A Daughter's Inheritance by Tracie Peterson, Judith Miller Read Free Book Online

this. But Grandfather wouldn’t be sitting on the balcony this day or any other. Instead, he would be buried in the huge family plot next to Grand-mère in Mount Hope Cemetery.
    Relatives had been arriving at the mansion—crawling out of the woodwork, as Grandfather used to say. There had been no reason to inquire as to the length of their stay: the reading of the will would take place three days hence. None would depart until hearing the terms of Grandfather’s will—not even the most distant relative. Once the mansion had been filled to capacity, additional relatives had been sent to Uncle Jonas’s home and then to Uncle Quincy’s. A rare few had opted to stay at a hotel once they reached Quincy’s abode, for he had sold his mansion shortly after Aunt Marie’s death and purchased a small house in a less affluent section of Rochester.
    All of this had been done against Sophie’s strenuous objections, but Uncle Quincy refused to hear her protests. Shortly thereafter he poured all the profits gained from the sale of the family home into his fledgling charity. While Grandfather and Jonas shook their heads and warned against such a disproportionate contribution, Uncle Quincy chided them for their selfish nature.
    Fanny didn’t know about Uncle Jonas, but she certainly didn’t consider her Grandfather tightfisted. He regularly contributed to the church and charitable organizations. He’d even given a tidy sum to Uncle Quincy’s Home for the Friendless. But after Quincy had gone off on a tangent, which was the term Grandfather used when he referred to her uncle’s behavior, all gifts to the charity had ceased. Grandfather had thought it would bring Uncle Quincy to his senses, but it seemed to have had the opposite effect. Instead of kowtowing to his father, Quincy had disposed of his other assets and contributed much of the money to his charity. Only the small house remained. Until now. With Grandfather’s death, both of her uncles would inherit a vast sum of money. At least that was the assumption of most family members. Still, the majority held out hope that they, too, would be remembered in the will.
    Sophie, Amanda, and Fanny sat side by side at the funeral service. At first Aunt Victoria had opposed the arrangement, but when Uncle Quincy stated he had no objection, her aunt conceded. Sitting through the funeral service would be difficult enough for Fanny, but sitting by herself would prove unbearable. Her cousins would provide the added strength she needed to make it through this day.
    Too soon Fanny’s future would be decided by someone other than her grandfather—but by whom? If only she had reached her age of majority prior to his death. Then she wouldn’t need to concern herself with worries over a guardian. She suspected Uncle Jonas would be appointed, but what if Grandfather had decided upon some lawyer or banker? Someone like Mr. Snodgrass? She shivered at the thought. Surely Grandfather wouldn’t do such a thing.
    A half hour before the service, the church had already filled to capacity. Fanny didn’t realize her grandfather knew so many people. It appeared as if all of Rochester had turned out to honor him. Once the preacher began to speak, Fanny plugged her ears. Not in the literal sense, of course, but she quit listening. If she listened, she would cry, and she considered her grief a private matter.
    “Fanny? Fanny, are you all right?” Amanda asked. She gave Fanny’s shoulder a bit of a shake.
    Fanny realized Amanda had been speaking to her. The funeral was over and people were already filing out. She straightened and squared her shoulders. “I’m fine. So sorry to give you worry.”
    Sophie and Amanda exchanged a look before each one took hold of Fanny. Fanny thought it strange that they should fuss over her so, but ever since she’d fainted the night of Grandfather’s death, her cousins treated her as though she might break apart should any further bad news come her way.
    “I thought