Miranda Westlake was at her Uncle Jeremiah Dunny’s funeral. She was thinking of losing her husband just twelve months ago. Now she had to go through her Uncle’s funeral where she was welcomed after the death of Seth Westlake. No one else would even think of taking her in.
More thoughts flew through her head as she sat there in a corner mourning while all of the cousins were talking to everyone else at the funeral home. Most of these so called ‘mourners’ had not seen or talked to Jeremiah Dunny since childhood. But everyone knew the old eccentric man.
“Too bad that she came to the funeral. I mean she was over in some god forbidden desert when her husband died of who knows what. It must have been a god awful disease since he was cremated before being brought home.” Annette spoke to Cassandra in another corner just behind Miranda.
“Don’t I know it. I am not getting very close since some people are carriers of diseases and then they spread it all over. To anyone that comes within 6 feet of them. I expect that at least one of us will dies within the next 2-3 months. Besides that things like deaths come in threes.” Cassandra spoke as she held a perfumed hanky against her nose.
“I need to go refresh my hanky. Want to come?” Annette spoke
“Oh yes, that would be so nice. Thank you, Annette, for asking me to join you in my time of need. My eyes feel so sore and they have been watering so bad today.” Miranda spoke as she slid her arm into the crook of Annette and pulled her close to her side.
“Oh Cassandra, dear. It was you that I heard talking about things happen in threes. Yes, I have heard that theory as well. Perhaps we can chat about it while we are refreshing ourselves in the ladies lounge. My hanky is a bit damp but I am sure that you will understand….” Miranda spoke as she easily slipped her arm into Cassandra’s.
“Now shall we go? I feel so weak today… So I did need the help….”
The three cousins slowly walked to the ladies lounge and spent the next half hour in there ‘freshening up’ before the usher came to the door to announce that it was time to start.
Miranda was the first out and gladly took the usher’s arm who escorted her to her seat in the front row which was reserved for the next of kin.
The funeral was over after an hour and after people paid their last respects, everyone was to gather at the restaurant a couple blocks away. There was one table on a stage and two chairs. The lawyer escorted Miranda up the stage and seated her gallantly. The dinner was then served but very little conversation was floating around except in soft whispers. After a few people decided to leave but was not able to open the doors to the private dining room, they glared at the lawyer.
“After desert I will read the will of Jeremiah Dunny. Please be seated until it is time to leave.” The lawyer spoke firmly as the wait staff began to take away the dishes into the kitchen with a stern butler keeping an eye on who was going in and out of the kitchen.
A file of police officers walked into the dining room and stood attention as the lawyer stood up.
“Please give me your attention for I am about to read the last will of Jeremiah Dunny.” The lawyer announced with no clearing of his throat.
“I, Jeremiah Dunny, have very little to give to those who have not spoken to me in the last twenty or more years. For most of you, you have not spoken to me, visited nor even write to me. The rest of you only come to be given money. You did not even attempt to repay me. I have given my accountant the list several years ago after I had my first heart attack. He will be collecting from you today as you leave the restaurant.
To each and every one of you, I give you this last meal. For most of you this is your only gift. Be grateful that nothing is tainted. Or is it?
This will is short for there is only person who cared enough to visit me before I was ill, before my heart attacks and even has lived with me as a nurse since she was shunned by the rest of the family after an unfortunate accident to her newly wed husband. Miranda Westlake will receive her inheritance after she leaves this room.
The rest of you please be patient. You will be called and released by my accountant.
Sincerely,
Count Jeremiah Obadiah Dunny, 17th , heir of Dunny Manor
Lady Miranda and I will take our leave to discuss her inheritance.
Good day to one and all.” The lawyer spoke as he turned to Miranda who was in shock. She accepted his arm and was escorted out of the room as an elderly miserly looking man came inside.
“There are several copies of the will which was read and signed by the deceased and myself in front of Lawyer Thomas Dawson, may his soul rest in peace.” There was a slight pause before the account went on.
