by Mary Wood
Flora had often thought she had traits of her father and brother in her, and at this moment she knew so, because although she did feel sorry for them, she wanted to shout for joy, because at last her father had recognized her, and had made up for all he’d not given her in the past. And a small part of her felt that her mother and brothers had got what was coming to them.
Cyrus broke into these thoughts, his kindness putting her to shame. ‘Let’s get away from here and let them come to terms with everything. I’ll contact John Wright tomorrow and make an appointment to discuss all the implications, and exactly what I have been left. I want to make it right for all of them, to the best of my ability.’
Without telling him her real feelings, Flora agreed. ‘Yes. They don’t deserve you to, but I would expect nothing less of you, darling.’
As they made their way to the waiting cab, Olivia spoke for the first time. ‘You are right, Cyrus. How could I have loved such a cruel man? To insist that we were all together like that, and to have treated his family so unjustly. I wouldn’t have cared, if he had left me nothing but happy memories. Now they are all tainted, and have been for a while, since I learned of Pru and Freddy. I need to be as far away from all of this as I can.’
‘I’ll put you on a train to Bexleyheath tomorrow, Mother, and will contact you as soon as I know what is happening. I need to sort everything out, before I leave here. Flora, darling. We can’t be seen together, after I drop you off at your home. It’s going to be so difficult. But as soon as I can, I will get some money to you. How have you really fared? You never said in your letters, and I’ve been worried sick.’
‘I know; and I know you asked me, but my answer would have worried you even more than not knowing.’ She told him how difficult it had all been.
‘Oh, my poor darling. But all of this will come to an end. Once everything is sorted, I will look for a place for us in France, as we spoke about earlier. No one will keep us apart.’ He pulled her to him. His mother averted her eyes and stared out of the window. ‘Always remember that I love you. I will see you tomorrow, as we now have a legitimate reason to meet up, as I am officially your guardian.’
Flora managed a small smile. But as the cab took them away from her, and she stood outside the home she’d once loved – the home that had resounded with laughter, and yes, worrying times too, but mixed with family love – a feeling of foreboding shivered through her. It didn’t last long, as a deep loneliness shrouded her.
She ran up the path and opened the door. Rowena stood there with her arms open. Going into the huge cuddle, Flora let her body empty of the tears that she’d locked deep inside her.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Flora waited outside her home. When the cab appeared, her heart beat faster. As soon as it came to a standstill, she jumped in and fell into Cyrus’s arms, relishing his kisses on her face and finally on her lips.
‘Oh, darling. I – I’ve been so lonely.’
‘Me too, darling. I hope you don’t mind coming with me, but I want them all to see that you are in agreement with me.’
Two days had passed since the Will-reading. Cyrus now knew the extent of his legacy. He was the owner of twenty-five thriving haberdashery shops, plus investment portfolios and properties, and cash in saving accounts worth a total of one hundred and fifty thousand pounds. There were also keys to some safe-deposit boxes, the contents of which were unknown.
‘What I propose to do is to sell the shops and divide the money up between the four of us and your mother. I have been told that the total value of each shop is around four thousand pounds, including stock, all fixtures and fittings and the buildings, which are owned outright. And of course the goodwill should add a little more value. However, the amount may vary and could be considerably less, depending on whether they are bought as an entire business or individually, as all prices are negotiable. That will give each of us, approximately, twenty thousand pounds, on top of what we have already been left. And, darling, despite the annulment of our marriage, to me you are still my wife and everything that I have is half-yours. I somehow think our father must have found out about our situation, and kept quiet and made arrangements accordingly.’
‘Yes, I think that, too. It is too much of a coincidence that he put me in your care, as a stipulation of his Will. But how? And why did he keep quiet about it?’
‘We will never know. Maybe he had you watched over, but if so, I think it could have been that he hoped my mother would never find out, as she didn’t know you existed. But if that is the case, it was very naive of him. Did he think you would never meet and talk? I think it will all have to remain the mystery it is. Anyway, darling, are you in agreement?’
