by Linda Tillis
She could not imagine why Lady Wellington might have left her something in her will. Mae had understood the poor woman’s loss, and she could sympathize with what the family must have suffered when Lavinia had been attacked, but Mae had assured Lady Wellington she was not in a vulnerable state. She had explained how her faith in God and the support of her family had left her even stronger than before her event.
Perhaps it had made the lady feel like she was helping her own daughter in some way. Obviously they had not been able to reach her in life; maybe gifting someone in her name was the next best thing. In any case, Mae was very touched by, and grateful for, whatever small gift she might receive.
“How much farther?” Samuel asked, as he stared out across the meadow.
Mr. Finch smiled and said, “Well, son, we are now on the Wellington property, but it will be another half mile or so to the house.”
Garth looked to the stand of pines, several acres of meadow away, and said, “Well, it seems to be an impressive holding, and well cared for.”
Mr. Finch nodded. “Yes, the whole of the property comes to about two thousand acres, with a couple of lakes and one river thrown in.”
“Whoa, that’s a lot of work for somebody,” Samuel exclaimed. By now they could see the manor house in the distance. “Good golly Moses!” Samuel said in awe. “That’s a lot of house for one little old lady.”
Garth cut him a look, and Samuel sat back in his seat.
Mr. Finch gave the boy a glance. “Well, Samuel, as you said, it’s a lot of work for someone. There are servants’ quarters above the large garage in the rear, and I believe Mr. Bennett has an apartment above the equipment building.”
He turned to Garth and explained, “Mr. Bennett has been Lady Wellington’s right-hand man ever since her husband passed on. He has a complete working knowledge of all the Wellington holdings.”
Garth nodded. “Well, I could see how such a man would have eased a great burden for the lady.”
Mrs. Patrick opened the front door as the motorcar stopped in the drive. Her face was pale above her black mourning dress, and to Mae she looked almost angry.
She bade them all good morning and then turned to Mr. Finch. “Mr. Hardwick has been here this past hour. He is in the library and has had one of the stable hands take his bags upstairs.” Mr. Finch arched an eyebrow at her.
He turned to the others and said, “The library is at the end of this hall and on the right. Please make yourselves comfortable. We’ll be right along.”
As Mae led her papa and Samuel down the hall, Mr. Finch turned to Mrs. Patrick.
“Martha,” he said quietly, “tell the stable hand to use the back stairs, remove Mr. Hardwick’s bags, and place them outside the front door.” As Martha’s face took on a quizzical stare, he added, “Then you come straightaway to the library. Don’t worry, all will be explained soon.”
It was all Martha could do to keep from skipping into the kitchen. After giving instructions to the stable hand, she made a beeline for the library.
Garth became aware of two men as he held the library door for Mae to enter. One was tall and thin, maybe in his late thirties. He had one leg draped over the arm of a beautiful, high-backed chair as if he owned the place.
The second was older, maybe in his mid fifties, and looked like he wished he were somewhere else. He stood as far away from the first man as possible.
As Mae entered the room and stopped to look first at one man, then the other, Garth noticed two things. The older man seemed glad for the entrance, and the younger man’s jaw clenched.
The older man walked forward with an outstretched hand. “Hello. My name is Arthur Bennett. I was Lady Wellington’s business manager. Please, have a seat, and I’m sure Mr. Finch will be here shortly.”
Garth shook the man’s hand and said, “Good morning, sir. I’m Garth Hinton, and this is my daughter Mae and my son Samuel. In fact, we arrived with Mr. Finch, who was speaking with the lady who welcomed us. He said he would be right in.”
As his father spoke, Samuel observed the other man. The man now had both feet on the floor. After a moment they made eye contact, and both had instant recognition. Samuel thought, “Ah, the man who has seen a small, carved ivory box somewhere before.”
The man thought, “Ah, the nosey backwoods carver.” Hardwick couldn’t stop his stomach from clenching just a little. “What the hell are they doing here?” he wondered silently. He had yet to make eye contact with the girl when Mr. Finch swept into the library.
