Heirs of Ravenscar

Cecily shook his hand, as did Richard, and then Edward escorted him out into the Long Hall.

Richard sat down opposite his mother, and explained, ‘Dr Leighton only gave me an examination because he was worried –’

‘You look very well to me, Richard,’ Cecily cut in with a frown.

‘Yes, I know, and I am perfectly well. Seemingly young men between the ages of twenty and thirty are those most likely to catch Spanish flu. He thought I could easily be a candidate because of my age, that’s all it was about.’

Cecily peered across at Richard. ‘You don’t have any symptoms, do you?’

‘No, I don’t. The doctor was merely being his usual efficient self.’

‘I understand. I really do like Peter Leighton, and I was delighted when he took over Dr Rayne’s practice. He’s young and intelligent and caring. His methods are very modern, and he’s most up-to-date with the latest advances. I approve of his approach.’

Edward walked in, a broad smile on his face. ‘I was so glad to hear the clatter of pots and pans in the kitchen a moment ago. Earlier this morning, when I came back from my ride, the house was ghastly, so quiet, and the total silence rather eerie. In fact, Jessup just told me that Cook was most upset about Young Edward, hence the gloomy atmosphere in her domain. According to Jessup, none of the other staff were allowed to speak.’

‘I know she can be quite a tartar at times,’ Cecily murmured.

Walking across to the drinks tray which stood on a chest-of-drawers, Edward poured himself a glass of pale Amontillado sherry. Then went and stood in front of the French doors, staring out at the gardens and the sea beyond, lost in thought.

His mother said, ‘Ned?’

‘Yes, Mother, what is it?’ He swung around to face her, his blond brows arching.

‘It’s the fourteenth of December today. Only ten days left until Christmas. I do think we ought to consider cancelling the festivities we’ve planned. Bronchitis lasts several weeks, even longer –’

‘I’m not going to consider cancelling. I’ve already decided to cancel. Immediately. It must be done today. That will give the guests we were expecting some time to make other plans … well, hopefully. After lunch, I’ll telephone Will, also Vicky and Stephen. They’re like family and will understand. I’d better have a word with George, also.’

‘George!’ Richard exclaimed, gaping at his brother. He was thunderstruck. ‘You didn’t tell me you’d invited George, Ned. How could you?’

‘I didn’t. George invited himself and you know what our brother is like. And he also said that he was bringing Isabel and the children.’

‘Why didn’t you tell him he couldn’t come for Christmas?’ Richard cried irately, his pale face unexpectedly flushed.

Edward was totally silent.

‘You know how upset I’ve been with him, and so has Anne. The way he treated her and blocked our engagement was appalling!’ Richard shook his head. ‘I don’t want to see him. Or Isabel, for that matter. She plays along with him.’

‘She’s weak,’ Ned muttered. ‘She dare not oppose him in anything.’

‘It was my idea,’ Cecily interjected very softly, staring at Richard.

‘Why?’ Richard demanded, his voice rising. ‘In God’s name why? George has treated me most abominably these last few years.’

‘I hoped you would both make up this Christmas, be friends again, loving brothers, the way you used to be.’

Laughing hollowly, Richard snapped, ‘I wouldn’t trust him as far as I could throw him, Mother.’

‘He’s your brother,’ she answered.

‘Tell him that!’

When she remained quiet, Richard continued in an angry tone, ‘You always did stick up for him, even when he was a boy. And a mother’s boy at that! Always clinging pathetically to your skirts, throwing himself at you, and hiding behind your skirts when he had committed some nasty little prank. You protected him then, and I’ll never understand why.’

Cecily shook her head, and her voice broke slightly as she tried to explain. ‘There was something about him that made me feel he needed protection. In a peculiar way, I was always a bit afraid for him, he always seemed so vulnerable …’ Her voice trailed off.

‘Vulnerable. That’s a laugh.’ Richard now turned to Edward, stared at him. ‘George betrayed you, Ned. Not once, but many times. He went over to Neville’s side, after Neville and you quarrelled. He entangled himself in Neville’s plans to go along with Louis Charpentier and make a bid for Deravenels. And he fell for Neville’s idea of putting him in your place. George thought he could usurp you. Hisbrother. And then he married Isabel when he knew you were against it. If those are not betrayals then I don’t know the meaning of that word.’

