Page 97 of Electric Kiss

“Please do.”

“Mr Turner has bequeathed the entirety of Turner holdings, money, land, and businesses to Archer Turner, Jason Turner, Luke Turner, and Daisy Turner jointly.”

“What?” Cynthia barked.

Mr Porterfield lifted his hand, palm facing her, to wait a moment.

“He has left it in your custodianship as there is a caveat. Archer Turner cannot inherit until they are all married and Archer Turner has a child. If and when that happens, everything will be passed to them. In the interim, he has made you Cynthia Turner, custodian and Porterfield Solicitors has been instructed to oversee the estate in the event…” Mr Porterfield flipped a page on his lap. “I’m going to quote Mr Turner here.” Mr Porterfield cleared his throat as he readied the words in his mouth. “In case Miss Turner runs the businesses and properties into the ground or squanders all the money.”

“Well,” Cynthia said, but it came out in a whoosh and a shout.

Mr Porterfield waited a few moments before he carried on. Cynthia gathered her wits and placed her hands in her lap in placation.

“He has afforded you a generous salary for taking care of the Turner estate and holdings until the marriages and Archer’s child occurs.”

Cynthia’s head tilted so fractionally that Mr Porterfield didn’t seem to pick up on her renewed interest.

“As soon as the fifth event happens, either the fourth marriage or first child, we will be in contact to transfer everything to Frederick Turner’s children.”

“What happens to me after that happens?”

Mr Porterfield flipped another page and then looked up. “That wasn’t covered in the will, Miss Turner.”

“I see.”

Cynthia clipped her words and looked at the empty fireplace. Using silence as her only weapon, she waited.

It wasn’t for long.

“If you sign these papers, I will provide you with the bank account set up for your salary. There is a manager placed in every business and property globally, except for Copper Island. Mr Turner has left that up to you how to run. However, the rents due from the businesses and properties will be managed by a landlord on the mainland. The Turner Hall and Edward Hall bills will be paid promptly from the Turner estate. If there is anything not paid, then please contact us. Everything that is in place today will remain in place. The cook, the footman, the gardener and your lady’s maid will remain on staff. Any companies that were engaged while Mr Turner was alive will remain engaged. He gave an example, Mr Philpott, the grave digger and mason.”

“How convenient,” Cynthia said and sniffed. “Is there anything else I need to know?”

“Just one more thing. I don’t know the significance of this, but I am to inform you that you are allowed access to every room in Turner Hall except the study. That is to remain locked until Archer Turner asks for access, and Mr Bailey will hand the keys to him.”

Hearing Bailey be referred to as Mr Bailey jolted her more than the message of the study. Now that she knew she wasn’t to run the empire, she couldn’t care less about getting into the study.

She smiled.

Everything Mr Porterfield said meant she had no reason to stay on Copper Island. It was the best gift her father could have given her. Truthfully, Cynthia had no responsibilities aside from checking in with the managers. As they were worldwide, she would conduct those conversations online. Her wish to remain in Italy was now a reality. Copper Island rents would be collected. There were zero reasons to stay.

“Very well, Mr Porterfield,” Cynthia said, holding her hand out for the papers to sign.

He handed her a leather-bound folder, and she saw a stack of papers with coloured tabs sticking out.

“May I borrow your pen?” she asked.

Mr Porterfield slipped his hand into his inside jacket pocket and handed her his pen. She liked the weight of it. After scrawling her signature on each of the assigned pages, she returned the folder. Mr Porterfield shuffled papers around and then handed her the folder back, retaining his copies.

“Thank you, Miss Turner. My office will be in touch. May I ask where you will be staying?”

“No, you may not. Anything that needs my attention in paper format can be sent here, and it will be forwarded to wherever I will be if I’m not here. Now that you’ve outlined I don’t have to reside on Copper Island. I am a free woman. At last.”

“Very good,” he muttered and stood at the same time as he stuffed the papers into his leather satchel.

Bailey opened the door and stood on the threshold.

“Good day,” Mr Porterfield said and strode from the room.

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