Page 6 of Lydia Acquires Adoration (Bennet Ladies Liberation #5)

Chapter Five

“Now remember what we said about leaving the baby plants where they are. We are only taking out the weeds. The plants that look like this.” Lydia held up an example for her young nephew again. He was a very enthusiastic helper but sometimes his enthusiasm could be become a danger to her seedlings.

Looking over, she noticed that Clara was watching her carefully and then finding a weed, she pulled it and held it aloft. Her gaze questioning. It concerned Lydia that the little girl chose not to talk for the most part. Nodding, Lydia encouraged, “Yes, perfect, Miss Clara. That is exactly the kind of plant we are looking to pull.” Leaning over, she hugged the girl to her side. Careful to keep her dirty hands away from Clara’s dress, she kissed her on the forehead. Smothering Clara with the affection she suspected she had never received came naturally to Lydia. She believed everyone deserved love in their life, especially children. It was a tragedy that not all children would get the love they deserved.

Lydia did not know how long she would have with little Clara, but she was going to show her as much love as possible in that time. She could only imagine how stark the child’s life must have been for her to be so timid now. Taking a moment to watch Clara as she worked in the dirt, Lydia marveled at her delicate features. Even with her black curls contained with a bow that morning, a few strands were still escaping to frame her elfin face. She was so precious, and she deserved to be treated as such. Hopefully, she would come out of her shell a little and begin to share some of herself sooner rather than later.

The reading of the will was scheduled to begin within a matter of hours. Then they would have to wait until Mr. Burgess made his way back to Pemberley to learn anything vital. It was the perfect morning to vent her frustration on weeds. Gazing beyond Clara, she caught Selene’s eye. Her normally talkative friend was becoming just as quiet as her niece, Clara. Selene tried in vain to smile, but it never made it to her eyes. Lydia could see that Selene was just as anxious, if not more so.

Pulling on her arm with a grubby hand, Artie got her attention, saying, “Antie Lydie, I think we did all the bad plants.”

Realizing that he was correct, Lydia smiled. “You are right! I guess we are done for the day in the garden, and it is time for you both to go back up to the nursery.”

“No, Auntie Lydie. There are other bad plants over there. We can get them next.”

Lydia shook her head, trying to suppress a laugh at his playful antics, fully aware that giving in would only spur him on. She was firm when she said, “No, those weeds are for another day. It is time for you to go back to the nursery with Clara.”

Clara nodded obediently and stood calmly while Artie pretended to pout and stick out his little lower lip. Lydia knew better than to be swayed. Wiping her dirty hands on the large cloth she had brought, Lydia stood and shook out her skirts, then wiped Artie’s hands as well. Clara and Selene were occupied in a similar manner, albeit with less humor. Pursing her lips, Lydia tried to come up with a way to lighten the mood for the two.

One of the gardeners came over to gather the tools and whatnot and Lydia smiled at him in thanks. It had been an odd adjustment to have so many staff present when she came to Pemberley for the first time. She knew that the family could get by with less but learned that William often employed people who found themselves in need. It was one of the reasons Pemberley’s staff were so known for being hardworking and loyal.

Then, each holding a child’s hand, they moved with them into the house. Projecting a bit of levity in her tone, Lydia said, “You know, I think I heard Nurse Sarah say that she was getting a special treat from Cook this morning.”

This instantly had Artie’s attention and looking back he cried, “Clara, did you hear we can get a special treat!”

Clara grinned and nodded, setting her curls bobbing around her head. Though Clara did not say anything, Selene responded, “Won’t that be lovely?”

Nurse Sarah, who joined the excitement, asked, “Did you have fun gardening?”

Nodding, Artie said, “Yes, we got more bad plants. Auntie Lydie said we can have a special treat.”

Not missing a beat, the kind nurse said, “Oh, of course, but you will have to get cleaned up first, though. We can’t have you ruining your treat with dirty hands and clothes.”

Lydia watched Nurse Sarah shepherd them off towards the nursery. They would be washed up in no time, she was sure. Sarah was very good at her job and, even with the addition of Clara, she kept their routine running smoothly. It was time that they had a treat and a story, and most likely a nap.

