THE HEIRESS (Sample)

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

      SIX WEEKS LATER
The doors opened and Emilia who had returned a fortnight ago gracefully walked into the semi-lounge, her lady-in-waiting behind her.

She looked charming in her beige gown. She acknowledged the Marquess and Lord Williams who were seated at the left side of the lounge. She smiled warmly at the familiar lawyer who was seated in the sofa in front of the large window looking into the courtyard, his briefcase beside his well-polished shoes.

He was well-dressed with his thick glasses resting on the upper bridge of his nose and his grey hair shiny from good care and nicely cut.

He hadn’t really changed since Emilia last saw him, Four years ago.

“I apologize for keeping you all waiting. my sincere apologies.” She smiled winsomely as she sat down on the right sofa at the other end of the room. She bid Matilda to sit down on a stool behind her and smoothed her skirts.

Obediently sitting on a stool, Matilda and the Marquess exchanged uncomfortable glances which went unnoticed.

The lawyer cleared his throat, placed his brief case on his lap and pulled out a file before returning the brief case to his feet. “Now that both parties are present...” He began, adjusting his glasses. “I ask permission to begin.”

“Please do!” said Emilia, her smile not waning a bit.

The lawyer cleared his throat again and opened his file. “Huh... before I proceed, I will like everyone here not to dispute whatever I say here today. It is my jurisdiction to read the late Duchess' Will as she had had me written and stamped with her seal stamped to clarify this legal declaration which must be legally executed. There is no foul play here at all and whatever I say is what the late duchess said in her exact words and I will not like to be interrupted, I beseech everyone in this room.”

Lord Williams silently rubbed his palms in glee of what he knew would be to his advantage. His gaze suddenly met Emilia’s who quickly looked away.

The lawyer continued after inspecting each faces present in the room and no question was raised. “Lord Williams, do you have your witness present here?”

“Yes I do.” Lord Williams answered. “The Marquess.”

“Lady Emilia?” the lawyer turned to Emilia.

“My lady-in-waiting.” Replied Emilia.

“If anyone dares to tamper with this Will, be rest assured that I have a duplicate somewhere safe.” Warned the lawyer, staring at them below bushy grey brows.

“Could you just get on with it!” Lord William impatiently snapped.

The lawyer shook the files as if dusting something off whereby he was only straightening it. He adjusted his thick-lensed glasses and said aloud. “I quote the late Duchess, I perceived that with every passing day, my time to join my beloved husband draws near...” Emilia adjusted in her seat. “And if this is being read now, have it in mind that I have gone beyond which had simply beckoned me over. I believe that this Will will be read to my humble niece, Lady Emilia Kate Penelope Fielding named after her late mother and whom I have always taken as my child”

Emilia’s eyes turned glassy with tears which she quickly blinked away. “...and my nephew, Lord Williams Bennett Junior, Earl of Torthenshire...
This is my Will. I have bequeathed seventy percent of my wealth and property to Lady Emilia Keith Penelope Fielding. I also wish that the grand house which my late husband and I lived in be bequeathed to her.”

Lord Williams almost sprang to his feet in total shock, the Marquess looked down in despair while Emilia eyes widened in speechless shock.

“I disagree-” Lord William started to say.