“I am Horton B. Wentworth, accountant to the deceased for over fifty years. He was my very first client and later a good friend.
My young assistant has placed the copies of the will on the table before me. As I call out your name, please come forward to pay what you owe or make a promissory note to a new accountant who will be taking over the accounting services. ….”
The door closed quickly after them and all the shouting starting. They were silent as they walked upstairs meeting room. There was a table with a maid who had a pot of tea ready. They sat down and the lawyer spoke as the maid poured the tea and sat a cup in front of the two of them.
“I did not reveal my name on purpose. I am Lawyer Thomas Dawson, like my grandfather. You will be my first client and I am to take over the new lawyer practice in Folkstone. I would appreciate it very much if you will stay with my practice.” The lawyer spoke quietly.
“As long as you serve me well, I see no reason to change lawyers. Now to the will?” Miranda spoke as she held her hands in her lap.
“You have inherited a vast sum of several million dollars. How all of the money was attained, I do not know. Of course, not all of it is liquid. There are five strings to the inheritance.
Number one is that you must take in unloved, unmarried and widowed female for a second chance at love.
Number two is that you will house, clothe and educate them.
Number three is that you must find decent men to marry them and they must be willing to marry the man.
Number four is that you must remarry within ten years. You are a lovely lady of twenty years.
Lastly, you must find some kind of a business to run.
If you do not agree to the terms, then you will receive a hundred thousand dollars.
Will you accept his offer and continue his legacy in a new place?” he asked as he passed the final agreement towards Miranda.
“Yes, I will do this for Uncle Jeremiah. What about the belongings in this house?” Miranda asked after reading the agreement.
“You may keep the house here in London or sell it. It belongs to you.” He spoke as he unscrewed the pen and handed it to Miranda who signed both copies.
“We will be seeing a lot of each other, I suspect.” Miranda spoke as she handed Lawyer Thomas Dawson.
“I expect so. Now let’s talk about what you wish to do with this house?” Lawyer Thomas Dawson spoke as he too signed both papers.
More thoughts flew through her head as she sat there in a corner mourning while all of the cousins were talking to everyone else at the funeral home. Most of these so called ‘mourners’ had not seen or talked to Jeremiah Dunny since childhood. But everyone knew the old eccentric man.
“Too bad that she came to the funeral. I mean she was over in some god forbidden desert when her husband died of who knows what. It must have been a god awful disease since he was cremated before being brought home.” Annette spoke to Cassandra in another corner just behind Miranda.
“Don’t I know it. I am not getting very close since some people are carriers of diseases and then they spread it all over. To anyone that comes within 6 feet of them. I expect that at least one of us will dies within the next 2-3 months. Besides that things like deaths come in threes.” Cassandra spoke as she held a perfumed hanky against her nose.
“I need to go refresh my hanky. Want to come?” Annette spoke
“Oh yes, that would be so nice. Thank you, Annette, for asking me to join you in my time of need. My eyes feel so sore and they have been watering so bad today.” Miranda spoke as she slid her arm into the crook of Annette and pulled her close to her side.
“Oh Cassandra, dear. It was you that I heard talking about things happen in threes. Yes, I have heard that theory as well. Perhaps we can chat about it while we are refreshing ourselves in the ladies lounge. My hanky is a bit damp but I am sure that you will understand….” Miranda spoke as she easily slipped her arm into Cassandra’s.
“Now shall we go? I feel so weak today… So I did need the help….”
The three cousins slowly walked to the ladies lounge and spent the next half hour in there ‘freshening up’ before the usher came to the door to announce that it was time to start.
Miranda was the first out and gladly took the usher’s arm who escorted her to her seat in the front row which was reserved for the next of kin.
