The Rightful Lord (The Saga Of Wolfbridge Manor Book 3) Sahara Kelly (free ebook reader TXT) 📖

official has jurisdiction. If this Nicholas Pinebridge was a Bishop, then clearly he was living in the middle of his own diocese. Is there a date there?”

Gwyneth nodded. “Yes. Yes, there is. After the entry, someone has put 1562.”

“Ah,” said Jeremy. “That would make sense.”

The questions on the other faces were clear. He answered them. “The first Bible to be distributed to ordinary people was the King James Bible. And that wasn’t produced until 1611.”

“Wait, so this Bible here predates the King James Version?”

Jeremy shook his head. “I’m pretty sure that what we are reading has been entered well after 1572.” He glanced around. “It was a common habit to retain a record of the family history. But not every family had access to the means to do so. After 1611, however, the trusty family Bible became available, and I’ll wager that these entries have been added to this version. Word of mouth and memories would have easily covered the fifty-odd years prior to this…”

“That makes perfect sense,” endorsed Harry. “I’ve seen a few bibles that have similar notes in them.”

“All right then,” Royce chimed in. “So we have this Bishop of Pinebridge, Lord Nicholas, living…where?”

“It has to be here, I would assume,” Gabriel frowned. “If not, why would his name be in the Bible?”

“Maybe I should continue,” Gwyneth suggested. “There is more information to come.”

“Please do,” said Evan wryly. “Otherwise this will take all afternoon.”

“Right then.” She smiled at him. “There is a note here that puzzles me. It refers to a Wilhelmina Crane. Something like met at R E. Does that make sense to anyone?”

Silence fell.

“You’d better go on,” encouraged Royce. “We’ll write it all down and try to make sense of it later.”

“Very well.” She nodded. “Next we have a birth. Johnathan Pinebridge Markeley. 1565.” She turned a page with care. “This is followed by a marriage in 1590, Jonathan to Jane Beacon, and a birth—their son, I would assume—Alfred, also born in 1590. Then we have a date, 1601, and a death. Bishop Pinebridge has left this earth, apparently. No idea why, but the entry says something about…er…Mortmain, whatever that is. And that the ‘Pinebridge Mortmain’ has been left to Alfred Markeley and wife Henrietta Trowbridge, who wed…sorry I missed that note…in 1609. Clearly the Bishop died without heirs.”

“Jonathan’s son, most likely.” Harry muttered as he stared at his growing list.

“Mortmain. I know I’ve run across that word,” Jeremy rubbed his hand through his hair.

Harry nodded. “I have, as well, but damned if I can place it.”

“We’ll look it up later. Go on, my Lady,” encouraged Royce.

Gwyneth smiled at him. “Yes, sir.”

Royce’s loins were about to misbehave. He crossed his legs and smiled back.

“Things must have been quite quiet, although I see that Alfred and Henrietta lost several children before the birth of a son who survived.” Her voice was gentle as she related the news. “Their surviving son, Douglas, was born in 1614.”

“How sad.” Evan murmured, as fascinated as everyone else by the family history slowly unfolding.

“Indeed yes,” Gwyneth agreed. “And here is where we lose Jonathan. 1635. He leaves the estate to Alfred and Henrietta, of course. It’s theirs until Alfred passes…” she turned yet another page, “in 1660. Douglas inherits. He must have been unmarried at the time, since the next entry is a marriage between him and Elizabeth Charter—wait, no—Chester, which took place in 1662.”

“Must have desperately wanted an heir,” said Harry, his voice dry.

“Most likely.” Royce agreed. That was a very long time for an heir to remain unwed.

“He may have waited, but he certainly didn’t lack for enthusiasm.” Gwyneth chuckled. “The birth of his twin sons, Michael and Montgomery Markeley, is noted as occurring in 1663.”

Her face changed from laughter to something akin to sadness.

“What is it, my Lady?” Royce leaned to her.

“Just…” she waved her hand briefly, as if brushing away a sad thought. “This brings us to 1678, the date of the next entry. Both Douglas and his son Montgomery died. And someone has noted the word ‘ague’ next to the entry.” She looked up. “How tragic”

“So the other twin, Michael, inherits Pinebridge?” asked Gabriel.

“Yes.” Gwyneth nodded. “The same year, according to this record. He was—fifteen or so? Not much older, because his marriage follows, dated 1685, to a Letitia…drat this handwriting, it’s so difficult to make out.” She scowled at the page, leaning close.

“It looks like Purr. Or possibly Parn. Or something like that.” She waved the annoyance aside. “And in 1687 Nicholas Markeley was born.” She looked up. “Interesting how the name Nicholas has returned to the family tree.”

“It is indeed.” Royce’s mind was turning over a variety of thoughts. “Is there more?”

“Yes. A little more.” She turned yet another page. “This is the final entry and the one that caught my attention. It is the record of a sale. I’m going to read it for you.” She took a breath.

“April 1712. Pinebridge Mere is to be reduced in size, by…and here’s something that looks like measurements—rods and perches— but I can’t make it out. Anyway, it goes on…this division will result in a property to be purchased by Sir Jerald Wolfbridge, and will be thusly named Wolfbridge upon completion of the deed of transfer. The remaining acreage, also re-titled upon completion of the above deed, is to be henceforth known as Fivetrees.”

Silence fell for a few moments as Gwyneth read the final words.

“By God,” breathed Royce. “Giles was right. Fivetrees and Wolfbridge originally were one piece of land.”

Chapter Twenty

There was no lack of conversation for the rest of that day.

Between the information gleaned during the morning’s outings and the revelations presented by the rescued Bible, everyone found themselves debating, asking, discussing and puzzling over various matters without cease.

Gwyneth herself was eager to learn more,