Page 40 of Lords, Ladies and Love

“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.

Resisting the urge to put a palm to his forehead, Seth shook his head. Minerva would spend her entire life buried in books if she could.

Angel rolled her eyes. “I am sure she will survive without you, Minnie.”

“But—” Minerva started.

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.

Seth took his letter and fingered the seal. He glanced at his siblings. None of them could quite bring themselves to open what was their last letter from Grandfather.

“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.

His sister’s face grew an odd shade of gray. Her mouth dropped open.

“What is it, Min?” Seth demanded.

“I…” She waved the letter at him. “Perhaps you should open yours.”

Seth rolled his eyes. Whatever it was, it could not be that bad. Minerva tended to think the worst of every situation. “You do not need to be scared of everything, Min. How bad can it be?”

Swallowing, he opened his letter and scanned the contents. His stomach nearly dropped out of his toes.

“Bloody hell,” Seth murmured.

“Seth!” their mother scolded.

Seth clamped his mouth shut and looked to his siblings. He hardly knew how to process what he’d just read. Perhaps everyone else had something just as bad.

“Theo?” Angel nodded to the unopened letter in his hand.

His shoulders dropped, and he pulled out a penknife to work open the seal. His lips compressed into a thin line.

“Will no one tell me what theirs says?” Angel asked.

Seth tried to put it into words, but he could not quite bring himself to say it. Maybe if it stayed on paper, he wouldn’t have to do anything.

His mother tapped Angel’s hand. “Perhaps you should open yours, dear.”

With shaking hands, she opened the letter. Chin lifted, she scanned the contents of the letter, and she took in an audible breath. “No.” The word slipped out of her mouth.

“Well, what is your task?” asked Minerva. “Is it truly awful?”

Angel examined the letter again before lifting her gaze. She swallowed. “I…I have to get a job.”

A laugh exploded from Seth. “A job?”

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