by Delia Parr
Emma swallowed hard and avoided Zachary’s gaze by focusing only on Wryn, who waved away Mark’s suggestion she might want to start with a bowl of the soup that had been taken back to the kitchen. “I’d rather start with dessert,” she insisted before looking directly at Zachary. “I assume by now you’ve had enough time to research exactly how I’m related to Widow Garrett—or is that something I need to ask a lawyer who is more competent?”
Mark scowled and put his hand protectively on Catherine’s arm. “Wryn!”
Mother Garrett set down her spoon and stopped dishing out anything but a glare she served directly to Wryn. Before Emma could find her voice, Zachary responded to the little twit.
“It’s not entirely an unfair question,” he said. “Many lawyers specialize in various aspects of the law, so they are more competent in some areas than others. But to answer your question,” he said, turning toward Wryn, “I can tell you without reservation that you have no legal relationship to Widow Garrett, only a social one.”
“I believe you’re either ill-informed or motivated to give me incorrect information by your own self-interest,” Wryn insisted. “I could hear you all celebrating way up in my room. Perhaps now that you’re marrying Widow Garrett, your advice is based more on the fact that you’re about to establish your own legal relationship to her than on the law itself—”
“That’s enough,” Mark snapped. “There’s no reason for you to be rude to Mr. Breckenwith.”
“There’s no reason for Widow Garrett to even think about remarrying. Not at her age. But apparently that hasn’t stopped her from making a fool of herself by accepting Mr. Breckenwith’s proposal, has it?”
Emma’s cheeks burned with embarrassment, if not a flash of anger she fought to control.
“Don’t bother to send me to my room. I can see I’m not welcome here.” Wryn slipped away from the table and waltzed out of the room, leaving an awkward silence in her wake.
After Mark and Catherine left just as abruptly to go upstairs to deal with Wryn, promising to let Emma know later how they fared, Zachary took a deep breath, rose, and nodded toward Emma. “As much as I’d like to sample some of your mother-in-law’s bread pudding, I’m afraid I have a lot of work waiting for me at home, and there are a number of matters we still need to discuss in your office,” he suggested.
Grateful to make her own escape, Emma preceded him out of the dining room, across the hall, and through the library. Unsteadied by Wryn’s outrageous behavior, which had clearly ruined the festive mood at the supper table, she blinked back tears of disappointment. By the time she and Zachary reached her office, however, she had composed herself and led him inside.
As he closed the door to assure their privacy, she turned up the oil lamp she had lit earlier in anticipation of their meeting tonight and swallowed hard. Whenever they had met in her office to discuss legal matters in the past, she had always sat behind the massive wooden desk that had been used by the previous owner while her lawyer sat in one of the two chairs opposite the desk facing her.
Tonight, however, Zachary Breckenwith was more than just her lawyer. He was her betrothed, although she feared he might be ready to change his mind about that, given Wryn’s little performance at supper.
She acknowledged their new relationship by handing him the documents he had given her earlier before sitting down beside him. “Please allow me to apologize. Wryn had no cause or right to speak to you the way she did.”
“She was more disrespectful to you,” he said.
Emma blinked back a swell of tears that threatened again. “I wish I had a simple answer to the question of how to help her, but you obviously saw for yourself that Wryn is a very complicated young woman. She hasn’t any manners at all, and she seems utterly resistant to developing any, either.” Emma drew in a long breath and gave voice to her fears. “Truthfully, before tonight, with all the disruption she’s caused, I was half afraid you’d change your mind about courting me, let alone marry me. Now, after the way she just behaved . . .”
“Let’s just hope your son and his wife fare well with her tonight,” he said gently. “They promised to come back downstairs to tell you, but even if it turns out that Wryn needs your firmer hand for a few weeks, I’m not overly concerned. I don’t believe there’s a man, woman, or child you’ve met who couldn’t be persuaded to do exactly what you wanted them to do. It shouldn’t take very long for Wryn to discover that for herself, which means she’ll be returning to Albany with your son and his wife as a reformed young woman,” he said.
Turning toward her, he offered her a reassuring smile. “In all truth, I’d like for the moment to set aside concerns for Wryn in favor of something much more important we need to discuss.”
Relieved, she nodded and swallowed the lump in her throat. Zachary sorted the documents she had given him before handing one to her. “You’ll probably recognize the format of this document, which is very similar to the one protecting your assets in a separate legal estate when you married Jonas.”
Memories of preparing to marry Jonas swirled through her mind as she skimmed the document. She had inherited the General Store, as well as a number of properties in the area in and around Candlewood, from her mother, who had inherited everything from her mother. To protect those holdings after she married Jonas, when all that she had inherited would have legally become his, Zachary’s uncle had indeed drawn up a document very similar to this one.
With no head for business at all, her dear Jonas had never once questioned the need for a separate legal estate. In turn, Emma had tried never to give him cause to regret marrying a woman with means far more substantial than his own. She was grateful Zachary had no qualms about keeping her holdings separate from his, unlike the devious Mr. Langhorne, who had tried to lay his own claim to her wealth by attempting to court her last fall.
