Джеффри Арчер - This Was a Man

‘While you were at the service,’ he said, ‘all your possessions were packed and moved into the Dower House. A car is waiting to take you there immediately. There will be a family meeting in my study at eleven tomorrow morning, which I hope you will attend. There are some serious matters I wish to discuss with you,’ he added, reminding Virginia of her father.

Without another word, the duke walked to the front door, opened it and waited for Virginia to leave, so she could begin her first day of banishment.

Virginia rose early the following morning and took her time inspecting the Dower House, which turned out to be quite large enough for someone living on her own. Her staff consisted of an under-butler, a maid and a cook, no more and no less than Perry had specified in his will.

At ten to eleven a car arrived to take her to the castle, which only a few days ago had been her sole domain.

The front door of the castle opened as the car drew up, and after a perfunctory ‘Good morning, your grace,’ the butler accompanied her to her husband’s old study. Lomax knocked quietly on the door, opened it and stood aside to allow the dowager duchess to enter.

‘Good morning,’ said Clarence as he rose from his place behind the desk. He waited until Virginia had taken the only available chair. She smiled at his sisters, but they didn’t return the compliment.

‘Thank you for coming,’ began Clarence, as if she’d had any choice. ‘We felt it would be useful to let you know what we have planned for the future.’

Virginia had a feeling he meant ‘your future’. ‘That’s considerate of you,’ she said.

‘I intend to report back to my regiment in a few days’ time, and I won’t be returning before Christmas. Alice will be flying back to New York on Monday.’

‘Then who will run the estate?’ asked Virginia, hoping they had at last come to their senses.

‘I have entrusted that responsibility to Shane and Camilla — with my father’s blessing, I might add, as he accepted that I’d always wanted to be a soldier and was never cut out to be a farmer. Shane, Camilla and the children will live at the castle, fulfilling another of my father’s wishes.’

‘How very sensible,’ said Virginia. ‘I hope you’ll allow me to help out, at least during the transition?’

‘That won’t be necessary,’ said Camilla, speaking for the first time. ‘We’ve received a good offer for our farm in New Zealand, and my husband will be flying back to finalize the sale and deal with any other personal matters that need attending to, after which he’ll return to take over the management of the estate. With the help of Mr Moxton, I will keep things ticking over until he’s back.’

‘It’s just that I thought—’

‘No need to,’ said Camilla. ‘We’ve thought of everything.’

‘And I fear, Virginia, there is another matter I have to raise with you,’ said Clarence. Virginia shifted uneasily in her seat. ‘It has been brought to my attention by Mr Moxton that my father, without my knowledge, made you a loan of £185,000. Fortunately, Moxton had the good sense to formalize the arrangement,’ said Clarence, as he turned to the third page of a document Virginia remembered signing. She suddenly wished she’d spent a little more time reading the first two pages.

‘The loan was made for a period of five years, with a compound interest rate of five per cent. If my father died before then, the full amount was to be repaid within twenty-eight days. I have consulted my accountant, and he has written to let me know —’ he turned his attention to a letter lying on the desk — ‘that with accumulated interest, the exact amount you currently owe the estate is £209,145. So I have to ask you, Virginia, if you have sufficient funds to cover that amount.’

‘But Perry told me that if he died before me — and I remember his exact words — the slate would be wiped clean.’

‘Do you have any proof of that?’ asked Camilla.

‘No. But he gave me his word, which surely should be enough.’

‘It’s not his words we’re discussing,’ said Camilla, ‘but yours.’

‘And if he did,’ said Clarence, ‘he certainly didn’t let Moxton know of any such arrangement. There’s no mention of it in the original agreement, which my father also signed.’ Clarence swivelled it around so Virginia could see a signature she recognized well.

‘I will have to consult my lawyers,’ she stammered, unable to think of anything else to say.

‘We have already consulted ours,’ said Alice, ‘and Mr Blatchford has confirmed that there is no mention in Father’s will of any such gift, just an allowance of five thousand pounds a month, a briar walking stick and two porcelain vases.’

Virginia suppressed a smile.

‘If you are unable to repay the loan,’ continued Clarence, ‘our accountant has come up with a compromise which I hope you will find acceptable.’ He returned to the letter. ‘If we were to withhold your monthly allowance of five thousand pounds, the full amount would be paid off in approximately four years, at which time your allowance would be restored.’

‘However, should you die at some time during the next four years,’ interjected Camilla, ‘let me assure you, the slate would be wiped clean.’

Virginia remained silent for some time before blurting out, ‘But how can I be expected to survive in the meantime?’

‘My father told me, on more than one occasion,’ said Clarence, ‘that your brother gives you a generous monthly allowance which you once said you were never able to spend, so I rather assumed...’

‘He stopped those payments the day I married your father.’

‘Then we must hope that once he has been acquainted with your present circumstances, he will be willing to restore your allowance, otherwise you will have to rely on your substantial assets, which you also mentioned to my father. Of course, if you are able to repay the full amount of the loan within twenty-eight days that will solve the whole problem.’

Virginia bowed her head and burst into tears, but when she eventually looked up, it was clear that none of them was moved.

‘Perhaps this would be a good opportunity for us to discuss some domestic matters,’ said Camilla. ‘As my brother has explained, my husband will be taking over the management of the estate, and our family will be living here in the castle. Clarence and Alice will be returning from time to time, but in my brother’s absence, I will be mistress of Castle Hertford.’ Camilla waited for her words to sink in before she continued. ‘I wish to make it clear, so there can be no misunderstanding in the future, that you will not be welcome here at any time, and that includes Christmas or any other holidays. You will also make no attempt to contact either of my children, or any members of the castle staff. I have made my wishes clear to Mr Lomax.’

Virginia looked at Clarence and then at Alice, but it was obvious the family were acting as one.

‘Unless you have anything to ask concerning your future arrangements,’ said Clarence, ‘we have nothing more to discuss with you.’

Virginia rose from her place and left the room with as much dignity as she could muster. She walked slowly across the hall to the front door, which the butler was holding open. He didn’t address her as she walked out of the castle for the last time. All she heard was the door closing behind her.

Another door was already open so she could be driven back to the Dower House. Once Virginia had been dropped off, she went straight to her study, picked up the phone and dialled a London number, to be greeted with the first friendly voice she had heard that day.

‘How nice to hear from you, your grace. How can I help?’