Joan Wolf Read Online Free Page A

world-famous, and which the earl was able to leave as he chose. Nicholas had always been fairly certain that some of the collection at least would be left to him; enough of it, at any rate, for him to put Winslow back on its feet again. But that was before the arrival of Margarita Carreño.
    The Beauchamp family had been stunned by the welcome the earl had accorded to Margarita. His determined silence on the subject of his daughter had convinced everyone that he would have nothing more to do with her or anything that belonged to her. But Nicholas had not been so surprised. He never spoke of his mother either, but that did not mean he had forgotten. He feared that the earl might have decided that his own granddaughter would be a worthier recipient of the Winslow Collection than his graceless nephew. The earl had been under no illusions as to what Nicholas would do with the collection once he got his hands on it.
    Mr. Francis Sheridan, the earl’s lawyer, did nothing to put his mind at rest. After shaking hands and accepting a Madeira, he said, “Miss Carreño is still here, is she not, my lord?”
    Nicholas still found the new title startling, but now he hardly noticed it. “Yes. She took a severe blow on the head during the accident. I haven’t seen much of her, but she appears to be recovered.”
    “Good.” Mr. Sheridan studiously avoided Nicholas’s eyes. “I think she should be present for the reading of your uncle’s will,” he said quietly.
    There was a pause, then Nicholas answered bleakly, “I see. I’ll have her sent for.”
    When Margarita entered the room ten minutes later the two men were standing by the fire, staring down into the flames. There was silence in the room, and they both turned as the door opened and she came in, followed by Lady Moreton. Her cousin offered her a chair, and as she seated herself Mr. Sheridan looked curiously at the girl whose arrival had caused such consternation in the Beauchamp family circle. He saw a small face with skin the color of warm ivory. Her eyes were enormous, brown, and set slightly slantwise under dark, level brows. The nose was small and straight, the mouth surprisingly wide and full. She was lovely, he thought, and very young.
    “Thank you for coming down, Miss Carreño ,” he said. “I am about to read your grandfather’s will, and as it concerns you, it will be best if you are present.”
    The grave, dark eyes widened a little in surprise. “Concerns me?” she asked. Her voice was very low, but clear and unaccented.
    “Shall I go?” asked Lady Moreton.
    “You may as well stay, Lucy,” Nicholas said tautly. “The contents will hardly remain a secret for long.” He gestured toward Mr. Sheridan. “Get on with it, then.”
    “Yes, my lord,” the lawyer replied calmly, and he took up the papers he had spread out on the desk.
     
     

CHAPTER FOUR
     
    My scheme was worth attempting: and bears fruit,
    Gives you a husband and a noble name,
    A palace and no end of pleasant things.
    Robert Browning
     
    Fifteen minutes later he was still reading. The minor details, the bequests to old retainers, had all been taken care of. Mr. Sheridan cleared his throat and said quietly, “This next is what you will be interested in, my lord. ‘I give devise and bequeath my entire art collection, the catalogue of which is attached to this document, to my nephew Nicholas Alexander George Beauchamp.’“ There was a movement by the fireplace, and Mr. Sheridan looked up to meet Nicholas’s suddenly brilliant eyes. “There is a condition, my lord. Your uncle added it only a month ago.”
    Nicholas’s eyes narrowed. “And what is the condition, Mr. Sheridan?”
    The lawyer looked back at the document.  “This bequest is made on the condition that the said Nicholas Alexander George Beauchamp marry my granddaughter Margarita Josefina Theresa Carreño within two weeks of the reading of this will.’“
    “What!” It was Lady Moreton’s voice. “You must be