Heirly Ever After

by Vernon, Magan

  “Jacob. I go by Jacob. My father and great-grandfather go by Lachlan.”

  A wicked smile curved on her lips. “Ah, yes. Last time I spoke to your family was when they were selling paintings to my mother. A shame how many of the old family relics you’ve had to get rid of in the last few years.”

  I tried to focus on the movement of Madison’s thumb along my bicep, but when she halted, I caught the sense of pity dripping off her.

  No one needed to fucking feel sorry for me.

  But that’s what Lady Helena wanted to do.

  Have Everly to show me my place.

  “Water under the bridge,” I said, trying to force a smile, but inside my entire body was tense, screaming at my inaction.

  “Oh, Jacob, I think my sister is calling for us. Come with me?” Madison asked with that sugary sweet accent.

  Gladly.

  “Yes, it was nice to see you again, Baroness Everly, but my girlfriend, sister of the Lady of Webley, and I, must be going,” I said, curtly nodding. I didn’t wait for whatever quip she responded with as I followed in step with Madison toward her sister.

  “Well, isn’t she just a peach,” Madison whispered.

  “If by peach you mean one that belongs in the mince, then yes, yes, she is.”

  “Were you really supposed to marry her? Like, you two dated?” she asked even more quietly, her words dropping with trepidation.

  “We never dated. I don’t date, damsel.” I cleared my throat. “Well, usually.”

  “So that really would make me your first date, then? Guess that’s why you called me your girlfriend. Not used to it.”

  I shook my head, finding myself smiling for the first time since we’d entered the room. As if a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. “I guess you could say that.”

  As soon as we got within shouting distance of her family, it wasn’t Natalie that called to us, but another family member I wasn’t sure I wanted to hear from.

  “Jacob, get over here and have a bit of a hair of the dog with me,” Hugh called, waving his free arm as the men around him kept their heads down.

  Madison raised her eyebrows, and I squeezed her hand. “I won’t be gone too long.”

  She smiled. “Okay.”

  That damn smile.

  What the fuck was this girl doing to me?

  If it hadn’t been for my belligerent cousin, I might have told him to piss off. But I was also interested to see more about the men he was with. None of them were Everly’s family, a darn relief, but to be at this dinner, they all had to be of stature.

  “Surprised you’re still walking after that much scotch,” I said to Hugh as he laughed, handing me a rocks glass from a passing maid’s tray.

  “Oh, I passed right out. Wouldn’t be awake now if it wasn’t for one of the maids bringing me some bangers.”

  “Seems like your Scottish friend here is holding it better than you, Hugh,” a man in a dark black suit and thick black mustache said, smiling over his rocks glass.

  “Aw, piss off, Rodrick.”

  “I think I like Rodrick.” I laughed, taking a sip of my drink. Thank shite it wasn’t more scotch, just brandy.

  “And I like anyone that can keep Hugh straight,” Rodrick said. “Did you know this dimwit here went to law school with me? Brightest one in the class yet decided to leave in the final hour. Said he didn’t want to be a solicitor and wanted to see the world.”

  I blinked, feeling my stomach warm as it dawned on me that not only there was more to Cousin Hugh, but the man that I was talking to could be the answer to my problems.

  “So they hired you as the family solicitor without Hugh at the helm?” I asked, trying to sound casual even though my heart was racing.

  “Ah. Well, my father has always been the family’s solicitor, but with the Webleys being his biggest and, well, only client, I came on with his firm.”

  Hugh downed the rest of his glass, setting it on another passing tray. “If you’ll excuse me, gentlemen.” The usual smile on his face was gone as he grabbed another drink and headed off in another direction.

  There was more to my cousin’s story, but I wasn’t here for that.

  I had someone very important in front of me that knew the answers I was looking for. How to get the MacWebley legacy back.

  “So you’re the one who will make the Lady and Lord of Webley official?” I asked, moving my free hand in a circle as if it would encompass the giant room.

  He nodded. “Ah, aside from being Hugh’s best mate, I’m also here to see everything goes smoothly.” He took a sip of his drink and then lowered his voice. “Which by all the hubbub you’ve been causing in the family, I’m guessing is another reason.”

  My interest peaked as I leaned in, glancing around the room to make sure no one was listening. “And pray tell what this hubbub is?”

  He narrowed his eyes slightly, his brow furrowing as he had to think on his words. “Well, as you know, and I had only heard whispers in meetings, with Webley Manor technically being a gift from the MacWebleys during a split, Lord Edwin is asking us to go through every piece of paperwork from the last hundred years.”

  The hair on the back of my neck stood on end. “The Webleys are worried the odd duck cousin is going to walk in and claim Webley Manor as his?” I asked, smiling and letting out a small laugh to try and lighten the moment.

  His laugh was even more jilted in return. “Yes, exactly. A rather odd thought, but I’ve also seen more absurd things happen. And with the way manorial law was written, it isn’t completely impossible, without a prenuptial agreement, for you to walk in and claim half. Thus, why I’m here again at the final hour, making sure everything is written up in the marriage agreement and deed of Webley.”

  “They’re lucky to have you,” I said, trying to keep the condescension out of my voice so I didn’t sound like Everly.

