Fourteen
Bishop Monroe was right on time to meet the earl in his home. Vincent had written to him to come and verify his will that he had been rewritten. For what reason he didn't understand but went to go and know for sure why. The carriage pulled to a stop as he looked out to see Vincent there waiting for him before getting out.
"My lord," said Bishop Monroe as he saw him. "Good afternoon."
"Bishop Monroe, good afternoon. I believe that you should be the one here to verify and confirm this rewrite for me," said Vincent as he had the will rolled up in his hand. So far nobody seemed to know what he was doing and that was a good thing.
"Is something wrong with the original?" asked Bishop Monroe as he was reading it over.
"Yes and no," said Vincent. "You see, I'd like to change who will inherit Edgewater upon my death. I believe that it should be change to Mrs. Sinclaire"
The Bishop just looked at him confused. Mrs. Sinclaire? The young wife of Mr. Ernest Sinclaire, whom had married five months ago? That was an odd request considering that Vincent had a wife and a step-son to consider. Much less a young woman who married a local land owner.
"Mrs. Sinclaire sir?" asked the bishop concerned that he was already unwell, more so then usual.
"Bishop Monroe," said Vincent with a sigh. "You had married Mary and I and you should know that we had slept together that night. She was with child when you had forced us to annul the wedding." Horrified the bishop could only imagine how that… He couldn't finish that thought as he was just even more confused. "She had the baby and named her Clara. Bishop Monroe, upon meeting Mrs. Clara Sinclaire, I had discovered that she had the letters I had written to Mary. Shortly after I found the ones that she had written to me hidden by Henrietta. By all accounts and proof enough, she is my natural daughter."
The bishop found his head swimming as he could only think this through. He knew Clara's birthday was the second of November 1795 which meant that she was conceived in February. That was when he had annulled the wedding. That could be anyone though. The letters, what if she had just randomly got a hold of it? Granted nobody would just give out letters to a stranger. Clara didn't know her father and had been told that he was dead. However, she filled out the record book knowing that her father's name was Vincent.
Oh my gosh the earl had a natural daughter, he thought, as this was unusual indeed.
"So, you want to include her in your will?" asked the bishop a bit dazed. "To inherit everything?"
"Yes," said Vincent. "I believe my wife's intentions with Edgewater will not be honorable, upon knowing that she had withheld information from me. I would include my step-son, however, unlike Clara he is still unmarried." He shifted as the shock seemed to register through the bishop.
"Him being unwed is a bit of a problem," said Bishop unsure about that there was still a lot of weight in his decision. Edmund was engaged at least. However, the uncertainty of heirs would be an issue. Perhaps he could talk Vincent out of this decision or at least shed some light on it.
"Clara is with child," said Vincent excitedly. "I think that this would be a way to include her and the baby as part of my family."
Well yes that certainly did change everything.
EdgewaterEdgewaterEdgewater
Dinner was going splendidly as everyone sat around the table. The cook instructed to make a little extra of everything for Clara should she ask. If you looked close enough it was evident that she was showing. Her dining habits were surely to tell people as well.
"Are you sure you want more scalloped potatoes?" asked Miss Sutton as she had watched Clara eat. She was surely going to be fat by the end of this dinner. Even Dominique wasn't entirely sure if so much extra food was good for the baby.
Henrietta tried her best to ignore everything. Concentrating on her food she smiled at the bishop that sat on the other side of Vincent. Then began to discuss matters of the church. Clara was discussing something with Ernest as they looked completely enraptured with each other. It was honestly kind of sickening.
"Now before dessert there is something we need to share," said Clara her smile wide. Vincent and Dominique knew but the others didn't. "I think it's calling for a celebration. Ernest and I are expecting our first child."
"That's wonderful," said Vincent as the plates were being taken away.
"A baby?! That's so exciting," gasped Miss Sutton excited. "Why I get to be an auntie."
Oh, thought Miss Sutton, as she got excited. A baby! They were having a baby! It was exciting to see that the earl would be getting a grandchild so soon. She could picture all the cute things that they would be getting. She had so many questions to ask as her mind filled with thought like did it hurt or what does it feel like?
