The Widow and the Rogue Read Online Free Page B

Pleased faces and nods were given as the staff recognized their names and were told what they had been bequeathed.
    When he had finished with this portion, Beau turned the paper over and said pointedly, “Those in service may retire. I shall begin reading the part of the will that concerns only the immediate family.”
    After the servants had left, the housekeeper still stood by the door. Her formidable presence was tangibly felt. She sullenly crossed her arms and scowled. She waited for him to continue reading.
    He noticed and remarked calmly, “You may go as well, Mrs. O’Grady. Your presence is no longer required.”
    “But as head of the servants in service here, I have a right to know what is to happen to the hall,” she said with a small sniff.
    She looked pointedly over at Kathleen and Lord Langtry’s relatives.
    “I ought to be told who will be the next master or mistress here. So I may inform the others as to who we will owe our living.”
    This comment included Squire Lynch, Lord Langtry’s sister, the Countess Deuville, and Henry. The countess, who until now wore a bored expression, transformed into someone keenly interested as to what was about to take place. This was also true of Henry, who had been quietly snoring in a corner. His hands clasped over his protruding middle.
    They may rightly assume Lord Langtry has put them in charge over me and Dovehill Hall , decided Kathleen, inwardly sighing.
    She did not trust any of them. They were all cut from the same cloth. As an underage widow not yet one and twenty, she knew one of them might be named her legal guardian. Her life, it would appear, was fated never to be her own.
    Looking at the greed-filled faces, she could not decide who would make the better protector. To her knowledge they were all equally dreadful. And from past experiences, she knew they would enjoy controlling her.
    Another thought entered her mind . . . Henry might be given the entire estate as the sole surviving male relation. She would then be banished to the dowager house to live out the remainder of her days in genteel poverty.
    She felt almost gleeful . . . the possibility of being left completely alone, without someone spying on her, caused a tiny smile to appear on her lips.
    Privacy and freedom . . . two liberties she had been deprived of, would be hers. To regain them now would indeed create a blissful existence.
    “Very well, Mrs. O’Grady,” Beau said, conceding to the housekeeper’s wish, “as it is in the interest of the new master of Dovehill Hall that the servants keep it running smoothly, you may stay and observe the proceedings.”
    He picked up the document again. “Ah yes,” he said slowly, looking the testament over.
    He did not look up. He gave no indication as to who would be put in charge of her and Dovehill Hall. She sensed, however, that he knew.
    Master Powers had undoubtedly read over the will several times. He was, she could tell by his severe professional manner, putting on a show. It was to give extra weight to the papers he held.
    None of them, she knew, would be able to dispute the validity of Bangford’s will. It had been drawn up by one of the most noted law firms in Ireland. There would be no loopholes. It was unquestionably perfect.
    He looked up and said with firm authority, “Here we are . . . hmm . . . let me sum up what it says . . . according to the last will and testament of Lord Bangford Langtry, it is his wife, Lady Kathleen, who will be mistress of Dovehill Hall.”
    Gasps of surprise went round the room.
    He went on to explain, “Apparently, his lordship believed he was about to sire an heir, and therefore he decided to leave the entire estate in her ladyship’s capable hands.”
    “That’s preposterous!” the countess loudly protested from her chair.
    Her white powdered face frowned with indignant disbelief. “She is but a child and quite clearly underage. As for offspring . . . my brother was too old to possibly beget any. This