The funeral was over after an hour and after people paid their last respects, everyone was to gather at the restaurant a couple blocks away. There was one table on a stage and two chairs. The lawyer escorted Miranda up the stage and seated her gallantly. The dinner was then served but very little conversation was floating around except in soft whispers. After a few people decided to leave but was not able to open the doors to the private dining room, they glared at the lawyer.
“After desert I will read the will of Jeremiah Dunny. Please be seated until it is time to leave.” The lawyer spoke firmly as the wait staff began to take away the dishes into the kitchen with a stern butler keeping an eye on who was going in and out of the kitchen.
A file of police officers walked into the dining room and stood attention as the lawyer stood up.
“Please give me your attention for I am about to read the last will of Jeremiah Dunny.” The lawyer announced with no clearing of his throat.
“I, Jeremiah Dunny, have very little to give to those who have not spoken to me in the last twenty or more years. For most of you, you have not spoken to me, visited nor even write to me. The rest of you only come to be given money. You did not even attempt to repay me. I have given my accountant the list several years ago after I had my first heart attack. He will be collecting from you today as you leave the restaurant.
To each and every one of you, I give you this last meal. For most of you this is your only gift. Be grateful that nothing is tainted. Or is it?
This will is short for there is only person who cared enough to visit me before I was ill, before my heart attacks and even has lived with me as a nurse since she was shunned by the rest of the family after an unfortunate accident to her newly wed husband. Miranda Westlake will receive her inheritance after she leaves this room.
The rest of you please be patient. You will be called and released by my accountant.
Sincerely,
Count Jeremiah Obadiah Dunny, 17th , heir of Dunny Manor
Lady Miranda and I will take our leave to discuss her inheritance.
Good day to one and all.” The lawyer spoke as he turned to Miranda who was in shock. She accepted his arm and was escorted out of the room as an elderly miserly looking man came inside.
“There are several copies of the will which was read and signed by the deceased and myself in front of Lawyer Thomas Dawson, may his soul rest in peace.” There was a slight pause before the account went on.
“I am Horton B. Wentworth, accountant to the deceased for over fifty years. He was my very first client and later a good friend.
My young assistant has placed the copies of the will on the table before me. As I call out your name, please come forward to pay what you owe or make a promissory note to a new accountant who will be taking over the accounting services. ….”
The door closed quickly after them and all the shouting starting. They were silent as they walked upstairs meeting room. There was a table with a maid who had a pot of tea ready. They sat down and the lawyer spoke as the maid poured the tea and sat a cup in front of the two of them.
“I did not reveal my name on purpose. I am Lawyer Thomas Dawson, like my grandfather. You will be my first client and I am to take over the new lawyer practice in Folkstone. I would appreciate it very much if you will stay with my practice.” The lawyer spoke quietly.
“As long as you serve me well, I see no reason to change lawyers. Now to the will?” Miranda spoke as she held her hands in her lap.
“You have inherited a vast sum of several million dollars. How all of the money was attained, I do not know. Of course, not all of it is liquid. There are five strings to the inheritance.
Number one is that you must take in unloved, unmarried and widowed female for a second chance at love.
Number two is that you will house, clothe and educate them.
Number three is that you must find decent men to marry them and they must be willing to marry the man.
Number four is that you must remarry within ten years. You are a lovely lady of twenty years.
Lastly, you must find some kind of a business to run.
If you do not agree to the terms, then you will receive a hundred thousand dollars.
Will you accept his offer and continue his legacy in a new place?” he asked as he passed the final agreement towards Miranda.
“Yes, I will do this for Uncle Jeremiah. What about the belongings in this house?” Miranda asked after reading the agreement.
“You may keep the house here in London or sell it. It belongs to you.” He spoke as he unscrewed the pen and handed it to Miranda who signed both copies.
“We will be seeing a lot of each other, I suspect.” Miranda spoke as she handed Lawyer Thomas Dawson.
“I expect so. Now let’s talk about what you wish to do with this house?” Lawyer Thomas Dawson spoke as he too signed both papers.
