Josephine Cox Sunday Times Bestsellers Collection. Josephine Cox

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СКАЧАТЬ of the chair, he smiled, at ease with himself. ‘I think it’s time I had a new life, a new direction. There is little to hold me here. I’ve gone as far as I can go, and now it’s time to face up to a new challenge.’

      Dipping into his pocket, he took out a long, official-looking envelope with an American stamp. Unfolding the letter he began to read:

       Dear Mr Maitland,

       I am pleased to inform you that certain matters relating to the estate of your grandfather, the late Mr Farley Kemp, are now settled. However, several important issues remain which demand your urgent attention. As you are the only surviving relative of the deceased, it is imperative that you contact me as soon as possible, with a view to visiting these offices, in order that these issues can be dealt with.

       As you must be aware, time is of the essence, and the situation requires that you be here in person.

       I look forward to hearing from you at your earliest opportunity.

       Yours sincerely,

       Justin Lovatt, Attorney-at-Law

      Leonard knew the letter word for word, for hadn’t he read it umpteen times since receiving it? Tomorrow, he must make arrangements to travel.

      ‘What’s that you’re reading?’ Patricia’s voice shocked him, invading his thoughts.

      ‘Pat! Good God – I didn’t hear you come in.’ He swiftly folded the letter and slid it into his pocket. He hadn’t heard the taxi pull up in the driveway.

      Crossing the room, she slid her arm through his. ‘Is it something I should know about, darling?’

      He gave a nervous laugh. ‘Why would you think that?’

      ‘Because just now when I came in, you looked so worried, and as I’m soon to be your wife, I should know what is bothering you.’

      ‘Really?’ He tested her. ‘And if I were to tell you that I might have to make a difficult choice – a life-changing choice – what would you say to that?’

      ‘It would depend.’

      ‘Why’s that?’

      Growing flustered, she dislodged herself from his embrace. ‘Well, for all I know it might change my life, and I don’t know that I would be too keen on that.’

      ‘Not even if it meant you and I would be together? Isn’t that all that matters when a man and woman are in love?’

      Something in his manner, in the way he was looking at her, made her nervous. ‘No,’ she answered defensively. ‘Being in love isn’t all that matters. What matters is that we both should be happy.’

      ‘Yes,’ he agreed, although he felt her resistance and was unnerved. ‘But what if the choice I have to make is not really a choice at all, but something I feel obliged to do?’

      She considered that for a moment, then like a child who wasn’t sure of how to respond, she used her wiles and going to him, slid an arm round his waist. ‘I think you had best tell me what you were reading, just now,’ she wheedled.

      ‘I’d rather not, Patricia. It isn’t altogether settled, and it may not come to anything anyway.’

      ‘Hmh! You’re not about to do anything that would make me unhappy, are you, my darling?’ she pleaded prettily. ‘I mean, you will let me have my say in this choice of yours, won’t you?’

      Holding her at arm’s length, he answered wisely, ‘Of course you will have a say. But, like I said, there may not even be any choice to make. I won’t know that, until I return from America.’

      ‘America?’ At once she was all smiles, confident that she would be going with him. ‘I knew if I kept on at you long enough, you would take me away, but America!’ She laughed excitedly. ‘What an adventure that will be! When do we leave?’

      Seeing her pleasure, Leonard was half-tempted to take her with him. He thought that if she saw the vast and beautiful land outside Charlestown and the sprawling house his grandfather had built over the years, she might grow to like the prospect of moving there. But commonsense prevailed, and he said merely, ‘I’m sorry, Pat, but I shall be tending to important business. I can’t take you with me this time. It’s deuced inconvenient as it is, leaving Comberton at this time of the year.’

      ‘Oh, come on, Leonard! What business do you need to tend that means I can’t come along? We are to be married after all, aren’t we?’

      ‘Of course we are, but I simply can’t take you, not this time. Look, when I get back, I promise we’ll see about a weekend in Paris – would that suit you?’

      ‘No, it would not.’ Giving him a frosty look, she turned on her heel and stalked towards the door. ‘I have shopping to do in Manchester. I imagine I’ll be gone for at least four hours. That should give you plenty of time to decide whether I come with you or not.’

      When he heard the front door slam, Leonard walked to the window, from where he could see Patricia climb into the taxi. She did not look back, but somehow that did not concern him.

      Instead, he took out the letter and read it through again.

      ‘No, Patricia,’ he said aloud. ‘I won’t take you with me.’ His mind was made up. The reason he was going to America was too important. This wasn’t just about him and Patricia.

      Thrusting his hands into his pockets he began to pace the room, his thoughts and loyalties all churned up. The decision was something he had to make by himself. If it turned out that there was, after all, no choice to make, then so be it. But if it came to a head, then he had to think of others who would inevitably be affected.

      The people who had been loyal to him over the years, these were the people uppermost in his mind right now. He thought of Barney, that good man, and his heart was sore. Then he thought of Vicky, of maybe never seeing her again, and the prospect was unbearable. He found himself searching for a way that would allow him to take the Davidsons with him, but at the moment that seemed quite unrealistic.

      His thoughts then flew ahead, and his heart sank. Whatever the outcome of his visit across the Atlantic, there was still Patricia.

      And so far he had not decided what to do about her.

       Chapter 11

      ‘YOU’RE THIRTY-NINE years of age and you still have the body of a young girl.’ Having climbed into bed, Barney leaned on his elbow and watched his wife undress. It wasn’t often she undressed in front of him; for some reason she preferred the light out, and whenever he came upon her naked, she would blush and hide, and scamper into bed. ‘You need never be ashamed of your body,’ he told her now. ‘You should be proud.’ His voice dropped to the softest whisper. ‘You’re very beautiful, Vicky. You always were.’

      Having finished brushing her hair, she slithered into bed beside him. ‘I’m not beautiful,’ she protested, though with a smile. ‘You СКАЧАТЬ