Free Dangerous Decisions by Margaret Kaine Page B

Then he reminded himself that Faradays had been a titled family for generations until three generations previously when Sir Richard Faraday died childless. Their extensive wealth originated from centuries before when a courtier in William the Conqueror’s army had married a highborn Anglo-Saxon widow.
    They walked into the elegant dining room overlooking a long terrace with steps leading down to immaculate clipped lawns surrounded by topiary. As Finlay took his place, he wondered what the altercation with this tenant involved. His professional advice would be based strictly on the law, which in his view should apply fairly to everyone in the country, whatever their social standing.
    Ten days later, Oliver’s carriage drew up in High Holborn outside the discreet offices of McPherson and McPherson and, carrying a small attaché case in his hand, he went lightly up the steps of the tall building. With some distaste, he noticed dandruff on the shoulders of the grey-faced clerk who came to greet him, and then seconds later he was ushered into the inner sanctum of his lawyer.
    Once their social niceties were complete, Oliver opened his briefcase and after handing over the ribbon-tied document glanced idly around the large yet fusty room lined with glass-fronted bookcases. It had been McPherson senior who had attended to Faraday affairs when Oliver’s father was alive and it was apparent that nothing had been altered since, not even the inkwells.
    â€˜I can foresee no problems here,’ Finlay said eventually. ‘So it is in order to proceed with the finalities?’
    â€˜But of course.’ Oliver leaned forward to take a cigarette from the silver box offered by his lawyer, used his own lighter and leaned back to inhale with satisfaction. ‘You will of course be attending the wedding?’
    A smile crossed Finlay’s face. ‘Most certainly. My wife is looking forward to it.’
    At Broadway Manor, there was already a veritable marathon of preparation going on. An extra seamstress had been employed and the leading dressmaker in Lichfield was an almost constant visitor.
    â€˜I don’t know why I need so many things,’ Helena grumbled as orders for chemises, nightdresses, peignoirs, petticoats and underwear were agreed between Beatrice and Miss Hewson. There was also to be a new riding habit, and countless day dresses and evening gowns.
    Beatrice gave a sigh of exasperation. ‘Helena, a young woman in your position – or should I say the position in which you will find yourself – must have an extensive trousseau. You will need to impress the staff and to portray yourself as someone of consequence. Otherwise they will try to take advantage of you.’
    Enid Hewson glanced up from checking her list. ‘I’m afraid that’s true, Miss Helena.’
    Helena gazed at them both and said in a low voice, ‘Do you know how many servants Oliver has? About twenty in the house itself, and glory knows how many more outside.’
    â€˜Well, the outside staff will not be your responsibility,’ Beatrice said briskly. ‘They come under the jurisdiction of the estate manager.’
    â€˜Is there a housekeeper, Miss Helena?’
    â€˜I believe so. I bet she’s an old dragon.’
    â€˜Nonsense,’ Beatrice said. ‘I’m sure she will be as anxious as you that the management of the household runs smoothly. What you must not do, ever, is to undermine her authority. Is that not right, Enid?’
    â€˜It would certainly be unwise, Miss Helena.’
    Helena waited until the maid had left the room and then said, ‘I’ve never thought of it before, but why haven’t we got a housekeeper?’
    â€˜There was one here when I arrived, and an enormous help she was to me, particularly in the early days,’ Beatrice said, ‘but when she left to go and live with her sister in Wales, I decided to dispense with the need. After all, this