A Loving Family (38 page)

Belinda stifled a yawn. ‘I'm going to bed too. It's been a long day and I'm worn out.' She followed her mother from the room.

Stella laid her hand on Perry's arm as he was about to leave. ‘Is it possible to find out if there's a will? Do you know which solicitor Mr Rivenhall used?'

‘No, miss, but I'm well in with the lawyers' clerks. It could take some time but I might be able to discover something.' He rammed his battered top hat onto his head. ‘I'm off then. This has been quite a night and it's not over yet.'

She smiled. ‘Don't let my brother drink too much, Perry. I'm relying on you to bring them both home reasonably sober.'

He tipped his hat. ‘You can trust me, miss.'

Stella was in the shop kitchen finishing off a batch of iced buns when Rosa burst into the room. Her cheeks were flushed from the cold and her eyes sparkling as she embraced her friend. ‘I've come home early,' she said happily. ‘I know it's wicked to be glad that someone is dead but I can't mourn Uncle Gervase. He was a hateful man and he treated us so badly.'

Stella held her at arm's length. ‘You're getting covered in icing sugar, Rosa. You'll ruin that lovely fur cape.'

‘It is beautiful, isn't it? Tommy's mother gave it to me as an engagement present. It's Russian sable but she said that it never really suited her, and anyway she has a wardrobe filled with furs and beautiful clothes, so I hardly think she'll miss it.' Rosa did a twirl. ‘It is rather fine though, and it's lovely and warm. The roads are still covered in snow and once or twice I thought we were going to have an accident but the Langhornes' coachman is very capable.'

‘You look radiant.' Stella turned to her mother, who was stirring dried fruit into cake mixture. ‘Doesn't she look happy, Ma?'

Jacinta nodded. ‘Yes, indeed. Will you return to Heron Park now, my dear?'

‘I hadn't given it a thought.' Rosa's smile faded. ‘I don't know if it's possible or even if I'd want to live there without Kit, and I'd miss all of you terribly.'

‘Well, the house needs someone there to look after it.' Stella smoothed icing on the last bun and stood back to admire her work. ‘What will happen to the servants, for one thing? There ought to be someone in charge.'

Rosa frowned thoughtfully. ‘I suppose that ought to be you, Jacinta. You were his wife.'

‘That's something I'd rather forget.' Jacinta spooned the mixture into a cake tin. ‘I never had anything to do with the servants. Gervase left the management of the household to Mrs Kendall. I suppose she will simply carry on until the new owner of Heron Park takes up residence, and that might be you and your brother, Rosa.'

‘All the same, I think you should pay a visit to your old home and make sure that everything is running smoothly.' Stella gave Rosa an encouraging smile. ‘I'll come with you, if you like. Perhaps we could look for your uncle's will, or at least find out the name of his solicitor. He must have kept papers in his study that would give us some information.'

‘He was so mean he probably didn't employ a solicitor.' Rosa selected a bun and took a bite, licking the sugar from her lips with a satisfied sigh. ‘I'm sorry, but I'm starving. I didn't have time to eat breakfast and it's past midday.' She popped the remainder into her mouth. ‘Tommy is waiting outside in the carriage. I'll pay for that, Stella, and take a couple for him. He has a very sweet tooth.'

‘I'm sure I can afford to let you have them for nothing.'

Jacinta looked up from her work. ‘What plans did you have, Rosa? I mean, are you going to stay with us or are you returning to Portgone Place?'

‘I'll stay in London until the wedding, but Sir Percy said we can't think of getting married until the summer. He doesn't approve of whirlwind courtships. He's a dear, but rather old-fashioned.'

‘Then we'll see you back at the house.' Stella picked up the tray and was about to make for the door when Jacinta called her back.

‘If I may make a suggestion, why don't you girls get Tommy to escort you to Heron Park today? If you arrive in the Langhornes' barouche it will look much better than turning up in a hired chaise. You're still a Rivenhall, Rosa. You might even discover that your uncle honoured his promise and left the estate to Kit. You need to find that will.'

‘Ma's right.' Stella carried the tray into the shop and set it down behind the counter. She turned to Rosa. ‘The legalities could go on for months, even years.'

‘It's a lot to ask of Tommy,' Rosa said, frowning. ‘We've come a long way and he has to make the return journey.'

