Questions for a Highlander

by Angeline Fortin

  The bequeaths were plentiful and generous, yet Eve and Kitty showed no distress as their inheritance was casually distributed.

  “Now we arrive at the portion which directly involves Mr. Preston’s family,” the lawyer announced, to gain the attention of both girls, as neither had been paying any special attention up to that point.

  “To my darling wife, Maggie, of so many years, I leave our home at 810 Fifth Avenue and the amount of ten million dollars, to see to her living in comfort for the rest of her days. Knowing she, too, has her favorite causes, I leave it to her to dispose of any remaining funds at her discretion. The remaining bulk of my estate will go, naturally, to my lovely daughters, Evelyn and Katherine, as will our home, Kilberry Manor, at Newport, Rhode Island. The manor is for them to share together as it is surely large enough to hold them both, I believe…”

  Both Eve and Kitty had to smile at that. They could easily picture their father insisting they share.

  “And as I do not expect my girls to sacrifice their own lives in the operation of my diverse business interests, it is my wish that my other holdings and properties listed herein be liquidated at the time of my death and the profits split evenly between them.”

  Here Mr. Jensen stopped, and regarded them both over his spectacles. “I have already begun the process of procuring buyers for Mr. Preston’s interests. In many cases, other investors or partners have already stepped forward with offers. Apparently, they were aware of your father’s intentions regarding these sales. I worked up some rough numbers for you based on what I have so far…” He shuffled for another piece of paper. “At this time, it appears that the sum of inheritance less the other bequeaths made here today will be approximately eighty-nine million dollars…”

  Neither Jack nor Francis could stifle their involuntary gasps. The sum was so staggering. Hayes had pushed away from the wall, a greed-induced glaze already descended over his eyes.

  The lawyer cleared his throat again and moved the paper back under the others. “Um, that is actually the sum for each of Mr. Preston’s daughters.” Ignoring further exclamations, he cleared his throat yet again as he went on, “I will continue with the reading:

  “In recent years, I have come to realize that perhaps the choices I made regarding the men I married my darling girls to were not the best they might have been. I regret my choices sincerely and hope that my daughters will someday forgive me for pressing them into a union neither one wanted. It would seem they knew better than I.”

  “What’s that?” Hayes pushed away from his place against the wall. “Katherine and I married for love! I can’t believe that old bast–”

  Every eye in the room turned and glared at him, making Hayes remember where he was and who was present. Gnashing his teeth, he shouldered the wall once more.

  With a final glare, Jensen went on.

  “I beg my girls’ forgiveness and hope that one day they will find it in themselves to forgive me.

  “In addition, as neither man has proven to be one of strong business acumen, nor would I say neither could be considered much of a man at all–”

  “I say!” Hayes protested, coming away from the wall again.

  “Mr. Hayes, I will proceed without interruption, if you please.

  “Therefore, the inheritance that I leave to my daughters is to be held solely in their own names. Should the death of one of my daughters proceed that of her husband, the full amount is to be divided equally among her offspring, to be held in trust solely by the remaining sister. Should both of my girls die for any reason, the total amount of this inheritance will be divided equally among the charitable institutions previously given bequests. At no time is any amount of this inheritance to be allowed into the hands or control of my daughters’ current or future husbands.”

  “He can’t do that!” Hayes rushed forward abruptly and slammed both palms down on the desk. “That is my money! Mine!”

  Mr. Jensen removed his spectacles and laid them on top of the will. He regarded Hayes calmly. “These are Mr. Preston’s wishes, as noted by me before witnesses. I can assure you, Mr. Hayes, Mr. Preston was fully within his rights to disperse his fortunes in such a manner.”

  “It’s unheard of!” Hayes protested.

  Eve and Kitty shared a speaking look. Their father had known! He had known even before Eve’s first husband died that he had done them wrong in that one decision he had made arbitrarily for them. Tears of love sprang to Kitty’s eyes and she saw them reflected in her sister’s. How gratifying it was to know their father had tried to correct his mistake and to see them freed from their husbands’ control!

