Constance Meriweather, 'Connie' to her friends, never met the aunt who left her the historic house in the French Quarter of New Orleans. She had married well, though to a man much older than herself. It was, and when he passed on, she found herself with enough money to live comfortably and a desire to experience something new, away from the disapproving eyes of family and friends ... most of whom had sought her company because of her husband's status and money than any other reason. Traveling south to see the house and decide what needed to be done to settle her aunt's estate was an acceptable reason, and Connie figured she didn't need to tell anyone that she had no plans to come back. A lawyer far away from the connections of her husband's, or her husband's family, would surely earn the fat fee for freeing up her affairs ... and the stodgy old fuss-budgets could look down their disapproving noses at her far enough away that she'd never have to see or hear their whispers ever again. The house was magnificent, if a little run down, and Connie was giddy with her visions of freedom and a new life. What her aunt's lawyers didn't mention was that her inheritance had some …show more content…
almost ... felt a little guilty for denying him the credit he probably richly deserved. It was her experience, and her late husband's considered opinion as well, that historical societies preferred bequests rather than first refusal on purchase. The Southern lawyer had, no doubt, pulled of a rather sizable coup in getting them to agree to the terms. "Mr. Gates, that won't be necessary. I intend to take up residence, immediately, in fact. What I need from you is to have you make the arrangements to take over certain legal matters for me, as I may decide to become a resident of Louisiana permanently. Therefore, I would like to advise you that I expect you to have no further communications with Mr. Addington or his firm on my behalf without first receiving my