Mr. Finch glanced around the room. He could feel the tension. He was glad Garth Hinton was here this morning. He was not sure just how Hardwick was going to respond to what could only be bad news for him.
“Everyone, please be seated. Mrs. Patrick will be here soon. As you all know, we are gathered here for the reading of the last will and testament of Lady Elizabeth Wellington.” Mr. Finch turned as Martha entered. “Ah, here we are. Mrs. Patrick, please take a seat.” Martha moved to the back of the library and took a seat behind Mr. Bennett.
“Now, as you all know, Lady Wellington was very fond of all her employees. She had known for several months she did not have long to live.”
“It was her wish to make proper arrangements for everyone. She wanted anyone who wished to stay with the new owner to be allowed to do so.”
Martha and Mr. Bennett both glanced at Mr. Hardwick. Both knew in their hearts this so-called gentleman would not be keeping them on. He had expressed his displeasure with both of them on occasion, when he made his annual visits to their dear lady.
As Mr. Finch was speaking, Garth was observing those around him. He could sense the disdain of Mr. Hardwick. It appeared there was no love lost between the servants and this man. The man in question already looked bored with the whole process. He did not seem to be mourning his relative. In fact, he appeared to be completely unaware of anyone else in the room. Garth had no way of knowing how far off the mark he was.
Hardwick was not mourning, for sure, but he was very aware of everyone in the room. His mind filled with possible scenarios. Were Mae and her family about to expose him? Did they think they could somehow lay some sort of claim to his estate because of his past sins? And did Finch think he was going to retain the services of Bennett? The last thing he needed was an old bulldog telling him how to spend his money.
Mr. Finch turned to Mr. Bennett and smiled. “Arthur, you have been a true and faithful servant to Lady Wellington for the past thirty years. She often spoke of your astute business sense and was always grateful for any insight you were able to give her when faced with decisions. She left you a lump sum of five hundred thousand dollars, sir.”
Mr. Bennett looked surprised. He, better than anyone, was aware of the extent of the lady’s wealth, but it was a nice surprise, nonetheless.
Hardwick almost gave a snort. Well, if it would get that watchdog off his back, then he could part with it.
Mr. Finch then turned to Martha. “Martha, you served the good lady with grace and devotion for many years. She held you in deep regard and considered you a family member. She left you three hundred thousand dollars.”
Martha gasped, and her eyes filled with tears. “May the angels make her welcome in her new home.” Martha whispered the old Irish blessing as she wiped her eyes.
Again, Hardwick considered it a little overboard for an insolent old Irish housekeeper, but at least no one could say she was turned away with nothing.
Garth had been surprised at the generous amounts given to the lady’s caretakers, but then, it was probably an indication of just how much wealth the lady had accumulated over the years. Eleanor had mentioned Lord Wellington had been heavily involved in shipping matters in New Orleans before the couple had lost their only child and moved to Tallahassee.
Mr. Finch turned to Hardwick. “Mr. Hardwick, as the last living relative of Lady Wellington, be it greatly removed, she acknowledged you had been kind in your visits over the past ten years. She has left you two
million dollars in a lump sum, which will negate the quarterly allowance you have enjoyed these past five years.”
Garth watched as Hardwick changed from detached to very aware to downright stunned. There was a gasp from Mrs. Patrick.
The man slowly stood. “Finch, if this is some kind of joke, I don’t appreciate your brand of humor.”
“Sir, I do not make light of a matter this serious,” Mr. Finch replied.
Hardwick growled, “Are you telling me the bulk of the Wellington estate is only worth two million dollars?”
“On the contrary, sir, the Wellington estate is worth many millions. However, your portion of this estate was decided by Lady Wellington, and it is the aforementioned two million dollars.”
Hardwick’s face, while pale before, was now turning a bright red. “What the hell are you trying to pull, Finch? Did you think I would fall for some sort of scheme, or did the old bird completely lose her mind at the end?” By now, Hardwick was in a full sweat, and yelling.
