The Travels of Anadrasata Nearabhigan: Day 25 - A Conversation
It seems that there was an important conversation that Castor Fhailaign wanted to have with his brother-in-law yesterday, but Mrs Nearabhaign's carry on rather got in the way.
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Castor Fhailaign was shown in to speak to his brother-in-law, Tallaig Nearabhaign, immediately when he arrived at Tallaig's townhouse. There was a short delay before his host entered the room, but not a discourteous one. Tallaig was wearing his reddish, knee length, overrobe again, but it partly covered brown breeches and an embroidered blue waistcoat on this occasion. Castor's outfit of a black and silver waistcoat above pale trousers and under a dark blue coat was a more formal choice, but Castor had been calling on government record offices instead of relaxing at home. Or working in the privacy of his own study for that matter.
"To what do I owe the pleasure of your company this morning?" Tallaig was almost mellow this morning, reflected Castor when he heard the other man's greeting.
"I wanted to let you know how my investigation into Anadrasata's trust fund is going," replied Castor. "It's nowhere near complete, but that is one of the things I think you need to know about. I would have liked to talk to you about it yesterday, but I'm afraid the atmosphere at your mother's yesterday wasn't conducive to rational discussion that in anyway touched on your sister's situation."
Tallaig winced in recollection. "You're right," he agreed, "but I still think what I said needed to be said. Please," he gestured at a comfortable looking armchair, "take a seat."
"Thank you." Castor took the seat and waited for his host to sit in a matching chair before he went on. "Firstly, I have found the original trust deed, signed by the relevant parties two days after Anadrasata's birth. I also found an agreement document that was signed four months before she was born."
Tallaig gave him an enquiring look but remained silent.
"The agreement was between your parents, both of them signed it, and your father's great-uncle, Anadras Nearabhigan," explained Castor. "The agreement stated that the child your mother was carrying, whether male or female, would become an offshoot of your family, taking the name of either Anadras or Anadrasata Nearabhigan, and becoming your great-great-uncle's heir. When Anadrasata was born, it was your great-great-uncle who established her trust, not your father."
"I think I remember Great Uncle Anadras…if he was a very old man who lived in a big house on a square, with a large garden. He used to give us sweets when we visited with our parents.” Tallaig had spoken slowly and then added quietly, “And my mother has always known all about this agreement but didn't choose to share the information."
"Part of it may be her reluctance to talk about money matters," added Castor, "but it would have been helpful if she'd explained the circumstances years ago. When your father died, for instance. The next relevant document I found is Anadras Nearabhigan's will - he died when Anadrasata was three. A third of his financial holdings went to your father, no strings attached. The other two thirds of his money, plus all his other property, went to your sister. Minus a few personal bequests and pensions to older, long serving staff members. It seems your father used his portion to buy the second estate, and double both your mother's jointure and your other two sisters' doweries." He paused and added, "From that it appears that Anadrasata inherited a substantial sum from him, which was added to her trust fund in accordance with his wishes."
After a moment's silence Tallaig asked quietly, "How much 'other property'?"
"From the will, at least six pieces of real estate," replied Castor. "I've put in the formal requests to trace the current ownership of the properties listed in the will, but everything I've asked about this has been complicated and delayed because someone else is asking to see the same documents, and, whoever they are, they have the authority or privilege to have the documents delivered to them in a location outside the relevant records buildings. I don't know who they are, but they are being thorough, and they are interested in your sister."
"So, the money was never my father's," said Tallaig quietly. "That's good to know. It's also good to know that father took care of the rest of us with the money he inherited. Also, Anadrasata is very, very wealthy. I knew about the trust fund, of course, but real estate as well, and whatever other property our great-great-uncle owned.... Do you have any idea from the will what that might have been?"
"I believe there are shares," replied Castor, "and partners were mentioned so I believe there were also partnerships." He paused, cleared his throat, and added, "You do realise that I'm going to have to tell my extended family about this, don't you? I have unmarried male cousins who would be a reasonable age for Anadrasata to consider as a husband, and she is a considerable heiress. If I don't tell my mother and aunts, at least, I will be accused of a lack of family feeling."
"And that would be a reasonable position on your family's part," acknowledged Tallaig. "As her guardian, what do you recommend that I do? Prepare to repel knavish fortune hunters?"
"Yes," said Castor succinctly. "That and decide who you would find acceptable as a brother-in-law and start reaching out. Easier to introduce her to the right men if you are on terms with them. Keep in mind too that the fortune hunters might come with acceptable connections. A younger or impoverished scion of a noble family might be a beneficial connection for all of us."