The Legacy of Hope House Read Free

your uncle.’
    So that was it; the house was definitely hers. As he drummed his fingers on the desk, she couldn’t resist passing a remark. ‘I wondered if it was the manor house I was getting,’ she said, in a lively voice.
    The solicitor passed on that one, ignoring her cheerful tone and comment. ‘There is also an amount of money coming to you, Miss Williams, which I would think is quite a fortune for a young lady like yourself, and if I may give you some sound advice, I would counsel you to be cautious with it.’ He raised his brows at Anna’s sudden expression of joy. Then he lifted his hand, palm towards her in a cautionary manner.
    ‘Wait now, please. A word of warning here, Miss Williams. You have inherited a large sum of money, a house and many acres of mountain land, but considering the necessary work needed on an old place like Hope House, I think you will probably find the money left you to be insufficient to cover the cost of renovation.’ He looked up at her with a concerned expression, and shook his head slowly from side to side. ‘It is not enough, but if you have money of your own to add to it, then that is fine.’
    ‘But all the work doesn’t have to be done straight away, Mr James. I could get urgent jobs done, and leave the rest ...’ She stopped immediately the man lifted his hand again.
    ‘I don’t wish to sound discouraging, Miss Williams, but I understand the house is in a bad state of neglect.’ He gave her a hard look, as though to make sure she listened carefully. ‘You’ll need more money than this to get the place back to its original state.’ At this point, he relaxed, eased back in his chair, and began to stroke his chin.
    ‘Yes, I am well aware it’s a big place, and that’s why I want…’ Anna interjected, but her words trailed off in the middle of what she was saying. It was just as though Mr James hadn’t heard, because he started to talk again before she could say any more.
    ‘Altogether it’s bound to be a big expense.’ He tapped the tips of his fingers together, and paused again. ‘Building costs are high, Miss Williams, so unless you have money of your own to spend on it, as well as this,’ he repeated, tapping the document in front of him, ‘it will not be easy to restore such a large property.’
    His next move was most pointed. With both hands gripping the edge of his desk, Mr James leaned across as far as he could reach, his neck thrust forward in a pugilistic manner that seemed threatening and made her nervous about what he was going to say. With another straight stare, he then delivered the proviso. ‘And there is something else. The bottom line is… ,’ he took a deep breath and paused for a moment to emphasise his words, ‘…you—can—not—sell—your—inheritance, under the conditions of the will.’
    Having delivered his statement in such an emphatic way, he leaned back and remained silent for several seconds, lightly tapping the tips of his podgy fingers together. He rubbed his hand over the light stubble on his chin and gazed absently through the window while he waited for her reaction, but Anna’s mind was still reeling at the mention of the cash, which to her was a small fortune. She said nothing; indeed, her mind was in such a spin she hardly knew what to say. What she wanted to do right now was to take the money and run.
    ‘Your late relative, Thomas John Williams,’ the solicitor went on, taking another deep breath, ‘stipulated that the wishes of the original builder and owner of the property, his great grandfather, Colonel Thomas Williams, who was formerly a resident of Jamaica, be strictly adhered to.’ He delivered his words in a slow and sonorous voice, then stared at her again over his spectacles.
    ‘Let me explain what this means.’ He tapped his forefinger rapidly on the document. ‘It states quite clearly here that the land, and the property, must remain within family ownership. Of course, should you have children