Total pages in book: 142
Estimated words: 134501 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 673(@200wpm)___ 538(@250wpm)___ 448(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 134501 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 673(@200wpm)___ 538(@250wpm)___ 448(@300wpm)
He rose to his feet and headed to the metal drawers. Having slid one open, he pulled out a brown envelope and then shut the drawer. Returning to his seat, he passed the envelope over to Emberlyn.
She took it from him and tore it open. ‘Why wasn’t this released before now?’
‘Because she gave me strict instructions to only release it to you if the validity of the will was challenged.’
Emberlyn pulled the letter out of the envelope and quickly read it. Her brows hiked up. ‘My family won’t like hearing this.’
Ripper leaned toward her. ‘What does it say?’
She angled the paper so he could read it.
His own brows winged up after he’d done so. ‘Yeah, they ain’t gonna like hearing that.’
Clarence tilted his head. ‘Do you understand now why Millicent didn’t simply bequeath you the manor, Emberlyn?’
She exhaled heavily. ‘Yes. I thought she’d just wanted me to prove I had the right to reside there.’
His chair rocked slightly as he leaned forward. ‘Millicent spoke to me about you, you know.’
‘Calling me her biggest disappointment, no doubt,’ Emberlyn muttered, feeling her lips twitch.
‘She did say that. She also said you were a woman to admire. You’d pushed past pain, grief, persecution and prejudice. You didn’t let any of it hold you back. You’d carved a place for yourself in this town, started a business she would never have thought of, and chose your own path rather than let her or anyone else dictate what you should do with your life.
‘She respected that. Respected you. And she cared for you more than I’m sure she would ever have let on.’ Clarence paused, looking at her intently. ‘Don’t let your family ever make you think that Millicent didn’t want you to be exactly where you are.’
Mentally fumbling after Clarence’s little declaration, Emberlyn fiddled with her bracelet. It was hard to imagine her grandmother saying such things, but there was no reason for him to lie. ‘I can’t blame them for thinking it. She told them she didn’t want me to have the manor.’
‘Probably to keep them off your back. This letter provides context and background, showing the motivations behind her decisions – and making them seem explainable, not bizarre. In other words, we have what we need to rebut Gill’s claim of lack of capacity.’
Ripper planted his hands on the armrests of his chair. ‘So, what happens now?’
‘A meeting is scheduled for us all next Monday at the town hall,’ Clarence replied.
Exactly a week from now, then.
‘The only council member who should be on the bench is Shane as he has nothing to gain from the result of Gill’s challenge to the will,’ Clarence added. ‘But both Reena and Carver are claiming that – having now “accepted” the terms of Millicent’s will – they will be unbiased.’
Emberlyn snorted. ‘Will they fuck.’
Ripper grunted.
‘All parties, including both of you, would need to agree that they can remain impartial,’ said Clarence. ‘My guess is that neither of you have that opinion.’
‘You guessed right,’ Ripper told him.
‘If Reena had backed down, she wouldn’t have appointed her own daughter to represent my family.’
‘Indeed,’ said Clarence. ‘And if Reena hasn’t backed down, Carver will still be under the impression that the project may go ahead.’
After they’d rounded up the conversation, Emberlyn returned the letter to Clarence for safe-keeping. She and Ripper then left the building, coming to a halt on the sidewalk.
‘Millicent really did have all her bases covered,’ mused Ripper.
Emberlyn nodded. ‘It would appear that way. She wasn’t risking that her wishes would be overturned.’
‘I don’t believe it was just that. From what she wrote in that letter, I think her aim was also to protect your claim on the manor.’ Ripper’s gaze roamed over her face. ‘Regardless of what she may have told you, I don’t think you disappointed her, Emberlyn.’
‘Why is that?’
‘She was right in the things she said to Robbins. It would have been easy for you to stay with her or rejoin the coven – it’s normal to want to belong. But you ventured out on your own and planted a flag in neutral territory, asserting your right to be part of Chilgrave. And opening the laundry hub was smart. Real smart.’
It was, even if Emberlyn did say so herself.
‘I think, in truth, she was proud of you. She just didn’t know how to tell you that.’
CHAPTER TWELVE
Exiting the brewery the following day, Ripper idly scanned his surroundings . . . and noticed Kerr walking along the sidewalk toward him. Something about his sober expression made Ripper tense.
‘Heard you were here,’ said Kerr. ‘I was hoping to catch you before you left.’
Ripper turned to fully face him. ‘What’s going on?’
Kerr rubbed at his nape. ‘I didn’t want you to hear this through gossip, and I figured it’d be best to warn you that Logan is probably going to track you down, raging.’