A Change of Fortune (38 page)

‘I would enjoy your English tea. And please call me Dwight.’ He waited until Louise was seated before sitting down. ‘It’s kind of you to put me up while I’m here.’

Matt was impatient listening to the social pleasantries; it was obvious they weren’t going to be told a thing. All Dwight talked about was how beautiful the ship had been, with her exquisite wood panelling and the large domed skylight in the library. As interesting as this was, it was not what Matt was eager to hear about.

‘We thought you would be more comfortable here than in an hotel,’ Louise said, handing him a cup of tea.

‘Indeed.’ Dwight gazed around the room in appreciation. ‘This is a lovely house.’

‘It has been in the family for nearly a hundred years,’ Luke told him.

Matt couldn’t stand it any longer. ‘We understand you’ve been trying to trace Miss Winford.’

‘Yes, indeed.’ Dwight put his empty cup on the table. ‘Is she here? Would it be possible to see her now?’

‘She doesn’t live here and will still be at work,’ Matt said rather too hastily. ‘Can you tell us why you need to see her?’

‘I’m afraid I can disclose my business only to Miss Winford.’

‘We understand that.’ Gilbert stood up and walked over to the fire, resting his hand on the marble surround. ‘But you must understand that we have all become fond of the girl, and we would not wish to see her upset.’

Matt was staggered by his father’s announcement, but grateful he had said what they were all feeling.

Dwight frowned. ‘It is imperative that I see her. That’s all I can say.’

‘We will bring her here to meet you.’ Louise offered Dwight some small cakes, and when he shook his head she replaced the plate on the table. ‘As you can see, we have become protective where Eugenie, or Jenny, as she prefers to be called now, is concerned. Would you object to my being present when you talk to her?’

‘And me,’ Matt said.

She nodded. ‘And my son Matthew, who has recently come out of hospital after being injured saving Jenny from a violent attack.’

Dwight was appalled. ‘Attacked? That’s terrible! Would you tell me what happened?’

Matt explained about the violent incident and who was responsible.

‘Nasty things have been going on.’ Dwight shook his head in concern. ‘I now understand Miss Winford’s need to get away from her aunt, but if she had contacted me, then none of this would have been necessary.’

‘She couldn’t if she didn’t know anything about you,’ Matt pointed out.

‘As soon as her father died, I sent her a telegram asking her to get in touch with me.’ Anger blazed in the lawyer’s eyes. ‘It looks as if her aunt never gave her the message. You say they were trying to make her marry this older man?’

‘Yes, she has had a very difficult time.’ Louise refilled his cup. ‘But you haven’t said whether we may be present.’

‘I can see that Cyrus’s daughter has been badly treated and that makes me very angry. As you obviously care for her, I will agree if you promise that you will remain in the background and not interfere with the meeting in any way. And only if she tells me that she wishes you to be present.’

‘She will,’ Matt stated with confidence. ‘It’s Sunday tomorrow and I don’t think she’s working in the afternoon, so I’ll bring her to you then.’

‘Thank you.’ Dwight appeared satisfied with the arrangements and settled back to enjoy his tea.

Matt studied him carefully: outwardly he was calm, but the expression in his eyes was one of fury. Dwight Roberts was a very angry man indeed.

The moment Sunday lunch was over, Matt drove to Lambeth. Dwight had pressed them for her address over dinner last night, but they had refused to give it. At first he had been annoyed by their intransigence, but after listening to more of what had happened to her over the last two years, he had understood.

Matt was apprehensive as he knocked on Jenny’s
door. He desperately wanted to protect her, but the lawyer had come over as soon as he’d heard that someone knew where she was. They had no right to stop that meeting. He believed she was strong enough to face almost anything now, but, if not, he would be there to support her.

‘Come in,’ Jenny called at his second knock.

She was sitting by the fire with a book on her lap. ‘Hello, Jen.’

‘Oh, hello. Come and sit by the fire. It’s cold out there.’

‘Thanks.’ He sat down and held his hands out to the warmth. He had been rehearsing what to say all the way here, but now he was reluctant to speak. She looked so relaxed and content; he didn’t like to think that they might now be about to throw her life into turmoil again.

‘Would you like a cup of tea?’

