Promise Made (33 page)

‘Yes.' Emily fished in her pocket for a handkerchief and blew her nose. ‘You seem a little better – are you?'

‘Yes, I am,' Frances told her. ‘I don't know why, because nothing has changed really – but I am thinking about the future. I had a letter from Rosalind Danby to wish me well. And Dan telephoned this morning while you were at the office. He said some of the men from the haulage yard had come to him to ask what they ought to do – apparently some orders need shifting. He told them to carry on as normal for the moment. He wanted to know if he had done right. I've asked him to take over running it. I think I shall do what you suggested, Emily. I don't want anything to do with it, but Dan seems interested so I'll give him a share of the profits and see how it works out.'

‘I'm glad you've made the decision,' Emily said. ‘I offered Dan money to set up his own garage, but he wouldn't take it from me. He is only accepting your offer because he thinks he is helping you – making up for his neglect when you needed him.'

‘Well, he doesn't have to do it forever unless he wants,' Frances said. ‘But he was concerned about men losing their jobs so I think he feels obliged to step in.'

‘Yes, knowing Dan I should say that is about the size of it,' Emily said. ‘I think I had better go back to the house. Amelia and I have to talk.'

‘I'll walk down to the home and see if I can do anything to help out,' Frances said and smiled at her sister. ‘I could never understand why you were so devoted to your work, but I think I can now I've met your guests. However much your own problems hurt, they fade into insignificance when you see what they have to endure.'

‘Yes, that is exactly it,' Emily agreed. ‘It stops you feeling sorry for yourself – and it gives a sense of purpose.' She kissed Frances on the cheek and they parted, Emily going up to the house alone. She was glad that Frances was feeling better, but now she had problems of her own to face.

‘You can't mean it?' Emily said as she looked at Amelia. They were in the small sitting room they both favoured at the rear of the house. ‘But I thought this place meant everything to you?'

‘Vane meant everything,' Amelia said and her tone was decidedly bitter. ‘I immersed myself in the tradition that he cherished, because he loved it all so much. I knew that he married me because he wanted a son – but I married because I wanted to be a wife and I didn't get any other offers. I'm not beautiful and clever like you.' Her face was tight with misery. ‘But you see I made the mistake of falling in love with my husband. He was kind and generous, and always considerate. Even when I failed to give him the son he wanted, he took the blame on himself – accepted that he was too old to father a child. We both knew in our hearts that it was my fault.'

‘Oh, Amelia, I am so sorry. I didn't know any of this. You've always said it was just a marriage of convenience and that it was Vane who couldn't have a child.'

‘I let you believe a lie,' Amelia told her. ‘I believed it myself for a long time, but I always knew the truth in my heart. It was all right until Simon brought you here and then everything changed . . . very slowly, but quite definitely.'

‘How? I don't understand what you mean . . .'

‘Don't you?' Amelia's eyes were so accusing that Emily had to look away. ‘Of course you do. Vane was in love with you. Oh, he was always courteous to me, never let me see that he preferred you – but I knew it. His face lit up whenever you came into the room. He opened the convalescent home because he had to keep you from leaving. He would have done anything for you – and he has. You and Robert get everything that matters.' Now the bitterness flared out of her, marring her face with its ugliness.

‘What do you mean? Surely you and Vanessa have been left a share of Vane's fortune?'

‘I've seen a draft of the will,' Amelia said. ‘The estate and half the money is left to Robert. You have your own trust and the management of the estate until your son is twenty-one. Vanessa gets a few thousand pounds and a house in Dorset that belonged to her mother. I get a house in London, ten thousand pounds and an allowance from a further trust, which comes to you when I die . . .'

‘But of course you will continue to live here,' Emily said a little shocked by her revelations. ‘You run the house so beautifully, Amelia. I am sure I couldn't do it half as well.'

‘You will find it isn't as easy as it seems,' Amelia said. ‘It isn't just the house. There are traditions that people expect . . . but I daresay you will manage. Vane thought that you would be the best person to look after things. He told me he knew that I didn't really care for the estate but that you loved it the way he did . . .'

