“Tess, actually.” Susannah frowned. She had trouble remembering the names of some of her relatives most days. Why had Tess-the-terrible-driver made such an impact? Maybe it was the dog. Susannah had always had a soft spot for big, dopey Labs. “Come on, keep me company while I raid the fridge for some lunch. We really need to step up the search for a new personal chef. I’m living on what I can mine from the deli counter and whatever I can persuade Joan to stock me up with.”
Having never really learned to cook beyond a burnt omelette, Susannah was missing access to a chef most of all. Even though Francine had refused to live in or work full-time and insisted on only being called Chef at all times, she had been a damn fine cook.
Luckily there was a platter of charcuterie and a goat’s cheese salad from Joan’s last delivery. There was plenty for Finn, too, so Susannah retrieved a bottle of white from the wine fridge and poured a glass for both of them.
“I assume,” Susannah said, picking at some Serrano ham with her fork, “that at least half of those calls were from my dear sister-in-law?”
Finn nodded, rolling their eyes at the same time behind dark thick-rimmed glasses. “Her snivelling assistant wanted to remind you that she had sent her lawyer’s letter, which I already told him you received. Then, apparently, Robin wanted to visit, even though I said you had no free time this week. And then she phoned herself ‘by accident’, but I think it was mostly just to irritate me. Actually I know it was, because she took the opportunity to misgender me at least three times. It’s bad enough she can’t use ‘they’ when referring to me, but the way she calls me ‘girl’ all the time like she’s winning some kind of point…”
“Christ, I’m sorry.” Susannah set her cutlery down in disgust. And maybe a little to avoid throwing anything. “You shouldn’t have to put up with that level of ignorance. Not just because she has it in for me.”
“Oh, to hell with Robin. It’d hurt more, all her snotty digs about both of us, if I cared about her in the least. Luckily for us, I don’t. I’ve counted all my damns, and I don’t have a single one left to spare for her.”
“I wish I could be above getting irritated by her,” Susannah admitted with a sigh, picking out a slice of salami. “You’d think at some point she’d realised her brother died and actually grieve for him instead of chasing his money.”
“Chasing the money he left you,” Finn corrected, since they both knew nothing else about why the will was being contested. “And trying to get control of your house and land.”
“Yes. That. I know we didn’t have a conventional marriage, exactly, but we did care for each other. Most importantly, we both poured our hearts and souls into preventing this place from turning into a draughty old mausoleum. Robin wouldn’t be so interested if she knew how much bloody work it had taken, and how much of Jimmy’s money we spent.”
“She’d have a good go at spending the rest, though.”
“Yes, she would. Meanwhile I have a massive estate to run, and most of the staff who left when Jimmy died haven’t been replaced. As much as I don’t fancy it, let’s get that big vet company out to see us. They must have at least one specialist who knows horses.”
“You really don’t want to give the town vet a chance?”
“Didn’t I just say that they’re not getting my business? The first two tried to “nice me” to death, which you know I can’t stand. Then the new one needs Google Maps to work out the difference between her elbow and her… well, you know.”
Finn smirked, lifting their wine glass. “Thank you for being so delicate. Always such a lady, Suze.”
“Lady of the manor, and don’t you forget it.”
“Your wicked sister-in-law certainly won’t.”
They both took large sips of wine in solidarity. Susannah tried not to think about all her unread emails, about the pile of paperwork in the office waiting for her signature. Right now there was just well-seasoned meat and the satisfying crunch of vegetables, along with Finn’s calming company. No need to dwell on family unrest, or mouthy little vets with ponytails and altogether too much attitude.
“So the vet was really bad, huh?” Finn asked.
Susannah jumped a little at the sensation that she’d just had her mind read. “Never seen anything like it. I mean, she sounds local, so how she got lost I don’t know. She was driving a tank she can’t even handle, and there I find her, blocking the road like nobody else might ever want to use it. Which, fine, people take wrong turns. But she was quite content to sit there aimlessly as though the world would solve the problem for her. All thought and no action, well, that never got anything done. And like I said, it made me late for saying goodbye.”
They were interrupted by the church-bell sound of the front doorbell. All that was missing were a dozen choirboys and it could have been a Sunday afternoon airing of Songs of Praise.
“I thought we were getting that changed,” Susannah complained.
Finn got to their feet, straightening their shirt while still chewing on some rocket.
“Replacing the doorbell is on the list. It’s just about three hundred places from the top.”
“Oh, go answer the door.”
“Fine.”
Susannah had a feeling she already knew who it was, and raised voices a moment later confirmed it. She wiped her hands with the napkin and took a final mouthful of the wine. It wasn’t going to end until she put in an appearance.
“Robin!” Susannah made sure her utter lack of surprise was obvious as she strode out into the entrance hall. “I didn’t see your name in my calendar. And, Jonathan,
