The Poellenberg Inheritance (31 page)

‘I couldn't stop it,' he rasped at her, choking, ‘I tried, my darling, but I couldn't do it … I killed him. I followed him from Paula's office that day and I killed him. To protect you. To stop the story getting out …'

His wife gazed at him through her tears. She found his hand and clasped it.

‘I knew you did,' she said. ‘I knew it was you when I realised you'd slipped away to London the first time and there was no committee meeting. You did it because you loved me. And you were right. There's nothing on your conscience, except love.'

‘I failed,' he mumbled. ‘All your suffering – I'd have done anything … You'll be all right, my darling, won't you? You'll be all right?'

‘Of course,' she said. ‘Of course. I shall do just what you want me to do. And please God we will soon be together.'

‘He died very quickly.' The Brigadier was gasping, fighting for the words. ‘I burnt my walking stick. I don't regret it, my darling. There's nothing in the world I wouldn't do for you …'

‘There's nothing in the world you haven't done.' His wife leaned close to him; for a moment her lips pressed against his cheek. His jaws slipped and suddenly there was a harsh, throttled sound coming from the open mouth.

‘I love you,' Paula's mother whispered, ‘I love you, Gerald. I'll just wait to be with you.'

He didn't answer and he didn't hear. There was a last choking breath and then the room was quiet. His wife put her hand over his eyes and pressed the half-closed eyelids shut. Before she went out of the room she kissed him again.

‘I'm very sorry, Mother. I wish there was something we could do.' When her mother came into the room Paula had gone up to her and taken her arm. Watching them Fisher saw the mother flinch. It was a tiny movement, so transient that it had gone as soon as it had registered. She didn't like being touched by Paula. He was not surprised when she disengaged herself. She had come into the room and said simply, ‘Your father is dead.'

It was the same flat statement as the one which had brought them down from London. ‘Your father is dying. I thought you would like to know.'

And now in the sunny room, with the two labradors settling at her feet, she faced them with the same stoic dignity.

‘He was a wonderful man,' she said. ‘He gave me perfect happiness.' There seemed nothing more to add; she didn't appear to want sympathy. She had sat down and was stroking one of the dogs. He saw Paula standing in the middle of the room, more forlorn and alone than her mother. He went over to her, taking her hand.

‘You're quite sure you don't want us to stay, Mrs. Ridgeway? We'd be very happy to stay with you, or take you back with us.'

‘No, thank you,' she answered. She even gave him a polite smile. ‘It's very kind but I don't want to keep you and Paula here. I would prefer to be alone. I don't want to leave this house; it was our home. He loved it.'

‘We'll be in touch tomorrow,' Fisher said.

Mrs. Ridgeway got up and came over to them. She held out her hand and Fisher shook it. There was a brief moment when mother and daughter embraced and then Mrs. Ridgeway had stepped back.

‘Thank you for coming,' she said. ‘And I'm very happy for you, Paula. If you have anything like the joy in your life that your father and I have had together, you will be very fortunate indeed. If you don't mind I won't come outside with you. I think I will go and lie down.'

They went out of the drawing room, through the front door into the sunshine. His car was parked in the forecourt. He opened the door for Paula, and then climbed in the other side. He lit a cigarette and gave it to her.

‘I'm not going to say anything to you,' he said, ‘except I love you very much and I'm going to make you very happy.' He reached over and kissed her. ‘It's all over now, my darling. It's a new life for both of us.' He switched on the ignition and the engine throbbed. ‘Let's get the hell out of here.'

About the Author

Evelyn Anthony is the pen name of Evelyn Ward-Thomas, a female British author who began writing in 1949. She gained considerable success with her historical novels—two of which were selected for the American Literary Guild—before winning huge acclaim for her espionage thrillers. Her book,
The Occupying Power
, won the Yorkshire Post Fiction Prize, andher 1971 novel,
The Tamarind Seed
, was made into a film starring Julie Andrews and Omar Sharif. Anthony's books have been translated into nineteen languages. She lives in Essex, England.

All rights reserved, including without limitation the right to reproduce this ebook or any portion thereof in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of the publisher.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, events, and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Copyright © 1972 by Anthony Enterprises

Cover design by Mimi Bark

ISBN: 978-1-5040-2465-5

This edition published in 2015 by Open Road Integrated Media, Inc.

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