Mr. Finch lowered his voice. “Sir, there are ladies present, and I would ask you to control yourself. I assure you, Lady Wellington was in her full senses at the time the will was drawn, and in anticipation of just such an accusation, I hold a statement signed by her physician of many years, to attest to her mental state.”
Hardwick shouted, “I don’t give a…” At this point, both Garth and Samuel stood, and Hardwick stopped in mid speech.
Garth drawled slowly, “Sir, I realize this is a difficult moment for you, but I would ask you to consider your speech in front of the ladies.”
Hardwick was not unaware both Garth and Samuel were strapping men, but his anger had chased any caution from his mind.
He turned to Mr. Finch and yelled, “Well, if I am not the full beneficiary, then who the hell is?” Every head in the room turned to Mr. Finch. He picked up a large, sealed, cream-colored envelope and turned to Mae.
“Miss Mae Hinton is the full beneficiary of the Wellington estate, which is to be held in trust by her father, Garth Hinton, until she reaches her majority at the age of twenty-one years. If she should succumb to death prior to reaching the age of twenty-one, the estate would then go to you, Mr. Hardwick.”
Several things happened at once. Both Mr. Bennett and Mrs. Patrick broke out in satisfied grins.
Mae half rose from her chair, then sank back down, as if she felt faint.
The only thing in the room Garth was aware of was the look of complete hatred on Hardwick’s face. Garth knew in his heart this was a dangerous man. A man who would not hesitate to cause harm to anyone who stood between him and the money he had anticipated.
Hardwick made eye contact with Garth and said with a hiss, “This is not over.”
Garth eyed the man for a several seconds and then replied, “For the sake of your general health, sir, I sincerely hope it is, in fact, over.”
As the two men evaluated each other, Mr. Finch spoke. “Mr. Hardwick, I have taken the liberty of having your bags placed out front. You have the use of my coach for your return to town. The bank has been notified of the amount they are to have placed in your account this morning. Garth, if you would be so kind as to escort Mr. Hardwick to the door?”
Everyone in the library could hear Hardwick cursing all the way to the front door.
They all sat in silence until Garth and Samuel returned and took their seats.
Mr. Finch turned to Martha and smiled. “Ma’am, do you think we could have some tea or coffee? We still have several things to discuss, but perhaps this is a good time to pause.” As Martha headed to the kitchen, smiling from ear to ear, Mr. Finch turned to Mae.
“Mae, I have here a letter Lady Wellington left for you. I want you to know, regardless of what Mr. Hardwick may have implied, that Lady Wellington was very clear, in her heart and in her mind, as to how she wanted her estate handled.”
Mae was pale, and her hand shook a little as she took the large envelope from Mr. Finch. She walked across the large library and curled up in the window seat. For a while she just looked out over the lawns and tried to calm her insides. She took a deep breath and broke the seal on the envelope. There were several pages filled with a distinct penmanship. Mae began to read.
“My dear, if you are reading this, then I am at peace. Please don’t be sad. Nor should you feel guilt over decisions I have made on your behalf. You and I have a connection of the heart such as few people would understand.
“When we first met, just for a moment I was shocked and shaken. Seeing my beloved Lavinia before my old eyes was quite a jolt. Once I had pulled myself together, I was able to enjoy you as the person you are, not the one I wanted you to be.
“That day I was greatly impressed with your strength and moral character. I’ll never know what my dear Lavinia lacked, causing her to be unable to cope with what happened to her. But I was able to see in you what she might have become, had she been stronger.
“Perhaps it was your love of God and your belief in Him which was your strength. I only came to know the Lord in my latter years, and therefore failed to instill this in Lavinia. Perhaps, if I had been a better mother… Ah, well, I have made my peace with God about my shortcomings. And it is time to look forward, not back.
“As I sit here writing to you, I wish I had more time—time to watch you grow, time to see the development of your dream, time to see all the young women who will thrive because you and your faith will be strong enough to help them. Oh, Mae, you have such a rewarding life ahead of you!
