The Fairbairn Fortunes by Una-Mary Parker

Author:Una-Mary Parker
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780727885906
Publisher: Severn House Publishers
Published: 2015-12-09T05:00:00+00:00

The Manse, the next day

‘This is like a weird re-enactment of Mama’s death, isn’t it?’ Humphrey observed in a low voice as he shook hands with an exhausted Robert as they stood in the drive. He and Lizzie, with Beattie and Andrew, had travelled overnight by train and they were being welcomed with tearful hugs by Diana, Flora and Alice, whose clergyman husband, Colin Maitland, was bracing himself to impart further bad news to the family.

‘This is going to be a hundred times worse than their mother’s funeral,’ Robert whispered. ‘All the sisters are utterly inconsolable, and Laura is as angry as hell that we didn’t burn her mother’s will in the first place.’

Humphrey blew his nose into a large handkerchief. ‘Let’s hope Mama kept a well-stocked wine cellar to help us all get through this ghastly business. Have they ascertained that it was definitely suicide?’

Robert nodded. ‘A trapdoor that leads on to the roof had been forced open.’

Humphrey immediately looked up at the chimneystacks. ‘God, it’s a hell of a drop.’

Lizzie had seen him looking up and she came over to him with tears in her eyes.

‘I’m so sorry, darling,’ he murmured, putting his arms around her.

‘How brave she must have been,’ Lizzie said, looking up at the roof too, ‘to do this. But not brave enough to face the future.’

‘That was Mama’s fault,’ Laura pointed out as she overheard Lizzie’s remark. ‘We all knew she had a hold over Catriona. But none of us did anything to get her away from it all.’

‘I think she’d have fiercely resisted leaving here or getting a job. She looked upon Mama and this house as her raison d’être,’ said Humphrey.

‘That’s exactly what it was,’ Laura declared, ‘and she should have been allowed to do exactly that without interference,’ she added angrily.

Flora came over to her and said, ‘I hear you are refusing to accept Mama’s wishes regarding the money.’

‘That’s right. You can have the whole of it including Catriona’s share now, but I can’t take a penny. I should have seen this coming but instead I sailed back to Edinburgh planning a whole new life in London, particularly for Caroline’s sake.’

Flora stared at her. ‘So you’re going to be as selfish as our mother? If someone wants to end their life nothing will stop them. Your guilt is groundless and will cause Caroline to be denied the chance of a good career – all because of your selfishness. Like mother like daughter. Catriona didn’t want a career or a job teaching French. She didn’t want friends. I tried everything to get her interested but she absolutely refused. So stop playing the martyr and think what opportunities you can offer your own daughter now.’ With that she turned away and marched off to talk to Lizzie and Beattie.

Mr McTavish and the Reverend Colin Maitland were huddled in a corner of the study, deep in conversation.

‘Would you like me to tell the family?’ the lawyer asked.

Colin looked strained. ‘That’s very kind of you but I think it’s my job as the village parson and a member of the family.

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