  He pulled a slim silver case out of his breast pocket then drew a foil card from the case, handing it to me. “I may have heard a little bit of your discussion with Lady Helena and the Baroness. I’m in town, and that’s my card if you do need anything.”

  My heart almost skipped a beat as I thought of what this could mean for the family.

  Could it all really be that simple? Was setting up a meeting with this man the key to finding it all out and reclaiming our legacy? He had to know quite a lot after going through the family’s documents.

  “Thank you. I’ll keep that in mind.” I put the card in my back pocket and tried to keep the smile off my face as Gavin made his way over to us.

  I hadn’t talked to or seen him since the sword incident and couldn’t tell what he was thinking, or if he was even happy, since his face never seemed to move, or if he was still angry.

  “Rodrick, glad you made it tonight.” He held his hand out to the solicitor, shaking briskly.

  “Wouldn’t miss it, even if I wasn’t on the Webley payroll.” He laughed, but of course Gavin didn’t join. He really needed to get the stick out of his arse.

  Gavin nodded, then his dark gaze flickered in my direction. “Ah, and I see you’re already acquainted with Laird Jacob MacWebley.”

  Rodrick raised his glass, sliding his free hand in his pocket. “Yes, we were just chatting a bit.”

  “Well, I don’t mean to interrupt the conversation, but do you mind if I borrow my cousin for a moment?”

  I swore the man was trying to glare a hole through me.

  “Not at all.” Rodrick might have even gulped.

  “I guess I don’t have a choice in this matter, ey?” I asked, taking a big swig of my drink. It didn’t go down as smoothly as the scotch from earlier, but that probably wasn’t a bad thing.

  Gavin didn’t say a word and headed toward the open balcony doors, the moonlight illuminating the large marble columns.

  I could have j
ust not followed.

  Hell, I probably shouldn’t have.

  But like the numpty I was, I kept going, waiting until we were both outside, looking out onto the rolling hills before I spoke.

  “So why did you really bring me out here? Afraid I was going to say something damning to the solicitor?” I asked bluntly, keeping my eyes on the view. One hand gripped my glass and the other the railing in front of us.

  “Rodrick already knows exactly what you can take from us as a MacWebley, and I don’t doubt you’ve been doing your own digging in the library. I thought Hugh might have gotten some out of you with you two’s little drunken brigade this afternoon. But my brother seems to think you’re merely a good man who wants to get to know his family.” He turned toward me, his eyes blazing. “But we both know you’re here for more and not just because of my sister-in-law or to get to know the Webleys.”

  I didn’t falter, my hand gripping tighter on the bannister. “So then your solicitor has found proof that the MacWebleys could claim half of everything in Webley?”

  I was grasping at straws here, from the little conversation with Rodrick, but I’d take what I could get.

  His lip quirked slightly. Not a smile. Not a frown. But something even more horrifying that didn’t reach his eyes.

  The man actually sighed, looking down at the ground as he shook his head. “The truth is, though, we both know that you have every right to take the property after what’s happened to your family and their financial troubles. I just wish you would have come to us sooner.”

  What the hell?

  We did.

  Multiple times.

  Did he even know that?

  “That’s an interesting sentiment since you’ve never bothered to help before, no matter how many times my family reached out over the years.” I swallowed, trying to regain my words so I wouldn’t sound like a blundering fool or have my voice crack.

  He shook his head. “I’m sorry, Jacob. If they would have come to me directly, I wouldn’t have turned them away. And I’m sorry, so damn bloody sorry you’ve had to go through this.”

  This was the moment where I could just ask for help.

  Swallow my pride and accept his offer to write a big check to the MacWebleys.

  Accept his apology and move on.

  But now that I had that nugget of information from Rodrick that the MacWebleys were entitled possibly to half of everything…that our legacy wouldn’t be lost, erased if I took back what was ours…

  This time when Gavin looked at me, there wasn’t the dark, cold stare in his eyes. It was a softer gaze that met mine. “I extended the invitation to your great-grandfather after doing some more research of my own. Well, and with the little help of a private investigator, I finally learned of your family’s situation.”

  I tried swallowing down the emotion, the pride that was slowly fading away from me. So why reach out now? Why did he care? Or was it just that he was scared of what Rodrick might find?

  “But.” His words cut through me as he held up a hand and pointed toward the dining room.

  Glancing in that direction, I faltered.

  Madison. The bright light in the center of the room. The one who made my heart beat faster, wondering what his words were going to be next.

  “I see the way you and Madison look at each other. I know you don’t want to see her or her family hurt in all this, and that’s what would happen if you tried and took over any part of Webley. It’s not as simple as you just coming in and claiming you’re owed something as the oldest MacWebley. We could be tied up for years in the court system.”

  He took a step closer, dropping his hand. “Years of battle where her family, who has already suffered enough hardships, wouldn’t know their place. Could possibly lose everything.”

  “They wouldn’t have to.” My words came out a husky chime.

  “So then you aren’t going to try and claim you’re the rightful heir and that’s not what you were talking to the solicitor about?” he asked, raising his eyebrows, but we both couldn’t break the tension.

