Short Story Wednesdays #4- How to Lose a Fortune in 10 Weeks (Part 2)
Here's the second and final part of How to Lose a Fortune in 10 Days. I apologize for not editing it thoroughly. As you know, I've managed to crash two laptops this week with my sheer dedication and hard work. I'm now typing on my seven year old virus infested laptop that is miraculously working. Before this one conks off too, here's the short story.
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How to Lose a Fortune in 10 Weeks (Part 2)
Miss Greene was quicker than Anthony expected. After stealing a glance in the garden, Anthony had been formally introduced to Anne Greene. Despite her advanced age, she had many admirers.Penniless aristocrats lined up at Miss Greene's feet. She had a huge dowry, after all.
But, her ambitions were much larger. She had set her eyes on Anthony now and she would have him. Though she didn't have a very high social rank, she had a large dowry to snare him in. After marriage, she would enjoy his wealth which was much greater than the dowry. The dowry was her bait to reel a big fish in. Anthony was not completely oblivious to her scheming.
However, he had not expected her to show up unchaperoned at his house at midnight the following day. Anne Greene did not like to leave things to fate. She believed in crafting her own destiny. And her destiny was Anthony's inheritance. Lord Viles' butler hadn't been able to contain his shock when she showed up alone at the Viles mansion. He tried to save the situation but it had already gone too far. There was only one way out of this scandal- marriage. Alas, even marriage couldn't completely defeat the scandal. Mouths wagged about Anne's character. She was never considered a virtuous virgin but the episode moved her into the ranks of the impure. Anthony's courtship ended before it began. He went to meet Anne's father the very next day. The ailing Mr. Greene coughed in agreement to the marriage. He had little choice in the matter. A license was procured and the marriage was legalized.
Anne officially became Lady Viles. It was a moment of achievement for her. She had obtained the title and wealth that she coveted so much. Now, all she had to do was wait for Anthony to die. That wasn't going to be as quick as the wedding. She decided to stay at the Viles family estate in Essex for the time being.
Anne Greene knew something was wrong. She felt it tingling in her skin when she entered the Viles family home. The grand chandeliers, the newly refurbished rooms and the fertile gardens could not eyewash her. Anne Greene had to know what was going on behind the glamorous disguise of the mansion. Anthony was wealthier than Anne expected. But he seemed to have his own reasons for marrying her. Now that she thought about it, it all seemed very suspicious. He didn’t have to marry at this young age. He could’ve waited longer. His inheritance did not depend on him marrying. Of course, she had tricked him into it.
Her suspicion didn't find an outlet until the incident that occurred the following Tuesday morning. Anthony was away. He had gone to London to complete the formalities required of him after his father's death. He would return with the large fortune that he had acquired in the gaming hells and lotteries. Anne was looking forward to it. She had already initiated the process of buying new gowns for herself. Of course, they had to be from the most fashionable designer in Paris. She was Lady Viles, after all. Nothing less would do justice to her status.
In almost two weeks of living with Anthony, she had discovered that a bore like Anthony Viles did not exist in England. Anthony spend most of his time reading in the library. He was a ardent follower of the works of of Aristotle and other Greek philosophers. He also had an uncanny interest in Indian religious texts and chinese Confucian philosophy. Anne couldn't comprehend any of this.
Her world had been filled with dreams of wealth, granduer and status. She wanted to host the most exciting parties, meet people whom she previously only dreamed of and become the perfect Lady Viles. She wanted her reputation to be restored and enhanced. She wished for some passion if not love in her dull marriage. But Anthony Viles was hell bent on celibacy. He mediated at night in the seclusion of his room. Anne was beginning to realize how big a mistake she had made in marrying Anthony. If she could not produce an heir, she would never be respected in society. Anne wished that Anthony would disappear from her life and leave her his fortune. But, Anthony was far too young to die. The thought of spending rest of her life locked away in the countryside irked her.
Later that day, Anne went into Anthony's library to search for a book to read. She sat down on the chair and put the book on the desk. Her eyes fell on a key inserted halfway into the wooden drawer. Curiously, she opened the drawer. A solitary envelope lay on the dark mahogany. Her cold, white hands reached for the letter. She quickly opened it and brought out a neatly calligraphed letter. She began to read it. Time stood still. She could not contain the shock she felt. Had she known about this letter, she... She didn't know what to do.
