In the Shadow of War by Adrienne Chinn

Author:Adrienne Chinn [Chinn, Adrienne]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780008501655
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

Chapter Thirty-Three

Christina

Bishop House, Portman Square, Marylebone, London – May 1935

Christina smiles a tight smile at the maid who greets her at the door of the Portman Square house.

‘I’m here to see Mrs Adam. Tell her Mrs Fry wishes to have a word.’

‘That’s not necessary, Mary,’ Dorothy Adam calls from the hallway. ‘I’ll speak to Mrs Fry. Go back to polishing the silverware.’

Christina nods to Dorothy Adam, who, in her smart navy jersey Chanel dress and with her auburn hair subjected to an expensive perm, appears to have adapted to the role of chatelaine of a grand London house as if it were one she was born to.

‘Hello, Dorothy. You’re looking terribly well.’

Dorothy casts her pale green gaze over Christina. ‘What do you want, Christina?’

‘I should very much like to have a word.’

‘I can’t see that we have anything to talk about. My solicitors were quite clear in their letter to you.’ She makes a movement to shut the door.

Christina steps forward and holds the door open.

‘Wait. I’ve had time to think about this situation. It’s absurd for us to be at loggerheads about the house, with both of our children involved. I’d very much like to clear the air. For their sakes, if not for ours.’

Dorothy smiles coldly. ‘You don’t need to act the contrite opponent, Christina. You’re here because Christopher has just turned twenty-one and you’re worried you will lose this house once and for all.’

Christina juts out her chin. ‘Dorothy, half of this house is Cecelia’s. Christopher’s coming of age doesn’t change that.’

‘Is that so? What do you intend to do about it? Your daughter hasn’t rushed back from Canada to stake her claim, nor has she contributed to any of the extraordinarily high maintenance fees incurred by Bishop House, no doubt the result of years of neglect on the part of your family. However it’s happened, the house has finally found itself in good hands.’

Christina’s jaw tightens. ‘My family always took impeccable care of this house. I can only imagine that its current tenants have neglected their duty of care.’

Dorothy moves to shut the door, but Christina holds firm. ‘I have had quite enough of this conversation, Christina. You shall hear from my solicitors.’

‘I am Cecelia’s representative, Dorothy. I have been very vocal about “staking her claim”. I assure you that she has every intention of moving to Bishop House when she returns to London.’

‘When will that be? Harry died three years ago. Cecelia has had plenty of time to visit London to view her inheritance.’ Dorothy’s green eyes narrow. ‘Does she even know? Have you even told her?’

‘What are you insinuating?’

‘Mummy!’

A dark-haired young man in the white trousers and jumper of a cricketer bounds up the steps.

‘Hello, there!’ he says, offering his hand to Christina. ‘I remember you. You used to visit us at our old flat, didn’t you? Jolly nice to see you again.’

‘Mrs Fry was just leaving, Christopher.’

‘Oh no, Mummy, we can’t have that.’ Christopher smiles at Christina, his blue eyes as guileless as a child’s.

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