There was absolute silence on her part as he read the will. Her eyes widened as he read the part about the money. And then there was the part about her wedding a man who she didn't know, to get the money and lands in question. The servants all stared as well and a pin could be dropped to end the silence and it would have clattered more like a fucking horse shoe. She slowly stood and moved to the lawyer's side, grabbing the document, though not pulling it out of his grasp, but rather, moved it closer so she could then read exactly what he had just said. Sure enough, it was written word for word what Mister Appleton had just said.

And then she read the bottom, "There are more than enough funds to keep the current staff in jobs," which she read aloud, "Most of which have been with me since I was a young woman. I wish for them to serve her as well as they have served me." She looked to Mister Appleton and said, "I don't understand... She wants me to have everything and marry too? I..."