Her green eyes went over the dramatic words contained in the letter. Who the hell was Mr. X? She searched the envelope for the date. There was none.
The next morning, she summoned the police chief who visited the house in the morning.
"Thank you for your time," she said gracefully, fluttering her long eyelashes.
"Do you perhaps know about this letter?" She handed the letter and the envelope to the policeman. His small, blue eyes examined it carefully.
"Yes, my lady," he said. "Lord Viles asked me to examine this case. I regret to say that we haven't found the sender of this letter yet. We assure you that we're working on it."
"So he knew...." Anne muttered to herself.
"Is there something you wish to discuss about the letter?" he asked, examining her expression.
"You see, I recently married Lord Viles. I didn't know about this letter. Do you happen to know when it was received?" she asked. "It's been nine weeks." he said. "Lord Anthony's birthday is next week. I assure you we'll protect him."
"Thank you so much," Anne said. "I was deeply worried about him."
The Chief left the mansion.
Anne lay on the sofa with the letter. X Her hopes swelled. Her life had improved with a single mysterious letter. Now, she only had to wait for Anthony to reach his twenty fourth birthday. He'd be dead and she'd inherit all his fortune, free from Mr. X. All this was too good to be true. Anthony was not planning to return until his birthday the following week. It would soon be over. She could get married to someone who was more passionate and Anthony's wealth would be hers to command. She smiled to herself all evening and fell asleep that night.
Anthony Viles was supposed to arrive home on 4th of July, his birthday. Anne had organized a feast for him. The kitchen staff were busy with preparations for the grand dinner. She had invited the neighbours to complete the picture. Anthony was supposed to arrive in the afternoon. The clock struck five. Sunlight had faded. The skies were dark. The smell of food encircled the mansion. The guests would arrive soon. There was no sign of Anthony. Anne was beginning to get excited. Had he already been killed by Mr. X?
A strange feeling rose in her belly and shot like electricity through her spine. Maybe she shouldn't have asked the police to stop the investigation. He was supposed to arrive early in the morning but due to the weather, his ride had been delayed. Anne was busy with preparations for the dinner and didn't notice his absence. In the course of their five week long marriage, she had only spent a week with him.
Rain began to pour once again. Uneasiness ran through Anne's veins. The rain was a premonition of doom. She reminded herself that she's inherit the fortune once Anthony was out of the picture. But, the thought of his sudden disappearance made her uneasy. What if the police suspected her? She had carefully planned alibis to protect her. She had been in the mansion the entire time. She forced a smile on her pink lips. She patted some rouge on her cheeks and examined herself in the mirror. She looked like a true lady. The fashionable gowns had transformed her full figure. She looked younger.
The doorbell rang. Anne proceeded to the door to greet her guests. She didn't want to come across as an inexperienced hostess. She arranged her gown and stood near the entrance, waiting for the butler to announce the arrival of Lord and Lady Hale. Instead, he announced Peter's arrival. Anne was surprised. He had to speak to her about something urgent. They sat in the drawing room. Tea was served.
I have something urgent to tell you," Peter said. "I just arrived from London."
"I hope your journey was pleasant," Anne began.
"Anthony is missing," he said, his voice serious.
"Pardon me?" Anne asked, her voice calm. She had expected to hear this.
"And that's not all. He transfered his entire property to you before he disappeared." Peter said.
Anne smiled inwardly. Anthony Viles had played her game. She has asked the chief to stop investigating the case purposely. She was waiting for Anthony to die. Freedom was withing her reach. He had done what she expected. She thanked the unknown Mr. X in her heart. She returned to the coversation with a serious expression. This was the last time she would have to act.
"I must be honest with you," Peter said. "Anthony had been planning this for quite some time."
"What? What do you mean?" Anne asked, surprised.
"I heard you asked the police to stop investigating," he said.
"The letter..." Anne pronounced. "I thought it would be better to not provoke Mr. X." "I see..." Peter said.
"As you know, Anthony was planning to get rid of his fortune before his birthday. He wanted to will it all to you before he died. That is why he was in London, but-"
"But?" "I don't know how to say this but Anthony really disappeared. He was planning to leave for India on his birthday so that he could escape Mr. X. I got him a place on the ship..."
