Heirly Ever After by Vernon, Magan (best classic novels .TXT) 📕

with the solicitor as soon as possible. Perhaps there was a way I could enact the claim and still keep Madison and her family safe.

“I’ll have to figure that out before the wedding happens, huh?” I said, finishing off my drink, ignoring the thickness in my throat. The way none of the words sat well on my tongue.

“Yes, I guess you will.” He didn’t falter his gaze, as if he was waiting for me to tell him I’d drop it all. That because of Madison I would give up everything my family had wanted and worked so hard for.

But it was in that slight falter of a smile on my cousin that said he knew exactly what he was doing. Had this been part of his plan all along? To dangle the carrot of a legitimate claim and then mention Madison in the same breath?

As if the universe had a bigger plan for me, my phone buzzed in my pocket, giving me the excuse to turn away and pull the device out of my pocket. Blair’s number scrolled across the screen, and there went that tightening feeling in the back of my throat again.

“Excuse me, I have to take this,” I said, clearing my throat before quickly walking down the small staircase that led out into the yard.

I waited until I was a few meters away and hopefully out of earshot before I answered.

“Blair? Hi. Is everything all right? Is Great-Grandfather okay?” I found myself almost breathless as I sat down on one of the cement benches, a crew of fluffy white dogs immediately prancing over, sitting and waiting for their chance at a good ear scratch.

“For now,” she said breathlessly.

My whole body tensed as I stilled my hand in the air. “For now?”

“Jacob, I don’t know how much longer he’s going to be all right. He had another stroke this morning…”

All the air whooshed from my lungs as I leaned forward.

“Is he…?” I couldn’t even finish the sentence. Hell, I didn’t even know the right words to say.

“He’s heavily sedated right now. They’re waiting before deciding what to do.”

They were waiting for me.

On this.

“I’ve got the number for the Webley family solicitor,” I said breathlessly. With shaking hands, I removed the card from my pocket.

“What did he say?” she asked.

“Not much. But he did give me his card. He knows all about the family and might be able to help. I can go talk to him again once I head back inside.” I stared through the floor-to-ceiling windows.

As if she knew I was there, Madison’s gaze caught mine.

Shite.

Now wasn’t the time.

“I need to go,” I said hurriedly, shoving the card back in my wallet after rattling off the email address and phone number of the solicitor.

“Are you going to talk to him? How soon will you know?”

“I don’t know,” I gritted as I made my way around the veranda, trying to find another entrance where I wouldn’t run into anyone.

“All right. I’ll see what I can find. Thank you. I hope I’ll see you soon.”

“You will. Bye, Blair.”

I hung up as I found another veranda, making my way up the stairs and into a conservatory. Fumbling through the dark and plants, I kept going until I was out in another unfamiliar hallway.

Shite, this place was too darn big.

My heart pounded in my ears as everything swam through my head.

This was it.

Great-Grandfather was waiting to pass until he knew we were settled.

Could I even do that?

And if I did…

“Jacob.”

I stilled, looking up to see I’d made my way to the Thistle Room, and Madison was standing in front of the open door.

She was the last person I needed to see right now. Yet somehow my shoulders still relaxed as I let out a deep breath. “Madison.”

“Everything okay? I saw you outside with Gavin, then on the phone…and well…you kind of ran like you’d seen a ghost or something.” Her eyes darted around the hallway. “Is there one here? I knew this place had to be haunted.”

I sighed, shaking my head as a smile crossed my lips.

Fuck, she was cute.

She didn’t deserve any of what could happen.

“Yeah, my sister called. Great-Grandfather had another stroke.” My entire body fell as the words spilled from my lips. Saying it out loud made it all real.

All I was doing would be for nothing if he died before I could resolve things. Hell, things might not even work out. It was a fool’s errand, and I was the biggest fool for thinking I could do this for Great-Grandfather.

“I’m so sorry, Jacob.” Her words were soft as she put her hand on mine.

“It’s not yer fault,” I grumbled, shaking my head and pushing past her into the room.

I loosened my tie, tossing it on the settee.

I didn’t need her sympathy right now. Or her distraction. I only needed to think.

Though as I tried to focus on anything else, all I could think about was Great-Grandfather lying there. The man who had always been so strong. So full of life, now a shadow of his former self. Maybe taking his last breaths knowing I’d failed him.

Slumping into the settee, I cradled my face in my hands. I felt like the weight of the world was hanging on my shoulders as I sucked in a suffocating breath.

Without a word, Madison was next to me. The warmth of her body radiating onto mine as her arm slipped over my shoulder. Her fingers traced small circles on my bicep.

My own weakness took over as I leaned into her, inhaling her floral shampoo and breathing her in. I wasn’t going to cry, but my body shook against her as emotion ripped through me.

Wrapping my arms around her, I pulled her close, burying my face into the warmth of her neck.

“I’m not going to tell you it’s going to be okay, because that’s not what you need to hear,” she whispered, tracing her nails along my back, leaving goose bumps even through the fabric of my jacket. “Just know that I’m here.”

I