‘What's a lot to ask of me?' Tommy stood in the shop doorway, stamping his feet and rubbing his hands together. ‘I'm sorry, my love, but it's freezing outside. I really must hurry you.'

‘Jacinta and Stella think we ought to visit Heron Park,' Rosa said with a persuasive smile. ‘That's what I meant when I said it was a lot to ask of you. It would make it impossible to travel back to Essex this evening.'

‘I don't see the problem, my sweet. Presumably you've got a full complement of servants in the old place, and if Mrs Rivenhall and Stella were to accompany us it wouldn't be improper for me to stay. The horses could rest overnight and be fresh for the journey home tomorrow.'

Stella glanced at her mother. ‘Would you feel up to that, Ma? We could leave Belle and Aunt Maud in charge of the shop and be back by midday tomorrow.'

‘I'd hoped never to see that place again,' Jacinta said wearily. ‘But I suppose I must face my fears. I will come with you, but first I want to make sure that Maud is willing to help Belle in the shop.'

Noakes greeted them with tears in his eyes. ‘Miss Rosa, I thought I'd never see you again. We've been in a terrible way since the master's death. No one tells us anything, and we're afraid we'll be turned out on the street.'

‘We're here to sort things out, Noakes.'

‘Will you be staying, Miss Rosa?'

‘Tell Mrs Kendall that we'll be four for dinner this evening.'

‘Does that include the lawyer, Miss Rosa?'

‘What's this?' Tommy demanded. ‘I thought you didn't know your uncle's lawyer?'

‘Nor do I, Tommy.' Rosa turned back to Noakes. ‘Where is this person?'

‘In the study, Miss Rosa. He's been going through the late master's papers since early this morning.' Noakes glanced anxiously at Jacinta. ‘He said he was doing it at your bidding, ma'am.'

Jacinta drew herself up to her full height. ‘I think we should see this man and find out who gave him permission to go through my husband's things.'

‘Well said, Ma,' Stella whispered.

‘Quite right.' Rosa nodded with approval. ‘There's no need to announce us, Noakes. We'll handle this ourselves. Come, Tommy.' She marched off with a purposeful set to her shoulders.

Jacinta hesitated. ‘Ask Mrs Kendall to have rooms made ready, Noakes, and a fire in the morning parlour would be most welcome.' She linked her hand through Stella's arm as they made their way towards the study. ‘I'm shaking from head to foot.'

‘No one would know. You did that magnificently.'

‘The servants always terrified me, Stella. I'm not made for this sort of life.'

‘You'll be free from it all the moment we find out what Gervase had in mind, and then you need never set foot in Heron Park again.'

Jacinta said nothing, but Stella could see that simply being in the house was bringing back unhappy memories. She gave her arm an affectionate squeeze as they followed Rosa and Tommy into the study.

‘Who are you?' Rosa stared at the flamboyant character who was sorting through a pile of papers on Gervase's desk.

‘Yes, what right have you to be here?' Tommy demanded.

‘I am Herbert Chiltern, the late Mr Gervase Rivenhall's lawyer.' Chiltern struck a pose that would have received a round of applause had he been acting a part on the London stage. ‘Whom have I the pleasure of addressing?' He brushed a lock of hair back from his forehead, revealing a ruffled shirt front and cuffs strangely at odds with the severe cut of his pinstripe suit.

‘I'm not sure it's a pleasure,' Tommy said coldly. ‘My name is Thomas Langhorne and this lady is my fiancée, Miss Rosa Rivenhall.'

‘How do you do, Miss Rivenhall?' Chiltern bowed from the waist, creasing his features into a smile that had he been a guard dog could have been mistaken for a snarl. ‘It is a pleasure to meet you at last. Your late uncle spoke of you often and fondly.'

‘I doubt that,' Rosa said coldly. ‘Uncle Gervase couldn't stand the sight of me or my brother.'

‘And these ladies,' Tommy said hastily, ‘are Mr Rivenhall's widow, and her daughter, Miss Barry.'

Chiltern sidled out from behind the desk to take Jacinta's hand and raise it to his lips. ‘We meet again, ma'am. It's always a pleasure to see you.' He acknowledged Stella with a nod of his head and a sickly smile.

‘I remember you now, Chiltern,' Jacinta said, snatching her hand away. ‘I thought I'd forgotten everything about that fatal evening, but now it's coming clear in my mind.'