  The money, as little as it mattered, was hers, and hers alone. Freddie would never have any of it, no matter how hard he fought. As for Jack, she supposed any reason he might have thought to marry her had just been denied him as well. Her fortune would never be his, nor would he ever be hers now. Not that he needed to wed her for money anyway. She had already agreed to give him enough money to be freed from his past and there wouldn’t even be the temptation of more to bring him back to her.

  “The law here in New York allows a wife to hold monies in her own name, separate from her husband. Normally a wife’s fortune as a beneficiary of a will would fall to the husband under regular inheritance law or through a standard marriage contract, but the conditions written into Mr. Preston’s can prevent that. I can assure you the wording that details the dispersal of funds through this will is iron clad. You will find no loophole to gain the monies for yourself.”

  Though Hayes looked on the verge of apoplexy, he stifled further argument but went to Kitty’s side. “I regret that your father held me in such low esteem, but now that he is gone our lives will move on together.”

  “Freddie…”

  “Come, my dear, let us go home.” He wrapped his hand around her upper arm in a way Kitty was painfully familiar with, and she couldn’t resist trying to pull away. He frowned, as did Jack.

  “Remove your hand from her, Hayes.” Haddington stood, growling low in his throat.

  “I say there,” Freddie bristled. “Mind your own business, man.”

  “She is my business.”

  “Remove yourself, Hayes.” Francis stood as well, laying a hand on Jack’s arm lest he do something rash. Satisfying but rash. “You were allowed to remain as a courtesy but, since you were not a benefactor of the will, that courtesy is now revoked. You will remove yourself from this office.”

  Intimidated by the powerfully built Scotsmen, Hayes had the good sense to relent. He released Kitty but added, as he left the room, “I will wait for you outside, my dear.”

  Kitty watched him go with a shudder of dread.

  The rest of the meeting proceeded without incident, with their father’s closing sentiments. Kitty, Eve and their mother then moved to Jensen’s desk to review the charitable bequests in detail and sign the necessary papers. Standing to the side, Jack and Francis exclaimed in low tones over the details of the will. “It’s incredible, old man!” Jack whispered. “The amounts being tossed around to this hospital, that school and this servant are unthinkable.”

  Francis nodded with a chuckle. “I will agree I never imagined my Eden was worth so much. I wonder what she and Kitty will do with it all?”

  “Anything they like,” Jack offered drily. Francis laughed and Jack reluctantly joined him.

  “Something must be done about Hayes, however,” Jack added, rubbing his bottom lip thoughtfully.

  “Indeed,” Francis agreed, looking at the door of the office, knowing Hayes waited to pounce on the other side. “He seems almost…I don’t know exactly. Delusional? He truly believes after all that has happened she will come back to him.”

  “Insane is more like it,” Jack grunted, crossing his arms over his broad chest. “It’s unnatural.”

  A chuckle shook Glenrothes’ shoulders. “’Tis not unnatural to love a woman, my friend.”

  Jack just shook his head stubbornly. “That’s not love, Mac
Kintosh. It’s obsession. It’ll not end well.”

  Eve joined them shortly. Francis wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her close, pressing a kiss to her temple. “About done then, my paradise?”

  “Almost.” She leaned into him and sighed wearily. “Da was an incredibly generous man, was he not? I am so proud of him for thinking of others.”

  Curious, Jack could not help but ask, “You’re not upset he gave away so much of your inheritance?”

  Eve shot her former nemesis a wry look. “Not everyone is as enamored with money matters as you, Jack Merrill.”

  “Says a woman who has never done without,” he shot back, disliking the implication that he cared for little else. It might be his top priority of late, but so it would be to anyone in his position.