‘Yes, I am. I think it is very generous of you. And it will mean that Mother’s, Harold’s and Francis’s fortunes will be greatly changed. And we can go off to France and forget about them, as that is all I want to do.’
‘I am surprised that they agreed to meet us, and at their home, too. I wanted the meeting to be in the solicitor’s office, but they were adamant that it should take place at your mother’s house.’
‘I find that not only strange, but a little frightening.’
‘Me, too, but John Wright couldn’t change their mind. I wanted him to come along, but he said he couldn’t. He said he’d received a message to say that Mags will be there and will act as mediator.’
‘Oh? Well, that makes me feel a little better. Though now that Harold is coming into some money, I wonder if he will bow down to her wishes much. We need to be very careful, Cyrus. I don’t trust any of them.’
‘Maybe we should call it off? Tell them that the meeting is to take place only on our terms.’
‘No. I just want it over with. Neither Mother nor Harold is noted for giving in. Let’s take a deep breath and get it over with.’
They were asked to attend the drawing room, a room that Flora loved as a child. It was always light and bright and, being across the hall from her father’s office, it had French doors that led into the garden. The garden was lovely to look at, with tall pine trees edging the bottom of the long lawn, and the garden dotted with flowerbeds, borders and rockeries. All year round something flowered, giving colour.
Flora felt a moment of nostalgia as she remembered playing with Francis on the lawn. Always it was ‘Cowboys and Indians’, and he was always the victor of the wars that broke out. At least she had that one good memory.
Mother stood near the fireplace. Harold sat on a high-backed chair, and Francis seemed almost huddled on the sofa, his whole persona giving off the sense that he was in a very cross mood.
Mags greeted Flora with a hug and a kiss on the cheek. Her hands enclosed Flora’s and she gave her a look of encouragement.
After she had greeted Cyrus in the same way, she set proceedings off by saying. ‘Obviously tensions are high amongst you, but I think we should all be adult about this and approach it in a businesslike manner. We understand, Cyrus, that you wish to discuss with your brothers and Grace a plan that you have to even everything up a little, and to make fair the very unfair and unjust terms of your father’s Will.’
To Flora, it felt as if she and Cyrus were on trial, but she understood Mags’s approach and welcomed it.
‘Yes, I have a proposal to put to you all. Well, it is more than a proposal, as it isn’t up for discussion: you either accept it or do not. I will put all the shops up for sale . . .’
No one spoke as Cyrus outlined his plan. Flora was almost lulled into the feeling that all was going to go smoothly, when suddenly her mother lunged at her. ‘This is all your doing, you nasty, vile person!’
Stepping back, Flora almost lost her balance. Her mother clawed at her. She saw Cyrus move, but before he could get to her, Mags leapt forward and pushed Flora’s mother off her. What Mags said as she did so mystified Flora: ‘I know your plan. Well, it isn’t going to work.’ From where Flora lay on the floor, she saw Harold go towards Cyrus, but his progress was stopped by Mag
s. ‘No! I know the plan, and I won’t let it happen.’
‘You’re as bad as them!’ Flora was astonished at this comment from her mother, and hurt for Mags, as Mother continued, ‘I don’t like you – and never have. My son is only marrying you to get what you have.’
Flora tried to rise from the floor as her mother attacked Mags. But then she watched in horror as her mother teetered backwards, losing her balance.
‘Harold, grab Mother . . .’
Harold stood as if made of stone. Flora saw Mags step forward, making an effort to catch Mother, but it was too late. A sickening thud brought a stillness to the room.
Flora stared at her mother’s motionless body.
‘It – it was an accident. I didn’t mean to . . . I – I only tried to push her off me. Oh, God, please don’t say that she’s— Flora, she attacked me . . .’ Mags stuttered.
Flora didn’t know how she got to her feet, for it wasn’t a conscious act, but she rushed to her mother and, although she felt for a pulse, she knew she wouldn’t find one.
A moan came from Francis that Flora likened to a cat that had been trod on. He rose, and his eyes stared from one to the other. ‘You’re all evil. Evil!’