She did not press Selene for conversation as they both walked to their rooms. Lydia could understand her need for contemplation at such a time. Lydia poured water from her ewer into the basin so that she could wash her face and hands. She would change and then go spend some time with Elizabeth and baby Gilbert while the children napped. Maybe she could convince Selene to join them. She wanted to keep Selene distracted while she waited for her brother’s return. Though Lydia was starting to run out of ideas.

Sebastian watched the man across from him arrange the papers before him into a neat stack before speaking. Herrington had implied that the man, one Niles Coulson, was, if not on his side, honest to a fault. If problems were to arise, at least it would not be from any underhanded actions on his part.

Clearing his throat, Mr. Coulson began, “As all relevant parties are present, I will begin by reading Cornelius Blakeley’s will. Once I have read it through, we can begin discussions on the matters that are most relevant to the current parties. Please do not interrupt with questions until such time when I give you leave to do so.”

And so began a long-winded recitation full of legalese and jargon. Oddly enough, Sebastian was reminded of one of the lectures he attended back in Cambridge given by an older don. He felt like he only comprehended every third sentence, and he was certain he would fail the upcoming test.

From what he could interpret, there were certain bequeaths to servants for their loyal service. A town house was left to a lady of his acquaintance, presumably a mistress of long standing. Though two other women also received lump sums. Sebastian thought Clara was being referred to as the minor female child in most of the document, if he wasn't mistaken. He noticed that her name had been listed only once at the beginning when naming her his heir. Care of the minor child was being left to the relative best suitable, with instructions and previsions in the accompanying codicil with oversight to be handled by the solicitor on retainer Niles Coulson.

Did that mean that the person in charge of Clara’s care was not listed in the will itself? What were the instructions and provisions? Glancing over at Herrington, Sebastian saw he did not appear at all concerned. Hopefully, that meant the information thus far wasn’t concerning.

Following instructions and not wanting to appear ignorant, Sebastian waited for the man to finish speaking. Blackthorn, however, did not appear to be of the same mind, as he interrupted in a huff of frustration. “Enough of all this, blather! Just tell me of…” The glare delivered by Mr. Coulson might not have been enough to stop Blackthorn mid sentience, but the rather burly assistant coming around to rest a hand on the man’s shoulder seemed to do the job.

Sebastian bit his lip to keep from smiling at the baron’s inappropriate behavior. He knew it was not the time to be caught smiling. He wondered if there were often people at will readings he had to keep in line. If so, having formidable assistants was a wise precaution. Mr. Coulson once again began reading the will. It did not take him long to finish the document once silence had been enforced.

Looking at all the men in the room, Coulson said, “Now, are there any questions?”

Finally, given leave to vent his spleen, Blackthorn shouted, “Are you telling me that my brother left all of his property and money to his sniveling brat?!” The man would have stood if not for the large hand that was once again at his shoulder.

“Baron Blackthorn, this is your only warning. These proceedings will be held with dignity and decorum. If you are unable to uphold these strictures, you will vacate the premises.”

Glaring daggers at the solicitor, Blackthorn griped, “You cannot kick me out of my brother’s home. It should by all rights be mine.” Despite speaking in a controlled manner, his tone conveyed a cutting and peevish attitude.

Unswayed, Mr. Coulson countered with cool civility. “As per your brother's will, Swarkstone Park is now under the ownership of Clara Sophia Blakesley.”

“But she is female and a minor! She cannot manage a property,” he scoffed.

Nodding, Mr. Coulson replied, “In light of her minor status, the individual chosen to oversee her care will also be responsible for managing her properties and investments.”

With his eyes widening as if he had stumbled upon a stroke of luck, Blackthorn absentmindedly brushed off a bit of lint from his trousers and remarked, “Then I will take care of the brat. She is my niece. I suppose family being what it is, I shall take her in.”

Leaning back in his chair behind the desk, Mr. Coulson steepled his fingers. “That is not how this works. Your brother listed who he wanted to care for his child in the accompanying codicil. Only when all other options for guardianship have been exhausted are you listed as a possibility.”