  It swarmed us.

  Suffocating.

  Heating my collar so I had to tug away the itchy fabric.

  I didn’t know what the bloody hell I was going to do once I got solid proof of a MacWebley claim. But the family back home was counting on me. I couldn’t let them down. I needed to set up a meeting with the solicitor as soon as possible. Perhaps there was a way I could enact the claim and still keep Madison and her family safe.

  “I’ll have to figure that out before the wedding happens, huh?” I said, finishing off my drink, ignoring the thickness in my throat. The way none of the words sat well on my tongue.

  “Yes, I guess you will.” He didn’t falter his gaze, as if he was waiting for me to tell him I’d drop it all. That because of Madison I would give up everything my family had wanted and worked so hard for.

  But it was in that slight falter of a smile on my cousin that said he knew exactly what he was doing. Had this been part of his plan all along? To dangle the carrot of a legitimate claim and then mention Madison in the same breath?

  As if the universe had a bigger plan for me, my phone buzzed in my pocket, giving me the excuse to turn away and pull the device out of my pocket. Blair’s number scrolled across the screen, and there went that tightening feeling in the back of my throat again.

  “Excuse me, I have to take this,” I said, clearing my throat before quickly walking down the small staircase that led out into the yard.

  I waited until I was a few meters away and hopefully out of earshot before I answered.

  “Blair? Hi. Is everything all right? Is Great-Grandfather okay?” I found myself almost breathless as I sat down on one of the cement benches, a crew of fluffy white dogs immediately prancing over, sitting and waiting for their chance at a good ear scratch.

  “For now,” she said breathlessly.

  My whole body tensed as I stilled my hand in the air. “For now?”

  “Jacob, I don’t know how much longer he’s going to be all right. He had another stroke this morning…”

  All the air whooshed from my lungs as I leaned forward.

  “Is he…?” I couldn’t even finish the sentence. Hell, I didn’t even know the right words to say.

  “He’s heavily sedated right now. They’re waiting before deciding what to do.”

  They were waiting for me.

  On this.

  “I’ve got the number for the Webley family solicitor,” I said breathlessly. With shaking hands, I removed the card from my pocket.

  “What did he say?” she asked.

  “Not much. But he did give me his card. He knows all about the family and might be able to help. I can go talk to him again once I head back inside.” I stared through the floor-to-ceiling windows.

  As if she knew I was there, Madison’s gaze caught mine.

  Shite.

  Now wasn’t the time.

  “I need to go,” I said hurriedly, shoving the card back in my wallet after rattling off the email address and phone number of the solicitor.

  “Are you going to talk to him? How soon will you know?”

  “I don’t know,” I gritted as I made my way around the veranda, trying to find another entrance where I wouldn’t run into anyone.

  “All right. I’ll see what I can find. Thank you. I hope I’ll see you soon.”

  “You will. Bye, Blair.”

  I hung up as I found another veranda, making my way up the stairs and into a conservatory. Fumbling through the dark and plants, I kept going until I was out in another unfamiliar hallway.

  Shite, this place was too darn big.

  My heart pounded in my ears as everything swam through my head.

  This was it.

  Great-Grandfather was waiting to pass until he knew w
e were settled.

  Could I even do that?

  And if I did…

  “Jacob.”

  I stilled, looking up to see I’d made my way to the Thistle Room, and Madison was standing in front of the open door.

  She was the last person I needed to see right now. Yet somehow my shoulders still relaxed as I let out a deep breath. “Madison.”

  “Everything okay? I saw you outside with Gavin, then on the phone…and well…you kind of ran like you’d seen a ghost or something.” Her eyes darted around the hallway. “Is there one here? I knew this place had to be haunted.”

  I sighed, shaking my head as a smile crossed my lips.

  Fuck, she was cute.

  She didn’t deserve any of what could happen.

  “Yeah, my sister called. Great-Grandfather had another stroke.” My entire body fell as the words spilled from my lips. Saying it out loud made it all real.

  All I was doing would be for nothing if he died before I could resolve things. Hell, things might not even work out. It was a fool’s errand, and I was the biggest fool for thinking I could do this for Great-Grandfather.

  “I’m so sorry, Jacob.” Her words were soft as she put her hand on mine.

  “It’s not yer fault,” I grumbled, shaking my head and pushing past her into the room.

  I loosened my tie, tossing it on the settee.

  I didn’t need her sympathy right now. Or her distraction. I only needed to think.

  Though as I tried to focus on anything else, all I could think about was Great-Grandfather lying there. The man who had always been so strong. So full of life, now a shadow of his former self. Maybe taking his last breaths knowing I’d failed him.

  Slumping into the settee, I cradled my face in my hands. I felt like the weight of the world was hanging on my shoulders as I sucked in a suffocating breath.

  Without a word, Madison was next to me. The warmth of her body radiating onto mine as her arm slipped over my shoulder. Her fingers traced small circles on my bicep.

  My own weakness took over as I leaned into her, inhaling her floral shampoo and breathing her in. I wasn’t going to cry, but my body shook against her as emotion ripped through me.

  Wrapping my arms around her, I pulled her close, burying my face into the warmth of her neck.