Виктория Холт - The Landower Legacy

I am sermonizing to myself, but I know I should be grateful for having lived through such experiences which have taught me so much.

I often think of Gwennie, whose insatiable curiosity brought her to her death. “Curiosity killed the cat.” I remembered her saying that. Curiosity killed Gwennie. They found her body in the mine shaft, just as Jamie had said. The story came out at the inquest. She had discovered the truth which he had been trying to hide. The great task of Jamie’s life was to keep up the myth that Donald and Jamie were not the same person. There were two sides to his nature. He saw himself as two people in one body. There was Jamie, the gentle lover of animals, the man who wanted to live at peace with his neighbours; but there was Donald who could be swayed by uncontrollable urges to destroy; and the two natures had warred together in Jamie’s childhood; and Donald James McGill, unable to live with the murderous instincts which came over him at times, had come to terms with life by dividing himself into two personalities. While he could live as Jamie he was safe. But Donald came back when Gwennie threatened to betray him.

He was judged clearly insane and was “detained during Her Majesty’s pleasure.” I was relieved that he passed into good hands. One of the greatest doctors who specialized in mental disorders was interested in his case which he called one of split personality. He arranged for Jamie to go to a special institution of which he himself was in charge. I went to see Jamie now and then. He worked in the gardens. He had his hives. I think that he often believed they were his bees and he was able to forget what had happened and imagined himself back at the lodge.

Soon after the discovery of the body I came to London to be with Jago and Rosie. I brought Livia and Julian with me—and Nanny Loman, Miss Bell and Julian’s nanny, of course. Julian was so fond of Livia and as he was of an age to take note of what was happening around him, we thought it best for him to be away from home.

Rosie was wonderful to be with—so sane, and so was Jago. I was amazed really at the success of their relationship. They were really devoted to each other and theirs was fast becoming known internationally as one of the great fashion houses of the world.

I brought my attention back to the procession. Julian was pointing something out to Livia. The friendship between those two was a great delight to me. I thought: Perhaps one day they will marry. Who could say? Tressidor would go to Livia. I had made up my mind on that. Great houses should remain in families. I was not a Tressidor, but Livia was, and Tressidor should go back to Tressidor.

I knew that Paul would make Julian his heir no matter what children we should have. Julian was half Arkwright and it must not be forgotten that it was the Arkwrights who had saved Landower from destruction.

Why was I thinking all this as I sat there looking down on the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee from this elaborate bow window of Rosie’s and Jago’s grand establishment?

Paul was looking at me quizzically. I think he read my thoughts. His hand closed over mine and I knew he shared my view that we should put behind us all the hazards through which we had passed but which had brought us to this happy state—and rejoice and be thankful.