"That's fantastic," said Edmund after a minute. "I get to be an uncle, congratulations."
A baby, thought Edmund, as he swirled a spoon in his cup. A baby. They were having a baby. In a way it was truly exciting as he had never been around a baby before. It was going to be different to have an infant around as saw Miss Sutton smile at him. She was going to be expected to carry his baby. He only hoped that this didn't give her ideas.
Henrietta paused as she heard this news as she put a hand on her chest. A baby. Good for them, Ledford would have an heir and Clara wouldn't be at their sewing circle. She only smiled as that was good enough for her. Yes, Vincent might want to see her but she was out of her life at least temporarily since she wouldn't be able to travel in the later months. Possibly even longer if they had more children.
"Congratulations," said Henrietta as Vincent stood up.
"Congratulations. Now, I have news of my own with the approval of Bishop Monroe," said Vincent as he tapped a spoon to his glass. Clara smiled at him before she whispered something to Ernest.
Vincent only pushed his thoughts aside of what just happened for right now. Clara inheriting would mean so much to him upon her accepting it. It meant that she would have a home with him. She could come over, and they would have a grand time together. It meant that she was part of the family and he was keeping the estate in his family line. Her baby would have another place to call home.
Awkwardly he adjusted his collar before walking over to Clara himself in front of her as Ernest looked surprised. Vincent just knew that she would accept it. Everyone watched him as he pulled out a slip of paper from his pocket. A week had passed as he had thought hard and long about this. With Clara trying for a baby he couldn't help but want to include her in the family. Somehow and inheriting seemed like the best solution.
"Clara upon learning about you and seeing you happy and healthy. I couldn't help but feel proud of you marrying and having a child of our own. I see you as the daughter I wish I had seen grow up and I feel as if I missed so much of your life. To make up for it, I have re-written my will. Bishop Monroe here has approved of it. I am going to pass on Edgewater to you upon my death."
It was quiet as Miss Sutton let out another gasp, this one of surprise and disappointment. Her fiancé would not be inheriting?
Dominique looked like a proud grandmother ready to burst. Edgewater would be in the family! Blood would be inheriting as she knew that Henrietta and Edmund should not have any of it for themselves. Clara would be the new mistress of the estate as she knew that everything at Edgewater would be the same.
Next to her Ernest froze up as he didn't seem to be expecting that either. In a way he found himself disappointed in the earl. Clara had her duties at Ledford and the baby would be raised properly there. She would just be overworking herself and needless pressure on her. He found himself squeezing Clara's hand as reminder that he was there for her.
"You can't do that," said Henrietta as her lips turned to a firm line. This could not be. First that wench had managed to worm her way into a marriage with a respectable gentleman. Then Vincent had decided that he would be charitable? What about her son? He would have nothing to show for his hard work and dedication. This should not be happening.
"She is my daughter Henrietta," said Vincent sternly. "I can pass it on her to if I chose to do so." He lowered his voice to just where she could hear him whisper, "perhaps if Edmund was married and had a wife and child to care for I might have reconsidered."
"But she's just a bastard," stuttered out Henrietta as she stumbled to think things through.
That was enough for Ernest to hear and kept his cool as best as he could. "Just a ba… And does it matter what my wife's background is? Shouldn't our happiness take top priority before money or reputation is involved? Mrs. Sinclaire is first and foremost my wife before her background should even matter," said Ernest as Henrietta seemed to squirm underneath his hard gaze. "We are married and in love and I shouldn't have to defend my love for her."
Next to him Clara felt her body grow warm at his declaration of love. However, the part about being his wife first and foremost did bother her a bit. She did have a life before him, but she was happy to know that her background meant little to him. That he truly loved her for her and no other reasons other than love.
Henrietta was seeing red as she couldn't believe it. She was married to Mr. Sinclaire, she wasn't even here very often. What stung even more was what he had to say about her son. If Edmund was married and had a wife and child to care for I might have reconsidered. Henrietta couldn't believe it, she was holding out on the wedding in case someone better came along. If she had known about this simple stipulation she would have married him off last season or the season before that.