  “Don’t start with me, Jack,” she sighed tiredly. “For your information, we were not always rich. Da came here with nothing and was little more than a clerk when he married my mother. Our early childhood was no better than yours.” She looked over to her mother and sister, who still spoke with Mr. Jensen. “Perhaps that will help you understand Kitty’s offer to you, Jack. She does understand what it’s like to do without.”

  Haddington only grunted noncommittally. There were many levels of doing without. There was broke and then there was broke.

  Kitty stood by as her mother thanked Jensen for all his work and assured him she would certainly retain him for all her personal needs once the details of the Preston estate had been ironed out. Maggie Preston shook his hand and they turned to go.

  “Mrs. Hayes,” Jensen cleared his throat. “I was wondering if you might have the time to stay and review another matter with me in private.”

  His look was speaking and Kitty’s eyes lit at the prospect of hearing some news regarding her divorce petition. “Certainly, Mr. Jensen, I would be happy to.”

  “What is this all about, Katherine?” her mother wanted to know.

  “Nothing you need to worry about, Mother,” Kitty told her, taking her arm and gently guiding her over to her sister. “Just that other matter we had spoken about.” She cringed even as she said it. The last thing she needed was her mother wailing about her shameful divorce right here where anyone might overhear her.

  To her surprise, Maggie just patted her arm in a conciliatory fashion, as if Kitty suddenly had her support in the matter.

  “Eve,” Kitty called to her sister as they approached the others. “I am going to stay and talk to Mr. Jensen a while longer.” The trio’s eyes widened in understanding and Jack flashed an encouraging smile. “Why don’t you all take Mother back to the house while I finish up here? I’d like to have this done before we go on to Newport tomorrow.”

  “How will you get back?” her mother asked fretfully.

  “I will just take a cab, Mother, you needn’t worry.”

  “I will be happy to stay and escort her when she is done here, Mrs. Preston,” Jack tendered with a slight bow, that brought a pleased but sly smile to Maggie’s face.

  “I would be grateful if you would, my lord. A lady should never be left unescorted, especially in the city where all sorts of dreadful things might happen,” the older woman answered, allowing Francis to escort his new mother-in-law to the door.

  “I’m glad you offered, Haddington,” Eve said, motioning to the now open door revealing Hayes, who still lingered in the hall, pacing back and forth. “I did not want to leave Kitty here with Mr. Hayes present. I do not know what he thinks, waiting as he is. I am afraid he will attempt to coerce her into going with him.”

  “Let him try,” Jack responded, clenching his fists. “I’d like to take a piece of him for what he has done to her.”

  “Just look after her,” she chided.

  “I intend to.”

  Chapter 25

  Kitty waited until her sister and mother departed, before Mr. Jensen indicated she should take a chair once more. When the secretary closed the door, she caught a glimpse of Jack sitting across from her husband, grinning at him in a way that was sure to raise his ire. Amusement tempered by worry raced through her, knowing Hayes’ unpredictable volatility, but if Jack wanted to play the protector, so be it.

  “May I offer you coffee, madam?” He gestured to the tray his secretary had deposited a moment before.

  “Yes, thank you.”

  The lawyer poured her a cup and offered sugar and cream, before preparing a cup for himself. “Have you news on the divorce petition, Mr. Jenson? I feared with my father’s death it might not have made the progress I hoped.”

  “On the contrary, Mrs. Hayes.”

  Kitty shuddered and shook her head. “Please, Mr. Jensen, call me Katherine, if you will.”

  “Very well.” Jensen dug into a drawer for another stack of papers and straightened them on his desktop. “Although this is not my normal focus in the law, your father apprised me of your intention to obtain a divorce from Mr. Hayes last month and asked me to see it done. I must admit a degree of surprise when he indicated he would not disapprove a measure of perhaps immoral dealings to have it accomplished quickly and quietly, with a minimum of fuss. Your father was always a stickler for honest business practices, ma’am. It was quite a shock to hear he would be willing to, ah, grease a few wheels for this, when he would never do so before.”

  “No, I know he would not.”

