She had located a successor firm holding records from Benton, Vale & Harrow and had submitted a formal request to the trustee named in the amendment.

There was a reserve account established in my name, she said, and it appeared to have received proceeds from the sale of my grandparents’ land.

How much remained, and who had authorized withdrawals, were still open questions.

I read the message three times.

My father had always described my grandparents as generous people whose estate had long ago been spent maintaining the family home.

I had never thought to ask whether they had left money to me.