Holder Manor Secret

After the wedding, Vivienne moved out of Holder Manor.Almina was also on her way home. She tried to talk to the baron, hoping to take Anna away, but was rejected without any surprise.

"You are already the wife of the McLeod family, and you have no right to meddle in the affairs of the Holder family!" The baron was very angry, his face flushed like hot coals in a furnace, "What happened to Evelyn before, I I have given you enough tolerance, if you still want to return to this manor occasionally, you should abide by your duty."

"I can't let Anna live with a prostitute in the same room!" Almina refused to budge. "Even if you marry someone else? As long as you come from the right family, I have nothing to object to."

During the period of preparing for Vivienne's wedding, although Baron Holder reluctantly let Evelyn leave, he still often went out to her residence.Almina realizes that it is impossible for the Baron to remain unmarried for their mother.The image of her once tall and reliable father had collapsed. Now, she only hoped that a courtesan would not control Anna's marriage.

Baron Holder was furious, "How dare you say that!?" He dropped the cup to the ground with a sharp crash.Almina covered her ears and stepped back, showing fear.

"Vivienne is married, you should go back to Paris!"

"get out!"

Almina had never seen her father yelling like this. She was terrified, but she still clenched her hands, unwilling to back down. "Please think about it carefully," she softened her tone, and tried to persuade her again and again, "Even if the daughter of a poor family is fine, as long as..."

"I'll let you go!"

The baron interrupted her, very angry.The daughters made him angry one after another, completely inconsiderate of his mood.Now that Vivienne was finally married, he thought it would be smoother, but he didn't expect that the married eldest daughter not only dictated to her father's marriage, but also proposed to take away the younger daughter. "Do you think I'm old enough to be stupid? Or... ah..."

The baron's voice stopped abruptly. He pressed his chest and bent down in pain.

"Father!"

Almina was shocked, and hurried forward to help him sit down, "Oh, God." She cried out in a panic, "Come on! Call Dr. Smith! Quick!"

Fear swept over her.Although they were tit for tat a moment ago, they will always be father and daughter, and they are closely linked and inseparable by blood.

"Please, please hold on, Dad."

Almina pleaded with tears in her eyes.

Almina's prayer was probably not heard by God, and the baron fell down and fell into a coma.Dr Smith said the Baron was not doing well. "Please do something, doctor, anything is fine," begged Almina, her hair a little disheveled and her face haggard.

"I will do my best, but your lord's physical condition..." Dr. Smith hesitated to speak.

Almina slumped weakly on the chair, hiding her sad face.

Hughes bent down and hugged her shoulders, "Honey, you need to rest." His voice was extremely gentle, full of concern and worry.

"No, no, I'm not tired." Almina refused repeatedly, and she said bitterly, "It's all my fault. If I didn't quarrel with him, my father wouldn't fall ill."

"Don't worry, Lord Baron will be fine. It's you who made me worry. Go to sleep for a while and see Anna and George. I will take care of him."

Hughes comforted softly.His eyes and voice were very sincere, and there was something that could not be refused. Almina thought for a while and accepted his suggestion.

"That's up to you." She nodded gratefully to him.

The hearts of Holder Manor are floating.If the mistress' illness slowed down the operation of the manor, now the whole manor is in a state of deep panic.

Baron Holder is over fifty years old and aging, which forces him to consider the issue of heirs.However, before George was born, the Holder family had no male heirs who could inherit the family property. If the Baron passed away, everything he owned would be confiscated and returned to the great nobles who granted the Holder family land.

This is why Mary puts so much emphasis on her daughters' marriages. Love and happiness seem insignificant, and their livelihood is urgent.

All the servants in the manor also attach great importance to the affairs of the heir.If the land is returned, they are likely to be evicted and lose their decent jobs.Therefore, although the birth of George was accompanied by the death of the mistress, it was a good thing for most people in the manor.The master can marry a new woman, and the servants don't have to worry about losing their jobs.As long as more than ten years pass, this young master grows up successfully, and everything in Holder Manor will be preserved.He will live in the way of his father and pass it on to his children.

But now, this great heir, the future male master, is just a crying baby waiting to be fed.If the Baron dies, he will be given a guardian.Until he is able to control the manor, everything that belongs to him will be under the control of the guardian.

This made the entire manor float.

"Do you think something will happen to the baron?"

Several footmen were whispering at the foot of the stairs.

"It's hard to say, sir is old after all." A slightly older manservant said, "But your body is not bad, maybe it will be fine if you take care of it."

"Didn't Madam be ill at the time? Your Excellency is much older than your Madam." The young man muttered, "I heard that it was Miss Almina's fault. If Your Excellency really died, wouldn't he be mad at her?" of?"

"Who says it's not?" The person next to him echoed.

"Master George is only a few months old, how can he inherit the entire manor? It's all Miss Almina's fault, and we are all implicated!"

