Chapter One.
Lyra
Agitated, I stared at the posh solicitor’s office and shook my head.
God knows why I was here. Since my mother died five years ago, I’d no other family and had been alone in the world.
So, when I received a call summoning me to a will hearing today, I was naturally puzzled.
But I’d taken a day’s holiday and headed for London.
I hated this city: busy, rude, full of loud noises and smog.
I preferred Dagenham, where I had grown up with Mum.
With a sigh, I straightened my blouse and jeans. They were old but clean and neat. I could only imagine the individuals who worked in this elegant building. They’d undoubtedly look down upon me as most people did.
Gritting my teeth, I headed in. The receptionist, as expected, glanced upward, a sneer on her features.
“I’m Lyra Jasper. I was asked to attend a meeting today,” I said before she spoke. To my amazement, her expression changed instantly.
“Miss Jasper, of course, please take a seat. Someone will be down for you immediately. Would you like a coffee or tea?”
In astonishment, I stared at her about-face. “No. I’m fine, thank you.” I sat down, wondering what on earth I was missing.
Something was not adding up. Why had I been invited to this expensive solicitor’s office? My mother didn’t have money; that had been made all too clear when she was laid to rest.
Bitterness swept over me at the failure to have given Mum a decent burial.
A modest bunch of flowers, what they called a pauper’s coffin, and no wake. That was all Susan Jasper had received. It pained me deeply that Mum hadn’t been remembered in the way she deserved. Mum had been a good person and deserved so much more. But even the bare minimum had wiped me out.
“Miss Jasper? I’m Mr Fanshaw. Please call me Joseph. Follow me,” stranger said as he drew close. On edge, I followed him down the hallway and into a lift. He smiled kindly. “How was the journey?”
“Nasty. I don’t like the underground, so it was frightening and off-putting. Are you positive you have the right person?” I asked in a rush. Nobody could claim I belonged here, not by a long shot.
“Most certainly.” The elevator doors parted, and he led the way out. Warily, I followed on his heels, the luxurious surroundings making me even more awkward. Joseph pushed open a door, entering a small conference room. There sat three women, sitting separately, and another woman in a suit stood.
“Would you like a drink?” she asked, and I shook my head.
“No, thank you, Edith. Let’s get on with the introductions. I’m Joseph Fanshaw, and this is my secretary, Edith. You’re here today to hear the last will and testament of Sonia Jasper.”
I sat up straight. “Sonia Jasper?”
“Your grandmother, ladies.”
“Ours?” inquired the stylish woman positioned furthest away.
“Ophelia Jasper, meet Poppy Jasper, Lyra Jasper and Thea Jasper. Your fathers were brothers and Sonia’s sons. You are cousins,” Joseph dropped the bombshell. From the looks on their faces, none of them had a clue either.
“But we’ve never met,” Ophelia pointed out.
“No. I guess an explanation is required. Sonia is a Jasper by birth. Her husband, Frederick, took Sonia’s surname, as is the practice in your family.
You are the heirs to the Jasper Trust, which only the eldest female child can inherit.
The Trust also includes a codicil stating that your surname can’t be changed, or you’ll forfeit everything.
Female or not, the Jasper name must survive.
Sadly, Sonia and Frederick had four sons; they weren’t lucky enough to have a daughter.
This meant their sons would miss out on the inheritance.
Of course, if they had female children, it would go to them.
“I guess we’re the girls,” Ophelia demanded brusquely. She was a little terrifying, and I made a note not to upset her.
“Yes. Your fathers fell out with Sonia over the legacy and other reasons and left before you were all born. Sonia became embittered and severed their ties to everything. Sadly, she lived alone until the day she died.”
“My father wouldn’t have disowned his mother because of money!” Poppy exclaimed, banging her hands on the table.
Joseph shook his head. “Your father, Edmund, refused to have anything to do with Sonia because Sonia hated your mom.”
“Well, Sonia wasn’t wrong about that,” Poppy muttered. “My dad is a good man.”
“Are you telling me this old lady had a fortune and let my mum die?” I asked, sitting forward.
“As I said, Sonia became embittered. Something she desperately regretted on her deathbed,” Joseph replied.
“No doubt because nobody gave a toss about her,” Thea ground out. “My dad needed support, and he worked so hard that he died of a heart attack. This woman could have helped him?”
“Simeon could have reached out too,” Joseph pointed out.
“But you just stated Sonia wouldn’t help. What would have been the point?” Ophelia demanded.
“I don’t know my dad. But I’m guessing he was angry about the finances?” I whispered.
