CHAPTER FIVEMr. Hubert Longridge listened to Novella as she told him all that had occurred at Crownley Hall since her return. He nodded and made sympathetic noises, occasionally shaking his head in disbelief at what she was recounting.
“I must confess,” he said, smoothing out a document that he had taken from the file in front of him, “I had no clue where your father had hidden his letter to you. I was forced to simply wait until such time as you contacted me. Had you not been in touch – then, my dear, I do not know what I should have done.”
“Until I found the letter, I had no idea that Papa had made extra provision for us. Sadly, my stepfather seems intent on draining Mama’s coffers dry. To tell the truth, I live in fear of what might happen to us and Crownley Hall should he have his wa
