As they drove away, heading back towards Cornwall in the late sunshine, Selina found herself crying. ‘How I hatethis.’ She dabbed at her eyes with a hanky. ‘Poor boy … I wish I could have kept him at Thornton Hall forever. But this is what Bella wanted.’
William glanced at her, concern in his eyes. ‘Please don’t feel bad. I went to boarding school myself. It’s not always wonderful, agreed. But it hardens you up. Makes you more independent too. That’s what Peter needs right now. He’s a good-hearted young fellow, but he still behaves like a child at times.’ His hands tightened on the wheel as he stared at the misty road ahead. ‘Boys his age had to grow up more quickly during the war.’
‘Yes, and thank goodness that’s all over. But you’re right, I’m just being silly. Peter will be fine, I’m sure.’
But she still felt unhappy, imagining the boy alone and friendless in that great big school.
By the time they stopped for a rest at a moorland inn with a roaring fire, dusk had fallen and the autumn air was nippy. William bought her a glass of brandy. ‘Here, this will warm your cockles.’
She wasn’t used to drinking brandy, but accepted thankfully, feeling chilled. Climbing back into the car, Selina found herself relaxed and a little giggly. It was good to have a man around, she realised. She had grown accustomed to mainly female company at the house, with young Peter the only male under the roof.
With another man, she might have felt wary being alone in a car with him, especially after a brandy. Her first boyfriend Johnny would have taken advantage of the situation, she felt sure. He had certainly taken advantage of that Frenchwoman he’d been forced to marry, writing to break off their engagement after he got the girl pregnant.And then there had been Cameron Bourne, her closest neighbour on the moors, whom she’d grown close to after Bella’s death. Cameron had turned out to be a rotter, a highly duplicitous man indeed, and she felt lucky to have escaped his clutches with nothing more than the memory of a few awkward kisses.
William MacGregor, on the other hand, was a real gentleman and would never pounce on her, however much brandy she’d drunk. Not that she could ever think of him likethat. He was far older than her, for a start, and had never shown her any untoward attention. He was a good man, though, and Bella had trusted him with all her affairs. So Selina felt quite safe in his company.
‘Thank you for doing this, William,’ she told him when they reached Thornton Hall a little after dark, and he got out to open her passenger door in his usual gallant manner. ‘You’re an absolute brick. I’m really very grateful.’
‘There’s no need,’ he said softly.
She studied the lit windows of the hall with relief. ‘No power cut tonight, I see. Though no doubt we’ll have another one soon enough. I do wish the government would get their act together.’ She hesitated. ‘Can I offer you something before you go home? A cup of tea? A hot toddy?’
William shook his head, smiling faintly. ‘I’m bushed, to be honest. But thank you for the offer. I’ll drop in next week, if I may?’
‘Our door is always open to you,’ she said gratefully, and shook his hand. ‘Goodnight.’
Trudging wearily into the entrance hall, Selina was stripping off her gloves and hat when the two girls came thumpingdown the stairs, both shouting at once, their excitable words making no sense whatsoever.
‘Calm down, you two,’ she told them, laughing as she crouched to give Faith a hug. ‘What on earth is it? What’s happened now?’
‘There’s a lady waiting for you in the parlour,’ Jemima whispered, and Faith nodded urgently, her eyes wide with apprehension.
Puzzled, Selina straightened. ‘I beg your pardon?’
‘She’s been here for hours. Mrs Hawley didn’t know what to do with her. We were beginning to think you’dnevercome home. But now you’re back, it will all be sorted out, won’t it?’
‘What will be sorted out? I don’t understand.’
‘Well, I never saw her before in my entire life,’ Jemima hissed. ‘But her name’s Nancy, and she claims she’s ourcousin.’
Astonished, Selina stalked to the parlour, and sure enough, a young woman perched on the edge of the sofa jumped up at her approach. She had chestnut hair worn short, a strikingly handsome face, and her scarlet lipstick was a shade too strong for her pale complexion. Her huge blue eyes studied Selina warily, and then she gave a strained smile.
‘Miss Tiptree?’ The young woman held out a shapely hand marred by nails bitten short, pointing to a nervous disposition. Or possibly manual labour. Selina’s own nails had only recently grown back since her long years working in the fields as a Land Girl. ‘I’m Nancy Furniss. How do you do?’ She had a breathy voice that matched the uncertainty in her eyes as they shook hands. ‘I’m awfully sorry to impose on you like this, but …’ Her voice broke off, and she choked, pulling away.
With a growing sense of amazement, Selina realised that the young woman was crying. What on earth …?
Hurriedly, she chased the two fascinated girls out of the room, instructing them to wash their hands and face before supper, and then closed the door.
‘Do sit down again,’ she insisted, pulling on the bell for Mrs Hawley. ‘My niece tells me you’ve been waiting for hours to see me. I’m sorry I was gone so long, but I had to escort my nephew to his new boarding school in Devon.’ The girl said nothing but gave a jerky nod, dabbing at her eyes with a handkerchief. ‘Have you eaten?’
‘Yes, your housekeeper was most kind. She brought me tea and biscuits. I don’t want to be any bother.’
‘Nonsense.’ Selina sat next to her on the sofa, studying her tear-stained face. ‘Jemima tells me you may be a cousin of hers. On Sebastian’s side, I assume?’ She had certainly never heard of a Cousin Nancy on her and Bella’s side of the family.
‘That’s right. I was Sebastian’s second cousin, once removed.’
Selina frowned, trying to work that out. ‘I’m sorry, but—’
‘I’m not surprised you’ve never heard of me,’ the girl went on, sniffing. ‘My grandfather was estranged from his own parents, and my mother promised him never to speak to that branch of the family again. Bad blood or something.’ Nancy shrugged, putting away her hanky. ‘If you ask me, I think they argued over money.’
