Barbara Taylor Bradford – The Complete Ravenscar Trilogy: The Ravenscar Dynasty, Heirs of Ravenscar, Being Elizabeth (страница 63)
‘Thank God we’ve heard from the fellow at last, I’d almost given up on him,’ Edward replied, and this good news brought a smile to his face. ‘Now, Tiddler,’ he remarked, turning to Richard. ‘Here’s the catch of the day. Take it along to the kitchen and tell Cook it’s
Richard nodded. ‘’Course I will, Ned.’
The boy hurried off with the small haul of fish, walking rapidly down the corridor.
Will and Edward followed at a slower pace, a compatible silence between them. After they went into the library Will said, ‘Once we have that information, everything can go ahead according to Neville. There’s nothing else we’re waiting for, not really.’
Walking across the floor, going to stand in front of the roaring fire, still chilled from his sojourn on the beach, Edward nodded. ‘I’m anxious to get things moving, to be honest. The sooner the better. There’s no real reason to wait, once those telegrams are received. I don’t want John Summers and that bloody woman to do any more damage.’
He sighed and went to sit in a chair nearby, looked across at Will. ‘There’s a lot of rebuilding to do, of that I am absolutely certain. Rob Aspen and Alfredo Oliveri, and Christopher Green as well actually, will quickly pull the mining division into shape, but the vineyards in France are in need of an overhaul, and somebody will have to look after the northern offices. Things have grown slack, in my estimation.’
‘Perhaps Johnny will agree to do that,’ Will suggested. ‘After all, he has a fund of knowledge about the north, after working for Neville all these years, and he has a family home in Yorkshire.’
‘I expect he will have to take on that burden, if only for a short while. But I’ll miss him, Will, he’s invaluable.’ Edward smiled at his friend with affection, swiftly added, ‘I certainly can’t let you work up here in the north. I need you in London with me.’
‘And that’s where I want to be. By the way, Ned, I spoke to Vicky while you were off fishing. And—’
‘Did she mention Lily?’ Ned asked eagerly, cutting across him.
‘She certainly did. Lily is fine, and she’s expecting you next week. If you go up to town I’ll go with you, and Johnny will have to come, too. You know Neville’s a stickler about protecting you.’
‘Of course, there’s no question about that. Is that all she had to say about Lily?’
‘She confided that your darling Lily was looking beautiful, that she was in good health, and that the baby was showing a little, and that was about it.’
Edward grinned. ‘Can you imagine that I’m going to become a father? It’s hard to believe, isn’t it?’
Will merely grinned, and exclaimed, ‘And Vicky might well become a mother, Ned. She and Stephen are thinking about adopting that little girl Amos found in a cart. Don’t you remember, he told us all about it at the last meeting we had. He seemed oddly touched by the child, and so is Vicky. More than that, actually, old chap. She’s gone a bit potty about her, according to Stephen. However, he’s all for the adoption because Vicky hasn’t been able to become pregnant.’
‘I think that’s wonderful, and such a kindness to the child,’ Edward replied. ‘From what Finnister told us, the girl is rather pretty, isn’t she?’
‘Yes. Still, they don’t know anything about her. Vicky told me that when they took her in at Haddon House she was sort of…well, permanently attached to a cloth bag and wouldn’t be separated from it. Eventually they did get her to show them some of the things inside. There was nothing to explain who she was. So they call her Rose.’
‘
‘Good Lord, I hadn’t thought about that!’ Will exclaimed. ‘Perhaps you’re correct, maybe they don’t have to do anything legal. Anyway, Fenella knows Hugh Codrill, the barrister, and he’s apparently going to advise them.’
‘Then they’re in good hands.’
Before dinner that night, Edward went to his mother’s upstairs sitting room. She was alone, reading a book in front of the fire; she looked up, and put it down when he came into the small boudoir.
‘Yes, Ned, what is it?’ she asked, smiling at him, beckoning him to enter.
‘Can we talk for a few moments?’
‘But of course we can. Is something troubling you?’
‘Well, yes, as a matter of fact it is. I’m troubled about the tiaras, Mother. I don’t want you to sell them so that you can buy me a house, in order for me to create my own household.’