"What are you saying?" Anne asked.
"He didn't board the ship." Peter said. "I feel so guilty. I looked everywhere but nobody has seen him all day."
Anne's heart was jumping with joy. Her husband was gone and the fortune was all hers. She feigned a gloomy face to please Peter. Before she could utter any words of condolence, the bell rang again. "Mr. White." the butler announced. A rough looking man with a greying beard forecefully stepped into the room. He surveyed the surroundings. Ten more men entered the room. They weren't gentlemen. They looked like thugs. Anne shivered. The men dissipated into the room. One of them took the large China vase that adorned the table. "Excuse me gentlemen, may I know what brings you here?" Anne asked, ruffled by their actions. "Are you Anthony Viles' wife?" he asked in a scruffy voice. "Yes," Anne said. "And you are?" "I'm John White. I'm here to collect my dues. I advise you to leave this house, my lady. It is to be sold tomorrow." "What!? What are you saying?" Anne asked in a state of panic. "Mr. White, what is going on? You must explain." Peter said. "You don't know?" he asked. "Ha....the lad was smarter than I thought." "What do you mean?" Anne said. "Anthony Viles tranfered his entire inheritance and fortune to you last week." he began. "I am aware of that." "He's disappeared now so you need to pay up." "Pay up?" "The Late Lord Viles was deeply in debt. When the young Lord Viles inherited the estate, he inherited the debt too. Last week, he settled a large part of the debt using all the jewellery and cash he had. He also allowed us to use the proceeds of the house towards the sale. After discounting everything, you will need to pay us 2000 pounds more. "2000 pounds!" Anne exclaimed. It was exactly the amount she had brought in dowry. "As the sole heir of the estate and Anthony's legal wife, you are under the obligation to dispose of the debt." The ground disappeared from under Anne's feet. This was far beyond her expectations. Anthony Viles had tricked her into a life of indebtnedness. She was a fool to believe that she was marrying into wealth. She had married into poverty. All she had now was the title- no house, no money, no jewellery, no gowns, no dowry....just a title. She knew that Anthony had made his escape from the country using the money he earned during his gambling exploits. He would live a comfortable life while she had to labour like a maid to pay off his family's debt. Anne's pale face became paler. Not even the dark rouge could bring life to he face. Her life had been ruined.
- P. Wish
Please share, comment and subscribe to my newsletter for more updates.
How to Lose a Fortune in 10 Weeks (Part 2)
Miss Greene was quicker than Anthony expected. After stealing a glance in the garden, Anthony had been formally introduced to Anne Greene. Despite her advanced age, she had many admirers.Penniless aristocrats lined up at Miss Greene's feet. She had a huge dowry, after all.
But, her ambitions were much larger. She had set her eyes on Anthony now and she would have him. Though she didn't have a very high social rank, she had a large dowry to snare him in. After marriage, she would enjoy his wealth which was much greater than the dowry. The dowry was her bait to reel a big fish in. Anthony was not completely oblivious to her scheming.
However, he had not expected her to show up unchaperoned at his house at midnight the following day. Anne Greene did not like to leave things to fate. She believed in crafting her own destiny. And her destiny was Anthony's inheritance. Lord Viles' butler hadn't been able to contain his shock when she showed up alone at the Viles mansion. He tried to save the situation but it had already gone too far. There was only one way out of this scandal- marriage. Alas, even marriage couldn't completely defeat the scandal. Mouths wagged about Anne's character. She was never considered a virtuous virgin but the episode moved her into the ranks of the impure. Anthony's courtship ended before it began. He went to meet Anne's father the very next day. The ailing Mr. Greene coughed in agreement to the marriage. He had little choice in the matter. A license was procured and the marriage was legalized.
Anne officially became Lady Viles. It was a moment of achievement for her. She had obtained the title and wealth that she coveted so much. Now, all she had to do was wait for Anthony to die. That wasn't going to be as quick as the wedding. She decided to stay at the Viles family estate in Essex for the time being.
Anne Greene knew something was wrong. She felt it tingling in her skin when she entered the Viles family home. The grand chandeliers, the newly refurbished rooms and the fertile gardens could not eyewash her. Anne Greene had to know what was going on behind the glamorous disguise of the mansion. Anthony was wealthier than Anne expected. But he seemed to have his own reasons for marrying her. Now that she thought about it, it all seemed very suspicious. He didn’t have to marry at this young age. He could’ve waited longer. His inheritance did not depend on him marrying. Of course, she had tricked him into it.
