Re: Chapter 1: The Reading
After an enjoyable night out, you decide to take breakfast in your suite, and descend a few minutes before 10 o'clock to find Everett waiting in the lobby. He smiles tightly as he sees you step out of the elevator.
"Ah, m'Lord, our cab is waiting. Shall we proceed?"
The question is obviously rhetorical, as Everett herds you quickly into the hansom waiting outside. After a few minutes you arrive at the offices of Everett, Everett and Hobbes on Bond Street, and are quickly ushered into a well-appointed reception room where two gentlemen are waiting.
Everett introduces you to the first, a portly, red-faced old man. "This is my father Julius Everett"
Unlike his son Everett senior has a firm handshake, and greets you all effusively. "It's a pleasure to meet you again Lord Deville" he declares "although the last time I saw you, you were barely bigger than my thumb."
The other person present in the office is a lean, dark-haired middle aged fellow. Everett senior introduces him as Graham Hobbes, the third partner in the firm.
After you are all seated, Everett senior reads out Jonathan's father's will in a businesslike manner. In simple terms, he left everything to his wife, passing to Jonathan in the event of her death. Jonathan will inherit property in Mayfair and the Blenheim estate in Northumbria, plus stocks and bonds worth £30,000 a year. Finally Everett takes a sealed envelope out of his strongbox.
"The day before your father went missing he added a codicil to his will. This letter was to be held by me until he returned to claim it. In the event of his death I was to deliver it to your mother." Here, Everett pauses, and in a low sincere voice continues "Lord Deville, after you fathers illness you cannot imagine how difficult a position I was in. It was obvious you father had not envisaged what would befall him. Should I give the letter to your mother, even though you father was not technically dead? In the end, however, my professional ethics won over. Joseph had been most emphatic in his instructions - and there was always the possibility that he would recover. I beg you, do not judge me too harshly". As he hands over the envelope Everett looks you in the eye. "I'm sure you have realised this letter may hold a clue to your father's madness. If you decide to pursue this issue further I strongly advise you to consult with me before taking any action."
He solemnly hands Jonathan the envelope. A grandfather clock chimes eleven, breaking the moment. "Now Lord Deville" says Everett, his normal self again "I am available for the rest of the day to discuss your new responsibilities".