“Herr Wilhelm will see you now.”
“Let me help you,” Jolene said, reaching out and taking her aunt’s hand. Jolene gave her a little pull to her feet aware of her arthritic knees. She held her aunt’s arm to give her stability as they entered the office.
“Komtesse, you should have let me come to the estate.” Herr Wilhelm stepped forward to greet their arrival.
Jolene glanced through the tall window overlooking the street. The snow continued to fall in steady streams of white fluff. “It’s no bother, Herr Wilhelm,” Jolene said, smiling demurely at him. “I desired a bit of fresh air. But who would have known the storm would be so severe?”
“I told her you should have come,” her aunt grumbled. She scurried over to the chair by the fireplace. “At least it is warm here,” she said, turning her face into the heat of the flames.
“Warm yourselves,” he encouraged. “Would you like a cup of tea or coffee before the reading?”
“Hot tea sounds appealing,” Jolene replied. “Auntie, would you like a cup as well?”
“Yes, tea, please,” she replied, rubbing her gloved hands together.
“Very well then, my clerk shall have that for you momentarily.” Herr Wilhelm called to his assistant giving him orders to make a hot brew. Afterward, he sat down behind his desk.
Jolene positioned herself in front of him upon an empty leather chair. She noted the look in his down-turned eyes expressing empathy for her current state of affairs. Nonetheless, she wished to assure him that regardless of her situation she had handled her grief with a mature inner strength.
After all, she had braced herself well before her stepfather’s death. In their last days together, they had intimate and candid conversations regarding their love for one another. The count expressed his pride in her as a young woman and confidence that she would continue with honor the von Lamberg family name in his absence.
“I am coping, Herr Wilhelm,” she said, sensing his hesitancy to inquire. “The funeral is over, and we buried father with the honor he deserved.” Jolene lowered her eyes to the papers on the desk. “I am only anxious about my future.”
“Well, you should not be,” he said. The solicitor placed the palm of his hand on top of the folded document lying on the center of his desk.
“But I am adopted,” Jolene added with a crease of her brow. After all, she was not a blood relative of the von Lamberg family, and it sowed seeds of insecurity about her position.
“Your father did everything legally, I can assure you.”
“Are you certain?”
“Absolutely. Since he had no living heir, the count petitioned the Emperor to adopt you into the von Lamberg family.” Herr Wilhelm clasped his hands together and leaned forward. “You, young lady, have the Sovereign’s approval to inherit not only your father’s estate and wealth but his title as well.”
The clerk entered with two cups of steaming tea upon a wooden tray, offering each of them the hot brew.
“Oh thank you, kind sir.” Geraldine replied. She took the cup and saucer and lifted the hot liquid to her lips. “Oh, just what I needed,” she moaned.
“Well then, shall we proceed with the reading?” Herr Wilhelm looked at Jolene for confirmation.
“Yes, by all means,” Jolene replied. Her focus remained on the papers beneath his hands.
Herr Wilhelm placed his reading glasses on the bridge of his nose. “This is the Last Will and Testament of Count Eduard Karl von Lamberg of Vienna, Austria,” he began. He cleared his throat and lifted his eyes to Jolene.
“I’m listening,” she told him as if he needed reassurance.
“I, Eduard Karl von Lamberg, hereby bequeath to my daughter, Angelique Jolene von Lamberg, my estate in its entirety. If I should die before my daughter attains the age of twenty-one, I request that one-fourth of my estate be given to her forthright, managed by my appointed executor. The remaining three-fourths shall be held in trust until her twenty-first birthday, with the exception of my lands, residences, and her mother’s jewels, which I immediately bequeath to her in their entirety for her use and benefit.”
Herr Wilhelm stopped and raised his eyes to look at Jolene. He had left everything to her. She turned her head and glanced warily at her Aunt Geraldine, who displayed a satisfied smile.
“I’m sorry,” Jolene said, feeling the need to apologize. Her father had left nothing of his fortune to his sister.
“You have nothing to be sorry for, my dear. I knew of the contents of your father’s will before his death. We had discussed his wishes in considerable detail. Besides, I am a rich old lady as it is. I do not need my late brother’s fortune.”
“But you are his sister.” Jolene felt the need to protest once more.
“This is your heritage, not mine.” Her aunt replied with conviction.
Jolene felt as if she should weep over his generosity, but she did not. Instead, she carried an undeserving guilt. After all, she was not the natural blood daughter of Eduard von Lamberg. Yes, he had been the only father she knew. Vague memories remained of her mother, when at the age of three, she tossed a rose upon her coffin.
“You are one of the richest women in Vienna,” her solicitor spoke. “But I would give you a word of caution as the executor of your father’s estate.” Herr Wilhelm cleared his throat once more and leaned forward.
“And what would that be?” She cocked her head to the right waiting for his cautionary words.
“You should be careful with potential suitors, who may look to you as a means for riches.”
Instantly, her aunt agreed. “Herr Wilhelm is absolutely right. Jolene, you must use caution. Men can have ulterior motives.”
