Okay, herewith the contents of the Will-not every one will be pleased! Mwah haha!
THE MORNING AFTER Chapter 25
I see that I have not mentioned my Uncle's condition lately. I had last seen him in his bed, visibly sinking, awaiting the Dark Angel's visit for his final trip from this world. St. John had been with him at the time. Then I had been distracted by Adele's disappearance and all else had gone from my mind; in favor of the concerns of the living over those who were dying. Indeed, it was just when we had found Adele in her dusty little nook, that my Uncle finally gave his last gasping breaths.
Being that most of my gowns were black, I had no need to acquire Mourning clothes, they were what I habitually wore. I sincerely missed my Uncle—he had been very kind, so concerned for me—my greatest regret was that we had had such little time together to know each other, to share our experiences. He had not approved of Mr. Rochester at first; he had found him to be too worldly and unprincipled to be seriously considered as a suitor for his Niece. But on my pleading with him, he had finally given me his blessing—realizing perhaps, that he would soon be leaving me alone again when he passed away.
Edward was my great comfort and support through those sad days when I mourned my Uncle's passing. He, it was, who made the final arrangements, and saw me through to the sad moments when my Uncle's coffin sank into his grave as St. John spoke the final words—"ashes to ashes, dust to dust". My cousins were grief stricken also—one more of the Family gone to his final rest—it had been a hard year for us. They had lost their Father, and I had lost my Aunt Reed and her son as well. While I did not particularly miss either one of them—especially John Reed—nonetheless, their passing left an empty place in my life. However, that was all in the Past and my main concern should be the Future.
Mr. Briggs, who had remained at Thornfield all this time, called us together in the Library after the Funeral. It was time that my Uncle's final wishes were made known. I sat with Mary and Diana—St. John was off to one side—Edward stood behind me. Mr. Briggs began by saying, "My first concern today is not the last will and testament of my late client, Mr. John Eyre; we will come to that later. It is my understanding that Mr. Edward Fairfax Rochester, here present, had petitioned my client for permission to marry his niece, Miss Jane Rebecca Eyre. Upon due consideration of that request, and under consultation with Miss Eyre as to her wishes in the matter, my client has given his blessing to their Union—permission to marry is granted."
There was a silence in the room after he pronounced these words—Mary and Diana looked at me and smiled, St. John kicked at the rug and looked annoyed. Edward's hands came to rest on my shoulders gently, he bent and whispered in my ear, "Did you know that he had agreed?" I patted his hand and nodded my head, his hands briefly tightened on my shoulders and then one hand softly brushed my cheek in a subtle caress. I suddenly felt warm all over—as though an errant sunbeam had touched upon me.
"I will now proceed to the the reading of the Last Will and Testament of my late client, Mr. John Wilson Eyre, late of Funchal, Madeira." He proceeded through the usual statements that append to such documents—it was time for the bequests, I was still in the happy daze left from hearing of my Uncle's consent to my Matrimony, when I heard my name once again. "To my niece, Jane Rebecca Eyre, I leave one quarter of the funds invested by me in Consols, to be held in trust for her and her issue, or until she should reach the age of twenty-five years; a yearly allowance of five hundred pounds to be paid to her until such time. She shall also receive my properties in Madeira, consisting of a residence and a warehouse with the contents thereof—these last to be put in her possession as soon as may be.
"To my nieces, Mary Sophia and Diana Elizabeth Rivers, each shall receive one quarter of the funds invested by me in Consols, to be held in trust until their marriages, or until they each shall reach the age of twenty-five; a yearly allowance of five hundred pounds to be paid each of them until such time.
"To my nephew, St. John Eyre Rivers, I leave him the choice of where he shall pursue his missionary labors. Should he persist in his vainglorious scheme of going to India to reform the Heathens, I leave him one thousand pounds of his quarter share of my funds invested in Consols—the remainder to be donated to the charities listed in a sealed document in my Solicitor's keeping. Should he instead, choose to remain in England where his labors are equally needed; he shall receive the whole amount in annual installments of five hundred pounds."
Mr. Briggs gave us all a considering look, "My late client had been very fortunate in his business endeavors—the amount in the Funds, or Consols, as my late client would have it; comes to the neighborhood of twenty thousand pounds. It is an adequate amount for the bequests as he outlined them. Mr. Rivers, you of course, will need to make your wishes known to me in the matter of the terms of your bequest. As to you young ladies, your allowances will be made available to you immediately, upon your decisions as to the manner of receiving them; whether monthly, quarterly, or annually. I thank you for your time and attention." He then folded the documents and set them to one side—in his hands now were several sets of papers.
I approached him first and was handed several papers for my signature. These were the deeds to the properties in Madeira. Then I was asked as to my preference for receiving my allowance—I indicated that quarterly payments would suit—I signed those papers and was done. Mary and Diana followed me and indicating their preferred payment schedules—signed those papers also. We then left Mr. Briggs and St. John in possession of the Library—I could tell from the look on my Cousin's face that a storm was brewing and I had no desire to be present when he expressed his feelings—they were certain to be forceful!
Edward accompanied us out of the Library—there was a look of unholy amusement on his face. "That Uncle of yours was a clever man," he said. "He's got your money nicely tied up for you, no Fortune-hunters need apply!"
I gave him a look, "I trust you do not refer to yourself, sir."
"My love, you may have your money and make 'ducks and drakes' of it for all I care—gamble it away, spend it on Tractarian Societies, expend it on improving the myriad ills of Society—my blessing upon your endeavors; just as long as I find you at home for Dinner and marital companionship afterward."
I felt my face grow burning hot at the sly reference, "Really, sir, must you mention...?"
"Ho! I think we should not delay our Wedding much longer if your thoughts are trending in that direction!"
Naughty man, how he delights in embarrassing her! What will St. John choose to do with his bequest? One could see that he was annoyed when Edward received permission to marry her. He would have liked to have tried his luck in that direction.