Owned by the Ocean by Christine Steendam Page B

and checked for a pulse. Nothing, as he had
expected. James came running in then, his face ashen and eyes wide
with fear.
    “ Is it father? What happened?”
    Brant turned
to face his younger brother, swallowing hard. “He’s gone, James.
I’m sorry.”
    James’ face
contorted in sorrow and tears filled his eyes, but he swiped them
away angrily. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t be crying. I knew this was
coming.”
    Brant went
over to his brother and hugged him. “Our father died, it is right
to grieve.”
    James nodded
his head against Brant’s shoulder and allowed his tears to soak
through Brant’s nightshirt. He clung to Brant for a long time,
sobbing, letting out emotion that Brant wished he could feel for
his now dead father. Instead, he felt nothing.
    “ Let’s get you out of this room. Markus will see to it that
his body is looked after. The lawyer should be here shortly and we
can attend to business.”
    “ Yes, of course. I’ll be in his study.”
    Brant called
in the maid who was still standing in the hall sobbing. “Please,
settle down. There is no need for this hysteria. I need you to take
this breakfast back to the kitchen and then send for Markus to
attend to the body. He will know what to do. Also, ask him to send
for the coroner when he’s done. It is not good for him to be
here.”
    The girl
nodded and ran off with the bowl of hot porridge in hand, tears
still streaming down her face. Brant felt sorry for the girl but
there was much to be done and he had his brother to worry about.
The maid would be fine, likely just shocked at finding a cold dead
body.
    He left his
father’s room and went to join James in the study where they would
await the arrival of their father’s lawyer.
     
    * * *
     
    Russell
Johnson, Calvin Foxton’s lawyer, looked too grave when he walked
into the study and shook hands with Brant and James, as if putting
on a show for the benefit of the grieving sons.
    Sitting across
the desk from Brant and James he began to pull out a few papers and
lay them on the desk.
    “ We had been preparing for some time for this day. Things are
in order. This estate is in James’ name and I will arrange for it
to be sold as your father requested. All the money will be held in
a trust for James, of which he will receive a sum of twenty pounds
per week as an allowance until he graduates, at which time the
entire sum will be transferred to his name. Does this all seem
satisfactory?”
    The brothers
nodded so Russell continued. “Your father and I made a few changes
to the will in the last couple weeks. First of all, James will no
longer be inheriting the Jamaican sugar plantation but I believe
Calvin had discussed that with you already, James.”
    “ And what will be happening to the plantation?” questioned
Brant.
    “ Your father has decided that you, Brant, have inherited
it.”
    Brant looked
at Russell in shock and shook his head. “That cannot be right.”
    “ It is. You can look over the paperwork yourself if you like
but his signature is on it. Call it the last sentimentality of a
dying man. It is a thriving plantation that brings in a great deal
of money; I would be happy with your inheritance. Now, there is
something I have to discuss with Brant alone if you don’t mind
leaving us for a little while, James.”
    “ Of course,” said James, looking slightly concerned, but
getting up and leaving the room without any question.
    “ Brant, your father sent me a letter a few days ago outlining
some changes he wanted made. I was on my way over this morning to
have him sign but I’m afraid I was too late.” Russell handed a
letter over to Brant to read over.
    Brant
carefully looked it over and then looked at the lawyer. “This means
that my father wanted me to become the guardian of James?”
    “ Yes. There are a few guidelines though. When James turns
sixteen he is to attend school here, in London until he is twenty,
or some other school that you deem fit for a gentleman of