“I took the liberty of compiling a complete inventory of your assets, as well,” Zachary noted as he handed her a second document. “You’ll want to have your lawyer look at both, of course.”
Without bothering to read the second one, she folded the two documents together and laid them on her lap. “I don’t suppose I should even attempt to argue that I don’t need another lawyer, since I’ve agreed to marry one,” she teased.
Zachary’s demeanor, however, remained very formal—indeed, very lawyerly. “Once we’re married, I see no reason why I can’t continue to protect your legal interests, but not until then. Will you be using Mr. Larimore? He’s discreet, as he should be, and he’s experienced, which he demonstrated when he transferred title to Hill House from Mr. Lewis to you.”
Recalling her previous experience with the lawyer, she wrinkled her nose. “Probably not. I think I’ll go see young Mr. Hennings. He’s just joined his father in practice, I believe.”
Zachary snorted. “That he has. Setting aside their combined legal incompetence, there isn’t more than half a whisker of common sense between the two of them.”
She chewed on her lower lip. “There’s always Mr. Campbell.”
“From what I’ve observed, Mr. Campbell has one foot in the grave and the other in Gray’s Tavern most days, if not nights,” he charged and narrowed his gaze. “If you think you can change my mind by suggesting one impossible lawyer after another, then I should warn you that—”
“I’m just teasing you,” she murmured and set the papers on the far side of her desk. “Since you’re so insistent that I must engage another lawyer, I’ll see Mr. Larimore. Will you be getting another lawyer for yourself to protect your interests?”
Despite his narrowed gaze, his eyes started to twinkle. “I believe I’m competent enough to protect my own interests, unless you think otherwise.”
She grinned. “Obviously not, since I’ve agreed to entrust myself to you as your wife, but I’m quite curious about the other documents you have on my desk.”
He reached for the document farthest away from him and handed it to her. “Before we get married, I think it
only fitting that you have some idea of the extent of my holdings, especially since I’m so familiar with yours. I’ve compiled an inventory for you, but I’d rather you didn’t share this with Mr. Larimore.”
She nodded, but by the time she finished skimming the four-page document, her head was spinning and her hands were trembling.
In addition to a home in New York City, where he had practiced law before moving to Candlewood, he also had the home in Candlewood he had purchased from his widowed aunt before she had gone to live with cousins in Bounty, the town just north of Candlewood, where she subsequently died. He owned property there, as well as a variety of interests in businesses in each of these cities and towns.
Although she had thought their financial situation was similar, his combined assets were worth more than her own. Decidedly more.
She drew in a deep breath. When she looked up at him, he was smiling. “Now you understand more, perhaps, why I need to travel rather frequently.”
“Y-yes. I . . . I had no idea . . .”
His smile broadened. “I’ve also been blessed to have had parents and grandparents who had a talent for business and investing, although it’s typically been the men in my family who were most successful,” he added with a grin, finally removing the lawyer mask he had worn during their entire conversation.
Pleased, she cocked her head. “Since you said the Breckenwith men were the most successful, then there must have been a capable Breckenwith woman or two, or perhaps even three, who contributed to acquiring the fortune you now have.”
When he captured her gaze and held it, his was simmering with emotion. “I’m sure there has, but you’re the only woman I’ll ever need in my life, with or without my fortune or yours, for whatever days I may have left in this world.”
Unaccustomed to hearing such an open admission of devotion from any man, including Jonas, she stared at the documents on her lap and prayed that the warm blush on her cheeks was not shining as bright as the oil lamp on her desk.
Being married to Zachary was apparently going to be very different than being married to Jonas, who had never been a man to voice his feelings. Instead, he had always shown her how he felt about her with a caring look or a gentle touch of his hand.
Thinking about her first husband, when she was sitting right next to the second man she was going to marry, also inspired a flash of guilt that heated her blush. She assumed it was only natural to compare the two men, but she wondered if Zachary was thinking of his first spouse, too.
She looked up at him again, hoping he would be willing to tell her about the woman he had loved and lost over ten years ago. “I’ve spoken to you about Jonas quite often, but you’ve never told me about Jane, other than to tell me her name,” she prompted.
His gaze tightened for a moment, then softened. “Jane was my wife for sixteen years. She was an only child, spoiled senseless by her parents, but she was bright and vivacious and laughed her way right through life until lung fever stole her away. After we married, she was perfectly content to spend her days shopping or visiting with friends. There wasn’t a thing she truly wanted in this life that she didn’t have, except for children. We always wanted children,” he murmured.
Struck by how different she was from his first wife, Emma placed her hand on top of his. “I’ll be sharing my children with you and my grandchildren, too,” she offered before chuckling. “Once they’re all here at Hill House for my birthday, you might change your mind about wanting a family or even a second wife, for that matter. Life can get very noisy and very complicated with so many family members living together.”
When he turned his hand over and laced his fingers with hers, he was smiling again. “I find the prospect highly unlikely that I would ever change my mind about you, although I claim the right to reserve judgment until I see exactly how Miss Wryn Covington fits into the scheme of things,” he offered, although his smile dipped into a bit of a frown that told her he was not entirely pleased at having their plans to marry threatened by the presence of a troubled fifteen-year-old.