‘Yes, I love it here, but I'm not sure I know how to manage it,' Emily said. ‘It was Vane who kept everything together. He was the heart of this place . . .' She looked at Amelia unhappily. ‘Is there nothing that would persuade you to stay?'

‘You are the mistress here now,' Amelia said. ‘If Simon had lived you would be Lady Vane. Tradition says that I should move out and leave it to you.'

‘I don't want your title or your place here,' Emily said. ‘I just wanted everything to be as it was – you, Vane, Robert and me . . .'

‘Well, Vane is dead,' Amelia said. ‘Even you can't bring him back. I shall stay for a week or so after the funeral, because it would look odd if I went at once. I'll leave you all my journals to help you – but I want a life of my own, Emily. I lived for Vane, doing the things he wanted, being the kind of wife he needed – but now I am going to live for myself for a change.'

‘Then I suppose I can't hold you,' Emily said. ‘I am sorry you have decided to go, Amelia – but if it is what you want you must do it.'

‘Yes, I shall,' Amelia said and there was an odd look of satisfaction in her eyes. ‘I'll give you five years, Emily. If you're not up to your ears in debt by then I'll take my hat off to you . . .'

‘I am so glad you were here for the funeral,' Emily said to Frances when most of the guests had at last taken their leave. ‘I could just about manage the service, but the rest of it was almost unbearable. I had never met some of the people Amelia invited, and I felt as if I were an outsider. I am sure she was playing the long-suffering widow just to spite me.'

‘You told me yourself that she loved him?'

‘Yes, I didn't mean it that way – but somehow she managed to make me feel as if I didn't belong here. It was the first time I had met Vane's cousin. Actually, he is a second cousin, I think, but I'm not quite sure of the relationship. There was something about the way Amelia introduced him . . .' Emily shook her head. She had sensed an underlying threat but didn't understand what was going on in Amelia's mind.

‘You mean Alan Leicester?'

‘Yes,' Emily said looking thoughtful. ‘I've never heard Vane mention him. I didn't know he had a cousin.'

‘Perhaps they had fallen out over something?' Frances frowned. ‘I thought he was rather nice, Emily. Tall and good looking with that dark blond hair and blue eyes – he reminded me a little of Simon.'

‘Yes, there was a family resemblance,' Emily agreed. ‘But I thought he looked more like Vane must have when he was the same age – he is about thirtyish, I imagine.'

‘Yes, about that,' Frances agreed. ‘I wonder why Lord Vane never invited him to the house?'

‘I have no idea,' Emily replied. Meeting him so suddenly had made her feel slightly uneasy. She supposed that if it hadn't been for Robert he might have expected to inherit the estate – or at least the title, because Vanessa had only a female child. ‘I suppose it must have been a family quarrel. He didn't stay long after the funeral, but asked if he could call and see me in a few days.'

‘I expect he just wants to talk about family stuff,' Frances said. ‘You're not worried about him, are you?'

‘No, of course not,' Emily said. She gave herself a mental shake. Vane had excluded his cousin from his will for reasons of his own. ‘I wonder . . .' She broke off as Vane's daughter came up to them. She already had her coat and hat on, a fur tippet around her neck. ‘Vanessa – do you really have to leave?'

‘I am afraid so,' Vanessa said. ‘I promised I would catch the train back this afternoon. I am flying to Paris with friends in two days so I really can't stay. Besides, I am sure you don't need me. I should only be in the way. And Amelia and I don't really get on, we never have.' She nodded to Frances. ‘It was nice to meet you.'

‘You won't stay for the reading of the will?'

Vanessa pulled a wry face. ‘Vane wrote to me when he made it, asking if I had any objections, which I didn't, of course. I think I have done rather well actually. He was always going to leave the estate to Simon's son. Don't worry, I shan't be contesting it, though Amelia is acting oddly. I can't imagine why she thinks this house should have been hers. Father would never have left it away from Robert.' She glanced at her elegant watch. ‘I must fly. Do come up to London and visit us sometime, Emily. Goodbye.'

‘Yes, of course. Thank you for coming.'

‘What does she mean by Amelia acting oddly over the house?' Frances said. ‘She must have known Vane would leave it to his grandson?'

‘Robert isn't Simon's son,' Emily told her. ‘Vane knew it but he still chose to leave the estate to Robert. He told me that as far as he was concerned Robert was his heir.'