‘Ned, there’s no other way to do it!’
‘I think there will be and really rather soon.’
Cecily frowned. ‘You do? Please explain, darling.’
‘We have an enormous amount of evidence against the Grants and their adherents,’ Ned confided. ‘It’s going to sink them once and for all. Actually, we could go ahead now, but Neville wants to wait until we have some telegrams which are coming soon from India. Oliveri has a good friend out there, a man called David Westmouth, and he’s finally got the goods on Aubrey Masters and his dealings with the locals, those who are involved in the skimming I told you about. So, we’re mounting a case and then we’ll request permission to present it to the board.’
‘I understand…when do you think you will do this?’ she asked, her excitement reflected in her eyes, her expression eager.
‘I hope it will be only a few weeks from now. In May.’
Now Cecily could not keep the smile off her face. She beamed at her eldest son and asked, ‘Why are you still standing there? Come and sit with me for a moment, and tell me more.’
He did as she asked, lowered himself into a chair next to the fire, and explained, ‘There’s not a lot to tell, Mother. You already know most of it.’
‘When are you going to London?’
‘Next week. For a few days only, and then I’ll be back for about a week. After that I’m going to be needed in town. You do understand, don’t you?’
‘Oh yes, I do, darling, I really do. I plan to remain here at Ravenscar for the summer. I know the London Season’s not over, but that doesn’t matter since we are a family in mourning and cannot participate. Therefore, in my opinion, we’re better off here, and I think the children agree.’
‘I know Richard does…he loves Ravenscar.’
‘So does George, you know.’
‘Yes, that’s true,’ Edward agreed, and thought: he would love it for himself.
‘You will be running Deravenels, won’t you, Ned?’ Cecily suddenly asked, startling him.
‘I will.’
‘And Neville?’
‘Ah yes, Cousin Neville. Mmmmm. Let me think…he will be advising me, helping me wherever he can, as will Johnny and Will.’
There was a pause.
Cecily was totally silent.
‘What is it, Mother?’ he asked finally when she remained mute.
‘What does Neville hope to gain from all of this, Ned? He is the greatest magnate in England, and probably the richest. He already has everything. He doesn’t need to help you run Deravenels…’
‘I know that as well as you do, and I suppose he does, too. On the other hand, his father backed my father, the true heir to Deravenels. I believe he feels totally committed to do the same for me. There’s his pride involved you know, and honour. And another thing. I would say he wants…
‘Oh, Ned, surely he has enough power.’
‘When is enough
‘So what you are saying is that Neville wants power through you. Is that it?’
‘To a certain extent.’
‘Oh, Ned, be careful.’
‘I am not a toy on a string, he is not my puppet-master. He doesn’t control me. I am my own man.’
‘Ah, but does
‘I should think so…Why Neville has known me all my life, and has only my interests at heart.’
‘I say again, be careful, Ned. Be very careful.’
‘It’s becoming very painful for me to leave the child at Haddon House,’ Vicky explained, looking from Fenella to her husband Stephen. ‘And I worry about her so much when I’m not here, it’s upsetting my life, my concentration, and almost everything I do.’
‘I know it is, my dear,’ Stephen said, reaching out, touching her arm lovingly. ‘And I can’t say I blame you. I realize you think there’s a chance someone might come and claim her, or that she might run out into the streets and disappear. However, I don’t believe there is the remotest chance of either of those things happening.’
‘Neither do I!’ Fenella exclaimed. ‘She has become very attached to you, Vicky, we understand that. She took to you the day Amos brought her, and she can’t wait for the days when you come here.’
Stephen Forth sat back in his chair, a reflective expression shadowing his eyes. At forty-two he was a successful banker with a rising career. A man of independent means, through his mother’s family inheritance, he was a Harrow boy and a Cambridge graduate, and something of an intellectual. He was also a practical man, very down to earth, who believed in all things English, in the King, and in God, in that order. He had an enormous sense of justice, of fairness, and he was known for his kindness and charity. His looks were typically English. He had light brown hair and a fair complexion, and his warm brown eyes could fill with compassion or twinkle with fun and mischief. He was usually characterized by everyone as a nice man…nice looking, nice by nature.