He shook his head. ‘I’ve got something to tell you. There’s a Mr Dwight Roberts staying with us. He’s a lawyer from America who’s come over especially to see you.’

‘America? Did he know my father?’ Jenny frowned. ‘But why has he come to see me and not my mother? Or does he want to see both of us?’ The colour drained from her face. ‘Are there more debts we don’t know about?’

‘I’m sorry, Jen. He won’t say more than that he’s been looking for you ever since your father died. You, not your mother.’ Matt reached out and took hold of her hands as they twisted with anxiety. ‘We wouldn’t let him
come here, but I said I’d come to tell you he’s waiting for you.’

She dipped her head, obviously trying to control her emotions, and when she didn’t speak, Matt said, ‘You don’t have to see him if you don’t want to.’

Taking a deep breath, she raised her head, wide-eyed with worry. ‘I must know what this is all about. Are you sure he never said anything?’

Matt shrugged helplessly. If only he could answer her question. ‘It must be something to do with your father.’

‘I can’t imagine what would bring him all this way. My father lost all his money in the crash and killed himself. End of story.’ She removed her hands from his and stood up. ‘However, I’d better see what he wants. If it’s more bad news, then I’d better face it. I’ll get my coat.’

Matt helped her on with her coat, wondering what Dwight Roberts was expecting to see when he met Cyrus Winford’s daughter. He doubted it was this shabbily dressed girl with calloused working hands.

The journey was made in silence and Matt didn’t try to talk, knowing that she was concerned about the meeting and probably wanted to stay quiet.

When they arrived at the house, Mrs Stannard was waiting for them in the hall. ‘My dear.’ She kissed Jenny’s cheek. ‘We’ve put Mr Roberts in the library. He has agreed to let Matthew and I be with you, but if you’d rather see him on your own …’

Jenny was relieved someone would be with her, for she was very concerned, and couldn’t think why a man should come from America just to see her. ‘I’d like you both there, please.’

Matthew took her coat, hung it up and smiled. ‘Let’s see what this is all about, shall we? We’ll sit the other side of the library, but we’ll be there if you need us.’

Glad of his strong presence and his mother’s quiet calm, she walked up the stairs to the library.

The man who greeted her was not as stern as she’d imagined he would be. He had very kind pale blue eyes, and when he smiled she felt a little better. He looked genuinely pleased to see her.

‘Ah, Miss Winford. I’m so pleased to meet you at last. Your father spoke of you all the time.’

‘You knew him?’ His accent sounded just like her father’s and a lump lodged in her throat. ‘Did you see him after the crash? Was he so unhappy?’

‘The only thing that made him unhappy was the fact that he couldn’t see you more often. Please sit down. He was a dear friend, and I was his lawyer for many years.’ Dwight Roberts had papers spread across a desk. ‘Before we start, your father’s second wife asked me to give you this letter from her. She has also enclosed photographs of her two sons – your half-brothers.’

She took the envelope, her hand trembling, and stuffed it into the pocket of her dress. What was he talking about? How could her father have felt anything other than despair? Nothing less than that would have made him take his own life. And why was the lawyer
talking about another family? Half-brothers? ‘His
second
wife?’

Dwight frowned. ‘I thought you knew. He divorced your mother seven years ago.’

Jenny felt as if a tram had hit her as she stared at the lawyer in horror. ‘I was never told.’ She sat up straight; whatever the rest of the news was, it couldn’t be worse than this! ‘You said my father divorced my mother. On what grounds?’

‘Infidelity.’

Her laugh was harsh. ‘You must be joking.’

The lawyer shook his head. ‘These are the papers. See for yourself.’

What she saw on that legal document was almost too much for her, and she began to shake in reaction. It was true! Her mother had committed adultery with a man she had never heard of. ‘Why didn’t my mother marry this man after the divorce?’

‘I believe he was already married and managed to patch up his marriage after the scandal.’

‘He must have been very rich for my mother to have taken such a chance.’ She grimaced in disgust, lifting her head defiantly, drawing on every ounce of courage she could find to face these revelations. ‘It seems my family have kept a great deal from me, Mr Roberts. You had better tell me the whole story.’