Jolene smiled, thinking the advice overly vigilant. Had they thought she possessed some weakness in this area of her character? In her mind, no one could ever deceive her heart. “I doubt very much that any man will trick me into marrying me for my money. Nevertheless, I thank you for the advice.” Jolene did not want to sound impolite.
Herr Wilhelm appeared satisfied with her response and leaned back in his chair. “Good then,” he began in a businesslike prose. “I need your signature upon these papers to open an account at the bank where I will deposit your inheritance. Since you are eighteen years of age, I shall release one-fourth of your father’s funds and place the remaining three-fourths in trust until you have obtained the age of twenty-one.”
He handed her a pen and Jolene perused the documents.
“Where do I sign?” Jolene asked, leaning toward the solicitor’s desk.
“Here on this line,” he pointed.
Jolene penned her name boldly. A broad smile spread across her face at the thought of the future.
“I shall draw up the necessary deeds to have the residence and property immediately transferred into your name,” he added.
Jolene’s thoughts were elsewhere as she finished signing her name. “I am going to travel,” she announced. “I have never left Austria, and it is time to see the world.”
“Alone?” Her aunt sounded like a parrot squawking.
“Yes alone. I’ll bring my attendant with me, of course.”
Herr Wilhelm scowled. “I agree with your aunt that a woman traveling alone, especially at your age, is unwise.”
“Where will you go?” Her aunt demanded in an abrupt voice.
“I’ve always wanted to visit Paris and London,” she responded nonchalantly.
“I don’t think your father would approve,” Geraldine replied.
Jolene set the pen on the solicitor’s desk and turned toward her aunt. “Father protected me far too much, Auntie. After mother’s death, he sheltered me for fear of losing another family member. He would never let me go anywhere unescorted or barely leave the city. I have spent the majority of my life schooled and housed behind closed doors.”
“I agree he was an attentive and protective father. Nevertheless, he had his reasons,” her aunt said, defending her brother’s actions.
“Well, I no longer need protection,” she said. Agitated, she rose to her feet in protest. “I’d like to leave within a week, Herr Wilhelm. Will you please obtain cheques from the bank that I may use for my travel and a fair amount of crowns for my purse?”
“Yes, of course. As you wish, Lady von Lamberg,” he relented with a disagreeable tone.
The time had come to discuss the other topic that lay buried in the bottom of her purse. “Auntie, I need a private consultation with Herr Wilhelm. Would you excuse us for a moment?”
Her request sounded strange as both of them glanced at her wide-eyed. Her aunt flashed a look at the solicitor and back at Jolene. She rose to her feet grimacing over the pain in her knees.
“Of course,” she said, shuffling her way to the door. “I’ll wait in the lobby.”
Jolene paused until the door closed and then sat back down in front of Herr Wilhelm. The irritation over the letter that threatened to turn her world upside down loomed to the forefront of her mind.
“Herr Wilhelm, I need your assurance that my inheritance and title can never be taken from me.” She paused, clutching her hands together. “Am I truly adopted in the eyes of the law as the daughter of Count von Lamberg?”
Herr Wilhelm leaned back in his chair and looked at Jolene with a befuddled expression. “Yes, you may be assured. In fact, I have your adoption papers here in my safekeeping, signed by Franz Joseph himself. Do you wish to see them?”
“That will not be necessary,” she said. “I would, however, like the papers delivered into my hand upon my twenty-first birthday.”
“That can be arranged, after the disbursement of the remainder of the inheritance.”
“Thank you,” she said, creasing her brow and still struggling with doubt.
“Why, might I ask, do you inquire of me in private regarding this matter?”
Jolene bit her lower lip. She opened the clasp to her purse and pulled out the letter. “What I am about to show you, Herr Wilhelm, shall not leave this office.” She held the letter up for him to see. “Swear to me on your honor before I hand this over,” she sternly implored.
“You have my word, of course,” he replied, clearly concerned over the appeal.
“Then I shall tell you why, and I would sincerely appreciate your advice.”
Jolene leaned forward and laid the letter before him. “I received this in the post about a month before father passed away.” She stared at the paper, sanctioning her own distrust in the contents. “It shocked me, and I purposely kept it from father for fear that it would upset him.”
He reached across the desk and took the envelope. Without examining the address, he pulled out the correspondence. After adjusting his spectacles on the bridge of his nose, he read the contents. A minute later, his eyes bulged, and his nostrils flared.
“Good Lord in heaven above,” his voice boomed like a clap of thunder. “Who is this woman that pens these accusations? Do you know her?”
Almost jumping out of her chair over his reaction, she answered. “No, I do not. I have no recollection of the lady’s maid who attended my mother. She claims to have been with her since her youth. Truthfully, I don’t know what to believe.” She inhaled a deep breath to calm her jitters.
“Rubbish,” the solicitor grumbled. He haphazardly folded the letter, shoved it back in the envelope, and then slid it across the desk as if to rid himself of its contents. “Posted from London, I see,” he said scowling at the stamp.
Jolene cast a suspicious glance at the envelope while the solicitor studied her intently. For a moment, the absurd notion that he may have known all along prompted her outburst. “Did you know of this?”
