Page 3 of Educated By the Earl (Second Sons of London 1)

“Thank you,” she said as her cousins joined her.

“We are going with you,” Louisa said. “You shouldn’t be alone.”

“Especially with that monster, Lady Macbeth,” Adalyn added. “Oh, I do like your nickname for her.”

“I don’t know if you will be allowed,” she told her friends. “My uncle is the earl now.”

Adalyn snorted. “Just let him try and toss us from the room.” She linked her arm through Tessa’s. “Come on.”

Louisa did the same and they went to the library. Entering, she saw Mr. Ellsworth, Papa’s solicitor, along with the new Lord and Lady Paxton. Relief swept through her as she saw both Uncle Uxbridge and Uncle Edgar also present.

“They aren’t needed,” the countess said, her nose crinkling in disdain at Louisa and Adalyn.

“They are my family,” Tessa said. “I want them here for their support.”

Lady Macbeth frowned and looked to her husband. He only shook his head, as if knowing this wasn’t a battle he wished to fight.

Instead, Lord Paxton said, “Be seated.”

Everyone took a place, with Tessa and her cousins sitting together on a large settee. She wasn’t expecting any surprises and received none. As thought, her father had made small bequests to longtime servants, including his valet and their butler.

Then Mr. Ellsworth said, “Lady Tessa’s dowry has remained intact and will now be under her control since she is of legal age.” He smiled at her. “I do hope when the time comes for you to wed that you will seek my services—or that of another solicitor’s—in regard to drawing up the settlements.”

“Tessa has us to help her with this,” Uncle Edgar said. “We will make certain she is taken care of where the marriage contracts are concerned.”

Gratitude filled her, knowing that she had her mother’s brothers looking out for her best interests.

“In addition to the dowry,” Mr. Ellsworth continued, “Lady Tessa will receive an additional amount of one thousand pounds. These funds are to be used for creating the wardrobe for her come-out Season and any incidentals along the way.”

“One thousand pounds?” said Lady Macbeth, not bothering to hide her astonishment. “Isn’t that an excessive amount?” she said to no one in particular and then looking to her husband, she added, “wouldn’t that be monies from the estate? Was it even his to give?”

“Let me assure you, Lady Paxton, that the sum belongs to Lady Tessa,” the solicitor said. “It comes from monies brought into the marriage by Lady Tessa’s mother and always designated for this. Surely, you wouldn’t begrudge Lady Tessa a new wardrobe, especially seeing how long she has delayed her come-out in order to care for her parents?”

“It merely seems extravagant,” Lady Macbeth said, slightly mollified that the sum wasn’t part of her husband’s estate.

Mr. Ellsworth began gathering up his papers and said, “I believe that is all. Should you have any questions, you may contact me at my London office. I need to leave now to return there for another business matter.”

Tessa rose and smiled warmly at the man. “Thank you for all you have done, Mr. Ellsworth. Papa always enjoyed working with you.”

“Lord Paxton was a gem among men, my lady. I am very sorry for your loss.”

The solicitor left and Lady Macbeth said, “Do sit down. There are more things to discuss.”

Tessa dreaded what was next because she knew what it would involve. Knowing how much Lady Macbeth despised her and wanted her gone, Tessa hoped she would be allowed to go to the dower house and do her year of mourning there.

Taking a seat, she steeled herself for whatever would come.

“It is difficult for my wife having my niece as a member of the household,” the new Lord Paxton began.

“Why so?” Uncle Umbridge asked, his tone critical of the statement.

“I will tell you,” Lady Macbeth said assertively. “She is unneeded and unwanted. She usurps me at every turn. Just look at how she rushed to Ellsworth and had to be the one to tell him goodbye. That should have been my role, being a gracious hostess to a departing guest.”

Adalyn snorted and Tessa flashed her cousin a warning.

“I cannot change a rug or move a vase without the servants telling me I should be consulting Lady Tessa,” Lady Macbeth complained. “They don’t look upon me as their mistress.”

“You weren’t until Paxton’s death,” Uncle Edgar pointed out. “It says a lot that the servants remained loyal to Tessa and her father. Now, however, you are the new countess. They will—”

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