Chapter Text
Sophia Gunningworth was in shock. Out of everything that could have possibly happened, she never could have expected this.
She had always had an active imagination as a child, and even now, at 16, she loved stories and novels. However, She was sure not even Voltaire or Dickens could have written this plot…
Her father had died a few weeks ago, and she was his only child. Well, his only biological child, as he had two stepdaughters courtesy of Araminta, the woman he’d married 5 years earlier, hoping that he may have a male heir but no child came.
So Richard Gunningworth had seemingly died without an heir…Or so they’d thought,
Araminta was sitting, waiting for the lawyer to start the Will Reading, looking very smug. She thought she’d ensured her access to the Earldom and could be rid of Sophie once and for all… she’d arranged for Rosamund, her eldest daughter, to marry the nearest male relative to Richard. A cousin. He was a bit of a drunkard, a gambler and not a very nice man, but he was believed to be the next Earl. The betrothal papers had been signed, and it was just a matter of arranging the wedding…
But then the lawyer broke the news and literally pulled the rug from under her feet. Sarah looked like she was having the time of her life, and Sophie was just in shock.
The Penwood estate wasn’t entailed. The title of Penwood could be passed to any Gunningworth… if there was a son, then he would inherit even if he had an older sister, but if there was no male heir and the will stipulated it-The title could be handed to a daughter…
“And so the title of Penwood,” the lawyer had said, “as per the last will and testament of Richard Charles Gunningworth, will go to his beloved daughter. She will become Countess Penwood. Her husband will one day be granted the title of Earl, but until that day, all matters pertaining to the estate, the title, and grounds pass directly to Sophia.”
The fury from Araminta had been immediate and immense.
The lawyer further compounded the situation by informing her that she would be given a dowager's inheritance of £1000 per year, and Sophie wasn’t being left in her care. Her aunt was to be the estate executor until Sophie’s 18th birthday.
“What about Mr Ratsenburg?” Rosamund asked, “he was to inherit!! He was supposed to!! I’m… I was marrying him for that reason?!” Her voice shrill and so high-pitched the lawyer winced and wondered if only dogs could hear her now.
“Well, Miss Reiling, it is entirely down to the old Earl. It’s in the deeds and will, that does not change. Mr Ratsenburg will be entitled to your dowry of £1500, which was added to the will upon the signing of the betrothal papers, so the wedding will proceed after the allotted mourning period. Unless Lady Penwood says otherwise and makes the arrangements to cancel it.”
“Well, I want it cancelled!” Araminta fumed with the tone of a toddler who just had their favourite toy stolen.
“Actually… it is up to… the erm… the… the current Lady Penwood to decide… not you. As the dowager countess… all decisions revert to Sophia.” the lawyer said apologetically, fearing the wrath of the room’s two ticking bombs.
Sarah let out an unladylike snort of laughter. “Really?”
“Yes. Well… She… Lady Pen…. Well, that is to say Sophia… is head of the family, well, that is until she marries.” The lawyer explained
“I am not answering to that bastard!” Araminta yelled, only seconds away from spitting in the direction of the subject of the conversation.
“Actually, you’ll find her parents were married, Araminta, and her surname is Gunningworth, not her mother’s maiden name of Beckett. I’d be nicer to her if I were you… she’s the one who can easily kick you out of the house.” Sarah said, unable to hide the utter glee on her face and unable keep her joy from her to
“I’ll go to London.”
“Penwood House in London belongs to Sophia as well. Even as dowager, you’ll have to ask for permission to use it,” Sarah said with a smirk.
Sarah had always disliked Araminta. Araminta had taken offence to Sophie because her mother wasn’t part of the ton; she had been a local farmer’s daughter. Her brother had fallen head over heels in love with Elizabeth, and Sophie had been born 8 months into the marriage. So Araminta had taken to calling her a bastard whenever Richard wasn’t around and had tried on several occasions to kick her out of her home.
Sarah had known about the lack of an entail and Richard’s plans to leave everything and the title to Sophie, and she’d made her brother not tell Araminta about it.
Their marriage hadn’t been a happy one. Within the year, it became obvious that Araminta wouldn’t bear any more children. Her constant berating and belittling of Sophie and treating the girl as anything less than the Lady she was born as caused a rift between the two. The only reason Richard hadn’t thrown her out was because she’d actually refused to leave and he did care for Posy.
He would have left for London or one of his other estates, but he didn’t want to leave Sophie alone with her, and Sophie loved her governess and the staff at Penwood Park plus, it was close to her maternal grandparents, so he’d stayed.
When Araminta forced the issue and pushed for Rosamund's betrothal to his cousin, who, under normal entail rules, would have inherited… he didn’t correct her; he just agreed and made the arrangements.
So when Sarah was watching the colour drain from the awful woman’s face, she wanted to do a massive happy dance,
“So Sophie is the one who has to decide if I have to go through with the wedding?!” Rosamund blanched, and Araminta looked like she’d been kicked in the stomach by a horse
“Yes. She controls your dowry, your inheritance and the same for Posy…” the lawyer explained “The dowager countess has her income, but if she wishes to use any of the homes in the Penwood estate, it is down to Lady Sophia to agree and offer permission. Should someone wish to marry Posy, unless Sophia is married, they will have to ask Sophia for permission…” the lawyer continued
Throughout the entire conversation, Sophie just sat there blinking in shock. The news of her own ridiculously large dowry had been less of a shock than this.
She was a countess.She was Lady Penwood. She had control…She had… freedom.
It was a heady feeling; her stepmother, who had tried so hard to make her life miserable and to kick her out of her own home, had been left with nothing…
She had to ask Sophie… she had to be nice to Sophie… Because Sophie had the power now; the tables had turned…And she had no idea what she was going to do about it.