Page 10 of A Housekeeper for the Earl of Drinkwater
The solicitor’s mouth twitched, but his expression was unreadable. He was quiet for a moment, and Serena fought to keep her impatience from boiling over.
“May I ask why you have need them?” he finally asked.
Serena studied him, frowning.
“I want to examine the accounts for myself,” she said. “I will then be able to satisfy myself that the situation is indeed as you say.”
Mr. Tate chuckled.
“They are with the mortgage provider, pending an examination into the estate’s financial position,” he said, giving her a too-wide smile.
Serena raised an eyebrow.
“You made no mention of this yesterday,” she said.
The solicitor shrugged, a gesture she was quickly coming to dislike.
“We were not discussing those records yesterday,” he said innocently.
Serena raised her head, studying the man. He should have known to mention something so important to her. It was relevant to her parents’ final affairs and the general discussion, even if it had not expressly come up in previous conversation. She voiced as much to him, waiting for his response.
Instead of answering her, however, he rose from his seat, giving her an apparently remorseful, sympathetic look.
“I know all of this must be very difficult for you,” he said, the honey returning to his voice. “I really wish I did not have to pursue a particular matter just now. Unfortunately,” he said, pulling a paper from the black portfolio he always carried with him, “I, too, have a pressing issue to handle while I am here.”
Serena looked at the paper in his hand, and then back at him. But he answered her question before she could ask it.
“I did not realize until I returned to my office that I forgot to bring this to you earlier today,” he said. “But now, I must ask you to sign it.”
Serena took the paper, against her instincts, trying to read it carefully.
“It is the paper authorizing the sale of the house and its contents at auction,” he said, speaking loudly enough to distract her while she read. “I have taken the liberty of drafting the contract, in accordance with the applicable laws and regulations. All you need to do is sign it.”
“Why can I not mail it to you?” she asked. “Father used to do that with your father all the time, with any important documents. I could take some time to read it and then mail it tomorrow morning.”
The solicitor chuckled again, looking at her indulgently.
“That would be foolish,” he said. “Why take chances on it being mislaid in the post when I can take it with me today?”
Serena shook her head.
“I think I should like to take my time when reading something so important,” she said. “Wouldn’t you agree?”
Mr. Tate opened and closed his mouth, settling for a light chuckle.
“Of course, I would advise that any of my clients read any legal document before they sign it,” he said. “But in this case, you and I have already spoken about this. And I have it here now, and I have explained it to you. What more could you possibly need to read?”
Serena looked at his face, trying to understand his insistence. He seemed to understand her hesitation, and he gave her another warm, sweet smile.
“I am trying to spare you any further grief, Miss White,” he said softly. “You see, as I said, this is the document authorizing the sale of the house and its contents at public auction. I only wished to keep you from having to read those details, as I know you are already in terrible distress.”
Serena gasped. She was, of course, aware that her house and its contents would have to be sold at some point. But it had never occurred to her that it would be done at a public auction. The thought was horrifying to her, and she bit her lip with worry.
“Is there no other way?” she asked, humiliated at the mere thought of such an event.
The solicitor shook his head sadly.
“In cases such as these, this is the standard procedure,” he said. “I had hoped to spare you from such details, Miss White. I am truly sorry this is happening to you.”