‘Your father believed you had been told on your sixteenth birthday, but I can see that isn’t so.’ He leant back in the chair. ‘Well, after the divorce your father married again in New York. She’s a charming woman
who gave him two sons. They were very happy together, and she understood the love your father had for you. He tried to get custody of you so he could take you to America to be a part of his new family, but your mother refused. To avoid a nasty court battle that would have hurt you, he gave way. It nearly broke his heart to leave you. He came here two or three times a year to spend time with you.’

The shock was receding, and Jenny could feel rage bubbling up inside her. She had known that her mother was selfish, but this was unbelievable! Gathering her thoughts with great effort, she said, ‘I’m pleased my father was happy with his new family, but it makes it even more puzzling that he should have killed himself.’

Dwight Roberts was on his feet so suddenly that the chair he’d been sitting in went flying. ‘Who told you that?’

Jenny was shocked by his reaction. ‘My aunt, Gertrude Osborne.’

‘What the hell is that woman up to?’ Dwight raged.

Matt came over, poured the agitated lawyer a brandy, righted his chair and made him sit down again.

He downed the drink in one gulp. ‘I’m so sorry, Miss Winford, you’ve been told a pack of lies!’

She half stood up and then collapsed back. ‘Lies? What do you mean? Oh, God, please tell me what’s going on!’

‘Your father did lose nearly everything in the crash, but he was a good businessman and would have bounced back, in time. Only he wasn’t given time.’

Dwight looked sad. ‘He was shot by a crazed man who had lost everything and blamed your father.’

‘He was murdered?’ The words came out in an anguished whisper. How could her aunt have told her he had committed suicide when he hadn’t? It was unbelievable.

‘Yes. After killing your father, the man turned the gun on himself.’

She was going to be sick! Her darling father hadn’t killed himself; he had been cruelly murdered. She touched the pendant round her neck. Thank heavens she’d never sold that. It was the only reminder of him she had left – apart from the memories, of course. But it was all too much! She turned round, seeking support. ‘Matthew!’

He came over immediately, sat beside her and placed his hand over her tightly clenched fist. She uncurled her fingers, holding on, trying to draw some of his strength into her shocked body.

‘Soon after your father’s death,’ Dwight continued, ‘I contacted your mother with the full story. I received a reply from Mrs Osborne, saying that she would be handling your affairs.’

‘But why lie? And why try to make me marry Greaves?’ Jenny wanted the whole story now. For two years she had believed her father had chosen death rather than face poverty, and deep down she had harboured the belief that that was a coward’s way out. And that was something she had found impossible to believe about her father.

‘Money!’
Dwight ground out.

‘But I haven’t any.’ She indicated her worn dress. ‘As you can see.’

‘That isn’t true. Your father made substantial provisions for his children in case anything happened to him. There are insurance policies in your names, and these are unaffected by his losses. I was also able to save the house in America for his wife, but everything else had to go, including the London house. The sum of $25,000 was to come to you at the age of eighteen, or if he died before you reached that age. It was to be controlled by a parent or guardian until you were eighteen. And –’

‘They knew!’ Jenny was on her feet immediately, not giving him a chance to say anything else. She was incandescent with rage. ‘They knew!’

She spun on her heel and charged for the door, only to be stopped by Matthew, who caught her arm. ‘Where are you going?’

‘Going?’ She glared at him in disbelief. ‘I’m going to face those callous, manipulative, selfish bastards. That’s where I’m going!’

Dwight Roberts was on the other side of her, holding her other arm, and she tried to shake herself free. ‘Let go of me!’

‘You’re not going anywhere on your own,’ Matthew threatened.

‘Come if you want, but you’re not going to stop me.’ Freeing herself, she shot out of the room and hurtled down the stairs, with Matthew and Dwight charging after her.

‘Jenny, stop!’ Louise called, but the girl ignored her plea with an expression on her face akin to murder.

Matt grabbed Jenny’s coat and brushed aside the rest of his family, who had gathered in the hall, wanting to know what was going on. Dwight, for all his extra years, was fitter than Matthew and was right on Jenny’s heels.

Jenny was aware of the commotion she was causing, but she had only one thought in her mind: to tell her family what she thought of them. A car drew up beside her and the passenger door was thrown open.

‘Get in,’ Matthew demanded.