“We must simply hire another solicitor,” Aunt Charlotte said. “We must challenge Mr. Weatherwax’s authority.”

“We can’t afford another solicitor. We can scarcely afford—” Laura stopped herself from saying anything more. Indeed, she’d already said far too much.

“How bad is it, Laura?” Teddy asked.

“It isn’t good,” she admitted at length. “But we’re not in debt. That’s something, at least. And we haven’t yet been forced to go hungry, or to wear rags. I have my health, and so does Aunt Charlotte. We can surely find a way to—”

“If Weatherwax won’t allow us to seek a loan so that we can reopen the distilleries, what is it he means for us to do?” Teddy’s expression tightened with anger. “Let me guess. He proposed that we sell them.”

“He did,” Laura said. “He advises that we sell all of the properties.” Weatherwax had been pressing them to sell ever since Papa died. He seemed intent upon it. It was the safest course, or so he claimed.

“And if we don’t, what then?” Teddy asked. “Are we to languish here, waiting on his charity?”

“It’s not charity. It’s our very own money. Yours, anyway, once you come of age.”

“But he says that won’t matter. That my coming of age doesn’t matter. Because I’m crippled. Because I—”

Laura reached to briefly clasp Teddy’s hand, silencing him. “He didn’t say that. He merely fears that your ill health will be an impediment to your taking charge of our property. He thinks he’s doing us a courtesy.”

“He’s threatening to take us to court to maintain his power, Laura. He’s going to claim I’m incompetent. You said yourself—”

“I said too much. Perhaps I misstated his intentions.”

“You didn’t.”

“Teddy…does it mean so very much to you to gain control of things?”

“You know it doesn’t. I was going to drop it all in your lap. But this is different. Weatherwax isn’t family. He’s an encroaching buzzard. God knows what state our finances are truly in.”

“If my brother were alive…” Aunt Charlotte wrung her hands. “He can’t have meant for any of this to happen.”

Laura ignored her. “It seems to me that we have three options, none of them very good.”

Teddy and Aunt Charlotte both fell quiet, their gazes settling on Laura in silent expectation.

Laura took a steadying breath. “First, we can permit Mr. Weatherwax to maintain control of our finances and our property.”

Teddy exploded with anger. “How can you even suggest—”

Aunt Charlotte’s voice rose to match his. “That man can’t be trusted an inch—”