‘Francis . . .’
‘Leave him; he’s been fit for nothing but the loony bin since he came back from the war. Is Mother. . . ?’
‘Mother has gone, Harold. Why? Why did this happen, I – I mean . . . Oh God!’
Harold shot a look at Mags, who was in complete shock. Flora wanted to ask her what plan had been hatched, but none of it mattered now.
Harold took charge. ‘We have to deal with this. I’ll send someone for the doctor and the police, but we must all stick together and defend Mags. We all saw that it was an accident.’
Flora looked at Mags and was reminded of the time of her friend’s rape. Like then, the strong woman that Mags was had gone, and the vulnerable, frightened and shocked woman was back. ‘Harold’s right – it was an accident, Mags. Don’t be afraid; we all saw what happened.’
Although Harold had seemed to be in charge in the immediate aftermath of the accident, when he came back into the room it was as if he was a child again. He went over to their mother’s body and sank onto his knees. His sobs were pitiful.
Mags still didn’t move. Flora went to her. ‘Come on, Mags.’
Cyrus took her other arm. But his concern was for Flora. ‘Are you all right, darling. I was so shocked, I couldn’t move. The baby . . . ?’
‘I’m fine. A bit bruised, but nothing else. Don’t worry, darling.’
‘What a terrible thing to happen. I feel responsible. I only wanted to put everything right.’
‘I know, but—’
‘You are responsible, you bastard! Bastard by birth and bastard by nature. Coming here, lording it over us all, with handouts of what should rightfully have been ours anyway. And now my mother is dead. It’s all your fault – you and that rotten sister of mine are to blame for everything!’
Harold’s outburst showed Flora the reality of what had happened. Something in her wanted to find a way of making everything right. She walked towards her brother. ‘Let me help you, Harold.’
‘The only way you can help me is by staying out of my life.’
‘Oh, Harold, how twisted your mind is. You see me as the enemy, but I’m not. I never was. I didn’t want to be outcast—’
‘Don’t come that story again. I’ve heard it that many times from you. You gave Mother nothing but pain.’
‘You will never see the truth, will you?’
One of the maids entered and showed in the doctor, with a policeman following shortly afterwards, stopping all conversation. After the doctor had declared Mother dead, the policeman asked what had happened.
Cyrus spoke. ‘It was all a terrible accident, but a long story. You see . . .’
When he had finished telling it all, the policeman asked the doctor if the death was consistent with the story told. ‘Yes, everything would suggest that she was pushed backwards.’
‘And will you examine the woman who is meant to have done this?’
Mags looked up. ‘I am the one. I am so sorry. I didn’t mean this to happen.’
‘Let’s begin with your name.’
‘Mags . . . Margaret Witherbrook. I – I was trying to defend myself. They—’
‘We all saw it. We wouldn’t defend her if she had done it on purpose – that is our mother lying there, for God’s sake.’
As he ranted, Harold rushed over and sat on the arm of the sofa next to Mags and put his arm around her. Flora saw, from her position next to Mags, that Harold had taken hold of the back of Mags’s neck. Not in a way that made her protest, but to Flora it looked as though he was trying to convey something to Mags. A feeling seized her that Harold was trying to control Mags, no doubt stopping her from revealing the plan she had spoken of.
‘I am sure, sir, but I have to present all the evidence. Please allow the doctor to examine Miss Witherbrook. I am sure it won’t take long. Nothing here looks as though anything different from what you have all said has occurred, but I need to present the coroner with the facts, backed by concrete evidence.’
The doctor declared that the scratches on Mags’s face were consistent with her being attacked in the manner described.
‘And now you, Miss . . .’
‘Harp— I mean, Roford. Miss Flora Roford. I am the daughter of . . . That’s my mother!’
‘She attacked you first, I understand?’
‘Yes.’
