Page 22 of The Elusive Phoebe (The Widows of Lavender Cottage #1)

Country Properties:

Tenant farms across Hampshire, Kent, and Yorkshire: ￡1,800 per annum combined

Two country inns on major coaching routes: ￡400 per annum combined

Stone quarry in Yorkshire: ￡300 per annum

Financial Holdings:

Bank Accounts:

Account at Coutts & Co.: ￡8,500 (immediate access)

Account at Child & Co.: ￡12,000 (requires lady's personal signature)

Emergency account at Rothschild & Sons: ￡5,000 (accessible by coded letter only)

Government Bonds:

Consols valued at ￡25,000 (generating ￡1,250 per annum)

Navy bonds: ￡8,000 (generating ￡480 per annum)

Various smaller bonds: ￡3,200 total value

Private Investments:

Shares in East India Company: valued at ￡6,000

Investment in sugar plantation (Barbados): ￡4,000 value, managed by trusted agents

Partnership shares in shipping enterprise: value fluctuates, currently estimated ￡7,500

Jewelry and Personal Effects:

Family jewelry collection valued at ￡4,200

Personal effects including library, art collection, and furnishings: ￡2,800

Horse breeding stock at Rosemont: 23 animals valued at ￡3,100

Wine cellars across all properties: approximately ￡1,500 value

Annual Income Summary:

Property rents and farm income: ￡4,850

Government bonds: ￡1,730

Investment dividends: approximately ￡2,200 (variable)

Total estimated annual income: ￡8,780

Special Provisions:

For Household Staff:

All current employees guaranteed positions for life if desired

Pension fund established: ￡2,000 for long-term care of loyal servants

Bonus payments: ￡50 per year of service to each employee upon Lady Smalling's inheritance

For Lady Smalling's Security:

Emergency fund maintained at each property: ￡500 per location

Legal fund for protection against false claims: ￡1,000

Travel fund for immediate departure if safety requires: ￡2,000

For Future Contingencies:

Marriage settlement fund: ￡5,000 (to ensure Lady Smalling's property rights in any future marriage)

Fund for female dependents (maids, companions): ￡1,500

Educational fund for any children: ￡3,000

Archie set down the papers and whistled softly. "Phoebe, you're... you're wealthy beyond imagining."

She stared at him, still processing the scope of it all. "This is way more than even the solicitor let me believe. I don't understand how this is possible. He was away for two years. When did he acquire all of this?"

"Some of it he must have inherited, but look—" Archie pointed to several entries. "Many of these properties were purchased or improved in 1816 and 1817, while you were in the north. He was building this empire for you."

"The renovations at Rosemont, the artist's studio in Brighton, even the herb garden in Bath—" Phoebe's voice caught. "He was planning our life together while I thought he'd abandoned me."

"He was working to create a future where you could be safe and happy," Archie agreed. "And now it's all yours. You can go anywhere, do anything, be completely independent."

Phoebe looked around the cozy cottage that had seemed like such a gift just days ago. Now it felt almost quaint compared to the vast holdings she'd inherited. "I don't know if I want to be the mistress of grand estates, Archie. This feels... overwhelming."

"Then you don't have to be," he said gently. " You could sell some properties, keep others. You could live quietly here and let stewards manage everything else. Or you could embrace it all—become a force in society, use your wealth for good causes."

"The choice is mine," she said wonderingly.

"Completely yours."

She picked up Robert's final letter again, scanning his words about freedom and choice. "He meant it, didn't he? When he said his love shouldn't be a chain."

"He did. And Phoebe?" Archie's voice was careful. "That applies to my love as well. I meant what I said earlier. I want to be part of your life in whatever way you'll have me, but I'll never try to control or limit you."

For the first time since reading the letters, Phoebe smiled. "You know what I think I'd like to do first?"

"What?"

"I'd like to solve his puzzle. I want to visit our properties and find what he left for me." She looked at Archie hopefully. "Would you come with me? As my friend and protector?"

"I would be honored," he said. "When do we start?"

"Tomorrow," she decided. "Or the next day. Or this week sometime. We'll start with Rosemont Hall. I want to understand what Robert built for us—what he built for me."

As the sun set over the lavender fields, Phoebe felt something she hadn't experienced in years: excitement about the future. She was wealthy, independent, and for the first time in her life, completely free to choose her own path.

But first, there were practical matters to consider.

"Archie," she said, gathering the letters carefully, "I think we need to tell the Widows about this. At least Lady Joanna and the core group. If there truly are people searching for me, Somerset needs to be prepared."

Archie nodded thoughtfully. "You're right. And they deserve to know what they might be getting into by harboring you here."

"Tomorrow morning, then. We'll call an emergency meeting before we do anything else." Phoebe stood, feeling the weight of decisions settling on her shoulders. "This is going to change everything, isn't it?"

"Everything," Archie agreed. "But that doesn't have to be a bad thing."

As they prepared to retire for the evening— Archie off to a local inn, Phoebe to her own chamber—she paused at the foot of the stairs.

"Archie? Thank you. For being here, for listening, for..." She searched for words. "For not trying to take over."

"Thank you for trusting me," he replied. "Sleep well, Phoebe. I’ll be back before light tomorrow, and we'll figure out how to keep you safe while you claim what's rightfully yours."