Her suspicion didn't find an outlet until the incident that occurred the following Tuesday morning. Anthony was away. He had gone to London to complete the formalities required of him after his father's death. He would return with the large fortune that he had acquired in the gaming hells and lotteries. Anne was looking forward to it. She had already initiated the process of buying new gowns for herself. Of course, they had to be from the most fashionable designer in Paris. She was Lady Viles, after all. Nothing less would do justice to her status.
In almost two weeks of living with Anthony, she had discovered that a bore like Anthony Viles did not exist in England. Anthony spend most of his time reading in the library. He was a ardent follower of the works of of Aristotle and other Greek philosophers. He also had an uncanny interest in Indian religious texts and chinese Confucian philosophy. Anne couldn't comprehend any of this.
Her world had been filled with dreams of wealth, granduer and status. She wanted to host the most exciting parties, meet people whom she previously only dreamed of and become the perfect Lady Viles. She wanted her reputation to be restored and enhanced. She wished for some passion if not love in her dull marriage. But Anthony Viles was hell bent on celibacy. He mediated at night in the seclusion of his room. Anne was beginning to realize how big a mistake she had made in marrying Anthony. If she could not produce an heir, she would never be respected in society. Anne wished that Anthony would disappear from her life and leave her his fortune. But, Anthony was far too young to die. The thought of spending rest of her life locked away in the countryside irked her.
Later that day, Anne went into Anthony's library to search for a book to read. She sat down on the chair and put the book on the desk. Her eyes fell on a key inserted halfway into the wooden drawer. Curiously, she opened the drawer. A solitary envelope lay on the dark mahogany. Her cold, white hands reached for the letter. She quickly opened it and brought out a neatly calligraphed letter. She began to read it. Time stood still. She could not contain the shock she felt. Had she known about this letter, she... She didn't know what to do.
Her green eyes went over the dramatic words contained in the letter. Who the hell was Mr. X? She searched the envelope for the date. There was none.
The next morning, she summoned the police chief who visited the house in the morning.
"Thank you for your time," she said gracefully, fluttering her long eyelashes.
"Do you perhaps know about this letter?" She handed the letter and the envelope to the policeman. His small, blue eyes examined it carefully.
"Yes, my lady," he said. "Lord Viles asked me to examine this case. I regret to say that we haven't found the sender of this letter yet. We assure you that we're working on it."
"So he knew...." Anne muttered to herself.
"Is there something you wish to discuss about the letter?" he asked, examining her expression.
"You see, I recently married Lord Viles. I didn't know about this letter. Do you happen to know when it was received?" she asked. "It's been nine weeks." he said. "Lord Anthony's birthday is next week. I assure you we'll protect him."
"Thank you so much," Anne said. "I was deeply worried about him."
The Chief left the mansion.
Anne lay on the sofa with the letter. X Her hopes swelled. Her life had improved with a single mysterious letter. Now, she only had to wait for Anthony to reach his twenty fourth birthday. He'd be dead and she'd inherit all his fortune, free from Mr. X. All this was too good to be true. Anthony was not planning to return until his birthday the following week. It would soon be over. She could get married to someone who was more passionate and Anthony's wealth would be hers to command. She smiled to herself all evening and fell asleep that night.
Anthony Viles was supposed to arrive home on 4th of July, his birthday. Anne had organized a feast for him. The kitchen staff were busy with preparations for the grand dinner. She had invited the neighbours to complete the picture. Anthony was supposed to arrive in the afternoon. The clock struck five. Sunlight had faded. The skies were dark. The smell of food encircled the mansion. The guests would arrive soon. There was no sign of Anthony. Anne was beginning to get excited. Had he already been killed by Mr. X?
A strange feeling rose in her belly and shot like electricity through her spine. Maybe she shouldn't have asked the police to stop the investigation. He was supposed to arrive early in the morning but due to the weather, his ride had been delayed. Anne was busy with preparations for the dinner and didn't notice his absence. In the course of their five week long marriage, she had only spent a week with him.
