‘No you’re not. And I know you well enough to recognise the signs when something is worrying you. You have your anxious ‘frowny’ face on.’
She smiled ruefully. ‘Some would say that’s myevery-day expression. Oh yes, I know what the children used to say about me, there she goes, Auntie Crabby.’
Kit laughed. ‘I’ve never heard them describe you that way. And the millions of children around the world who read your books would never say that of you.’
‘Dear sweet Kit, you’ve always been so loyal to me. What would I do without you?’
He put an arm around her. ‘Tell me what’s troubling you, big sis.’
Leaning into him, she said, ‘Do you ever feel we’re being left behind, that we’re no longer relevant?’
‘You sound like Evelyn. She was asking me earlier if I ever wanted to turn back the clock.’
‘Maybe it’s seeing the younger members of the family all grown up that’s giving us both pause to reflect on our mortality.’
‘The pair of you need to snap out of it. We all have plenty of good years ahead of us yet. This party tonight is not only a celebration of what’s gone before for Evelyn and me, but what we’ll all share in the future.’
Hope smiled. ‘You’re a lucky man always to feel so positive about life.’
He squeezed her shoulder gently. ‘I know it’s not easy for you sometimes, Hope, but don’t ever lose sight of how loved you are.’
‘You dear man. You’re eternally thoughtful and caring.’
He laughed. ‘That’s not what Pip and Em say when I’m asking them to turn down their music. Or when I’m questioning whether it is actually music. “Oh Dad,” they say, “you’re such an old square, you need to get with it!”’
She smiled, and knowing just how much her brother loved his children, she said, ‘Family life really suits you, doesn’t it?’
‘Marrying Evelyn and having Pip and Em is the best thing I ever did. But you know, I sometimes wonder why Evelyn did marry me. She’s beautiful and clever – much cleverer than me – and could have married anyone she wanted. She could—’
‘She chose you, Kit,’ Hope interrupted him. ‘Don’t ever lose sight of that.’
‘And don’t ever lose sight of how proud we all are of you, for everything you’ve achieved. You’re amazing, you really are.’
For some reason his words filled her with an emotion she couldn’t tolerate –self-pity. To her horror and disgust, tears pricked at the backs of her eyes.
‘Hope, whatever is the matter?’ asked Kit.
In a strangled sob, she said, ‘I’m such a failure.’
Her brother stared at her, his poor badly scarred face clouded with disbelief. ‘How can you say that?’
‘I’m a failure as a wife,’ she said, struggling to get a grip on her emotions. ‘Edmund doesn’t love me. Why would he?’ She looked to where he was so clearly enjoying himself on the dance floor with Em and now one of her young college friends. The three of them were putting on a show of some magnitude as they gyrated in what to Hope’s way of thinking was a most undignified manner.
‘Of course he loves you!’ Kit asserted. ‘Edmund’s devoted to you. How could you think otherwise?’
Taking a deep breath, she turned around to face Kit. ‘If I confide in you, will you promise not to say anything to anybody else? Not even Evelyn. Do you promise?’
He frowned, but acquiesced with a small nod.
She then told him about the anonymous letter she had received and what it accused Edmund of doing.
‘A poison pen letter?’ Kit exclaimed, incredulously.
‘Shhh!’ she hissed. ‘I don’t want people to know.’
‘But you can’t possibly take it seriously? It’s just someone being spiteful, wanting to make trouble. It’ll be a spiteful old biddy with nothing better to do.’
‘But why? And who would want to make trouble like that for me? What have I done?’