  “It must have meant a great deal to you both, then, to see it done?” he probed, his curiosity evident. “Finding the appropriate grounds was difficult at first.”

  Kitty quirked her lips wryly. “You could not just use abuse? I’m sure my father relayed at least some of the details.”

  “That would have been difficult to prove beyond the law.”

  “What does the law allow?”

  “More than you might think.”

  She shook her head ruefully. “Very well, what grounds did you use then?”

  Mr. Jensen took off his spectacles once again and rubbed the lens with his handkerchief. “Adultery, madam.”

  “Adultery?” Her brows shot up. “On whose part?”

  “The divorce laws in America are a tricky thing, Mrs…uh, Katherine.” He rose and went to a shelf, retrieving a large tome and laying it before her. “As a rule, the aggrieved party cannot be the one to file. Say if Mr. Hayes had an affair, you, as the injured party, could not file on those grounds.”

  “But he could?” she wondered aloud, reading the precedents he had marked.

  “That is the order these things normally follow.” Jensen rubbed his lens once again. “The courts are very perverse, madam. They do not like to give people what they want.”

  “You have cast me as the adulteress in this little scenario then? So he might be the wronged party and can therefore I can be the one to file? Have I the right of it?”

  “You do,” he responded, having the good grace to look at least a wee bit embarrassed by this. “Your father seemed to think that, despite this becoming public record, you might not care over much as to the grounds, so long as the thing was done.”

  Kitty’s lips twisted a bit and she sighed in defeat. “He was right, of course. In the end I don’t care how it’s done, merely that it is.”

  The lawyer went on then, “Perversely, your husband would have to contest the divorce or the courts will deny the petition.”

  “Why, that’s ridiculous!” She was astonished by the laws of her land.

  “Indeed, what man would fight a divorce from a woman who betrayed him? The incidence of success on these grounds is not very high,” he told her, but his eyes twinkled just a bit.

  Kitty gave a dry laugh. “Worry not, Mr. Jensen, Mr. Hayes will contest the petition. Whatever the grounds, he is very possessive and not at all the type to give in without a fight. I would just hate to be around when he received the papers. So when will all this start?”

  “It has already started.” Jensen shuffled the papers once more. “The initial paperwork was pushed through very quickly and filed. We just fed it t
hrough the right hands, with the right amount of greenbacks to hurry it along. It wasn’t difficult.”

  “One should never underestimate the power of a cash bribe.”

  “Indeed. Additionally, your father knew many people in high places, had done many favors in the past, without asking for anything in return,” he told her.

  She was distracted from her own problems for a moment upon hearing the sadness in the attorney’s voice. “I know Da relied on you greatly these past many years, Mr. Jensen. He thought very highly of you.”

  The man cleared his throat and looked back at down the papers for a long moment before continuing. “Now, normally the courts would have to wait for your husband to contest the divorce at his leisure, which might normally take weeks or months, but in an odd coincidence, Mr. Hayes filed his contestation the very next day.” He selected a sheet of paper and turned it about so Kitty might see it.

  “But he didn’t seem to know anything of this yet! How did you get Freddie to sign it?” she asked in amazement, because it was Freddie’s signature on the bottom line, without a doubt. She stared at the lawyer with curiosity burning. If her husband did know about this, it would have been the first thing off his lips when he had seen her. He was clearly unaware.

  “It seems Mr. Hayes has neglected compensating his solicitor of late. Bad practice, that.” The man clucked his tongue with mock regret. “It took far less to bribe the fellow than one might expect the cost of betrayal to come. The man merely slipped it into a stack of papers for Hayes to sign and brought it to the courts himself as an agent of his employer. Not an uncommon practice, the delivery part, I mean.”

  Kitty’s jaw sagged in astonishment. It had all happened so quickly. “Is it done then?”

  “Almost – not yet,” Jensen told her. “Your father had been attempting to find the right judge to finalize the divorce at the time of his death. This week, an old friend of his on the circuit courts…”