Standing and slapping his hands down on the desk between them, Blackthorn shouted, “Then what did he leave me? I never once heard my name listed while you were muttering on in legal jargon.”

“No, you wouldn’t have. Your brother left you nothing. He was, in fact, very specific about leaving you nothing.” Then, making eye contact with the large assistant, he nodded. “It is time for you to take your leave. As I said, I will not have you disrupting the proceedings. Bankes will see you out. Please vacate the premises within the hour.” What followed involved a lot of screaming and more cussing than Sebastian had heard since leaving school, but eventually, the small man and his servant were out of the room.

Then it was just the three men sitting around the desk, Herrington and Sebastian on the one side and Mr. Coulson on the other. Without the stifling presence of Blackthorn, Sebastian felt some of his tension bleed away. At least the baron had not been the one named Clara’s guardian.

Niles Coulson looked at the young man across from him and wondered how he might take the information in the clause. He did not appear to be a greedy man, but he would soon find out one way or the other. Shifting his gaze, Coulson nodded to Herrington. He had never met the man in person but they dwelt in similar circles and he had only heard good things about the other solicitor.

Pulling out a sheet from a folder on the desk, he addressed the younger man, saying, “Mr. Burgess, I believe you are here regarding your concern for your niece, Clara. You will most likely be very relieved that you and your sister are both listed as possible guardians of your young niece. However, there are provisions that must be met.”

Sitting forward in his chair, Mr. Burgess asked, “Provisions?”

“Yes, the codicil is essentially a list of provisions. Though unusual, they are in effect and legal.” Coulson read the curiosity on Herrington’s face, which was to be expected. Being someone who worked with wills, he understood that finding novel approaches often felt like unraveling a challenging puzzle. Mr. Burgess, however, simply looked confused. Taking pity on him, Coulson explained, “A year or so ago, Cornelius Blakesley was ill and feverish from what I understand it was a rather harrowing experience. For a time, he drew closer to his daughter, becoming more interested in her welfare. It was at that time that he created the codicil.”

Though it looked as if Burgess might comment, he hesitated and then asked, “What are the conditions to guardianship?”

Looking down at the sheet before him, Coulson considered the situation before glancing back up and saying, “First off, you must prove that you have the child’s best interests at heart. Unsurprisingly, Baron Blackthorn has already proven himself unsuitable. Conversely, you have demonstrated your worthiness to care for the child.”

Herrington questioned, “While I am not about to make things more difficult for my client, I wonder what action of his has shown that he has her best interests at heart?”

“Why, swooping in and removing her from an unhealthy situation. I have spoken with the staff here. Mr. Burgess and his sister arrived swiftly after my client’s death and, on finding Clara without adequate care, removed her.” Coulson watched both men as they took in his statement before continuing by asking, “Where is Miss Clara? Though as a father, I applaud your actions. As her solicitor, I will need to know.”

Tilting his head, Mr. Burgess’s eyes narrowed only briefly before saying, “My sister and I are friends with the Darcys of Pemberley and not only are they close enough to make the journey possible, but we knew that they would be at home and welcoming. Their son is quite taken with his guest to the nursery.”

The Darcys, a very fine family indeed. It was evident that Mr. Burgess had a greater level of connections than was widely acknowledged. Nodding, Coulson merely said, “It was a wise choice to take her to a place where she could be cared for with a staffed and well provided nursery. I am aware of the staff at Swarkstone Park having fled in fear of the baron.”

When neither man commented nor questioned his statement, Coulson continued, “The second provision is that the person who gains guardianship must live at Swarkstone at least a portion of every year in order to oversee its upkeep and care for the tenants. This was put in place so that when Miss Clara comes of age, she will be assured of a solvent estate to serve as her dowry. The estate must remain profitable in order for the guardianship to not fall into jeopardy.” From the look on both Herrington and Burgess’s faces, they were aware of the irony in that provision. Cornelius Blackthorn rarely visited his daughter or estate and only the care of a good steward had kept the estate solvent.

“The third, and probably the most problematic provision, is that he requires that whoever claims guardianship be married. He states he does not care if it is you or your sister who claims guardianship, but that you must be married. He allows for a thirty-day grace period from the reading of the will should neither of you be married at the time of his death. This is the one provision which could stymie your guardianship, as I believe neither you nor your twin are married.”