“But, now, allow me for one moment to presume to step into the role of mother. While you will be filled with a deep sense of achievement through your efforts to help others, there will be another side of you, a side that will feel empty if you don’t make the time to be a woman. Be careful in your choice of a life companion. Choose a man whose touch takes your breath away, one who makes you laugh, but most importantly, one who shares your beliefs. Your life will be most rewarding if you and your husband share your faith.
“Now, dear, you are young, and so you must make the most of older, more experienced minds for a while. Your father will always have your best interests at heart. You would also be wise to make use of Arthur Bennett, as he knows my businesses inside and out. Martha Patrick is a woman full of love and wisdom, and this house has been her home for many years. I think she would be more than happy to aid you in your endeavors to create a warm, loving atmosphere for your girls.
“Well, this is all the wisdom I have to impart, dear. If, over the next few years, you give me a passing thought, and smile with love or gratitude, then my life here on earth will have been of use. I leave you with much love and admiration, yours most sincerely, Elizabeth Wellington.”
Mae placed the pages gently on the window seat. When she raised her head, she realized every eye in the room was on her. She colored faintly, wiped tears from her face, then stood and walked straight into her papa’s arms.
“Well, baby girl, you’ve had quite an eventful mornin’.” Garth smiled at the understatement.
Mr. Finch chuckled. “That’s certainly one way to put it.”
Mae was no sooner seated at the table than Mrs. Patrick placed a cup of tea and a small cake in front of her. She crooned, “Dearie, you look a little weak. I think I remember you take your tea with lemon and honey, no milk, right? Now, you nibble on the little cake Cook sent you, and you’ll feel much better in a few.”
“Martha, you are a dear. Please tell the cook thank you for me.”
Mr. Finch took control of the meeting again. “Now, folks, here is what I propose. I think all of you should take a couple of days to consider all your options. You, Mrs. Patrick and Mr. Bennett, have had your futures secured for you through the generosity of Lady Wellington.”
“However, you may not be ready, just yet, to retire to your respective choices. You may want to consider whether or not you would be willing to remain in your positions to assist Mr. Hinton and Mae. All of the employees are also receiving gifts from t
he dear lady. The cook will get one hundred thousand and each of the remaining staff members will be given fifty thousand.
“Garth, you and Mae will need a few days to absorb the shock of all this, and to consider how you want to proceed. In the meantime, Mrs. Patrick will be preparing rooms for all of you, which if I know her will be ready by this evening. Meanwhile, you are welcome to stay with Mrs. Finch and myself for as long as needed. I suggest we meet back here Wednesday morning and come to some decisions. Mrs. Patrick, if you would be so kind, ask the livery boy to drive round the Wellington car, and we will turn it over to Garth at this time. I believe you and Mr. Bennett can keep the estate going through the day-to-day workings until Wednesday. Now,” he said with a smile, “how does that sound to everyone?”
Chapter Seventeen
It was after eight in the evening, and Garth hoped young Patrick was in bed already, because he and Eleanor had much to discuss. He parked the Wellington motorcar in front of the cottage and chuckled to himself as he got out. At some point he would stop referring to things as the Wellington this or that. It would take a while to adjust to all this. He knocked softly on the door and smiled when Eleanor immediately opened it. He didn’t think he would ever get used to this feeling in his chest as he gazed at this woman. A man his age should not be feeling like a wet-behind-the-ears schoolboy.
He stepped inside, took Eleanor in his arms, and kissed her long and hard. When he lifted his mouth from hers, he found her eyes twinkling up at him with a smile. “My, my, it is nice to know you missed me.”
“You have no idea, woman.” He laughed. “Now, could I please have a cup of your wonderful coffee to clear my head, ’cause we have much to talk about?”
When Garth finished his account of the morning’s meeting, Eleanor just sat there, looking at him. Her face showed no emotion, and Garth was unsure what she was thinking.