Page 12 of The Seaside Homecoming
“A letter for Mamma from Edinburgh. I don’t recognize the handwriting.” She handed it to her.
Sarah flipped it over and read the return address above the seal:
Messrs Dombey & Dumfries, Edinburgh
“Lawyers,” Sarah declared, rising. “Let’s take it to her.”
They found their mother in the walled garden beside the house, pulling weeds from a bed of irises and lilies.
Seeing their hurried approach, she rose from the kneeling bench.
“A letter for you, Mamma!” Sarah waved it like a flag. Emily followed at a jog, hand pressed to her bosom.
“Good heavens. What is all the fuss?”
“From Edinburgh,” Emily called.
At Mamma’s quick frown, Sarah added, “From lawyers, we think.”
“Ah.” Mamma peeled off her gardening gloves and then broke the seal and unfolded the page, expression grave.
“She has died.”
Sarah’s heart lurched. “What?”
“Aunt Mercer.”
Sarah clutched her chest. “Oh. Of course. You gave me a fright.”
“And we are to receive nothing, which comes as no surprise. Here, read it for yourselves.”
Sarah read it first.
Dear Madam,
As solicitor to Agnes Mercer, your departed husband’s aunt, it is my solemn duty to inform you that she has reached the end of her earthly life and has enlisted my services in managing her affairs. In her original will, she had named your husband as primary beneficiary, as you are probably aware. After his death, she revised her will, and I feel it is incumbent upon me to inform you that none of her assets are to come to you, his wife, as you were not named as a contingent beneficiary. However, she did make one small bequest to you. She instructed me to send to you a volume of Fordyce’sSermons toYoung Women, which she trusts will be instructive to your younger daughters. It shall arrive by separate parcel.
Yours Sincerely,
Robert Dumfries
Messrs Dombey & Dumfries
No. 19 Thistle Street, Edinburgh
Struggling to read the letter from beside her, Emily asked, “Is there any mention of Cla—” With a glance at Mamma, she broke off, revising her question. “Of her companion? Or what is to become of her?”
“Nothing.” Sarah handed her the letter.
Emily read it, shaking her head, then looked up imploringly. “Mamma, I know you promised Papa, but—”
“That’s right, I did. So what would you have me do?”
Emily said, “We could try writing to her again, now that—”
“Again?” Mamma snapped.
“Yes, Mamma,” Emily said gently. “As I have mentioned before, I made no such promise to Papa. I have written to her, as has Viola. We’ve had no response to our recent letters and wonder if Aunt Mercer has kept them from her. Now that the woman is gone, she might actually receive a letter we send.”