Pinching the bridge of his nose, Mr. Burgess questioned, “So one of us must get married in order to care for Clara?”

“Yes. At the time, I believe my client felt his failings as a father stemmed from not having a mother to offer his daughter. For a time, he had planned on remarrying but became…distracted by other pursuits.” It was not for Coulson to say that the temptations of London captivated Cornelius Blakesley, leaving little room for thoughts of his daughter or the responsibilities of his estate. Pushing forward with the last provision, he continued, “The final provision grants me the authority to oversee Miss Clara's guardian. I am tasked with ensuring that Miss Clara's guardian carries out their responsibilities in accordance with my judgment. As for the money that Clara will inherit, you shall only have control of the interest after I see proof of your marriage and officially name you and your wife as guardians. You are granted the authority to utilize the interest for the purpose of caring for Clara and her estate, however, I will need a detailed record of the funds' allocation.”

Married? He or Selene had to be married in order to care for Clara. There was really no question about it. One of them would have to marry, but how to go about it? Mr. Coulson continued talking, but Sebastian found himself lost to anything besides the issue he had been presented with the word marriage. He could not force his sister into an unattainable situation. Marriage was not a simple thing, especially where there was no love in the union, but at least as a man, he would not be so wholly under someone else’s power as his sister would be. It would have to be him who married. He would not allow Selene to make the sacrifice that he knew she would be so willing to commit to. Nor would he risk Clara falling into the hands of Baron Blackthorn.

A loud clearing of the throat had startled Sebastian. Opposite him, Mr. Coulson's voice carried a firm tone as he addressed him. “Mr. Burgess.”

Sebastian forced his gaze to focus on Mr. Coulson. Who, it seemed, had been trying to get his attention. Embarrassed that his inattention had been so easily noticed, Sebastian apologized, saying, “I am sorry, please go on and I will endeavor to pay closer attention.”

Offering a kind smile, Mr. Coulson nodded, stating, “Mr. Burgess, I may not know you that well, but I feel safe in assuming that you are even at this moment planning for a wedding in the near future. I wish I could say that it was unnecessary, but I cannot. If you do not comply with the provisions in the codicil, Randell Blakesley, the Baron of Blackthorn, will be allowed to take up the attempt, as per my client’s wishes.”

With a firm shake of his head, Sebastian adamantly replied, “No. I will not risk my niece falling into that man’s clutches. I will be married by the deadline given.” With only a thirty-day deadline, he had no clue who he would find to marry. Nevertheless, he remained committed to make it happen, no matter the challenges.

Mr. Coulson began stacking up the papers about the borrowed desk, only pausing to say, “I will need to meet your wife and see the wedding license. I will plan to meet you here. The day after you arrive with your new bride. Kindly provide me with the details of your scheduled wedding date and your expected arrival at Swarkstone Park.”

Sebastian found himself nodding and moving to stand while saying, “Yes, that is acceptable. I will be sure to keep you informed.” What else could Sebastian say? He was in no position to object, and everyone in the room knew it.

Putting the last of his papers away in a satchel, Mr. Coulson came from around the desk and clasped Sebastian on the shoulder briefly before saying, “Good, good, I will also expect to meet with Miss Clara as well to ensure the girl is properly cared for. It would be wise to hire nursery staff and prepare for an extended stay at Swarkstone. It will require some effort to turn the property and what remains of the staff around after such extended neglect, but I have faith that you will prove capable of doing so.”

Despite being grateful for the acknowledgment, Sebastian could not think of a response besides the tight nod that he offered and walking with the man to the door. His mind was overflowing with responsibilities and lists of things that must be done that he felt completely unequal to.

“I will see myself and my staff out after I leave word with the housekeeper and the butler that they are to take instruction from you. I know you have things to be about, but I hope to hear from you soon.” After shaking hands with both Sebastian and Herrington, Mr. Coulson was off down the hallway, his large assistant speaking with him as they went. Sebastian wondered if the man had had any difficulty seeing the baron off. He did not seem harmed, so at least that was something.