Beginnings

   Ensconced in her favorite chair, Teresinia Ravenstone picked up her tea, holding it still for a moment as she continued to gaze out of the great library window. Her father had maintained that a library should have light, and plenty of it, so long as it didn't threaten the tomes stored within, and he had designed this entire room with that thought foremost. Hence the great floor to ceiling windows here and there in the North side of the room. They brought in light, it is true, yet they did not allow the full, direct, sunlight, to shine upon the volumes in their cases.

  She sipped her tea, idly watching birds as they went about their business, her thoughts far away. She was given to flights of imagination, and her spirit often wandered in different times and places. She loved exploring, or at least, the idea of exploring, more than anything. Until this point she had never been allowed to truly follow her heart and whim to explore the less understood parts of the world, to see what might be there, what could be learned.

  Her greatest desire was now within reach. She must first endure what promised to be a rather tense meeting with her brother and the lawyer her father appointed as executor to the estate. She knew William wasn't going to be happy, not with herself being the designated heir to the majority of the estate. To be sure, William was well provided for...the Irish lands and holdings were all his, more than an adequate amount of money, hounds, and horses. It was quite generous. However, she was first born and both her mother and father had been clear that she was the heir. She knew her brother would try to contest the matter.

  Truthfully, if she admitted it, as long as the airship and workshop were hers, she was happy. She had far more than that, more than she needed, so she could be even more generous to her brother. She knew it wouldn't matter...he would chafe regardless, not being 'the' Ravenstone. If he were too tiresome she would leave things as they were specified in the will. It depended on William. She loved her brother, yet they were separated in age by a few years and their interests were very different.  

  When the magistrate arrived it would be settled, one way or another. Then, then she could get on with her plans... 

  Her reverie broken, she placed her cup back on its saucer, closed the book she had forgotten she was reading, and rose, tucking book back into its place in the shelves before picking up cup and saucer and heading for the kitchens. Her long grey walking skirt brushed softly against itself and the floor, the heels of her boots making light tapping sounds. Her ivory blouse was quite plain, held closed at the neck with a simple pearled pin. Her hair was up in a bun, and her jacket was back in the library.

   Entering the kitchen she placed the cup and saucer on the central table, smiling at the cook's daughter as she turned to go. Through the open kitchen door she hear a motor car driving up and realized the magistrate was early. Stepping rather more quickly, she returned to the library and donned her jacket, glancing at herself in the mirror, patting errant strands of hair back into place. Silver hair, like strands of silk, escaped at every turn and movement. She pursed her lips as she turned to go out into the study.
 
   As she entered the foyer she heard the chamberlain speaking with the magistrate, and then another male voice...her brother. Steeling herself, she entered the study and composed herself behind the enormous teak desk. Her chamberlain, Charles Winfield, knew exactly what to do...he had asked her and she had instructed him on her wishes. She had known him since she was young. He understood her very well.
 
   Master Winfield entered quietly and stood by the door, announcing the two gentlemen as they entered. He took their coats and hats and closed the door as he left. Teresinia rose to greet the men.

   “Lord Magistrate. Dear brother. Welcome to Ravenstone.”

The magistrate bowed and gave her a smile before approaching the desk “Lady Ravenstone”, while her brother snorted and muttered under his breath before letting a quiet “Sister” be heard.
 
   “Please be seated. Shall I call for tea? Biscuits? Or shall we go right to the heart of the matter?”

   “I think it best we get down to business, my Lady. Your brother intends to contest the will, as I am sure you have surmised. I should tell you that this sort of thing takes a lot of time and money and often generates a great deal of attention, of the less than desirable sort. Master William....

   “Lord Ravenstone.” said William.

   This was the sort of thing he did that she detested. He was trying to assert dominance from the start. She felt sadness for him, really.   She also decided any extra generosity would be very limited.
 
   “William, it does not matter that you intend to contest the particulars of father's will. It is law. It has been established, correctly, for many years, that you are not the heir. You can waste all of our time, waste what money you have now, and what you could have, or you can please let us get on with this and get it over with.”

   He stared at her for a while, then took his seat, not relaxing one whit. Instead, he kept staring at her. Fixedly.
 
   Teresinia looked at the magistrate “Please proceed, if you will. I already know the contents as I was given a copy of the will as you are aware. I have mine here. Would you like to compare the two?”

   “Yes, my Lady, I will do that. The law is quite clear in these matters.”

   She unlocked the drawer in her desk and removed her copy of the will, careful to ensure the parchment sized space under the drawer bottom remained a secret. She placed the document on the desk top and sat back in her chair. Her brother leaned out of his chair to read over the magistrate's shoulder. He was ever a rude young man.



First Entry, tentative.