Page 3 of The Baron Takes a Bet
“Here he comes,” Jasper said, breaking through Holly’s worrying.
Turning around at the waist, she saw her brother leaning against the windowsill, arms still folded across his chest. He seemed to glower as he watched the unseen baron amble across the property.
“Well?” Katrina said. “What does he look like?”
Jasper peered closer to the window.
“Like a man, though he’s a bit far away.” He squinted as his voice trailed off. “So, who can tell.” Katrina sighed loudly, and Holly bit her lip to stop herself from smiling. Though she frequently butted heads with Jasper, he often made her laugh with his dry humor. He glanced at Katrina, who was not amused in the least. “What?”
Katrina stood up and walked around the settee.
“Of course he looks like a man, but what of his hair? His height? Does he walk with purpose? Possibly a limp?”
“Why would I care about the man’s hair?”
“It’s not about whether you care or not, it’s about describing him,” she said as she peered out the window. Her shoulders slumped. “Drats. Where did he go?”
“Come away from there,” Holly said. “We don’t want him to find us with our noses pressed against the glass as if we were spying on him.”
“But wearespying on him,” Jasper said.
Katrina quickly returned to her seat. Jasper did not leave the window, however, and Mr. Armstrong cleared his throat.
“Now, as you know, upon your marriage to the baron, all of your debts were acquired by his estate, as well as your dowry,” the lawyer said. “Um, a pair of sheep, was it?”
Holly exhaled slowly. That was all the property the Smyths had left, except for their home.
“Yes, all but Felton Manor,” she said, her heart pinching slightly. “That was reserved for my brother in my parents’ will and will be inherited by him upon his eighteenth birthday.”
“A broken-down pile of rocks, how generous,” Jasper murmured. Holly gave him a sharp glare, but he was unfazed. “Why not just sell it? We can divide the proceeds three ways, like I said six months ago—”
“We are not selling Mama and Papa’s house,” she said defiantly.
“I’m just going to do it in a few months anyway.”
“Then I won’t be able to stop you, but I will not be responsible for losing our family home. As long as the decision remains mine, it remains with us,” Holly said, trying to control her temper. She turned back to the lawyer. “Please continue, Mr. Armstrong.”
“Right, well, as you also know from your original agreement, youwereentitled to a third of the baron’s property and assets that aren’t entailed. Unfortunately, Kingston House is entailed, but the late baron did make a string of additions to his will in the days after your marriage. A cat, for example, by the name of Pauline Musgrove, has been left in your care. John’s journals however, have been left to his nephew.”
Holly stared at the lawyer. Did he saywere? As in, past tense?
“Excuse me?” Katrina said. “Did you say cat?” She turned to her sister. “Why would he name a cat Pauline Musgrove?”
“He named it after his neighbor from when he was a boy,” Holly said, turning expectantly to the lawyer. “I’m sorry, you said something about our original agreement?”
“His neighbor?” Katrina continued. “Why ever would he do that?”
Holly sighed as she recounted the story.
“Because she was a recluse and so was the cat. Now, Mr. Armstrong—”
“A recluse? But—”
“Katrina, please,” Holly said, cutting her off. Her sister’s mouth snapped shut. “Mr. Armstrong, you mentioned an original agreement?”
“Ah, yes, the conversation you had with the baron before your marriage? I’m referring to that.”
“Oh,” Holly said, an uneasy sensation settling into her spine.
