Scandal's Bride by Stephanie Laurens Read Free Book Online Page B

age, I've been moved to use this, my
will, to that end.' "
    Not surprisingly, a nervous flutter did the rounds of the listeners.
Catriona was immune, but even she frowned—what was the wily old badger up to
now? Even Richard Cynster, she noticed, shifted slightly.
    Settling in his chair, Richard inwardly frowned and struggled to shake
off the premonition Seamus's opening paragraph had evoked. He was only a minor
player in this scene; there was no reason to imagine those words were aimed at
him.
    Yet, as the solicitor went on, it seemed he was wrong.
    " 'My first bequest will close a chapter of my life otherwise
long completed. I wish to give into her son's hands the necklace my first wife
bequeathed to him. As I have stipulated that he, Richard Melville Cynster, must
be here to receive it, it has now served its purpose.' " The
solicitor fumbled on the desk, then rose and crossed to Richard.
    "Thank you," Richard murmured, lifting the delicate strands
from the solicitor's gnarled hands. Gently, he untangled the finely wrought
gold links, interspersed with opaque rose pink stones. From the center of the
necklace hung a long crystal of amethyst, etched with signs too small for him
to make out.
    "It was quite out of order for Mr. McEnery to keep it from
you," the solicitor whispered. "Please do believe it was entirely
against our advice.''
    Studying the pendant, noting the curious warmth of the stones, Richard
nodded absentmindedly. As the solicitor returned to the desk, Richard glanced
up—from across the circle of seats, Catriona's gaze was fixed on the pendant.
Her absorption was complete; deliberately, he let the crystal hang, then moved
it—her gaze remained riveted. The solicitor reseated himself; Richard closed
his fist about the pendant. Catriona sighed and looked up; she met his gaze,
then calmly looked away. Resisting an urge to raise his brows, Richard pocketed
the necklace.
    "Now, where were we? Ah… yes." The solicitor cleared his
throat, then warbled: " 'As to all the wealth of which I die
possessed, property, furniture, and funds, all is to be held in trust for a
period of one week from today, the day on which my will is read.' "
The man paused, drew breath, then went on in a rush: " 'If during
that one week, Richard Melville Cynster agrees to marry Catriona Mary Hennessy,
the estate will be divided amongst my surviving children, as described below.
If, however, by the end of that week, Richard Cynster refuses to marry Catriona
Hennessy, my entire estate is to be sold and the funds divided equally between
the dioceses of Edinburgh and Glasgow.' "
    Shock—absolute and overpowering—held them all silent. For one minute,
only the rustle of parchment and the odd crackle from the fire broke the
stillness. Richard recovered, if that was the right word, first; he dragged in
a huge breath, conscious of a sense of unreality, as if in a crazy dream. He
glanced at Catriona, but she wasn't looking at him. Her gaze was fixed in the
distance, her expression one of stunned incredulity.
    "
How could he
?" Her vehement question broke the
spell; she focused abruptly on the solicitor.
    A cacophony of questions and exclamations poured forth. Seamus's family
could not take in what their sire had done to them; most of them were helpless,
barely coherent.
    Seated beside Richard, Mary turned a stricken face to him. "My God—
how
will we manage?" Her eyes filled; she grasped Richard's hand, not in
supplication, but for support.
    Instinctively, he gave it, curling his fingers about hers and pressing
reassuringly. He saw her face as she turned to Jamie, saw the hopelessness that
swamped her.
    "What will we do?" she all but sobbed as Jamie gathered her
into his arms.
    As stunned as she, Jamie looked at the solicitor over her head. "
Why
?"
    It was, Richard felt, the most pertinent question; the solicitor took it
as his cue and waved his hands at the others to hush them. "If I might
continue…?"
    They fell silent, and he picked