Edmund paused as he heard that. I thought Edgewater was going to be mine, he thought glumly. He thought his step-father had been close with him he thought bitterly. He loved the man like his own father. Perhaps if his natural daughter hadn't come around he would still be inheriting. He thought about the young woman as he tried to be angry about it. That feeling never came, however, as he was sadder then anything. His step-sister was a kind and nice girl that stood up for him at the first dinner.
Not only that but she was married and with child. He didn't stand a chance only being engaged and childless. Perhaps if he had done these things his father would have put his name in the will. She was Ernest's wife, he could cut all ties with Edgewater, which would not be good for the estate. His tenants grew all their wheat and they helped each other.
Meanwhile Clara sucked in a breath not expecting that as well. Her father looked very eager to hear her thoughts as it was quiet. "I can't accept this."
Vincent and Dominique shared a look as they figured that she would want Edgewater. She was the earl's natural daughter after all. Why would she say no?!
"I have my own home at Ledford to think about. I have Ernest and my child, I can't take care of Edgewater. All I ever really wanted was to know you as a father, you don't have to give me things to prove it. I think we should get to know each other better although I want to thank you for thinking of me."
"But this is your birthright Clara," said Dominique. "Edgewater is truly yours."
"If this means that much to you then I'm willing to divide up the estate," said Clara as she turned to Edmund forgetting her father was there. If it was so important to him she was going to divide it up the way that she pleased. "Eighty-twenty. You deserve Edgewater Edmund and I do not want to take that away from you. If you're willing all I really need is a room and access to your garden. I trust you and I believe in you Edmund that you would take care of Edgewater."
His face seemed to change as he relaxed some. Henrietta's eyes grew wide as her face dropped in the shock of what was being presented. Then he looked up at Clara as a small smile was on his face. "You have been treating me with nothing but kindness Mrs. Sinclaire," he said as he ignored his mother. "I'm willing to meet you at fifty-fifty."
"What?" asked Clara hesitant on that deal.
"Of course. You have a child on the way and I don't want to make a big deal out of nothing. I can handle the accounts and when you are here you can be mistress of the estate."
"And the rest of the time Henrietta can," said Clara as she looked at her step-mother. "I still insist on more 70:30? 60:40?"
Edmund only shook his head insisting on that he wanted to share this equally with his sister. It was nice to have someone that he could share it with. Someone that he considered an equal and willingness to share. She sighed as it seemed to settle into a fifty-fifty deal.
"You can't possibly do this," said Dominique faint at the proposition. "I am not willing to accept this, you are not my granddaughter should you make this deal."
Clara suppressed her shocked look as pursed her lips and turned to the bishop. Her voice hard as she stared at her. In hindsight she should have seen this coming. Her grandmother wanted nothing more but to keep Edgewater in the family from the beginning. "You weren't in my life before, so I should be used to not having one." Then she turned to the bishop who also looked stunned. "Fifty-fifty."
"As you wish I'll have to make sure that the earl is okay with this. Then of course your husband," he said as Clara and Edmund nodded at each other.
"Clara are you sure?" asked Vincent as he seemed to have found his voice. They were arguing over the estate like it was candy but she didn't want the good stuff. She could have had everything if her heart desired it. This was the daughter he had with the woman he loved. Clara deserved everything in the world that he could give her.
She frowned thoughtfully. "Not entirely, I would still like to give you more Edmund," she said to her brother who only flushed. "But I think that this is a way we can all get a happy ending. I know I'm happy with a fair division or give more to Edmund. Ernest would you mind help take care of half?"
"Of course, I'll support any decision you make," he said as he wiped hair from her face.
"I guess that's settled then," said Bishop Monroe as Henrietta didn't look happy but figured that half was better than nothing. Also, she figured that once the baby was here there was a chance that keeping up with both estates might be too much and give it all to her son.
"I am not accepting this," said Dominique as Vincent pointedly ignored his mother as he signed the adjusted document. "How do you know that…"
"I don't know anything mother," said Vincent. "I trust that everything will be settled accordingly and that taken care of. I wouldn't have it any other way."
Behind them when nobody was looking Clara and Ernest kissed happily as everything seemed to work out.
It was indeed a happy ending.