‘Why wasn’t I told?’ Jasper asked incredulously.
‘I wanted to. Alice forbade me, she always maintained we couldn’t be sure I was the father. It’s remained a secret… until now.’
Jasper stilled, his eyes widened in shock. Images of his childhood rapidly flashed before him: being packed into the car with a suitcase every summer to stop at The Laurels with Uncle Fletcher; learning to ride a bike with Uncle Fletcher; fishing, swimming, horse riding – with Uncle Fletcher; being taught to drive and getting his first car, all with Uncle Fletcher. Never with his father. He recalled his father’s impatience with him as a small boy, the lack of interest in him as he grew up, how dismissive he was of his achievements and suddenly it all fell into place. Jasper’s gut feeling told him Fletcherwashis dad.
They stood motionless, staring at each other.
‘In my heart, you’ve always been my son, Jasper.’ Fletcher ceased shaking. A huge wave of relief engulfed him.
Jasper nodded. ‘I’ve felt it too,’ he replied huskily. Then, with tears running down his face, he strode over and held tightly onto Fletcher.
‘It’s all right, son,’ Fletcher soothed, cradling him, ‘it’s all right.’ He closed his eyes, finally the truth was out.
Chapter 45
It had been a long time since The Laurels had seen such activity. As instructed, Colin had advertised for staff and put together a small team of estate workers to assist with the summer ball and forthcoming events. The fields next to the river had been cut and new boundary ropes sectioned off the glamping site. Jasper and Adira had looked at shepherds’ huts made by a local craftsman and ordered five, which were being delivered imminently. The utility blocks were almost complete and the dilapidated outhouses half crumbling on the estate had been demolished. The marquee for next week’s summer ball was being erected and the orangery was in the process of having a good clean. The terracotta tiled floor had been power washed, as had the windows, which now sparkled. All the lawns had been tended to and were looking splendid.
Fletcher couldn’t take it all in – things were moving at such a pace.
‘I hardly recognise the place!’ he exclaimed, whilst gazing at the manicured gardens, blooming with colour from the French doors.
‘It all looks beautiful. Jasper has done an amazing job,’ Lilly replied, sitting comfortably in Fletcher’s chair. He’d done nothing but fuss and tend to her since her discharge from hospital. He had contemplated asking her to come back to The Laurels, where he could keep an eye on her, but realised this may offend Ruby, so had just visited their cottage every day, thoroughly getting on Ruby’s nerves.
‘He certainly has,’ said Fletcher, his head moving from side to side, watching all the activity outside.
‘Sit down, Fletcher,’ chuckled Lilly. ‘I’m sure they all know what they’re doing.’ How he did kerfuffle, not just over all the arrangements, but also her. She’d been touched at how attentive he had been, with his daily visits, constantly asking how she was feeling and bombarding her with gifts, not to mention the huge bouquet of flowers which took up most of the bay window in the cottage (completely blocking the light, Ruby had complained). The slippers, dressing gown, books and toiletries she supposed Adira had chosen. Still, it made a very pleasant change to be waited on, instead of her tending to Fletcher. Her sister would argue it was too little, too late, she had no doubt, but Lilly didn’t care. She was happy to wallow in the attention, whilst it lasted.
Adira and Jasper were in the library, leaning over the desk, covered in stationery samples for the glamping site. It was to be called ‘The Laurels Hideaway’ and they were discussing which style of font and logo to choose.
‘What about this one?’ Adira pointed to a plain cream sign with a simple picture of laurel leaves entwined with black calligraphy writing.
‘Yes, I like it. Minimal, but effective,’ agreed Jasper.
Luckily, they had very similar tastes, which had proved convenient whilst redecorating ‘their’ bedroom. In the end, they had decided not to renovate Jasper’s eaves room – he hadn’t the heart to change his childhood bedroom, full of happy memories. Secretly, he planned to make it a nursery but hadn’t voiced this with Adira, yet. Instead, they had refurbished the ‘locked’ room opposite Fletcher’s bedroom. The time had come to give it a new lease of life.
Jasper had quietly taken Adira into the bedroom and outlined the whole revelation to her. She had listened in silence, not disclosing what she had already been told by Ruby.
Jasper had been pragmatic about it. Once the dust had settled and he’d taken stock, he had come to appreciate that, actually, nothing had changed. In fact, it had answered more questions. He saw little to be gained in telling his mother that he’d learnt the truth. What would be the point? It seemed futile, and would only lead to upset within his family. So, on the surface, it was business as usual.
Adira thought his approach was absolutely the right one. Her eyes had darted round the room, resting on the elegant lemon, silk dress. Although covered in dust, there was no denying how striking Alice must have looked that night at the ball.
‘It’s exquisite,’ she’d said, running her hands over the soft folds.
‘Take it,’ Jasper had replied, ‘I’m sure once it’s cleaned, Fletcher wouldn’t mind you wearing it for our summer ball.’
‘Oh, I couldn’t.’
‘Of course you could. What’s the point of it hanging there?’
Adira looked at the dress again. It was a touch too long for her, with a deep frill around the edge. Perhaps if she had it shortened and took out those puff sleeves it would be more her style? And in a sense moreherdress than Alice’s?
Indeed, Fletcher had seen little point in the dress, or the whole room, acting as some kind of talisman to the past. Onwards and upwards was his new mantra, determined to make up for lost time. He categorically refused to stay locked in the years gone by and was throwing himself into the future and all that encompassed. He didn’t think it would be too long before grandchildren were on the way, although he discreetly kept that to himself, for once.
The summer ball was the talk of the village. Invites had been sent and accepted. Most of Lilacwell was about to descend upon The Laurels and witness it in all its glory.
Adira had invited Edie, her parents and then, as an afterthought, Rory. As he was from the north, she thought he’d appreciate the gesture. He’d been thrilled and had booked one of the shepherds’ huts to stay overnight. If anyone could give them honest feedback, it was Rory, she’d laughingly told Jasper.
‘Good, because we’ll need it,’ he’d said, then turned to face her. ‘No regrets?’ He couldn’t help thinking he’d dropped her in at the deep end with all the commotion of running the estate and starting up the new business ventures. He was accustomed to working at full pelt, but was he expecting too much from Adira?
