Without that, at grandmother’s death she would be destitute.’
‘No, she would not. She would be married to you.’
‘What are you trying to say?’
‘Nothing. We must be content to rub along together, I suppose. Even if I were prepared to deprive you of
‘Do you love him?’
‘I suppose I do. Do you love Fiona?’
‘Not enough to lose everything, hers and mine, for the sake of connubial bliss.’
‘Of course, nothing really definite came out, did it? Could I have another dollop of whisky in this penitential drink?’
‘Yes, of course. You know, Diana, it’s a pity we can’t make a go of things. We were all right until you were carrying the twins.’
‘I didn’t want children. I didn’t want to go about looking like a captive balloon. I didn’t want nappies and losing sleep at nights and babies’ caterwauling and bringing up wind and having to be taken to the post-natal clinic and having measles and whooping-cough and all the other childish ailments to deal with and not being able to have exciting holidays and having to spend all that money on school fees and clothes for the brats. And then to have two! As though one baby at a time is not one too many! I lost seven years out of my life bringing them up! Seven years that can never come again.’
‘You’re tired and her oblique hints about her Will have upset you,’ said Rupert in a gentler, more considerate tone than he had used, when he spoke to her at all, for some years. ‘Why don’t you drink up and go to bed? My grandmother isn’t dead yet.’
‘If wishes were horses—’
‘Pigs might fly and you told that black boy they don’t. Would it benefit anybody if they did? Even the pigs themselves might not like it.’
‘It seems that Maria and I are the only ones with an assured future,’ said Ruby, meeting Fiona in the hall at Headlands on the following morning. ‘My training is to be paid for, chance what, and Maria is to have this house.’
‘With not enough money to keep it up, I fancy, unless the others sacrifice their shares for the reasons given.’
‘If she has any sense she’ll sell the house and live on the proceeds.’
‘Who would buy a great place like this, stuck down in the wilds of nowhere?’
‘Would you rather live at Seawards?’
‘No, I am glad to be back here with
‘Campions would be a better proposition for you, perhaps, if it didn’t knock out Rupert’s chances.’
‘I’ll thank you not to be impudent.’
‘No offence. I suppose you know that all the threats and prohibitions are not in the Will.’
‘How do you mean?’
‘She was ad-libbing as she read out the provisions.’
‘How do you know?’
‘Oh, she can’t keep her secrets from me.’
‘You are in her confidence to that extent?’
‘No. I am into her bureau to that extent, of course. I’ve seen the rough draft she sent to Monaker. There was nothing in it about divorces and where people were to live.’
‘Really, Ruby, you are incorrigible!’
‘In other words,’ said Ruby, as they stepped out of doors to walk over to the stables, ‘if she died tonight a lot of people would be happy. I suppose you know that Mattie has got her come-uppance?’
‘What has that to do with it?’
‘Until the
‘She didn’t mention that last night.’
‘She didn’t mention any of the bequests to the servants, but they are all down on paper.’
Mattie came out of the Lunns’ cottage and greeted them. ‘I’ve been turned out to grass,’ she said.
‘How do you mean?’ asked Fiona, although she knew perfectly well what Mattie intended to convey.
‘What I say. But she won’t get the better of me, I can promise you that. Redruth to look after the horses? He haven’t a clue. Cares for nowt but his old motor-car. And as for her sellin’ of ’em, I’ve talked her out of that.’
‘Do you mean you’re going to look after the horses without being paid?’ asked Ruby. ‘Dashed if
‘You aren’t me, Ruby.’
‘Miss Ruby, if you please.’
