Anna Jacobs (28 page)

The older man nodded.

“Will you send for my sister and her husband and ask them to get me another doctor, any doctor except Tolson.”

Ted nodded again. “You can rely on me, though I hope it doesn’t come to that.”

Aubrey went back to work. His father wasn’t going to frighten him into compliance. Indeed, such incidents only made him more determined to live his own life. Immediately after Christmas he’d find another doctor and explain the situation. No one was going to pretend that Tolson was his physician.

* * * *

That same morning Justin went to see his old friend Marley again. This time he used the rear entrance, hoping none of Fleming’s men had seen him.

“This is getting serious.” Marley tapped the page of notes Justin had rescued from the fire. “Have you reported it to the police yet?”

“No. Not sure if it’s worth bothering.”

“It’s definitely worth it.” He studied his old friend. “They’ve got you worried, haven’t they?”

“Yes. Try nearly being roasted to death and see how courageous you feel.”

“All the more reason to stop them.”

“Dammit man, the police have known for years about the gambling and the coercion that’s been going on, not to mention the sharp business practices of a certain group of so-called gentlemen, and they haven’t managed to put an end to any of it! I can’t see this case being any different.”

“Fleming’s over-reaching himself—and don’t tell me Hammerton isn’t deeply involved because I won’t believe you. If we resist and push them hard, they may make a mistake. Good thing the cab driver had a revolver, eh?”

“It’s his old service revolver. I don’t think it’s licensed or anything.”

Marley grinned. “I shan’t pursue that point. I reckon a man who’s fought for England and lost his leg in the service of his country has a right to defend himself.”

As a result of this conversation, an earnest young constable came round to see Justin and take copious notes on the “incident” for his sergeant’s files.

“We will look into this, sir,” he said as he left. “But we have to tread carefully.”

Justin didn’t feel optimistic about Fleming getting caught.

* * * *

Later that day, Constable Yedhill puffed his way along the lane to the Hall and went round to the stables, where he found Marcus and Vic chatting.

“Why didn’t you report that incident on the way back to Tinsley?” he demanded of Vic.

“What good would it have done? And how did you find out about it?”

“The sergeant in Tinsley is an old friend of mine. Did you recognise the men?”

“No.”

“What about the truck?”

“Not a vehicle I’ve seen round here before.”

“The sergeant intends to ring all the nearby police stations when we have the necessary information and ask them to look out for a vehicle like that with a bullet hole in it—or find out if anyone has repaired the bodywork of such a vehicle. It’ll all take time, but you’d be surprised what we can come up with if we set our minds to it.”

Vic didn’t feel optimistic about the chances of finding the men who’d attacked the lawyer. They weren’t local and could have come in from anywhere to do the job of frightening Mr Redway . . . or had they actually been ordered to kill him?

He felt angry every time he thought of what had been going on here for the past few years. War profiteering by men like Hammerton sickened him, especially as such fellows had sat safely at home while young Englishmen like himself risked their lives every day—no, every minute!—for their country.

* * * *

On the Monday afternoon a large Humber, very highly polished, turned into the drive of the Hall and drew up before the front door. Serena, who had rushed to peer out of the window and see who it was, felt her heart start to thump with nervousness when she recognised the vehicle and its occupant—Fleming.

She hurried into the kitchen. “Mr Fleming is about to pay us a call. Pearl, could you please answer the door and show him into the sitting room? Don’t answer any questions about us. I’m going to change into my best clothes before I see him. Can someone fetch—Oh, there you are, Marcus. Fleming has come to call on us.”

“I saw the car coming up the drive.” A little breathless, Marcus looked down at himself. “I thought I’d better change my clothes before I see him so ran up to the house. I’ve been going through the things in the Lodge, so that I can offer it for rent.”

They both hurried up the back stairs as Pearl went to answer the door.

Marcus was ready first. “I’ll go and keep an eye on Fleming. Take your time, Serena. He hasn’t seen you in your new clothes and it won’t hurt for you to look your best.” He went downstairs, pausing in the doorway of the sitting room to stare at Fleming, who was warming his hands at the fire.

“You must be my son-in-law.” The visitor came forward, hand outstretched.

