Maisie watched as Dene struggled to keep his composure, rubbing his jaw back and forth. He had come to Maurice's clinic as a boy with his very ill mother, who had subsequently died. Maurice had given him work, and when he realized the boy's innate talent for medicine, sponsored his education and his training in medical school. He was now an admired orthopedic surgeon.
'Dr. Dene, I am sure you have questions; however, at this juncture, you are free to leave. Thank you.'
Dene bade his farewells and left the room.
Klein smiled at the housekeeper and explained that Maurice had provided excellent references, and she would be welcome to remain at The Dower House until the new owner took possession of the property, though he felt sure she could expect her service to continue. In addition, she would receive an annual pension which, if she wished, could take the form of a single bequest. He pointed out that the pension was a most generous one.
Mrs. Bromley was soon racked with sobs, so Maisie leaned across to soothe her. When she was given notice that she could leave, Maisie stood along with her to accompany her to the door.
'Miss Dobbs, I require your presence here. My clerk will see that the lady is looked after.'
The junior clerk placed an arm around the housekeeper's shoulders and escorted her from the room, though her keening could still be heard through the closed door some moments later.
'Now then, almost there.'
Maisie looked at the Compton family and hoped she would be free to leave soon. The air in the room seemed to press down on her, and she wanted nothing more than for the day to be over. If Maurice had left her a bequest in connection with the curatorship of his papers, hopefully Klein would get to it next, and she would be released from the meeting-she could hardly breathe.
'Finally, the estate.' He again turned towards the senior clerk, who distributed several sheets of paper. 'Miss Dobbs-Lord Julian and Lady Rowan will remain, as they are coexecutors of Maurice's last will and testament, and Viscount James Compton will have a future interest in decisions made regarding The Dower House, per Maurice's instructions. The following will serve to clarify.'
Maisie at once felt as if she were on ground that was less than solid, yielding to her weight in a way she could not fathom.
'Now, you each have a listing of key assets, which form a not-inconsiderable estate. Dr. Blanche had no brothers or sisters, and was the son of parents who in turn had no siblings. Thus he had in earlier years inherited properties in France from his father, and significant wealth on his mother's side-she was, as you may know, the only daughter of Frederick MacLean, the shipbuilder.'
Maisie's eyes widened as she realized how little she knew of Maurice's own parentage. Though Lady Rowan had known him from early years and had talked about her brother bringing his friend, Maurice, home from boarding school, Maisie could not imagine him as a boy.
'There are several properties in France, including a house in Paris under long-term lease to the British government-Maurice retained the upper apartments for use during his visits to the city. The land belonging to Item B on page two-a large chateau-type property in the Dordogne region currently leased to a diplomat-is worked by a local family of farmers. My firm liaises with Maurice's Paris lawyers to see that all monies collected from leases and agricultural profits contribute to the upkeep of those properties and residue used to support the clinics-I should add that there is also one in a poor area of Paris. Now, moving down the page, the property in Glasgow-it was his grandfather's home-is on indefinite loan to the university at no charge and is used to accommodate academic staff visiting from abroad. There are tax advantages to such an arrangement.'
Klein reached for a glass of water and, over his spectacles, seemed to use the moment to take the measure of those seated before continuing.
'On the next page, you will see a complete inventory of the property known as The Dower House, including the house and gardens, plus two farms with long-standing tenant farmers, Mr. Arthur Lodge and Mr. Cecil Button. The acreage is given, along with terms etc., etc. Dr. Blanche's instructions are as follows.' Again he peered over his glasses at the listeners in turn, but focused his attention upon Maisie as he went on, barely consulting his notes.
'All properties in France, Scotland, and England, together with monies held in investment and bank accounts, I leave to Miss Maisie Dobbs, my daughter in kind, if not in name. Should Miss Dobbs see fit to sell The Dower House, the property should first be offered to Lord Julian Compton, and if he predeceases such divestment, to Viscount James Compton, so that, if desired, it may once again become part of the Chelstone Manor Estate.'
He smiled at Maisie. 'I should add that there are no mortgages attached to any of the properties listed, which were owned in their entirety by Dr. Blanche. I am sure you would like clarification on multiple points; however, before you and I continue speaking alone, is there anything regarding the foregoing that you wish to discuss in the company of Lord Julian and Lady Rowan, specifically, Maurice's stipulation pertaining to a future possible sale of The Dower House?'
Maisie stood up, only vaguely aware that her knees were shaking. 'If you don't mind, I think I might need some fresh air.'
James Compton was already standing, and caught her as she collapsed.
When Maisie opened her eyes, her first thought was that she was in her room at her father's cottage. She closed them again when she realized that she was still in The Dower House, resting in the guest room she'd occupied long ago when she first came to live in the house. Mrs. Bromley was by her side, and leaned over to press a cold, damp cloth to her forehead.
'How are you feeling, mu'um?'
Maisie shook her head. 'Please don't call me that, Mrs. Bromley. You've always called me Miss Dobbs-don't change now.'
'You took quite a turn there. The viscount carried you up the stairs-he's down in the drawing room. Lady Rowan was very worried, and will want to know you've come around.'
'I-I think I've been imagining things.'
The housekeeper shook her head. 'No, you haven't, Miss Dobbs. Dr. Blanche was a dark horse-you of all people knew that. But he loved you as if you were his own, and I know he told you as much. So he left you what he would leave to a daughter-and he's done right by you.'
Maisie sat up on the bed and took the glass of water offered. 'I'd better go downstairs and show my face. I'm so embarrassed at having fainted.'
Mrs. Bromley took an envelope from her pocket. 'Mr. Klein gave me strict instructions to give this to you straightaway, as soon as you were well enough. He said he would telephone tomorrow to make an appointment to come to the house again-he said there's a lot of things to talk about.'
'It's a letter from Maurice.'
Mrs. Bromley stood up and opened the door to leave. 'You take your time, Miss Dobbs. I'll make tea for everyone downstairs. I baked some Eccles cakes for you this morning-I know they're your favorites.'
Maisie smiled and expressed thanks at such thoughtfulness, and when the door closed and she was on her own, she slipped her finger under the flap of the envelope, and removed Maurice's letter. It was a letter she would read time and again in the weeks and months that followed.
Maisie sat on the floor in The Dower House conservatory with sun streaming through the glass panes. She was surrounded by a series of boxes, each clearly marked in Maurice's flowing script, with the year cataloged and a description of the contents, be it letters, reports, or case files. Several weeks had passed since the funeral, weeks in which she had felt as if she might flounder. It was clear to her, now, why Lady Rowan had shown such concern, and why she had intimated that Maisie's life would change, though Maisie herself was pleased with the many ways it had not changed, thus far.
Knowing she needed time to absorb all that had come to pass, she had taken a week of leave from work and instructed Billy to come into the office only to gather the post and be in touch with potential new clients, though otherwise he should consider the time his own. She did not bring him into her confidence regarding the bequest from Maurice, for she considered the matter to be one that required utmost privacy on her part, at least until she
