“If you will follow me, Miss Hembry,” the butler said before he started down a corridor that was lined with portraits.
She trailed after the butler but her eyes strayed towards the portraits of the genteel women and gentlemen. She wondered what it must be like to sit for a portrait such as these. She could hardly imagine wearing such fine clothes and having elaborate jewels hanging around her neck. It was a life that would always be out of her reach.
The butler came to a stop outside of an open door and gestured for her to enter. His expression remained stoic, yet his eyes, just for a fleeting moment, seemed to betray a hint of concern. Which was ridiculous, was it not? Why would he even show the least bit of concern for her? She was nothing more than a stranger to him.
Emilia hesitantly stepped inside of the room and saw Mr. Rymer engaged in a conversation with a young blonde-haired woman, who was elegantly dressed in a black muslin gown, and a fashionably dressed gentleman, both appearing to be of a similar age to her. The solicitor’s expression, however, bore traces of frustration, suggesting that their discussion wasn’t proceeding as smoothly as he had hoped.
Mr. Rymer glanced over at her and his eyes flashed with something that looked very much like relief.
“Miss Hembry,” Mr. Rymer greeted loudly.
The young woman followed the solicitor’s gaze and her eyes narrowed on Emilia. “Who isshe?”
“As I told you, your father invited Miss Hembry to the reading of his will,” Mr. Rymer replied.
The gentleman leaned towards the young woman and said in a hushed voice, “I will never understand what Father was thinking, but if he left her a penny, I intend to contest the will.”
“She probably is the daughter of his whore,” the young woman remarked with a hand covering part of her mouth.
Emilia shifted nervously in her stance. They had spoken loudly enough that she had heard their every word, leading her to believe that had been their intention. If their aim was to make her as uncomfortable as possible, they had certainly succeeded. She began to wonder whether her decision to come had been a mistake.
Mr. Rymer approached her and bowed. “You are most welcome here.” He paused. “Miss Hembry, I do believe introductions are in order. Allow me to introduce you to Miss Clarissa Sutherland and Mr. Calvin Sutherland.”
Mr. Sutherland acknowledged her with a cursory nod while Miss Sutherland merely huffed, then returned her attention to her brother. It was evident that they held her in low regard and didn’t consider her worthy of their time or notice.
“Now that everyone is here, shall we begin?” Mr. Rymer asked.
“It is about time,” Miss Sutherland complained. “I don’t know why my father thought this meeting was necessary.”
Mr. Rymer gestured towards the available seating. “Would everyone care to take a seat?”
Miss Sutherland glided effortlessly to a camelback settee. Emilia chose a chair that was the farthest way from Miss Sutherland and tried her best to ignore the disdainful glances that were being directed her way by the brother and sister.
“I will stand,” Mr. Sutherland said.
“Very good.” Mr. Rymer walked over to the desk and picked up a stack of papers. “As you were informed, Sir Charles amended his will just days before his death, in the presence of two witnesses. A Lord Billingsly and Mr. Crawshay. It has since been recorded in probate court and approved by the judge. Furthermore, Sir Charles appointed me to be the executor of his last will and testament.”
“Father always made much ado about nothing,” Mr. Sutherland said. “I don’t understand why no one could read the will until now.”
Mr. Rymer came to stand in front of them and said, “It was his request, and I had no choice but to honor it.”
“How long is this going to take?” Miss Sutherland asked, glancing at the long clock in the corner. “I have a meeting with the dressmaker this afternoon and I won’t be late for the fitting. I need a whole new wardrobe now that I am in mourning.”
“It shouldn’t take too long,” Mr. Rymer assured her. “Are there any questions before I begin reading the will?”
Miss Sutherland shot Emilia a disgruntled look, daring her to speak up. Not that she had any intention of doing so. Being in this room was becoming increasingly unpleasant with each passing moment.
Mr. Rymer cleared his throat and began reading in a clear and precise voice. “I, Sir Charles Sutherland, of the parish of St. George’s, do by this, my last will and testament, give and bequeath to my daughter, Emilia, everything of which I may die possessed, or which may be hereafter due to me, minus twenty thousand pounds which will be divided equally amongst my two illegitimate children, Clarissa and Calvin.”
Emilia stared at the solicitor in disbelief as a deafening silence filled the room. Did she dare believe what had just been read to her? How was it possible that she was Sir Charles’ daughter? None of this made any sense.
Miss Sutherland jumped up from her seat. “This is preposterous! Father wasn’t in his right mind when he wrote this will. We are not illegitimate; she is!” she shouted, pointing at Emilia.
Mr. Rymer lowered the papers to his side. “Unfortunately, you are misinformed,” he said. “Sir Charles eloped to Gretna Green with his first wife, Rosie, and hadn’t annulled the marriage when he married your mother, Lady Diana. Therefore, Emilia is Sir Charles’ only legitimate child and is entitled to his vast fortune.”
“I will need to see proof of this,” Mr. Sutherland demanded.
“I shall send it over at once. But I should warn you that the marriage documents were submitted to the probate court and have been reviewed by the judge, confirming that Sir Charles did, in fact, commit bigamy,” Mr. Rymer shared. “It is within your rights to contest the will, but it will come at a great expense to you.”