Marcus gave it the briefest possible of shakes. “Won’t you sit down?” He indicated an armchair.

Fleming sat in the chair, looking as calm as if he hadn’t recently sent his men to this very house to kidnap his daughter.

Disgust for the man sat like nausea in Marcus’s throat. He’d met one or two like him, icy manipulators who cared nothing for other people’s feelings, and he hated to think that Serena had spent most of her life in this one’s power. Only a very strong woman could have survived years of browbeating without becoming docile and cowed.

He was thankful she still had an independence of mind and spirit, but her upbringing had marked her nonetheless. He knew she was unable to trust other people easily, but he felt he was winning her trust—and her love, too, he hoped. Hearing footsteps approaching, he stood up. “Ah, there you are, darling.”

As Serena walked in, Fleming’s eyes narrowed and he said nothing, just looked her up and down, not bothering to hide his surprise at her changed appearance.

Marcus went to put his arm round her shoulders. “Come and sit down. Mr Fleming was just about to explain what brought him here.”

Fleming stood up and moved across to Serena. When she took a step backwards, he stopped. “I wanted to see my daughter, of course, and to meet you, Graye, since you’re married to her—even if it was against my wishes.”

“She’s old enough to make up her own mind about that.”

“Ah, but was she in a suitable frame of mind after the loss of her mother to choose sensibly? My daughter has always—”

Serena decided she wasn’t going to be talked about like this, as if she had no mind or opinions of her own. “We both know I’m not your daughter.” She could see that Fleming were surprised by her interruption, but Marcus gave her a nod and sat back, as if leaving her to take charge of this interview. The length of his thigh was pressed against hers, however, its warmth sending a continuing message of support that heartened her.

“We know nothing of the sort,” Fleming snapped. “Are you suggesting that your mother was of loose morals, would have been unfaithful to her marriage vows?”

“I don’t intend to discuss my mother with you, apart from saying I know she wouldn’t lie to me when she was dying. You and I have nothing to say to one another now that isn’t best said through a lawyer, so don’t let us keep you. I can’t think why you came out here. You must know how I feel.”

His voice suddenly rang with his old hectoring tone, the sharpness of which had reduced her to silence and obedience on many occasions. “I came to try to put a stop to your foolishness, Serena, and you
are
being foolish, very foolish indeed. It isn’t too late to have this marriage declared null and void, and whatever you say, you
are
in an unstable state mentally. That’s very obvious to me, who knows you better than anyone. Why, look at the way you’ve changed your appearance, the way you’re aping younger women. At your age! You look utterly ridiculous in those clothes and as for that short hair—it’s so common! People are no doubt laughing at you behind your back.”

Beside her, Marcus twitched and shot a quick look sideways, eyebrow raised as if to ask whether she needed his help.

At that moment she realised that Fleming had lost some of his power to hurt her verbally. She wasn’t dependent on him now and it was her own efforts that had set her free, which she was secretly proud of, so she answered him with the simple truth. “Actually, I’m happier than I’ve been for many years and I’m delighted with my appearance. No need to dress dowdily now to avoid
your
men friends. I can be myself at last.” She took Marcus’s hand. “And I couldn’t be happier!”

When her husband raised her hand to his lips and kissed it, she gave him a dazzling smile.

Breath whistled into Fleming’s mouth and his expression turned grim, but he didn’t move from his chair. “I think you’ll find this so-called happiness is an illusion. Graye is only after your money.”

“And you aren’t?” she asked quickly.

He ignored that. “I hear your brother Frank is back in town.”

“Oh?” She wondered how much he knew, so didn’t comment.

“And I gather he’s been out here to visit you.”

She still didn’t answer, using his own trick of waiting until someone grew uncomfortable with the silence.

In the end Fleming leaned forward and snapped, “Well, hasn’t Frank been here?”

“He prefers to be called Aubrey now.”

“His name is
Frank
. Frank Fleming.”

“That’s up to him now.”

