all her life; she was a baron's daughter. Rekindle Ben's relationship with her, marry her, and leave her everything in his will before transitioning to her. A good second choice. He could distance later himself from her family. Travel. Or, we could have children. I'd take over the new heir. Yeah, maybe. I'll need to be at Oakton for King's Oak Druids, but I can manage that.

"Did I say something funny?" April was staring at him over her teacup, disturbed by his expression.

He focused on the present. He'd been too distracted planning for a different vessel.

"Oh, no, April, not at all. Sorry. I realized how I might fulfill Mr. Ramsey's wishes for Oakton. What will you do if you take the money?"

"I guess I'll travel for a little. I'd like to go to France and Italy before I return home."

That pleased him. She'd be out of the way. Otherwise, too bad for her.

He finished his tea. "Travel will be good for you. You've been so restricted here. He smiled at her. "Just don't give up the idea of Oakton yet, please. I'll have to check on inheritance and estate taxes before we make any decisions. Fate may favor you." Better still, Hydd will favor me.