Chapter 3 First Arrival in London 3 “So, maybe the whole city of London,…
It is not safe for a single woman to own a large amount of property that is difficult to protect by law without the protection of powerful backers.
Especially in Britain, where inheritance law tends to protect the interests of men, it is extremely difficult to legally inherit all the earl's property.
Fortunately, Earl Lawrence's property was dispersed, so even if he could only inherit a portion of it, it would be enough to comfortably live out the rest of his life. Heather wasn't particularly obsessed with inheriting the entirety of that vast fortune.
"As you know," Hessel told the Gardners, "the Earl lived in England for several years before we got married. He had cash and bills in several private banks in London and Lancashire. Before I left, I dug out Mr. Lawrence's account books, and they totaled about £100,000."
Although the Gardner family was a merchant family, Mrs. Gardner did not handle much cash.
After hearing what Heather said, she, who was always calm and proper, showed a rare look of surprise. This amount of money was obviously a huge sum for an ordinary family without noble status.
Mr. Gardner is a businessman who is good at research and has a deeper understanding of money and law.
He thought for a moment and said, "The money in the bank shouldn't be a problem. Although British inheritance law is too cruel to women, so that our poor sister and several nieces cannot inherit their husbands and father's estates, it mainly applies to real estate such as land and manors."
Heather nodded. "Mr. Johnson, the butler, has also inquired. A widow usually inherits all household goods and most movable property. If there's a will, the process can be expedited. Unfortunately, Earl Lawrence didn't make any. Fortunately, there are still quite a few collections that can be sold. Large furniture and paintings are difficult to carry, so what they brought back are jewelry, rare specimens, books, and some very delicate mechanical objects. I heard that a pocket watch made by the French watchmaker Breguet is worth four figures."
Mrs. Gardner thought of the current location of the boxes. "Oh my God, you seemed to have asked the servants to move such valuable boxes to the warehouse, and no one has cared about them these days."
Heather comforted her sister-in-law: "It's not a problem, Grace. The boxes in the warehouse are filled with things that are not easily perishable. I put the package with the label "American Continent Flower Seeds" in my room!"
Mrs. Gardner obviously did not get much comfort. She felt her heart beating a little faster when she thought of those rubies and emeralds being placed on the bags of wheat.
Mr. Gardner didn't think there was anything wrong. "The warehouse for storing grain and goods has a reinforced roof. London isn't damp at this time of year, and it's been cleaned very well to prevent insects and ants. Those dusty boxes are safe there for the time being."
"However," he added, "the most urgent thing right now is to find a lawyer. Firstly, we can get the money in the bank as soon as possible to avoid any further complications. Secondly, with legal proof, we can deposit the most valuable collections in a private bank or entrust them to a lawyer for safekeeping. After all, this street isn't an aristocratic neighborhood, and with so much traffic, it wouldn't be safe to leave them there for too long."
"But how can I find a reliable and capable lawyer?" Heather also learned that there were no law firms open to the public in the 19th century.
Mr. Gardner said, "The lawyers I've dealt with before are mostly from the commercial class, and I'm afraid they have no experience with issues like aristocratic inheritance. But there's a gentleman named Westin who might be able to help us. He's currently attending the Supreme Court in London. Although he's not an independent lawyer yet, his main focus is on aristocratic estates. I once did his family a small favor, so I think he'd be willing to help us."
Both Mrs. Gardner and Heather are skeptical of the fledgling trainee solicitor.
Mr. Gardner explained, "Even if he can't handle it, at least he can give us some advice and direction. I heard that his family is ordinary, but he has a very influential relative. He is also very sociable and has many friends. Such people always have some capable friends. Perhaps there really is a friend with great power who can help Hazel get Earl Lawrence's estate in Lancashire. That would be great."
Heather thought of the deeds to the land and manor. If they didn't become waste paper, it would be a windfall. He hurriedly said, "Then please ask my brother to help contact lawyer Westin. I will visit him in person."
Perhaps my brother really helped the lawyer a lot, or perhaps he was just a helpful gentleman. Just one day later, the gentleman sent a message and agreed to accept Heather's home consultation at ten o'clock the next morning.
When the news came, Heather and Mrs. Gardner were busy packing for Longbourn. Raina and Mr. Johnson were sent out to buy the necessary items for the next few months of rural life, and the Gardner maids were also assigned their tasks.
As a countess who has worked hard for twelve years and should be able to stand on her own, Heather declined the company of her brother and sister-in-law, and decided to suppress her fear and go to see the lawyer alone with her entourage on behalf of the Lawrence family.
Heather kept telling herself not to shrink back and to show the aura of a potential employer. After all, her brother said that the lawyer was a humble and approachable gentleman, and his parents were not aristocrats with noble titles. Heather guessed that he might be a hardworking and diligent small town test-taker, so the high agency fee she paid might impress the lawyer.
However, when Heather stood in front of the tall, dark, detached house on Bond Street in Westminster, she seriously suspected that her shrewd brother had completely chosen the wrong person.
It was a very gloomy-looking building, like an old-fashioned man standing high in the shadows, looking down at the people below, or a dark gray iceberg that would never melt, with no warmth even under the bright morning sunshine.
This house seemed to be isolated from the other houses on the street. There were no brightly dressed noble women getting on and off carriages in front of the door, no lively and enthusiastic servants bustling in and out, and even the ivy was afraid of the atmosphere here. There were only a few sparse and inconspicuous strands of green climbing in the corners of the wall.