When his gaze filled with affection that bordered on desire, he shook his head. “Before I become utterly distracted, which is the primary reason why being your lawyer has become troublesome, I have two more documents I want you to review tonight. That way I can answer any questions you might have before you take them to Mr. Larimore,” he said and reached over to the desk to claim the last of the papers he had brought with him.
He handed the first one to her with a wave of his hand. “This is a copy of your will, which I keep at my office, so you’re familiar with this one. All that needs to be changed is your name, once we’re married.”
Emma nodded. Since he had not shown any hesitation about drafting a separate legal estate to protect her holdings, she did not expect that he would object to her will in which all of her assets would be divided between her sons and Mother Garrett, should Emma predecease her mother-in-law.
“Here,” he said, giving her the second one. “I’d like your advice on the draft of a will I’ve drawn up for myself that I want to have ready to reflect my wishes after we’re married.”
Feeling a bit awkward discussing so many intimate financial details tonight, especially when she realized she was looking at a copy of his will, she moistened her lips. “I’m not sure I have any right—”
“As husband and wife, we won’t have any secrets between us,” he insisted. “Now that we’re officially betrothed, I need to know how you feel about the dictates of my will, especially since it’s likely that I will predecease you.”
Curious, she quickly read his will. Again. Then again. With her heart pounding, she shook her head in disbelief. Although she was a bit surprised that he had provided so handsomely for her in the event of his death, despite her own substantial resources, she was utterly stunned by the plans he had made for the rest of his estate.
“Y-you can’t do this. Y-you shouldn’t do this. I-I would never expect you to do this. Y-you haven’t even met—”
“I’ve met your son, Mark, and I’ll be meeting Warren and Benjamin soon, so I’m not concerned, and neither should you be. Now that Aunt Elizabeth has passed on, my nephew, Jeremy, is my only close living relative. As you’ve read, I’ve provided for him quite nicely, and it would give me a great deal of pleasure to leave your sons the rest. Unless you’re totally opposed. If you are, then I’ll defer to your wishes and redraft my will accordingly.”
She swallowed the lump in her throat. “I’m not certain if I can find the right words. . . .”
He cocked a brow. “Widow Garrett is at a loss for words? I find it hard to believe that would happen not once, but twice in the same evening,” he teased. “It’s only money, Emma, not the key to all the mysteries of life. Would you prefer that I name your sons as my heirs or not?”
She drew in a long breath. “I’m very, very moved by your generosity, and I thank you for thinking of my sons and in turn, their families. I’d be doing them quite a disservice if I rejected your offer outright, so I’m going to accept the conditions of your will as you’ve drawn it, but with one proviso.”
“Which is?”
She took a deep breath and let it out very slowly. “I wouldn’t want any of my sons to know that they’re your heirs, to allow you greater freedom if you want to change your will at a later date.”
“I sincerely doubt that will happen, but it’s a reasonable request. Agreed.” He folded up both wills and laid them on top of the other documents on her lap. “Now that the financial issues are settled, we should probably discuss more mundane matters, not the least of which is how soon we’re going to get married.”
Emma chuckled, and Zachary cocked one brow. “May I ask what you find amusing?”
“I’m afraid it’s you.”
He cocked the other brow.
“For a man as deliberate and methodical as I know you to be, I find it rather amusing to think you rushed through drafting all these documents so quickly. It’s only bee
n five or six hours since I accepted your proposal.”
“I carefully and meticulously prepared those documents months ago when I first decided to pursue you. If you’d read them more closely, you would have realized they bore no date.”
She gasped. “Months ago?”
“Several,” he quipped, exuding his usual confidence. “In point of fact, I prepared them at the very same time I made arrangements for the walking horses to be shipped north and for Mr. Jedson to stable them at his farm for me.”
“Oh-h. I hadn’t realized how truly overconfident you were that I’d agree to marry you,” she managed, although she should not have been surprised. He was so confident about most everything, he might have appeared arrogant to anyone who did not know him well.
He smiled and took her hand. “I was more determined than overly confident, which I’ve learned sits better with you. In fact, I’ve brought something with me that I was planning to give you once we were alone to put your mind at ease about my intentions once and for all and to encourage you to suggest a date when we can be married.”
Smiling, he reached into his vest pocket to retrieve a small object, which he pressed into her hand. “It would give me great pleasure if you would wear this as a reminder of the high regard and affection I feel toward you,” he whispered “and my commitment to marry you and be your devoted husband.”
She stared at the dark green velvet, nearly the precise color of her gown, loosely wrapped around an object tiny enough to fit into her palm. With her fingers trembling, she lifted the corners of the fabric to find a small gold pin lying within the folds of the velvet. Delicate strands of gold formed the petals of a rose in full bloom. A tiny but perfectly shaped pearl lay in the very center.
The pin was exquisite and obviously quite old. She thought it might be an heirloom, although she knew very little about jewelry. Ordinarily, she did not favor wearing jewelry, any more than she paid much attention to her wardrobe. Other than making sure she wore clothes made of sturdy fabrics and dark colors because of the work she did every day, she had only a few gowns suitable for church or entertaining important guests.