The doctor looked closely at Flora’s face. He shook his head. ‘I’ve always pitied your situation, Flora. Oh yes, I knew all about it, before what you have all told me today. Your mother was mentally unstable, and was not responsible for all of her actions. I think it might help you to remember that. It’s shocking, what has gone on here; and to learn that what your mother always ranted about, concerning your father, was the truth. If I had believed her, I might have treated her differently.’
Flora nodded. His sympathy for her had almost undone her, as she too felt the pity of her mother’s life.
‘Right, I have all I need. Your mother’s body will be taken to the police-station morgue in Chapel End Street, where another doctor will examine it. If everything is as you have told me, then what I have gathered today, and his report, will go to the coroner, who will issue a death certificate. After that, you can make arrangements to have the body collected. I’m very sorry for your loss.’ On saying this, the policeman bowed and left.
‘I’ll just clean your wounds, ladies, then I will go,’ the doctor said. ‘The hearse shouldn’t be long in coming to collect your mother. I’m very sorry for all you have been through. This is a bad blow, coming so soon after you lost your father. I hope you can all sort out everything that you were speaking of.’
This last he directed towards Cyrus, who, since giving all the facts, had sat down on the opposite sofa from where Flora sat, and kept his gaze to the floor.
When the doctor left, Harold stood up. ‘Shall we go into another room? My father’s office?’
On this, he took hold of Mags’s hand and, to Flora, looked as if he almost forced her forward. The feeling Flora had had earlier niggled at her again.
When they reached the office, Harold spoke gently to Mags. ‘Sit down, darling. You heard what the doctor said – Mother was unhinged. Please don’t think twice about what she said. It isn’t the truth; if it was, now that I have the money coming to me to rescue the mill of which I am a full partner, then I would bring our relationship to an end. I can’t do that, because I love you.’
Mags sat down and looked up into Harold’s face. Her look was one of complete trust. Flora shuddered.
‘Now, Cyrus. Can we continue? I know it may sound callous, but I also know that you want an end to this, as I do. I – I’m sorry for my outburst. I was deeply shocked, and have been since I found out about your existence. I hope you understand.’ He wiped his face with a large whi
te handkerchief.
‘Yes, if Flora and Mags are all right with that. But I think Francis should be found and taken care of and, if he is up to it, should be involved in whatever we agree.’
‘Of course. I expect he has gone to his room. He isn’t well, but he won’t accept it, so that makes it difficult for us to get help for him. He has nightmares and behaves in strange ways. M – Mother, was at her wits’ end with him.’ Harold pulled the bell-cord. ‘I’ll send a maid after him, as I don’t want to leave Mags.’
Mags lowered her head.
‘Can I get you anything, Mags? Do you want to get some fresh air with me while the men discuss everything? I have already agreed everything that Cyrus plans to do,’ Flora said.
‘No! I – I mean, it is too cold,’ Harold insisted. ‘After a shock like you have both had, it won’t do you any good to catch a chill. Besides, darling, I don’t want to be without you by my side. I need you with me.’
Mags looked lost. But she agreed with Harold.
‘I’ll pour us all a drink.’ As Flora crossed the room to the drinks tray, a maid knocked and entered. Harold instructed her to seek out Mr Francis and ask him to come and join them as soon as he could.
When Francis came in, he reminded Flora of how he was as a boy. Petulant is how she would describe him, but her heart went out to him. Harold, having avoided fighting in the war, had no concept of what war was like. She and Cyrus understood. ‘Francis, come and sit down, and try to understand that Cyrus is only trying to help you both,’ she urged him.
‘Yes, that is all I want to do. I don’t want to lord it over you, but I am in the position I am through no fault of my own. I didn’t like what happened, regarding the Will, and I would like a chance to try to balance everything a little more fairly. I have already outlined how. I want your agreement to it, and then I will instruct the solicitor who is the executor of the Will to carry out the sale.’
‘I can’t say that I am in agreement,’ Harold said. ‘My father, Francis and I built up the business to what it is. We have put in a lot of hard work, and we stood for a lot from our father. Then you come along and take the lot away from us. I think the only fair way is for you to sign the shops over to Francis and me, to do with them as we will.’