‘I'm sure I don't know what you mean, Mrs Rivenhall. My visits to Heron Park have only ever been for professional reasons.'

‘That's not true. You were a close friend of Mr Rivenhall's. What are you doing here now?'

Apparently unabashed, with the smile still lingering on his lips, Chiltern moved away. ‘As Mr Rivenhall's solicitor it behoves me to settle his affairs.'

‘But not to go through his papers,' Rosa said angrily.

‘There is the matter of his last will and testament which has to be sent for probate, Miss Rivenhall, and the estate cannot run itself.'

‘That has nothing to do with you, sir.' Tommy reached across the table and picked up a document tied with red tape. ‘Do I take it that this is Mr Rivenhall's will?'

‘I believe so.'

‘Then this should be handed to Mr Rivenhall's family. Your duty has been done, sir.'

‘Are you dismissing me, Mr Langhorne? I don't think it is up to you.'

Jacinta stepped forward and took the will from Tommy. ‘As Mr Rivenhall's widow I think it is up to me to make that decision. I have no need of your services, Mr Chiltern. I will instruct my own solicitor if I need legal advice.'

Chiltern's face flushed to a dangerous shade of puce. ‘I have been Mr Rivenhall's adviser for twenty years, ma'am. I do not work for nothing.'

‘Send your bill, sir,' Jacinta said grandly. ‘It will be dealt with when the estate is settled. Good day to you, Mr Chiltern.'

‘You are making a grave mistake, ma'am.'

Jacinta shook her head. ‘No, sir. It is you who are mistaken in thinking that my memory fails me. I recall that evening clearly now. You and Ronald Clifford accompanied my late husband to the caves where the party was in progress. I remember seeing you with the poor girl who died. I tried to warn her, but she had been drinking, and she might even have been drugged. She ignored me.'

‘This is preposterous,' Chiltern said angrily. ‘I had nothing to do with her death. It was an accident.'

‘So you know what happened.' Tommy took a step towards him. ‘Did you tell the police, in which case you would have been called as a witness at the coroner's inquest?'

‘I'm leaving now.' Chiltern backed towards the door, but Stella barred his way.

‘Perhaps it was you who arranged for Ronald Clifford to be murdered so that he couldn't testify, and maybe you know more about Mr Rivenhall's death than you care to admit.'

Chiltern's features twisted into an ugly mask. ‘Gervase sent his man to silence Clifford and things got out of hand, but it was the girl's father who shot Rivenhall.'

‘If you know that why haven't you told the police?' Stella demanded angrily. ‘What sort of lawyer are you, Mr Chiltern?'

He pushed her out of the way. ‘One who values his own reputation, Miss Barry. Not that it's any of your business.' He made for the door, pausing with his fingers clawed around the handle. ‘The village protects its own. Rivenhall's murder will never be solved. I wish you joy of your inheritance, Mrs Rivenhall. From the gutter to the gutter; that's where sluts like you end up.' He slammed out of the room.

‘Don't take any notice of him, Ma,' Stella said, glancing anxiously at her mother.

‘Hateful creature.' Jacinta sank down on the nearest chair. ‘He was as bad as Gervase, if not worse because he is supposed to be a man of the law.'

Stella went to kneel beside her mother. ‘Don't upset yourself, Ma. It's all over now. You were magnificent, and now you need never have anything to do with Heron Park again.'

‘It's a lot to take in, but it comes as no surprise to learn that Uncle Gervase was involved in such depravity.' Rosa held out her hand. ‘May I see the will, Jacinta? It does concern all of us.'

Jacinta handed it over. ‘I don't think it will affect me in any way. Gervase had no affection for me. I was a slave as far as he was concerned. By marrying me he dispensed with the necessity to pay for my services.'

Rosa undid the tape and examined the document, and a faint gasp of astonishment escaped from her pursed lips.

‘What does it say? Don't keep us in suspense.' Stella stared at her, mystified. ‘Did your uncle leave the estate to you and Kit?'

‘Yes, don't keep us in suspense, my love.' Tommy moved to her side and looked over her shoulder. ‘Hold it steady, Rose. I can't read a word with your hands shaking like that. What does it say?'

‘Are you all right?' Stella asked anxiously. ‘You look as though you've seen a ghost.'

‘I think I have,' Rosa said slowly. ‘Uncle Gervase's spirit is still playing games with us. He's left everything to you, Jacinta.'