Their voices became louder and louder, and they didn't notice that Edward came in from the back door and heard their words clearly. "Shut up!" he snapped, "You can talk nonsense about the lady and the baron? If I hear it again, I'll tell the butler and let him drive you away!"

Several male servants were so frightened that they said they didn't dare, and begged Edward to let them go.Although Edward was angry, he didn't want to argue with the servants, so he dismissed them hastily, and left to check on the Baron's situation.

After Edward had gone, the footmen huddled together in shock. "God, how did he hear it! I hope he doesn't tell the housekeeper, otherwise we will be miserable."

The older male servant comforted: "It's okay, Mr. Edward is a gentleman, since he said he doesn't care, he won't sue again."

"Perhaps, but have you seen him like that? He regards himself as his master! Jimmy, tell me, if the master..." The young man made a cryptic gesture, "Will he become Master George's guardian? "

"Who can tell? After all, Mr. Edward is not only Lady Mary's cousin, but also has a close relationship with the Baron..." Jimmy's voice became lower and lower, and he fell into deep thought.Several male servants waited anxiously for a while, then urged: "Hurry up, and then?"

"What then? Stop chatting and go to work!" Jimmy turned down and drove them away.As a manservant who has worked in Holder Manor for many years, he is much more measured than these young people.It's okay to chat a few words, if you offend the next "master", there is nowhere to cry.

Jimmy is full of energy, he has to start to please the new "master", every transfer of family property will be a rare promotion opportunity for the servant, he must grasp it.

As for the other servants, it's not up to him to make a point.

Edward hurried upstairs, and Anna threw herself into his arms. "Oh Anna," he caught the little girl, "I'm sorry it took me so long to come."

"How is your father's health?"

Anna raised her head from Edward's arms, her expression was a little aggrieved, but her complexion was not bad. "Dad woke up twice and fell asleep again not long after."

"Uncle Edward, do you think Dad will die too?"

Anna looked at Edward with clean eyes, like a chick or a foal, Edward felt a lot of love and compassion, and reached out to stroke her hair.

"Don't be afraid, Anna, the Baron will be all right."

But Anna said, "No, they said Dad might not get better."

Edward's face darkened, "Where did you hear that?" He recalled that Anna ran into the woods because of the servant's nonsense, and immediately told him solemnly: "Anna, you are a noble lady, don't listen to the servants. nonsense."

"Of course, Uncle Edward."

"What about Almina and the others?"

"In Dad's room."

"Then I'll go and see the baron first. Be good and don't worry everyone, okay?"

Anna nodded obediently.

Baron Holder was still asleep. The doors and windows in his room were closed, and the fire was burning so vigorously that it made people feel a little suffocated.The smell in the room was not pleasant, it was a typical, sick smell.

The smell of approaching death.

Almina stood by the baron's bed, and when Edward came in, she stood up and saluted him.Edward stared at the young lady, and found that her face was tired, but her expression was a little indifferent.

"Thank you for coming."

"How is the Baron?"

"There is no improvement," Almina lowered her eyes, "Dr. Smith has also tried his best, and all he can do now is pray."

"Is it already this bad?" Edward slowly came to the baron's bed. He was lying on the bed, his wig had been taken off, exposing his bare head, his face was drooping, and his wrinkles were like muddy gutters.

Although in the past days he had put his arms around a courtesan and made jokes like a boy in his early 20s, he was indeed in his 50s, lying there like a pile of dead meat.

Life is so fragile.

Edward could not say polite words of comfort to Almina. "Please take care of yourself." After a long silence, that was all he could say.

"Thank you for your concern."

Almina gradually accepted the reality that the baron was about to die. She begged Hughes to extend her stay, but did not set a date for her departure.As much as she hated to admit it, they both knew it would be after the Baron's funeral.

She took everything as her own fault and regretted it day and night, but what happened afterwards made Almina feel so ironic that even her sadness was lessened.

The baron woke up twice before, called Andrew's father and lawyer, left a will, and a request. "What? He asked to marry that woman!" Almina was shaking with anger, and Hughes held her hand, "Calm down, dear."

"Yes, Baron Holder agrees with you to take Miss Anna away, provided that he marries Miss Evelyn." The lawyer said calmly.

The Baron had left a will, which showed that he himself knew his time was numbered, yet he still asked for a prostitute, which was almost true love.

Edward was also very shocked, "Then what are you going to do?"

"Hughes persuaded me to agree. Vivienne and Anna don't know about it yet."

Although the will has not yet been announced, as a daughter, she has no inheritance rights, and the manor and property belong to George.And if Evelyn becomes the baroness, even though she won't get a penny in theory, as George's guardian, she has the right to enjoy everything in the manor.

Almina pressed the matter, and the other witnesses also kept their mouths shut. Today, when Edward came to the door, she couldn't help but tell him everything.