He gruffly rebuked her comment. “Heavens no.” His bony index finger pointed and wiggled at the envelope. “My advice to you is to forget about this matter entirely. There is absolutely no evidence to substantiate her claim that you were—I can barely speak the words aloud,” he groaned. “That you were kidnapped as a baby by the countess.”
The dismal fact remained. Someone penned the letter claiming to know her mother. “Regardless,” Jolene answered, “I find it disturbing. Why would a person write such a horrid confession to someone she does not know?” Jolene’s thoughts ran rife with potential answers to her own question. “If she had not been my mother’s maid as she claims, then how does this letter now come into my possession?”
Herr Wilhelm somberly replied. “There are ruthless people in the world that would deceive others in order to take advantage of a person’s situation. It is possible that she read of his impending death, learned of your position to inherit his fortune, and then planned to extort money.”
“I can’t believe that anyone would be so cruel.” Jolene scowled over his conjecture. “The letter is clearly a confession and not one of extortion.”
“You are an innocent and sheltered young woman. Did you not admit to me only a few minutes ago?”
“Sheltered perhaps,” she scoffed. “But certainly not ignorant.” She sat up straight in defiance of his inference.
He pulled his gaze away from her in embarrassment. “I apologize if I’ve offended you, Lady von Lamberg. Nonetheless, if you are worried that these false statements will rob you of your wealth and title, I can assure you they will not. It does not invalidate your adoption or inheritance.”
She narrowed her eyes over the possibility. “And what if they are true?”
“It makes no difference,” he calmly assured. “You are still the legally adopted daughter of your departed stepfather, Count Eduard von Lamberg.”
A sigh of relief left her lungs. Her hand reached toward the desk and retrieved the envelope. The scrawled return address on the back flap held the key. She felt powerless to resist its appeal to meet the author.
The contents could be all lies. The lady’s maid may have departed after her mother’s death disenchanted and wrote it as some sort of retribution. On the other hand, what if it were true? Had the woman she knew as her mother been a fraud? And if so, did she have parents somewhere in the world she knew nothing about?
The possibilities were haunting. With the loss of her stepfather, she faced a lonely existence. All that remained was her elderly aunt who would one day pass away. She lowered her head and grimaced. The entire matter troubled her deeply.
“It’s terrible to think, Herr Wilhelm, that if these allegations are true, my father may have married a woman who had been legally married to another.” She shoved the nauseating letter back into the bottom of her purse and fastened it shut.
“You see why I could not tell father about the letter, or even my aunt for that matter. It would have upset him and undoubtedly hastened his death in his already weakened condition.”
“Well, it’s yet to be proven true, so my advice is not to take it to heart unless you have tangible proof. Frankly, I think it’s simply a ploy to obtain money from you.”
“Perhaps,” she sighed.
“What do you intend to do about it? I sense that you will not leave this matter unresolved.”
“I intend to travel,” Jolene announced lifting her chin. “First to London and afterward to Paris. I will seek answers along the way and see if there is truth to this confession.”
Herr Wilhelm rose from the chair. “Be careful,” he said, giving her a cautionary look. “You are young, impressionable, and vulnerable.”
His words grated against her pride. Did the man have no confidence in her as a woman? Jolene narrowed her eyes reminding herself that Herr Wilhelm had come from a generation far different from her own. He probably held the misguided belief that women were inadequate creatures unable to make rational decisions without a man’s input.
“Perhaps in your eyes, but I assure you that I am not.” Jolene rose hastily from the chair. “Please have my cheques and crowns ready per my earlier request.”
“Of course,” he said. He paused lowering his eyes apparently realizing that he had overstepped his position. “I apologize once more if I have offended
you in any way by my advice of restraint regarding the letter. Your father was not only one of my clients but also a man of integrity, who I admired immensely.”
Jolene softened her tone and accepted his plea. “Be assured, Herr Wilhelm, that I shall use wisdom and caution.”
A sigh of relief puffed from her lips, and she reached up and buttoned her coat in anticipation of the cold outdoors. She bid her solicitor goodbye, hiding the tension inside her heart. “Good day, Herr Wilhelm.”
As she entered the waiting area, she approached her aunt and extended her hand to help her from her seat. “Come, Auntie, I have concluded my business here.”
The wind brushed across Jolene’s face when they stepped outside and cooled her flushed cheeks. She escorted her aunt over the slippery walkway and held her hand as she climbed inside. The driver gave her a supportive hand, and Jolene settled in covering them both with the blanket.
As the carriage made its way through the snowy landscape back to her residence, she felt compelled to ask her aunt a question about the past. “Auntie, I have something to ask you,” she began. “Do you remember much about my mother?”
Her aunt glanced her way obviously confused about the reason behind her inquiry. “What do you mean, dear?”
“Oh, I don’t know. Father never hesitated in telling me what he knew about mother, how they met, and showing me her portraits and photographs.”
“Well, you know the story that they met at the theatre.” She smiled. “He admitted to me that she had quickly captured his heart.”
“And father married her without a second thought even though she had a child.”
“Why yes. He loved you and your mother very much.”
“Did mother come alone?” Jolene held her breath worried that she had asked one too many questions.
The Price of Love Page 2
