Courting Kit

“Well, this is all very odd,” Harry pronounced with an accompanying frown.

“What is there in that?” Kitty said quietly. “Most estates are entailed. I just never gave it a thought, but I am not a blood relative, so it stands to reason Wharton would probably go to a male heir …” Her voice broke. “But if that is the case … I shall so miss Wharton.”

Harry and Nanny exchanged uneasy glances. Changes to wills usually turned out troublesome in one form or another, and so Harry told her. “Besides, I don’t believe he would leave you out in the cold. Impossible.”

Kitty shrugged. “Well, ’tis nearly four now. Mr. Harkins should be here any minute, and we will know exactly where we stand. Harry, do stay.”

“Yes, I think I shall, if only to make certain you and Nanny are all right afterwards,” Harry agreed.

“Go upstairs, my love,” Nanny said softly. “Wash up and get out of those horrid britches. Quickly now—there isn’t much time.”

Kitty chewed her bottom lip. Whatever was she to do? Leaving Wharton was something that had never been a possibility. Where would she and Nanny go? “I just don’t believe it. Even though the estate might be entailed, I can’t believe that Uncle Edwin would serve us thusly, Nanny.”

This was a complication they had not expected.

“I agree, Kit. Your guardian was a good sort and never would have served you such a trick.”

“What then?” Kitty eyed him before she left. “Just what then?”

She looked over her shoulder before she left the room and saw that Harry’s face was drawn in deep concentration and that Nanny sat rigid with worry.

This was very unexpected, but there was nothing and no one that could ever make Kitty believe her dearest Uncle Edwin would leave her and Nanny to fend for themselves.

~ Five ~

IT WAS NOT a coincidence that at that very moment the Earl of Halloway sat back in his winged leather-bound chair to reread Edwin Wharton’s letter and a copy of the will his uncle had drawn up just before his death. He had been notified of his uncle’s death, and told that he would be sent a copy of the will and a letter from his uncle explaining that will, after three months had passed. It had only mildly surprised him, but then, he had always thought his uncle Edwin eccentric.

Wharton had been his uncle, but he scarcely knew him.

He read first, Mr. Harkins’ accompanying note and then the will with mixed emotions.

Harkins again reminded him that he was Edwin Wharton’s solicitor and briefly advised the earl that his uncle had died, leaving him as chief beneficiary of his uncle’s considerable fortune.

The earl sat forward and re-read those lines.

There were, however, stipulations.

The first had already been achieved, as the three months’ waiting period for the will to be read had been t

aken care of. Evidently, his uncle Edwin would not have his ward, Christina Kingsley, distressed during her time of mourning, and his final will, he wrote, would distress her.

Rich, he thought. I will be rich. I will be in control of my life.

Right, so why then did he have this uneasy feeling?

He hadn’t even realized that his uncle was such a wealthy man. After going over the paperwork, he discovered his uncle was probably one of the richest men in all of England.

He held up his uncle’s letter and then slowly read it for the third time.

Nephew,

It occurs to me that I have neglected you. I should have spent a little more time getting to know you over the years. I do beg your pardon.

Shall I make up a list of ready excuses? I think not. The truth is my dear sister—your mother—and I were never good friends. There too, she so enjoyed her London. I did not. She loved to flit amongst the fashionable beau monde. I abhorred such a life. For me Wharton Place, my beloved New Forest, and my fox hounds were all the world I required, especially after Kitty came into my life.

The earl paused at this point and frowned. Kitty? Ah, he had a vague memory of a child … no more than seven or so. He shook his head, as no ready answer came to mind, and went on reading.

There it is. Plain speaking, lad, plain speaking. Well, if you are reading this, I’m dead and buried three months ago. That you already were told, and now, it is time for you to know the rest, and this is how it stands.