Heirly Ever After, Vernon, Magan [best thriller novels to read .txt] 📗

“Oh, Jacob, I think my sister is calling for us. Come with me?” Madison asked with that sugary sweet accent.

Gladly.

“Yes, it was nice to see you again, Baroness Everly, but my girlfriend, sister of the Lady of Webley, and I, must be going,” I said, curtly nodding. I didn’t wait for whatever quip she responded with as I followed in step with Madison toward her sister.

“Well, isn’t she just a peach,” Madison whispered.

“If by peach you mean one that belongs in the mince, then yes, yes, she is.”

“Were you really supposed to marry her? Like, you two dated?” she asked even more quietly, her words dropping with trepidation.

“We never dated. I don’t date, damsel.” I cleared my throat. “Well, usually.”

“So that really would make me your first date, then? Guess that’s why you called me your girlfriend. Not used to it.”

I shook my head, finding myself smiling for the first time since we’d entered the room. As if a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. “I guess you could say that.”

As soon as we got within shouting distance of her family, it wasn’t Natalie that called to us, but another family member I wasn’t sure I wanted to hear from.

“Jacob, get over here and have a bit of a hair of the dog with me,” Hugh called, waving his free arm as the men around him kept their heads down.

Madison raised her eyebrows, and I squeezed her hand. “I won’t be gone too long.”

She smiled. “Okay.”

That damn smile.

What the fuck was this girl doing to me?

If it hadn’t been for my belligerent cousin, I might have told him to piss off. But I was also interested to see more about the men he was with. None of them were Everly’s family, a darn relief, but to be at this dinner, they all had to be of stature.

“Surprised you’re still walking after that much scotch,” I said to Hugh as he laughed, handing me a rocks glass from a passing maid’s tray.

“Oh, I passed right out. Wouldn’t be awake now if it wasn’t for one of the maids bringing me some bangers.”

“Seems like your Scottish friend here is holding it better than you, Hugh,” a man in a dark black suit and thick black mustache said, smiling over his rocks glass.

“Aw, piss off, Rodrick.”

“I think I like Rodrick.” I laughed, taking a sip of my drink. Thank shite it wasn’t more scotch, just brandy.

“And I like anyone that can keep Hugh straight,” Rodrick said. “Did you know this dimwit here went to law school with me? Brightest one in the class yet decided to leave in the final hour. Said he didn’t want to be a solicitor and wanted to see the world.”

I blinked, feeling my stomach warm as it dawned on me that not only there was more to Cousin Hugh, but the man that I was talking to could be the answer to my problems.

“So they hired you as the family solicitor without Hugh at the helm?” I asked, trying to sound casual even though my heart was racing.

“Ah. Well, my father has always been the family’s solicitor, but with the Webleys being his biggest and, well, only client, I came on with his firm.”

Hugh downed the rest of his glass, setting it on another passing tray. “If you’ll excuse me, gentlemen.” The usual smile on his face was gone as he grabbed another drink and headed off in another direction.

There was more to my cousin’s story, but I wasn’t here for that.

I had someone very important in front of me that knew the answers I was looking for. How to get the MacWebley legacy back.

“So you’re the one who will make the Lady and Lord of Webley official?” I asked, moving my free hand in a circle as if it would encompass the giant room.

He nodded. “Ah, aside from being Hugh’s best mate, I’m also here to see everything goes smoothly.” He took a sip of his drink and then lowered his voice. “Which by all the hubbub you’ve been causing in the family, I’m guessing is another reason.”

My interest peaked as I leaned in, glancing around the room to make sure no one was listening. “And pray tell what this hubbub is?”

He narrowed his eyes slightly, his brow furrowing as he had to think on his words. “Well, as you know, and I had only heard whispers in meetings, with Webley Manor technically being a gift from the MacWebleys during a split, Lord Edwin is asking us to go through every piece of paperwork from the last hundred years.”

The hair on the back of my neck stood on end. “The Webleys are worried the odd duck cousin is going to walk in and claim Webley Manor as his?” I asked, smiling and letting out a small laugh to try and lighten the moment.

His laugh was even more jilted in return. “Yes, exactly. A rather odd thought, but I’ve also seen more absurd things happen. And with the way manorial law was written, it isn’t completely impossible, without a prenuptial agreement, for you to walk in and claim half. Thus, why I’m here again at the final hour, making sure everything is written up in the marriage agreement and deed of Webley.”

“They’re lucky to have you,” I said, trying to keep the condescension out of my voice so I didn’t sound like Everly.

He pulled a slim silver case out of his breast pocket then drew a foil card from the case, handing it to me. “I may have heard a little bit of your discussion with Lady Helena and the Baroness. I’m in town, and that’s my card if you do need anything.”

My heart almost skipped a beat as I thought of what this could mean for the family.

Could it all really be that simple? Was setting up a meeting with this man the key to finding it all out and reclaiming our legacy? He had to know quite a lot after going