“Lyle was the eldest and believed he should inherit everything. My apologies, Lyra, but your father refused to believe The Trust was unbreakable. And I assure you, it is impossible to break.”
“Well, Lyra, mine is also a money-grabbing idiot,” Ophelia stated.
“Without sounding indelicate, whose parents are still alive? Because I’m so confused,” Poppy asked.
“I’m not sure about Lyle, but my mom is dead,” I replied with an audible tremor.
“Both my mother and father are alive,” Ophelia replied.
“My dad’s not dead, but my mum ran away,” Poppy added.
“My parents are both dead,” Thea ground out, glaring at Joseph as if it was his fault.
“Lyle is breathing and abroad at the moment,” Joseph informed me. I shrugged; it didn’t matter if he was. He’d married my mom and then run. I’d no interest in the coward and had never met him.
“Can we get on with this? I have meetings this afternoon,” Ophelia demanded.
Joseph looked on with disapproval. “There is no need for rudeness or disrespect,” he chided, and Ophelia flushed.
“The terms of her will are clear. Before her death, Sonia liquidated most of her belongings, and the money was placed into a separate fund.” He shuffled some papers.
“I’ll do the Jasper Trust first. As the eldest daughter, Lyra inherits everything.
However, Sonia put some codicils in place. The Trust owns several lighthouses.
“Sonia left the lifelong tenancy rights to Kingfisher to Poppy. Thea, you have the same agreement with Seareef. Ophelia, you received Clamshell, and finally you, Lyra, inherited Leafpoint. None of these four lighthouses may be sold, demolished, or anything else. Alongside those is a five-thousand-pound living allowance and one thousand a month for maintenance,” Joseph said.
“We’ve been given lighthouses?” Poppy asked, amused.
“You are entitled to live in the lighthouses and receive financial aid to do so,” Joseph corrected.
“Is that everything?” Thea questioned.
“Lyra also inherits the family jewels, which belong to the estate, and some holiday homes complete with furnishings. There’s precious artwork, a couple of farms, and a parkland.”
“No mansion?” Thea sneered.
“The Jasper Manor burned down two hundred years ago in a tragic fire,” Joseph replied.
“Okay,” Ophelia responded as she stood.
“We haven’t finished,” Joseph said sternly.
Ophelia rolled her eyes. Her arrogance was beginning to grate, and she was getting annoying.
“As I mentioned, Sonia liquidated all her personal assets. Private homes, businesses, and so on that she bought herself. Sonia kept some personal artwork and jewellery back, which Lyra will share amongst you. The proceeds from all remaining items are what you’ve all inherited and will be split equally between you when you reach the age of thirty.
Until then, you receive another ten thousand a month.
But the main inheritance is…” Joseph named a figure that made our eyes bug out; even Ophelia was stunned silent.
“That’s to be shared between us?” Thea gasped, her hands shaking.
“No. That is each,” Joseph replied.
“Where was this five years ago, when I needed money for my mother?” I asked bitterly.
“Exactly,” Thea agreed.
“It is here now. Lyra, while you’re the beneficiary of the Jasper Trust, may I suggest you share with your cousins?” Joseph suggested.
“Um, I’ve no intention of keeping anything from them. Can you correct me if I’m wrong? If it belongs to the Trust, nothing can be sold, and we receive a monthly allowance plus the lighthouses. If it comes from Sonia’s Trust, we may do what we want with it?” I checked.
“Yes. There are papers to sign, but I’d like to walk each of you through your inheritance one at a time. Lunch will be provided.”
“If no one minds, I have appointments; can I go first?” Ophelia asked.
“Sure, I’ve only a supermarket job to get back to,” Thea said, waving her hand.
“Which you don’t have to do now,” I pointed out, and Thea grinned.
“Wow, never thought of that,” Thea replied happily.
Ophelia followed Joseph into another room, and Poppy, Thea, and I stared at each other.
“This is surprising,” Poppy stated with a small smile.
“Hi, I’m your oldest cousin!” I exaggeratedly waved my hands.
Thea snorted. “This is surreal. Well, I always wanted a family, and here you are.”
“Joseph didn’t explain why our dads didn’t talk,” I mused.
“No. Interesting. I can question my dad,” Poppy said.
“Your dad might not want us around,” I replied, and Poppy shrugged.
“Hey, I love my dad, but he’ll have to get used to it. How old are you, Lyra?” Poppy asked.
“Twenty-five.”
“I’m twenty-three,” Poppy responded, turning to Thea.
“Same.”
“Huh, I wonder how old fancy pants is,” Poppy tittered, and I laughed. Ophelia did have that air about her. Half an hour later, Ophelia came out. She looked at us and then held out some business cards.