Rain began to pour once again. Uneasiness ran through Anne's veins. The rain was a premonition of doom. She reminded herself that she's inherit the fortune once Anthony was out of the picture. But, the thought of his sudden disappearance made her uneasy. What if the police suspected her? She had carefully planned alibis to protect her. She had been in the mansion the entire time. She forced a smile on her pink lips. She patted some rouge on her cheeks and examined herself in the mirror. She looked like a true lady. The fashionable gowns had transformed her full figure. She looked younger.
The doorbell rang. Anne proceeded to the door to greet her guests. She didn't want to come across as an inexperienced hostess. She arranged her gown and stood near the entrance, waiting for the butler to announce the arrival of Lord and Lady Hale. Instead, he announced Peter's arrival. Anne was surprised. He had to speak to her about something urgent. They sat in the drawing room. Tea was served.
I have something urgent to tell you," Peter said. "I just arrived from London."
"I hope your journey was pleasant," Anne began.
"Anthony is missing," he said, his voice serious.
"Pardon me?" Anne asked, her voice calm. She had expected to hear this.
"And that's not all. He transfered his entire property to you before he disappeared." Peter said.
Anne smiled inwardly. Anthony Viles had played her game. She has asked the chief to stop investigating the case purposely. She was waiting for Anthony to die. Freedom was withing her reach. He had done what she expected. She thanked the unknown Mr. X in her heart. She returned to the coversation with a serious expression. This was the last time she would have to act.
"I must be honest with you," Peter said. "Anthony had been planning this for quite some time."
"What? What do you mean?" Anne asked, surprised.
"I heard you asked the police to stop investigating," he said.
"The letter..." Anne pronounced. "I thought it would be better to not provoke Mr. X." "I see..." Peter said.
"As you know, Anthony was planning to get rid of his fortune before his birthday. He wanted to will it all to you before he died. That is why he was in London, but-"
"But?" "I don't know how to say this but Anthony really disappeared. He was planning to leave for India on his birthday so that he could escape Mr. X. I got him a place on the ship..."
"What are you saying?" Anne asked.
"He didn't board the ship." Peter said. "I feel so guilty. I looked everywhere but nobody has seen him all day."
Anne's heart was jumping with joy. Her husband was gone and the fortune was all hers. She feigned a gloomy face to please Peter. Before she could utter any words of condolence, the bell rang again. "Mr. White." the butler announced. A rough looking man with a greying beard forecefully stepped into the room. He surveyed the surroundings. Ten more men entered the room. They weren't gentlemen. They looked like thugs. Anne shivered. The men dissipated into the room. One of them took the large China vase that adorned the table. "Excuse me gentlemen, may I know what brings you here?" Anne asked, ruffled by their actions. "Are you Anthony Viles' wife?" he asked in a scruffy voice. "Yes," Anne said. "And you are?" "I'm John White. I'm here to collect my dues. I advise you to leave this house, my lady. It is to be sold tomorrow." "What!? What are you saying?" Anne asked in a state of panic. "Mr. White, what is going on? You must explain." Peter said. "You don't know?" he asked. "Ha....the lad was smarter than I thought." "What do you mean?" Anne said. "Anthony Viles tranfered his entire inheritance and fortune to you last week." he began. "I am aware of that." "He's disappeared now so you need to pay up." "Pay up?" "The Late Lord Viles was deeply in debt. When the young Lord Viles inherited the estate, he inherited the debt too. Last week, he settled a large part of the debt using all the jewellery and cash he had. He also allowed us to use the proceeds of the house towards the sale. After discounting everything, you will need to pay us 2000 pounds more. "2000 pounds!" Anne exclaimed. It was exactly the amount she had brought in dowry. "As the sole heir of the estate and Anthony's legal wife, you are under the obligation to dispose of the debt." The ground disappeared from under Anne's feet. This was far beyond her expectations. Anthony Viles had tricked her into a life of indebtnedness. She was a fool to believe that she was marrying into wealth. She had married into poverty. All she had now was the title- no house, no money, no jewellery, no gowns, no dowry....just a title. She knew that Anthony had made his escape from the country using the money he earned during his gambling exploits. He would live a comfortable life while she had to labour like a maid to pay off his family's debt. Anne's pale face became paler. Not even the dark rouge could bring life to he face. Her life had been ruined.
- P. Wish
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