He didn’t see himself as a cold-blooded killer, not really; it had been a spur-of-the-moment thing, a swift and decisive response to a threat. And while a small part of him genuinely regretted snatching up that glass ashtray, he knew deep down that he wouldn’t think twice about doing the same thing again. Very likely he would have to do something about that odious blackmailer; the man represented a threat that could only go on for so long. Dealing with him would be an act of self-preservation, no more, no less.
But he would have to be careful; it would have to be meticulously planned this time, nothing left to chance. Maybe he was a cold-blooded killer after all. But then so were all those men who’d donned a uniform to go and fight the Germans. Was he any worse than them? Or that wing commander who was at the funeral earlier and who had never left Romily’s side? Whence had he sprung? His stepmother certainly hadn’t been slow in finding a replacement for his father, had she? So much for dear old Jack being the great love of her life. People were such frauds.
From inside the drawing room, he finally heard Roddy getting down to the business of explaining Allegra’s will.
When Roddy had finished speaking, Romily said, ‘It really is as if Allegra knew what was going to happen.’
‘I feel awful that I didn’t take her concerns more seriously,’ responded Hope. ‘I kept telling her that whatever she was feeling was normal. But to my shame, and with her love for dramatics, I simply disregarded much of what she said and did.’
‘I feel the same way,’ said Roddy, removing his glasses and rubbing his eyes. ‘On the day of her wedding, she expressed the view that she didn’t see a happy future for herself. Which has to be the saddest thing a bride ever said on her wedding day.’
‘But now we have to listen to her properly,’ said Romily, ‘and do what is right. Before she died, Allegra made me promise that I would look after Isabella while Elijah was away, and that’s what I shall do. And just so we’re clear on the matter, and in accordance with what she has stated only too clearly in her will, if Elijah feels he cannot be Isabella’s father, or if he doesn’t return from the war, I will be her legal guardian.’
‘It’s a colossal responsibility and not one to be undertaken lightly, my dear,’ said Roddy. ‘Are you quite sure?’
‘I’ve never felt surer about a thing. Just as Jack tried to do the right thing by giving Allegra a home as a child, an attempt I freely admit he may not have got entirely right, I want to make amends and do the same for Isabella. I promised Allegra that the child would not go to an orphanage; it’s a promise I plan to keep.’
‘In that case I shall write to Elijah and explain that you will be the child’s temporary guardian in his absence, and that the bulk of his wife’s estate will go to him, with the remaining money split between a trust set up for Isabella when she comes of age, and another for you, Romily, to be used specifically for the benefit of the child while she is in your care.’
Romily shook her head. ‘I shan’t touch a penny of it. I shall leave it for Isabella when she’s older.’
‘That’s completely up to you,’ said Roddy. He turned to Hope. ‘There’s one last thing I have to do.’ From beneath the papers in front of him, he slid an envelope across the table to her. ‘Allegra wanted to explain in her own fashion why she chose Romily and not you to act as temporary guardian to her child. I believe she didn’t want you to feel overlooked in any way.’
Hope sighed. ‘She really did think of everything, didn’t she?’
‘Indeed she did, agreed Roddy. ‘Romily, I have a letter here for you as well. One for Kit also, and also one for Elijah. And now,’ he said, reaching for his briefcase, ‘I really ought to leave you and return to London.’
‘I’ll drive you to the station,’ Romily offered.
Romily was glad that Arthur was nowhere to be found when she and Roddy set off. They neither of them relished the prospect of being in the car for any length of time with him. He could make his own way to the station.
They weren’t even at the end of the drive when Roddy asked the question Romily had suspected he had been itching to ask the minute she had introduced Tony Abbott to him at the funeral.
‘He’s a friend,’ she explained, ‘one who adds a refreshing male presence to the house. He cheers us all up. I think we do the same for him.’
‘He seems rather taken with you,’ Roddy said, ‘if you don’t mind me saying.’
‘I enjoy his company, no more than that, Roddy.’
‘Jack wouldn’t want you to be lonely, or to feel that life has to grind to a halt, you know.’
‘I do know that,’ Romily said with a smile, ‘but Jack is going to be a hard act to follow. For any man.’
‘Even one as charming and dashing as Tony Abbott?’
She tutted. ‘Even him.’
‘I’ll wager he’s a patient fellow.’
‘Nobody is patient now,’ she said with a shake of her head, ‘not with this war. Everybody’s in a terrific hurry; look how quickly both Allegra and Florence rushed to marry. But to put your mind at rest, I have no plans to rush into anything. Especially not now.’
After Romily had driven into the centre of the village, then turned onto Station Road, Roddy said, ‘I do hope you won’t think badly of me about keeping Allegra’s wishes secret, but client confidentiality is at the crux of what I do; I was bound to remain silent. Moreover, I never thought we’d be in the position we now find ourselves.’
‘Of course you couldn’t breathe a word of what she discussed with you, I’d be shocked if you had.’
‘Thank you for your understanding. And I’d like to thank you personally for agreeing to the terms of the will; it’s not what everybody in your situation would do.’
Romily turned briefly to look at him. ‘I’ll be honest with you, Roddy, it’s not what I ever thought I would end up doing. Especially as I had begun making plans for the future; I’d decided to apply to the ATA to see if they’d have me.’
