The Complete Ravenscar Trilogy: The Ravenscar Dynasty, Heirs of Ravenscar, Being Elizabeth

There was a moment of silence, and the two men exchanged looks.

At last Will asked, ‘Do you think that perhaps our side has something to do with that digitalis in Masters’ food? If indeed there was some there?’

‘I don’t know. Anyway, how could they have?’

‘God knows,’ Will muttered, shaking his head.

Late that afternoon when he arrived home at the Charles Street house, Edward went in search of his mother. He found her in his father’s den, working at the desk, and she glanced up as he opened the door and went inside.

‘Oh hello, darling,’ she said, smiling at her eldest son. ‘Nice lunch with Will?’

‘Yes, very pleasant, thanks. Is this an inconvenient time to drop in on you, Mother, or do you have a few minutes to spare? You do seem to be rather busy with your accounts.’

‘No, they can wait, and I was hoping to have a chat with you anyway, Ned.’

‘About something special?’ he asked as he walked over and sat down in a chair near the desk.

‘No, just things in general, nothing specific. And what about you?’

For a moment his eyes rested on the pile of bills on the desk. After a moment, he said, ‘Why did Father never have any money? After all, he was in a good position at Deravenels—assistant managing director. He must have had a decent salary.’

‘Not really. Naturally he had a salary, Ned, but it was not very much, of that I can assure you.’

‘And what about his father and grandfather? Didn’t they leave him any money?’

‘They, too, were on low salaries, and the Grants cheated them of their bonuses most of the time, just as they cheated your father later on. There was a small annuity from his father, and now that comes to me. Somehow your father always managed to pay for the upkeep and repairs at Ravenscar, but not the staff, I’m afraid.’

‘You pay their wages, I know that, Mother, and you maintain this house. I understand all that.’ Edward shook his head. ‘So unfair, isn’t it? The Grants have stolen from us for donkey’s years. Stolen our money, but fortunately not our spirit and our pride.’

‘True. And it’s over sixty years now, to be precise,’ she replied in a pithy tone.

‘I aim to rectify that,’ he exclaimed. ‘I vow to you.’

‘I hope you will, not out of any avarice on my part, but because Deravenels does belong to the Yorkshire branch of the family, and it always has. I think it’s about time there was a little justice and fair play.’

‘Neville and I will bring it about, Mother, never fear.’

Cecily leaned back in the large desk chair and looked at her son speculatively for a moment, and then she said, ‘I’ve been thinking about money myself. I want to buy a house for you in London, in Mayfair, close to here, and I was wondering how to do it. Actually, I was going to discuss it with Neville.’

‘But Mother—’

‘No buts, Edward. You’re a grown man, you have your own private life now, and I think it’s about time you had your own household, your own establishment. Don’t you agree?’

‘Well, yes, I do in a way. Will has mentioned it several times, and today at lunch he told me that a “set” has come up at the Albany. He wondered if I would be interested.’

Cecily shook her head. ‘Those sets of rooms at the Albany wouldn’t be correct for you, not big enough, really. No, I think a house in Mayfair is much more appropriate under the circumstances.’

‘But that would be costly, I wouldn’t want you to dip into your inheritance—’

‘Sssh!’ She held up her hand. ‘I had an idea about how to finance the house the other day.’ Rising, she walked around the desk and continued, ‘Come with me, Ned. I want to show you something.’

It was gloomy in the cellar, especially when his mother hurried to the far end near the wine racks. All of a sudden, Ned realized she was heading in the direction of the vault, and he called out, ‘This electric light isn’t very bright. Shall I go and ask Swinton for a few candles?’

‘It’s not necessary, there are some here, near the vault, and a box of Swan Vestas.’

When he caught up with his mother, she was already lighting the candles, explaining, ‘I want you to open the vault, Ned, the handle is a little stiff for me. Now, let me tell you the numbers.’

Within seconds the heavy door of the large vault swung open, and Cecily stepped closer to Edward and pointed to the two dark green leather boxes, and another large one made of dark blue leather. Along with these there was a smaller fourth box, and this was a faded red.

‘Let’s carry these upstairs, where the light is much better. I’ll take the red and blue boxes, they’re lighter, Ned.’

‘Heavens, the green are heavier than I thought!’ Ned went along the cellar, following his mother, saying, ‘If these are what I think they are, they must be purgatory.’

Cecily laughed, but made no comment and climbed up the stairs to the entrance hall. ‘I think we should go into the drawing room, the light is better there,’ she pointed out, and led the way. Placing the two leather boxes on a chair, she indicated the sofa to Ned. ‘Put those boxes over there. Now, darling, open them please.’

He did as she asked, and gasped when he took out the first tiara. ‘Good Lord, Mother, this is extraordinary!’ he cried, holding the tiara between his hands, turning it slowly, watching the light strike the diamonds, hundreds of them, catching the rainbow colours. ‘Wow, Mother, this is—something special.’

‘Unique,’ she murmured. ‘It belonged to my mother.’

Ned put it back in the box, and took out the second tiara. Again, he exclaimed about its beauty. ‘And whose was this?’

‘Mine,’ she answered. ‘My father bought it for me after my marriage, and this third tiara was left to me by Mother’s best friend, Clarissa Mayes. She had no children and bequeathed it to me, along with this diamond necklace.’ As she had been speaking, Cecily had shown him the tiara and necklace, and he seemed a little stunned.

‘Mother,’ he said at last, ‘there’s a small fortune here!’

‘I know. I’ve been hoarding all of these diamonds for a rainy day, and now I shall sell them, and buy you a house. What money’s left over will pay for your staff.’

‘Oh, Mother, it’s such a shame to sell these things, why they’re family heirlooms. And what of Meg? She will need a tiara one day, after her marriage.’

‘You shall buy her a tiara, Ned, when the time comes. These are going to be sold so you can have your own establishment.’ Her voice brooked no argument.

TWENTY-EIGHT (#)

Edward stood on the threshold of the conservatory in Neville’s Chelsea house, watching his brothers play with their cousins, Isabel and Anne.

The two little girls looked charming in their deep-blue woollen dresses, each with a large white satin bow on top of their heads. His brothers were as smartly turned out, in their knee breeches and jackets, black stockings and highly-polished black shoes.

Surrounded by all the plants, and with sunshine pouring in through the many windows, it was an idyllic scene and brought a smile to Edward’s face. George seemed to be holding forth about something animatedly, and certainly he had captured Isabel’s complete attention. Anne was talking earnestly to Richard, who was nodding his head and looking amused. He felt a little twist in his heart…they were so young, so vulnerable.

At the sound of footsteps in the hall, Edward swung around, and smiled at Neville as he approached.

He joined Ned in the doorway, put his hand on his cousin’s shoulder, and together they stood watching the children. After a moment, Neville said softly, ‘The future, Ned…they are the future of our two families, which are as one, and they must be protected at all cost.’

‘I agree, you’re quite correct,’ Ned answered quietly. ‘We must guard them at all times. The Grants will stop at nothing.’

‘Unfortunately, you’re right…I’m sorry I had to leave you to take the telephone call, and just as you were arriving.’ Neville glanced around. ‘I suppose Cecily and Meg have gone off somewhere with Nan.’

Ned nodded. ‘They’re in the drawing room.’