“We’ll see about that.” Fleming broke off for a moment, taking a couple of deep, slow breaths. The traces of anger vanished from his face, leaving it as cold as a statue’s. “You really should know me better than to continue annoying me like this, Serena. Your stupid insistence on finding out what happened to the annuity income will get you nowhere. As I’ve already told you, I lost that money through bad investments, which I deeply regret. But that’s water under the bridge now. You will find life much pleasanter if you don’t have to worry about such things, and you’ll never be short of money in my house.”

Marcus stood up, amazed at the crudeness of this threat. “We don’t intend to discuss the matter of Serena’s money without our lawyer present. And I too think you’ve said enough for now, more than enough. Let me show you out, Mr Fleming.” He gestured towards the door.

After a moment’s hesitation the older man stood up, but before he moved he looked Serena up and down once again. “You’re wasted on
him.
I could have found you a much better husband had I known what you could look like.”

“But I love Marcus,” she said quite simply.

“And I love Serena. We’re both happy as we are.”

“Let’s hope you stay happy.” Fleming stood up and walked towards the door. “Life is a fragile flower, is it not?”

Marcus set Serena on one side and whispered, “Stay here!” He followed their unwanted guest to the front door. Before he opened it, he said,  “Don’t come here again, Fleming, or try to contact my wife.”

“She’s still my daughter and I have her welfare at heart.”

“We both know neither of those statements is true. It’s her money you want.”

The mask slipped for a moment. “And I’ll have it too—whatever it takes to get it. I’m owed it for what I did for her and her mother. I gave her a respectable name. What’s more
you
should remember that I always get what I want in the end, one way or another. If you continue to stand in my way, you shouldn’t feel too confident about your own future.”

“You’re admitting your theft, then? And offering us more threats?”

“Not where anyone can overhear us.” Fleming walked outside and sauntered across to the car, where Hudd was holding the door open. He got in without looking back.

Marcus didn’t move until the vehicle was out of sight, then he shivered and closed the door, walking slowly back into the sitting room.

Serena was standing looking into the fire, one hand on the mantelpiece. “I overheard what you were saying to him. He’s not going to give up, is he?”

“No.”

“How does he think he can force me to go back to him? I don’t understand that.” As Marcus came across to put his arms round her, she asked, “What are we going to do? We can’t spend the rest of our lives living in fear.”

“We’re going to make plans of our own. Consult our friends. Demand an accounting from Fleming. And in the meantime we should prepare for Christmas.”

“Goodness, I’d forgotten all about that.” She forced a smile. “Only two more days to go.”

As she started moving towards the door, Marcus pulled her back into his arms. “I was proud of you just now. It can’t have been easy to face up to him.”

With a sigh she leaned against him, loving the way his lips brushed lightly against her temple. “It’s easier to be brave when you’re not alone.”

“You were brave when you were on your own for a good many years.” He lifted her chin with his fingertip. “I really am glad we got married, Serena, and I do love you.”

Breath caught in her throat and she gave a shaky laugh. “I love you, too.” She put her arms round him and kissed him, then they stood for a moment or two, enjoying the closeness and warmth.

At length he stepped back. “Once Christmas is over, we’ll take the initiative against Fleming, I’m not sure how yet, but I’ll think about it, work something out. In the meantime, let’s enjoy the lull. I can’t imagine him doing anything over the next day or two, can you?”

“I hope not. I can’t remember the last time I enjoyed Christmas. But we’d better be careful.”

Her voice was so wistful he hugged her again.

When she’d gone up to continue altering one of her old-fashioned frocks, he went to stare into the fire. He wasn’t sure there would be a lull over Christmas, though he didn’t intend to tell her that.

* * * *

But Fleming was wrong about no one overhearing what he’d said to Marcus. While the two men were talking in the hall, there had been a listener at the open window upstairs. Pamela might be old, but there was nothing wrong with her hearing, and she’d heard and understood the implications of every word they exchanged.

She waited until Marcus had closed the front door behind him then went across to the bed and sat down on it, anger boiling hotly in her.
That man!
How dared he even come to this house? He’d ruined her son Lawrence and now he was trying to ruin her nephew, who was the only person with Lonnerden blood left. Marcus was a poor second to Lawrence, to the man her son had been before the war anyway, but he was all the family she had left now. If it was the last thing she did, she’d make sure Fleming was stopped.