When We Meet Again Read Free Page B

refused to many again for any other reason. Marriage, she claimed, was simply not worth the effort otherwise.
    "News, darlings." Aunt Millicent waved a piece of paper at them. "I have the very best of news. Do you remember my aunt Elizabeth?"
    "Great-aunt Elizabeth?" Clarissa nodded. "Of course."
    "Of course," Pamela murmured. "Who could possibly forget Great-aunt Elizabeth?"
    "Indeed the woman was stodgy and stingy and condemning of virtually everyone who did not live their lives precisely as she thought proper." Aunt Millicent wrinkled her nose. "She long disapproved of me. Well." Aunt Millicent beamed. "She's dead."
    A heretofore-unnoticed gentlemen cleared his throat.
    Aunt Millicent glanced at him and winced. "I didn't mean to imply that I'm especially glad that she's dead. I would not have wished her dead. However. I certainly did not kill her, and as she is dead, we should bravely carry on and make the best of it." She glanced at her nieces. "This is Mr. Corby, a very nice solicitor whose firm handled Elizabeth's affairs and who has furthermore been so gracious as to come all the way from London to bring us this news as well as this letter explaining everything. It appears Elizabeth was involved in a rather unusual incident involving a carriage and a herd of"—she glanced at the gentleman—"goats was it?"
    "Pigs." he said under his breath.
    "Pigs, yes, of course." Aunt Millicent sighed and cast her gaze downward. "Quite tragic."
    "Shouldn't we say a prayer or a few words?" Pamela said in an aside to Clarissa. Clarissa nodded. "Something I should think."
    "Absolutely. Why, I should have thought of it myself." Aunt Millicent folded her hands together beneath her chin, paper still clasped between them, and gazed upward. "Dear Lord." She paused and cast pointed glances at the rest of the gathering. Pamela and Clarissa obediently folded their hands and looked toward the heavens. Mr. Corby hesitated, then followed suit.
    "Dear Lord." Aunt Millicent began again, "please grasp Aunt Elizabeth to your loving bosom although"—she frowned—"as Mr. Corby says she entered your domain more than six months ago. I should think if you have not already taken her to your loving bosom, then perhaps she did not ascend in your direction but rather descend—"
    "Aunt Millicent!" Clarissa said, eyes wide with shock although Pamela thought she certainly should have expected such a eulogy from their aunt.
    "Yes, of course. Speaking ill of the dead and all that." Aunt Millicent glanced upward. "Sorry. Now then where was I? Ah yes." She cleared her throat and again looked piously toward heaven. "Dear Lord, if indeed Aunt Elizabeth is at your gates, please accept her into your kingdom and forgive her for her sins, although I should think you would wish her to explain her behavior first. She always was a rather unpleasant sort." Aunt Millicent thought for a moment. "If, of course, she has already gained admittance, well then, never mind. I'm certain you have more important matters to attend to." Aunt Millicent nodded.
    "Forever and ever. Amen."
    "Amen," the others echoed in unison.
    "Now." Aunt Millicent's eyes sparkled. "Mr. Corby was also kind enough to bring us a number of boring dry legal documents that nonetheless bear wonderful, wonderful tidings." Mr. Corwin smiled at the cousins. "A substantial inheritance." Pamela and Clarissa exchanged glances.
    "Quite substantial." Aunt Millicent cast them a radiant smile. "Consisting of Elizabeth's grand house in the very best part of London as well as a sizable fortune."
    "How perfect for you." Pamela said with a smile of genuine pleasure. It was indeed perfect. The house Aunt Millicent had shared with her husband was part of the estate that accompanied his title and had gone to his younger brother upon his death. Aunt Millicent had inherited a respectable fortune but no property. She had always claimed it left her free to explore the world, but on those rare occasions when she spoke of her husband