Cursed by a Fortune

A frail patriarch lies on his grand four‑post bed, his breath shallow as he confides his final wishes to his trembling daughter, Kitty, and his loyal brother. He details the considerable fortune he built through banking, the house in Bedford Square, and the modest share left for his grandson, Claud. With heartfelt urgency he names his country‑squire uncle, Will, as sole executor, hoping the quiet man will shield his beloved daughter from the predatory eyes of society.

Will, a man of simple honesty, now bears the weight of a legacy that could attract countless fortune‑hunters. As Kitty mourns, the dying father warns of “drones and wasps” that will swarm the family once the will is proved, hinting at future struggles over marriage, inheritance, and loyalty. The stage is set for a delicate dance of duty, love, and the looming threat of greed that will test the bonds of this affluent Victorian household.