Beyond the Veil of Tears Read Online Free

everyone as it should be, and she could report directly to you. And I could still live here.’ Turning to the solicitor, she added, ‘There’s
enough money for that, isn’t there, Mr Appleby?’
    Without giving the solicitor a chance to respond, and with a thread of impatience in his voice, Hector said, ‘It’s not a question of money, Angeline. Your father stated his wishes
very clearly, and what you are suggesting is quite ludicrous. You will come to live with me within the week. That is the end of the matter. My final word. You may bring anything you wish, of
course, and Miss Robson has agreed to continue to give you your lessons each morning. This house will be sold forthwith, and the proceeds added to the trust.’
    ‘But Mrs Lee and Cook, and everyone?’
    ‘The servants will be given excellent references and three months’ wages in lieu of notice. The senior staff – the housekeeper, cook and butler – will receive six
months’ wages. This is very generous, believe me.’ Her uncle’s tone made it clear that if this stipulation hadn’t been in the will, his treatment of the servants would have
been very different. ‘Now, Mr Appleby has pointed out that you will need a personal maid, m’dear. Which is not necessary at present, in my bachelor abode.’
    Hector smiled his thin smile, but Angeline was too distraught by the turn of events to respond. Oakfield sold? And the staff dismissed? Just like that? This was their home, too –
couldn’t he see that?
    ‘Mr Appleby suggested you might wish to bring your current housemaid with you in that capacity.’ Hector’s sniff of disapproval indicated that he couldn’t for the life of
him see why. A servant was a servant, after all. Now, if it had been a pet dog or cat . . . ‘But I thought a maid already trained in that respect would be more suitable.’
    Feeling as though she was drowning, Angeline caught at the lifeline that the kindly solicitor had provided. ‘Myrtle attended to Mama when she had need of it,’ she said quickly,
‘and I would prefer her to a stranger.’
    ‘So be it. Now, Mr Appleby, perhaps you would be so good as to read the will?’
    When the solicitor eventually finished speaking, only two things had really registered through Angeline’s turmoil. First, that she wouldn’t come into her inheritance until she was
twenty-one or married – whichever came first. Second, that she was a very rich young woman. This Mr Appleby had impressed upon her, adding that it was why her father had wanted to see to it
that she was under her uncle’s protection until she was mature enough to cope with such a responsibility.
    ‘Your father has tied the trust up in such a way that no monies – other than your allowance and the stipend paid to your uncle for as long as you reside with him – can be
extracted. By you or anyone else.’ George Appleby’s gaze flicked to Hector for a moment. He wasn’t fooled by his blank countenance. Philip’s brother had expected a bequest
of some kind, although George couldn’t see why. Philip had been amazingly generous to Hector when their father had died, setting him up in his own business and buying him a fine house and
all. A different man would have been set up for life, but he rather suspected Hector was in trouble, despite his outward facade. Still, he’d make sure Hector didn’t get his hands on one
penny more than the amount Philip had settled on him each month for Angeline’s keep.
    Hector stared back at the solicitor. He was aware of George’s dislike of him – a feeling he fully reciprocated – and had always resented the high regard in which Philip had
held the little man, and the influence the solicitor had had upon his brother. Take this will, for instance. Hector’s teeth clenched. He had no doubt Philip had left the mechanics of it to
George Appleby, and the solicitor had been instrumental in determining that, even as Angeline’s guardian, he couldn’t use the trust