‘I thought our baby days were far behind us,’ he said gruffly. ‘But it seems they’re about to start again. We’re hoping for a boy this time, although we’ll be perfectly happy with another girl, of course. And what you’ve just told us, my love – I want you to try and put it behind you and get on with your life. Everyone makes mistakes – I’m a prime example – but thank God we’ve all come together again. You’ll never forget little Grace, of course, she’s a memory you’ll hold in your heart for all time, but you have your whole life before you and it’s for living, when you decide what you want to do with it.’
‘I already know,’ Abi admitted, flushing prettily. ‘You see Bertie, Mrs M’s son, and I .?.?. Well .?.?. somewhere along the way we fell in love and he’s asked me to marry him. He isn’t rich, he’s a working man, a carpenter by trade, but he’s the loveliest, kindest man I ever met and so .?.?. Well, when I’ve had time to come to terms with all that’s happened, I’m going to go back and if he still wants me, I shall tell him that I’d be proud to be his wife.’
‘But that’swonderfulnews!’ Dorcas shocked Abi yet again with her reaction. ‘That just leaves us with Emerald to find a happy ending for now but I’m sure it will come in time.’
Aggie came rushing in at that moment to tell them, ‘You’d better come quick. It’s the missus. She’s taken a turn for the worse. It’s probably all that’s been going on that’s brought it on. Will you sit with her while I run for the doctor? Sybil is with her at the moment but she’s asking to see you all.’
They all headed for the door at once, almost colliding in their haste and soon they were clustered around Imogen’s bed. She looked very pale and frail and her lips were a frightening purple-blue colour but she managed to raise a smile when she opened her eyes and saw them.
‘So, all the family back together just as it should be, and about time too! I was beginning to think I was going to have to bang your heads together!’ she said in a shaky voice and Dorcas began to cry.
‘Now, we’ll have none of that,’ Imogen rasped. ‘It’s my time and I’m happy to go. Marcel is waiting for me, there in the corner, look. He’s been visiting me for months but I told him, “I can’t come yet, not till I’ve sorted this lot out.” And now I have.’
They all turned their heads to stare in the direction she was pointing but they couldn’t see anyone.
‘My will .?.?. is in that drawer over there.’ She waved a shaky hand towards a drawer in her dressing table.
‘Don’t try to talk, Aunt Imogen,’ Emmy urged. ‘Try and save your strength.’
When she took her aunt’s hand, Imogen squeezed it gently. A rare show of affection for her. ‘Just remember what I told you.’ Her breath was becoming more laboured now and as they all looked on, they felt helpless. ‘Take love where you find it. True love comes only once in a lifetime and it’s precious.’
She turned her head towards the corner and the most beautiful smile lit her face as she raised her hand. Her eyes closed, and as her hand dropped back to the frilly pink counterpane and her breathing stopped, a look of peace and contentment settled across her features.
‘God bless her; she’s with her Marcel now. May they never be parted again,’ Dorcas said brokenly and they all bowed their heads.
The funeral took place the following week and was very well attended. While other members of polite society were there, Abi was relieved that there was no sign of a certain Lord Hugo. She had no interest in him whatsoever now. Her heart was with a certain young man in Lytham St Anne’s and once this was all over, she intended to return there and tell him so.
The family had spent the afternoon before telling the vicar who conducted the service all about Imogen’s flamboyant style and the exciting life she had led and there were smiles as well as tears as he relayed the memories to the congregation. Then Imogen’s coffin was carried with ceremony to the plot in the churchyard where her beloved Marcel was buried and she joined him, together forever now as she would have wished.
At the house Aggie and Cook had provided a feast fit for a king for those mourners who wished to go back and the wine flowed like water as they spoke about how they had each known Imogen and what she had meant to them. It was late afternoon, before the last of the mourners left and then there was only the reading of Imogen’s will to be got through, so they solemnly followed the solicitor into the drawing room.
The family sat down and after clearing his throat and offering his condolences, the solicitor took the will from his leather bag and began, ‘As you are all aware, we are gathered here today to hear the last will and testament of Mrs Imogen Mary Dubois. If there is anything that any of you don’t understand please feel free to question me as we go along.