‘It’s all my fault, really it is, Richard,’ Cecily said slowly, wanting to placate. ‘Don’t be angry with Ned. I am the one who begged Ned to forgive George for his transgressions, because I wanted to heal the family, make it whole again. I wanted to show the world a united front. We are a famous family, Richard dear. We are the Deravenels. I did not want to expose us to ugly gossip, tittle-tattle on the streets.’

‘Didn’t I matter then?’ Richard asked, wonderingly, gazing at his mother. ‘My feelings weren’t to be considered?’ He looked from his mother to Ned. ‘You know he betrayed you, and that I have always stood by your side no matter what. My loyalty binds me. And yet you permitted George to block my marriage to Anne, which caused us great pain.’

Edward answered swiftly, adopting a cajoling tone. ‘Because you were both so young I believed I had time to work things out with George. He was creating numerous problems, more serious than you’ll ever know. Look, getting to the essence of it, he was demanding all of Neville’s fortune because Isabel was the eldest daughter. He didn’t want Anne to share in it, that’s why he tried to block the marriage – because he knew you would fight for Anne’s rights.’

‘It’s always about money or power with George, isn’t it, Ned?’

‘Too true. However, because you agreed to wait, I did manage to hammer out a deal with George, a deal you would accept. Let’s not forget, I did get Anne her fair share of Neville’s estate, Richard.’

‘It was an iron-clad will, if I remember correctly,’ Richard shot back. ‘Neville Watkins never left anything to chance. Never made mistakes like that! And I also happen to know that the entire estate was actually left to Nan Watkins. Neville wanted his wife to have everything, and only after her death were the girls to receive their share.’

‘I know that, Richard,’ Ned replied in the same conciliatory voice. ‘I had to enlist Nan’s help, although you perhaps don’t know this. I also had to give George a very handsome financial settlement, a huge amount, out of my own money, actually, in order to solve the problem finally.’

‘I see.’ Richard sat back, his expression still one of anger.

‘And you did marry Anne,’ Cecily pointed out in a quiet voice.

‘Practically in secret, here at Ravenscar. A tiny wedding ceremony, with no guests except the immediate family,’ Richard answered grimly, shaking his head. ‘I just don’t understand why it is that George has to be accommodated all the time. I really don’t. And personally I think he’s crazy. Let’s not forget our cousin Henry Grant, who spent a lot of time in lunatic asylums …’

Ned threw back his head and guffawed, looked amused. ‘Oh, Richard, that’s a beauty! Are you suggesting that the bad genes carried by Henry Deravenel Grant of Lancaster might well be inherent in the Deravenels of Yorkshire, the true heirs of Guy de Ravenel? The real Deravenels, as we say about ourselves.’

If Edward had hoped Richard would see the joke he was wrong. His youngest brother shook his head, the grim expression making his mouth taut. ‘I think George is crackers. Just consider the daft things he does at times … then you’ll see what I mean.’

‘Richard, really, I don’t believe that is a very nice thing to say about George. He can be very kind, and he does mean well,’ Cecily answered.

No, he doesn’t, Richard thought, but said, ‘If you say so, Mother. Let’s close the discussion about George, shall we?’

Ned said, ‘I am going to cancel the Christmas festivities, Dick, but if you and Anne wish to come for Christmas you know how much we’d love that, wouldn’t we, Mother?’

‘Of course. I haven’t seen my grandson for ages. Perhaps Nan Watkins would like to come as well, rather than staying alone in Ripon.’

‘I doubt that very much, Mother,’ Richard said softly. ‘She doesn’t like to come to Ravenscar anymore, so I am led to understand. It reminds her of her tragic loss. After all, her beloved husband and her favourite brother-in-law Johnny met their deaths here.’

FIVE (#)

London

‘Why don’t you tell him about the house, Ned? He really ought to know the true story, the full story.’

Edward Deravenel sat back in his chair, and regarded Will Hasling, his best friend. He and Will had been boon companions for many years, and colleagues at Deravenels for fourteen, ever since Edward had become managing director. And he trusted Will as he trusted no other man, except for his brother Richard.