Love in Spring BoxSet by Jenny Lane

Author:Jenny Lane [Lane, Jenny]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Endeavour Media
Published: 2019-02-28T05:00:00+00:00

FIVE

Tamara said her farewells and followed Richard out to the car, feeling a bit like a naughty schoolgirl caught in the act of doing something wrong. She couldn’t quite put her finger on it, but he had effectively managed to subdue her spirits. They drove in silence for a few minutes and then he said, ‘You know you really would have done better to have stayed away from the Courtneys. It was a bit tactless of Tom to invite you on the picnic.’

Tamara felt her colour heightening. ‘I don’t see why. I was fully chaperoned, if that’s what’s worrying you... Mrs Courtney or Anne were with us all day.’

Except, she remembered, for those few moments on the clifftop.

‘Oh, don’t be so ridiculous, you know very well that isn’t what I meant,’ he said angrily. Tamara remembered that Miriam had warned her against becoming too friendly with the Courtneys. She was more convinced than ever that Oliver had been involved in some way with the accident in Tregarth Bay and was suddenly determined to know the truth.

‘Richard, I think you had better explain. I know that Tom’s wife and son were drowned in a boating accident, but there is more to it than that, isn’t there? Was Oliver involved in some way?’

‘Perhaps we’d better leave it at that,’ Richard said, tight-lipped.

‘No, Richard, I want to know. It isn’t fair to leave it there.’ She repeated the gossip she had overheard at the fête. Suddenly, he seemed to make up his mind.

‘All right, Cassie, I suppose you ought to know the truth of the matter. You’re bound to find out sooner or later anyway, although I would have expected Oliver to have put you in the picture.’

‘Well, he hasn’t, so, come on, let’s get it over with.’ She braced herself for what she was about to hear.

‘There were four people on board the boat that afternoon – Judith, and young Peter, Melissa and Oliver. It was a mad, fool thing to have taken it out. Oliver was inexperienced and he was the only one who could man her at all. If only he had listened to the weather forecasts he would have realised the error he was making, but, forgive me, he always has been pigheaded... Oliver had bought the boat cheaply and was doing it up in his spare time. It was the first and last time he took it out... It smashed against some rocks and only Mel and Oliver returned.’ His voice was flat and unemotional as if he were reciting a news bulletin, but Tamara saw how tense he had become.

‘I don’t understand,’ she said stupidly. ‘Why did Tom’s wife and son go?’

‘Just a joy-ride – Judith was Melissa’s cousin. Oliver and Mel were going out together at that time. Mel must have mentioned the boat to Judith, who thought the whole idea great fun. They went out in the late afternoon while Tom and Anne were in Truro... I think Judith must have gone on the spur of the moment.

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