He waited a full minute before he realized she wasn't going to say another word.
He decided he would have to prod the worry out of her. "You said, he'll come after you for the money. You were referring to your uncle Malcolm, weren't you?"
She looked up at him and slowly nodded.
"Now that you're married, he can't touch your inheritance."
"I realize that."
She tried to stand up. He stopped her by grabbing hold of her.
"Not so fast," he ordered. "Tell me why you're upset."
She was saved from having to answer him when Summers and Sherman came back into the office. Sherman handed her a glass of water. Lucas had to let go of her hands so she could accept the drink. She took advantage of the opportunity and stood up. She took a sip of the water, handed the glass back to the banker with a thank you for his kindness, and then walked across the office to stand near the window. She folded her arms across her waist, her gaze on the pedestrians rushing back and forth on the street below.
Summers took his seat behind the desk. He turned in his chair to look at his client.
"My dear, you're going to have to sign a few papers in order to gain access to your funds."
She turned around. "What happens if I refuse to sign?"
Summers thought she was jesting with him. The notion that anyone would deliberately turn down any amount of money made him smile.
"It wouldn't matter if you signed or not," he said. "It's really just a formality for the bank's records. The money will stay in trust, earning you a handsome figure in interest if you decide not to spend any of it now."
"Please give me the particulars again. How exactly is the money divided?" she asked.
"Two-thirds of the estate goes to charities, as I explained earlier," Summers said.
She impatiently brushed her hair back. "Yes, yes, the charities. I knew about the charities, but Uncle Malcolm… You said he doesn't get the rest. I don't understand. Are you telling me Madam didn't leave her son anything?"
"Let's take this a step at a time," Sherman suggested. He could tell Taylor was extremely anxious and was trying to calm her down by being methodical.
"The third left after donations to her charities still amounts to a sizable sum, my dear. Your great-uncle Andrew will receive a nice allowance and title to the estate in Scotland. The rest is split between you and the children."
Taylor closed her eyes. "Was Madam specific or did she simply say children," she asked.
"She was quite specific. Georganna and Alexandra Henson each receive one-third." Summers turned to Lucas. "The twin girls are Lady Esther's great-granddaughters."
"Has the will been read in London yet?" Taylor asked.
"The reading is scheduled for Tuesday," Summers answered.
"Tomorrow," Sherman said at the same time.
"Didn't Madam leave anything to her son and his family?" Taylor asked.
"Yes," Summers replied. "But it's barely a pittance."
"Not quite so," Sherman argued. "Malcolm will receive a small monthly stipend. It isn't much, but if he adopts a frugal lifestyle, he should get along all right. Lady Esther left Malcolm's wife exactly one hundred pounds. She said it was the amount of weight her daughter-in-law had put on since she married her son. Madam did have a rather twisted sense of humor," he added. He turned to Lucas to once again explain. "Lady Esther didn't much care for Loreen. Said she was a complainer."
"What about Jane?" Taylor asked. "Did Madam leave her anything?"
"She gets the same amount as her mother," Sherman answered. "Exactly one hundred pounds and not a shilling more."
Taylor shook her head. She was filled with dread for the future. "When Malcolm finds out what his mother has done, his roar will cross the ocean. He'll be outraged."
Sherman, who knew Malcolm better than Summers did, nodded agreement. "He'll try to cause trouble, all right. I warned your grandmother, but she wouldn't listen to reason. She told her legal advisers to make certain the will was airtight."
"What about Malcolm's lands?" Taylor asked.
"As you probably know, he had already mortgaged the property. Your grandmother assigned enough money to pay off all of her son's considerable debts. The total is just above fifty thousand pounds."
Lucas seemed to be the only one in the office astonished by the figure. How could any man owe others so much? What had he purchased on credit?
Taylor inadvertently answered his question. "He won't quit gambling," she predicted.
"Your grandmother was well aware of his vice. She decided to give him one last fresh start. If he chooses to run his credit up again, he'll have to find another method to repay. His mother's estate won't bail him out."
"Oh, he'll find another way," Taylor whispered. "Uncle can be very creative."
"Now, now, don't borrow trouble," Summers advised.
Taylor's shoulders slumped. "I know what you're thinking, my dear," said Sherman. "He won't last a month without trying to beg or borrow from you." He turned to Summers then to give further explanation. "Malcolm's a man of excesses. He won't take this sitting down."
"He'll come after me."
She looked at Lucas when she made the statement. He appeared to be half asleep. His long legs were stretched out in front of him, his hands rested on the side arms, and his eyes were half closed.
"It won't matter," Summers insisted. "Even if you wanted to give him some of the inheritance, you can't. Your grandmother was very specific. What you don't spend will stay in trust for your children."
"And if I die?" Taylor asked.
Lucas took exception to the question. "You aren't going to die."
"But if I did?" She directed her question to Harry Sherman.
"Malcolm still won't get the money. Your husband is the only one who stands to gain." He paused to smile. "From the emphatic way he just spoke to you, I can only surmise he'll do whatever it takes to make certain you live a long, healthy life. Stop this talk about dying, Taylor. Malcolm can't hurt you. You don't have to be afraid of him any longer. I, too, remember what you were like as a little girl. You were certainly frightened of your uncle. But you're all grown up now and married. Put your childhood fears to rest. England, remember, is an ocean away."
"Yes, you're right." She feigned a smile so he'd believe he'd swayed her with his argument to let go of her worry.
They finally got down to the business at hand. Taylor signed the necessary papers, and when the forms had been witnessed and executed, she opened two accounts. One was a joint account in her name and Mr. Ross's, which required both their signatures, and the other account was in Victoria's name.
Mr. Sherman agreed to bring the necessary papers over to the hotel at four o'clock to meet with Victoria and gain her signature. "You've been extremely generous with your friend," he remarked as Taylor was getting ready to leave. She was in the midst of putting her gloves on. Lucas held her coat.
"Madam would approve," she replied.
A few minutes later they were on their way back to their hotel. Taylor wanted to walk. Lucas told her he didn't have time. He wouldn't let her stroll down the street by herself either but insisted she ride with him back to the hotel. He hailed a vehicle, assisted her inside, and then took the seat across from her.
He didn't ease into the topic he wanted to discuss. "Why are you afraid of your uncle?"
She didn't soften her answer. "He's a snake."
"And?"
"I hate snakes."
He smiled in spite of his frustration. The woman had a way with words and an even better way of avoiding direct answers. She would make him crazy if he stayed around long enough to let her.
"When are you leaving Boston?"