‘You've never said anything about this to me before.' Frances stared at her. ‘Does Amelia know?'

‘She guessed it at the time, but she couldn't prove it if I chose to lie in court,' Emily said. ‘Oh, Mr James is looking this way, Frances. I think he wants to read the will. I had better go.'

‘I shall be in the small sitting room,' Frances told her. ‘I have some magazines I want to read . . .'

‘I'll find you there later,' Emily said and walked to where the solicitor and Amelia were standing.

‘Shall we go into the study?' the lawyer asked. ‘I imagine you are both aware of the main terms of Lord Vane's will – but I am required to read it to you. I shall send a copy of it to Mrs Hendry, but she told me her father had already communicated his wishes to her.'

‘Yes, of course.' Emily glanced at Amelia. There was a smirk on her face, which made Emily feel uneasy.

They went into Vane's study. It was furnished with deep leather armchairs and mahogany bookcases lined the walls. It reminded Emily so vividly of him that it brought a lump to her throat.

‘It is really quite simple,' the lawyer said smiling at Emily. ‘Your own trust fund of ten thousand pounds now becomes yours entirely. You may leave it invested or take the capital as you please. The estate and one half share of the money – which is about eighty thousand pounds in total – invested at the moment in shares, is left in three portions. One half goes to your son, Mrs Vane, the other half to be divided between Mrs Hendry and Lady Vane. Robert also gets this house, its contents and the estate. Mrs Hendry receives a house in Dorset and Lady Vane has a house in Mayfair and an income for life. There are a few small bequests to servants but they are minor and provided for from a separate fund.'

‘Will you read the exact wording concerning the estate being left to Robert?' Amelia said. ‘What does it actually say?'

The lawyer looked a little puzzled but obligingly picked up the will and read it aloud. ‘“I, Henry Vane, being of sound mind . . .” Ah yes, here it is. It is worded a little strangely. It says, “I leave one half of the capital invested in shares and the estate to Robert, the son of Emily Vane, my dearest friend and my son's widow. Emily is to have sole charge of the estate and money until Robert is of age.” Yes, how odd . . . I recall remarking on it at the time but Lord Vane was most insistent that the wording be exact.'

‘Let me look!' Amelia snatched the will from him, reading it herself. ‘Damn him!' She threw a look of loathing across at Emily. ‘I suppose you think you are in the clear now, but I haven't finished yet . . .' She got up and rushed from the room.

‘Oh dear . . .' The lawyer coughed and looked shocked.

Emily sent him an apologetic look. ‘I am so sorry,' she said. ‘Lady Vane is under some stress. Would you excuse me? I must speak to her. Please stay tonight if you wish – or at least for dinner. I must go to Amelia.'

Emily followed Amelia out into the hall. She was halfway up the stairs, but Emily ran after her, catching at her arm. Amelia tried to pull away from her, but Emily held on.

‘What is the matter?' Emily asked. ‘You knew what was in the will – why are you so angry?' Amelia glared at her, something odd in her eyes, and suddenly Emily realized what she had been hoping. ‘You wanted Vane's cousin to contest it, didn't you? If Robert wasn't around he might have been entitled to something.'

‘The title is Alan's by right,' Amelia said. ‘The estate wasn't entailed so he couldn't have claimed that – but I might. I am more entitled to it than a bastard . . .'

Emily's hand snaked out, catching her across the face. ‘Don't you ever dare to call my son a bastard! Vane loved him and he wanted him to be his grandson. I told him the truth but he already knew it and it made no difference.'

Amelia was holding her hand to her face. ‘You witch,' she muttered. ‘You think you've won – but I shall tell Alan the truth. He will claim the title and everyone will know what a cheat you are. I may not be able to contest the will – but I'll ruin your reputation. You'll find it impossible to carry on as the lady of the manor then.'

‘I'm sorry I hit you. I shouldn't have done that,' Emily said but the expression in her eyes was angry. ‘If you dare tell Vane's cousin that Robert is a bastard I shall sue you for everything Vane left you. You have no proof of anything, Amelia. As far as the world knows, I was entirely faithful to my husband.'