However, it would never be considered simple because of this. If you look closely, you will find that there are complicated carvings everywhere under the dark color. This is the house of an old nobleman.
Heather couldn't help but take out the note with Westin's lawyer's address from her handbag for the third time, and carefully checked the house number in front of her with the attitude of studying a code of law.
"Ma'am, if the address is correct, then this is definitely the place," Mr. Johnson reminded in a low voice. "You've been standing here for nearly ten minutes."
Heather took a deep breath and said, "Well, I just don't think this house fits the image of a hospitable young lawyer in his early twenties. Besides, even at the appointed time, no doorman came out to greet me. Maybe he forgot about yesterday's appointment."
Feeling that someone across the street was looking at her curiously, Heather had to signal Mr. Johnson to knock on the door first.
Obviously, Mr. Johnson, as a former aristocratic butler with thirty years of experience, was not as surprised by this house as Heather. He spoke calmly and politely to the doorman who answered the door.
Heather felt that she still had too little experience. When it came to experience living in upper society, perhaps Reina, the Countess's personal maid, was better than her. After all, two weeks ago, the only British aristocracy she knew relatively well about a hundred years ago was probably the family in Downton Abbey.
It was not until she entered the room that Heather discovered that it was not as eerie and scary as she had imagined.
The house didn't look dull from the inside. With the curtains drawn on the side facing away from the street, the light was bright but not glaring. All the furniture was neatly arranged, and the servants who passed by were well-trained to stop and quietly signal.
The only flaw was that it was too quiet. There was no sound of children playing, no sound of women chatting, only the insignificant sound of footsteps on the thick carpet.
The butler led Heather to the door of the last room at the corner of the second floor, and stopped Lena and Butler Johnson who were following behind. He said respectfully and unquestionably that his master really needed a quiet environment to think.
Heather felt that the doubts that she had just suppressed in her heart were popping out again. She seemed to have suddenly become an interviewee preparing to apply for a new job, and was about to pretend to calmly fight for her rights in front of a senior interviewer.
As soon as she walked in, Heather found that it was a study covered with snow-white plush carpet.
It was a snow-white carpet. How difficult it must be to keep it clean. Luckily I wore a new pair of shoes today.
Heather quickly stopped thinking about it and looked up blankly to find today's interviewer, oh no, the lawyer.
She spent about five seconds meeting the silent gentleman's eyes.
He stood in the corner of the window facing the street. The dark, half-closed curtains almost blended into his black coat. He looked straight over there quietly and intently.
He was undoubtedly a handsome and tall man.
He had dark brown curly hair that wasn't neatly combed, perhaps a bit messy from the wind blowing him by the window. His features looked very imposing, but his eyes were a clear blue, like the color of the sea under the sun.
The slight anger that Heather had just felt at this strange gentleman who didn't say hello was immediately extinguished by the azure sea water.
Never mind, you’re pretty.
Heather met the man's gaze and took the initiative to greet him: "Mr. Westin, I'm Heather Lawrence. It's a pleasure to meet you. I hope I didn't disturb your weekend."
The man had a blank expression on his face, but Heather always felt that there was a slight smile in his eyes.
"Hello, Mrs. Lawrence..." He bowed and performed a standard aristocratic greeting, but his tone seemed a little hesitant.
Heather tried to smile and waited for him to continue, but he didn't seem to be planning to introduce himself, or was hesitating about what to say.
Heather had no choice but to say directly: "Mr. Westin, I think you may have forgotten the agreement with Mr. Gardner, or you just agreed to my brother's request casually."
"I sincerely apologize to you," he said, leaving the windowsill and asking Heather to sit down, sitting opposite her. "And I'm very happy to help you solve your doubts. I heard that you came here about the inheritance?"
Heather felt that in time the gentleman opposite would become a barrister with no shortage of clients, because his manners were so elegant and appropriate, and his eyes gave people a very sincere feeling, making it difficult for people not to trust him.
So she said, "Yes, I am indeed a little distressed. My husband, Sir Laurence, died unexpectedly two months ago. It happened so suddenly that he couldn't make a will. I have only a vague understanding of British inheritance law, and I just want to keep as much of his belongings as possible and a little bank savings to make a living. Of course, if he could leave some land, it would be even better."
Heather tried to play the role of a lady who had lost her true love, but it seemed that the lawyer's overly focused eyes seemed to have seen through it all.
"If I can get the property that I deserve, I will pay you handsomely." She added guiltily, "Although you may not seem to need it."
"So, you are going to inherit your husband's property, and your husband has passed away, right?"
"...Yes, sir." Heather felt that the lawyer's focus seemed a little off.
The lawyer seemed satisfied with this answer. After a brief thought, he replied, "That's not a problem, ma'am. The assets in the bank can be transferred to your name simply by providing proof of marriage and death. The assets currently in your possession also require a few formalities to ensure their legitimacy. Real estate like land is a bit tricky, but with luck, we might be able to find some loopholes."
He looked so confident that it took only a second for Hazel to believe him.
Her eyes lit up immediately, and she said, "Really? That's great! I should have consulted a lawyer earlier. I was so worried about it a few days ago that I couldn't sleep."
The man on the other side continued, "Of course, not all lawyers can handle your case. You have to know that inheritance law has a lot of room for maneuver. An ordinary lawyer without connections and ability might only be able to protect one-third of your movable property at best."
"So, perhaps there are fewer than five lawyers in the whole city of London who can fight for your entire property."
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