Page 2 of Lords, Ladies and Love

Chastened, Angel folded her arms across her chest and tapped a finger against an arm.

“Let’s see.” Mr. Barton’s brow puckered. “Ah.”

“What is it?” Theo asked, a hint of irritation edging his voice.

Angel notedhedid not get scolded by their mother.

“If you are unable to fulfill your tasks to my satisfaction, all remaining inheritance shall be bestowed upon a Mr. Hastings.”

A sharp inhale of breath echoed around the room. Angel met Minerva’s worried gaze.

“That’s preposterous,” Theo blurted.

“Theo,” Mama scolded.

Angel had no time to be smug that her brother had finally been reproached. How could she celebrate such a tiny achievement when the bulk of their wonderful Grandpapa’s wealth could go to such a beast of a man?

“What the devil was Grandfather thinking?” murmured Seth.

Minerva shook her head. “This cannot be right. He would never give his money to that man.”

Mr. Barton lifted his shoulders. “The will is quite clear. Should you fail, Mr. Hastings shall inherit.”

“He is not even family,” Theo said, his tone bitter.

Especially not after he separated from their cousin and brought utter scandal upon their family when he tried to gain a divorce and ran off with a nursemaid to Ireland. As far as they were all concerned, Mr. Hastings had not been part of the family for a good five years and their grandpapa had been suitably riled at the whole sorry mess. It was unfathomable that he shouldinherit anything after what he’d done to their poor cousin who passed away only six months after the event.

“You said there were tasks, correct?” Seth leaned back in his chair and waved a hand. “We’ll do whatever it is that Grandfather wanted of us, and that will be the end of the matter.”

Mr. Barton’s dimpled cheeks reddened. “Well, ah, the instructions are extremely specific. All four grandchildren must complete their tasks within two months of this reading.”

Seth gave a smug shrug. “Easy enough.”

“For you perhaps,” said Theo. “You have few commitments.”

“And I had volunteered to help Lady Whitbury reorganize her library. I can hardly back out now,” cried Minerva.

Angel rolled her eyes. As if her sister needed yet another excuse to be buried in books. It would do her good to do something different, of that Angel was certain. “I am sure she will survive without you, Minnie.”

“But—”

Mama lifted both hands. “Perhaps we should find out what these tasks are before we leap to conclusions.”

Theo straightened in his seat. “Quite. Yes. Mr. Barton, what exactly did our grandfather want of us?”

“There are letters for all of you…” Mr. Barton lifted a stack of letters. “Each describes your task.” He handed them out.

Angel eyed her name written in her grandpapa’s slightly shaky handwriting and her throat tightened. She swallowed the knot and turned it over to press a finger under the seal.

“But before you do.” The lawyer dabbed his forehead again before thrusting his handkerchief back up a sleeve. “You must understand that no one can know of your task. The only people who may be privy to your task are the people in this room,including me. I will, ah, assess whether or not it is felt you have completed your undertaking.”

“So we can discuss this with each other?” Theo clarified.

Mr. Barton nodded. “And your lady mother. But no one else.”

“Well, let us get this thing done and then we can ensure that awful man does not get a penny of Grandpapa’s fortune.” Minerva flicked open her letter and scanned the contents.

Angel watched her sister’s brow pucker then her mouth drop open. Her skin turned a strange ashen cast.

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