Marriage Under Siege by Anne O'Brien

then, Mr
Wellings.'
    'To my heir, Sir Francis
Brampton, of the Suffolk line of Bramptons, there being no direct heirs of my
body, it is my wish and my intention that he will inherit the whole of the
property that comprises the Brampton estate. This is to include the estates
of—and each area is itemised, my lord, as you will see—the castle and land of
Brampton Percy, the manors of Wigmore, Buckton , Aylton and Eyton , the lease of
crown land at Kingsland and Burrington . That, my
lord, is the extent of the Brampton acres. Also itemised is livestock, timber
and grain from the said estates and the flock of 1,000 sheep, which run on the
common pastures at Clun. Finally there is a substantial town house in Corve Street in Ludlow. Apart from this bequest, there is
the inheritance of the Laxton estates in Yorkshire
and Laxton House in London, both from the inheritance
that Honoria Ingram brought to the marriage.'
    Wellings laid down the
document in completion, then peered under his eyebrows at Lord Mansell with a
speculative gleam in his eyes, his lips pursed.
    'You should know, my lord,
that even though this will was made less than a month ago, on the occasion of
his recent marriage, Lord Edward in fact added a codicil only two weeks later,
a few days before his death. He visited me privately in Ludlow for that
purpose.'
    'I see.' Mansell's brows
rose in some surprise. 'Or perhaps I don't. Did you know of this, my lady?' He
moved from the fireplace to pull up one of the straight-backed chairs and sat
beside her.
    'No.' She shook her head,
running her tongue along her bottom lip. 'Does it pose a problem to the
inheritance, Mr Wellings?'
    'A problem? Why, no, my
lady. It is merely in the way of being some what... unusual, shall I say. But
nothing of a serious nature, you understand.'
    'Then enlighten us, Mr Wellings.
Just what did Lord Edward see a need to add to so recent a will that is not in
itself serious? '
    'Lord Edward was aware of
his impending death, my lord. He had been aware, I believe, for some months. It
was a tumour for which there was no remedy. Recently it became clear to him
that his days on this earth were numbered. The pain, I understand... I know
that he did not wish to worry you, my lady, so I doubt he made any mention of
his complaint...?'
    'No, Mr Wellings.' There
was no doubting the surprise in Honoria's response. 'He did not. All I knew was
that he was drinking more than was his normal practice. But I did not know the
reason. Why did he not tell me? And what difference would it make to his will?'
    'It was his choice not to
inform you, my lady. And, if you will forgive me touching on so delicate a
matter, my lady, he also realised that in the time left to him he was unlikely
to achieve a direct heir of his own body to his estates.' Wellings inclined his
head sympathetically towards Honoria. A flush of colour touched her pale
cheeks, but she made no response.
    The lawyer glanced briefly
at Mansell before continuing.
    'In the light of his very
brief marriage to Mistress Ingram, a lady of tender years, and your own single
state, my lord, Lord Edward recommends in the codicil that the lady should be
taken into your keeping and protection. That is, to put it simply, that you, my
lord, should take the lady in marriage. It will provide Lady Mansell with
protection and continuity of her status here at Brampton Percy, as well as
keeping the considerable property and value of her jointure within the Brampton
estate.'
    Wellings leaned across the
table and handed the relevant document to Lord Francis for his perusal. He took
it, rose to his feet and strode to the window where he cast his eyes rapidly
down the formal writing. It was all very clear and concise and precisely as
Wellings had intimated. He looked back at Honoria.
    Their eyes touched and
held, hers wide with surprise and shock, his contemplative with a touch of wry
amusement at Edward's devious methods to keep the estate intact. And negate the
need to raise