‘First of all, to my loyal friend and maid, Miss Aggie Briggs, I bequeath the sum of two hundred pounds with thanks for all the loyal service she has given me and the same amount to my cook, Mrs Ellen Lowe.’
Shocked, Aggie and the cook began to cry softly and Emmy put her arms about their shoulders and gave them a little hug.
‘To my sister, Mrs Dorcas Winter, and my sister-in-law, Mrs Sybil Chetwynd, I bequeath the sum of five hundred pounds each. To my niece, Miss Abigail Winter, I bequeath my house in Lytham St Anne’s and all its contents on the proviso that she marries Mr Albert Merryweather, who currently resides at said address.’ This brought a delighted gasp from Abi who could hardly believe what she was hearing.
‘Finally, to my niece, Miss Emerald Winter, I bequeath this house and all my remaining monies and worldly possessions on the proviso that she and my nephew Mr Jake Chetwynd marry within the next two months. I suggest that they might then adapt part of the house into becoming a poor surgery so that Jake can continue his good work from home.’
There was a shocked gasp from Dorcas, and the colour drained from Emmy’s face as she gazed at Jake who also looked shocked.
‘B-but that’s impossible,’ Emmy muttered. ‘We’ve always known we couldn’t marry – it would be too dangerous for us to have healthy children.’
Sybil stopped her from saying any more when she said quietly, ‘It isn’t quite as impossible as you think – but for you to understand, I’m afraid I shall have to start at the beginning.’ Taking a deep breath to compose herself she began tentatively, ‘A long time ago when I was young and foolish, I gave my heart to a gypsy who came to work on my father’s estate.’
At this point Dorcas and Gerald rose saying, ‘Perhaps we should leave you to speak to Emerald and Jake in private?’ But Sybil waved them back to their seats.
‘No, it’s time you all knew the truth, please stay.’
Reluctantly they sat back down and Sybil went on, ‘As you all know I have never been the prettiest of women so when the gypsy paid me attention I was flattered. Vano was the handsomest man I had ever met with jet-black curly hair and the bluest eyes I ever saw but of course I didn’t dare let my parents know there was anything going on between us. Back then they had high hopes that I would make a good marriage. Anyway, all through that summer I was besotted with him, but just before the gypsies were due to leave, I discovered that I was to have a child. When I told Vano, he seemed to take it well and told me that he would make things right. But when I got up the next morning the whole lot of them had gone and I never saw him again.’
She had to stop here to calm herself, before she continued, ‘Of course it wasn’t something that I could hide for long and when my father discovered I was to have a child he was furious and disgusted with me. Then merely days later he told me that he had found someone who was prepared to marry me. I knew that he must be offering a large dowry, of course. It was never a love match. And so, Bernard and I were married and if anyone noticed that Jake was born within months of us being wed, they all assumed that the child was Bernard’s. All but Imogen, that is. When Bernard and I married so quickly Imogen had already guessed that I was pregnant – and it seems she worked out that it couldn’t be Bernard’s as we had not known each other long enough. She had noticed that I never paid as much attention to my first child as I did to my second and she put two and two together.’ She stared at Jake with tears in her eyes. ‘That’s why I never paid you as much attention as I did Jasper. And for that I am truly sorry. I suppose you were always a constant reminder of the love I had lost. Then when Jasper came along, I rather spoilt him, and look how that ended up! Even so, although I’m appalled at what he did to you and his father, Emmy, I can’t help but be relieved to know that he got away from the police. No one wants to see their own flesh and blood being hanged for murder. My punishment will be that I will never see him again and that’s something I shall have to live with. But you and Jake .?.?. do you see now? There is no blood tie whatsoever between you, so when Imogen told me she suspected that you two were in love I knew it would be cruel not to tell you the truth.’
A shocked silence settled on the room, until the solicitor coughed and began to gather his papers hastily together, saying, ‘Well, I have nothing more to tell you. I think you all have a lot to talk about, so if you’ll excuse me?’ He removed his spectacles from the end of his nose and scuttled away like a cat with its tail on fire.
Abi hurried over to kiss her sister’s cheek. ‘I’m off to start my packing. I shall be leaving for my new home tomorrow to propose to a certain young man there.’
