by Anna Jacobs
‘Throw me out?’
‘Yes. You must have noticed the way she looks at you. She’s been terrified you’d cut her out of Lou’s will. I bet you she tries to get rid of you today.’
Miranda couldn’t believe anyone would be so heartless. ‘I’m sure she won’t. But surely the contents of the house are hers.’
‘Some of them, if I remember correctly. She can’t take anything till after we get probate, though. Remember that.’
As Miranda put the phone down the doorbell rang. She sighed. She didn’t want to deal with people. What she really wanted was to go and sit quietly on the patio, in the place Lou had loved so much. She walked out into the hall and met Tania on her way to answer the door. ‘I’ll see to that.’
‘Very well, Ms Fox.’
When Miranda opened the door, Hilary Rayne walked in without waiting for an invitation.
‘Where’s my uncle’s body?’
‘The undertaker has taken him away, but is bringing him back tomorrow.’
‘How dare you call in an undertaker without consulting me? You’re not a relative. I’d like you to pack your things and leave this house immediately. From now on, I shall be—’
Miranda’s numbness vanished abruptly. ‘Leave this house?’
‘Yes.’
‘Have you no compassion?’
‘You’ve not known my uncle long enough to grieve deeply, and I’m sure you lined your pockets nicely while he was still alive. Let the thought of that cheer you up.’
Miranda drew herself up. ‘Actually, this is my house, so you have no authority here.’
Hilary went white. ‘He can’t have bought it for you already!’
‘He leased it in my name. I wondered why he insisted on doing that; now I know.’
‘And the contents?’ Her eyes went to the pictures on the walls, the scattering of beautiful ornaments on tables and stands.
‘How should I know? We never discussed his will. Presumably his lawyer will be able to tell you that. She’s coming round shortly. You’re welcome to stay until then.’
‘I heard that your brother is a lawyer. Why do you need anyone else?’
‘None of your business.’ Miranda gestured with one hand. ‘No one is using the small sitting room. I’ll ask Tania to bring you a cup of tea.’
‘Herbal.’ Hilary’s expression was tight with suppressed hostility but she marched across the hall, heels drumming on the floor.
Miranda walked through to the formal lounge, an elegant space which could comfortably seat twenty people. Lou had loved this room, had hung his favourite paintings here and displayed his favourite objets d’art. She loved it too, but she’d enjoyed his pleasure much more than the beauty of the art works.
She used the intercom to ask Tania to take some herbal tea to Mr Rayne’s niece, then went across to the window. Hugging her arms round herself, she stared sightlessly out at the front garden. She hadn’t realized how hostile Hilary felt towards her. Lou must have done, though.
Well, they could take away all the furniture and art works. Thanks to Lou’s foresight, she didn’t have to move out until she was ready. She even had enough furniture of her own to manage here until she’d worked out what to do, though she’d have to let the staff go, couldn’t afford to pay them.
Sebastian picked up the phone.
‘There’s a Ms Rayne on the line insisting she speak to you,’ his PA said.
‘Who?’ Then he recognized the name. Who was this? An ex-wife of that fellow? ‘Put her on.’
‘Mr Fox, I’m Lou Rayne’s niece. I don’t know whether you’re aware that my uncle died today.’
‘No. I wasn’t aware of it. Please accept my condolences. When did this happen?’
‘Early this morning.’
‘Is my sister all right?’
‘Your grasping sister has possession of his house and I want you to get her out. I deeply resent her presence here at a sad time like this. And if she’s got him to leave his money to her, I warn you, I’m going to contest the will.’
The phone snapped off before he could say a word. So Lou Rayne was dead. Sebastian smiled. Good. He’d be able to bring Minnie back into line again now.
But if Rayne really had left her a lot of money, he’d have to do something about it, and that didn’t mean letting Hilary Rayne claim it back. Minnie knew nothing about managing money, nothing at all, and without Rayne’s support, she could easily become unstable again.
He glanced at his engagements diary. Fate was on his side, it seemed. Nothing for the next couple of hours. He could go and see her straight away.
Miranda was sitting down when she heard a car pull up to the house. Assuming it was Sally Patel, she hurried to open the front door, horrified to see her brother coming towards her. She tried to close it again, but he put out one hand and held it open.
‘Let me in, Minnie.’
‘No. I don’t want you here.’
He shoved her back into the house and moved inside. ‘Don’t be ridiculous. Who else should be here to help you but your family?’
‘I don’t need your help and I want you to leave.’
‘Of course you need my help. You have to sort out your financial situation and plan what to do next.’
She edged towards the intercom and managed to switch it on by feeling behind her, raising her voice, hoping to catch Jack’s attention. ‘Please leave this house immediately, Sebastian!’
‘Where did Rayne keep his papers?’
‘That has nothing to do with you.’
With a scornful look, he turned on his heel. ‘He must have a home office.’
She rushed after him, grabbing his arm as he started to throw doors open. ‘Did you hear what I said? Get out of my house!’
By that time Hilary Rayne had come to the door of the small sitting room and was watching with a look of intense satisfaction on her face.
Sebastian looked across at her. ‘I’m afraid my sister is hysterical.’
‘I can see that. Do you need my help?’
‘Not now. But I’m sure you’ll remember what a state she was in.’
‘I certainly will.’
Miranda could have wept with frustration.
‘I’m going upstairs, Minnie. You’re to stay here and try to calm down.’
‘I’ll calm down completely the minute you get out of my house.’
Ignoring that he started up the stairs.
Someone pushed the front door fully open and a voice said, ‘What’s going on here?’
Miranda turned round, tears streaming down her face. ‘Sally! My brother has shoved his way in and he won’t leave, though I’ve asked him to.’
‘She became hysterical,’ Hilary said at once. ‘I saw it all. Of course he couldn’t leave her in that state.’
Sally looked across at Sebastian, who smirked. ‘Shall we discuss this in more comfort?’
He walked slowly down the stairs, taking Miranda’s arm as he passed and forcing her to walk next to him.
‘Let go of me!’ She tried to drag herself away from him but he held on so tightly it hurt.
‘At this rate, we’ll be suing you for assault, Fox,’ Sally said in a very crisp, authoritative tone.
‘It’s not assault to try to calm down a hysterical woman who also happens to be my sister.’
‘She wasn’t hysterical,’ another voice said.
Jack ran lightly down the stairs. ‘Ms Patel, I’m very glad you’ve come before the situation got out of hand. I was just about to ring your office. Since the intercom was switched on, I’ve heard everything they both said. She asked him to leave, but he refused and started searching the house.’
‘I heard everything too.’ Tania walked out of the door that led to the service area. ‘And I’d have been just as upset as Ms Fox if someone had forced their way into my house like he did.’
Sally smiled sweetly. ‘I’m glad to hear that. Won’t you both join us? Miranda, dear, come and sit next to me.’ She led the
way into the formal living room and sat down on Lou’s big armchair, which dominated the room.
Sebastian followed, giving the two servants a dirty look as he flung himself down on a couch next to Hilary.
‘Now, please tell me what happened this morning, Miranda.’ She stared across the rug at the visitors. ‘And I don’t want any interruptions. You’ll all get your turn to speak.’
‘This is not a court of law,’ Sebastian snapped.
‘We can take it before a JP if you prefer. I happen to know that Paul Mawson is playing golf this morning, but he’ll abandon his game if I tell him this is an emergency. I can easily send for him.’
He scowled and leaned back, arms folded.
Miranda explained what had happened, managing to speak calmly.
When Sebastian opened his mouth to interrupt, Sally held up one finger and he closed his mouth again.
After everyone had had their say, she stood up and moved to stand in front of the fireplace with its huge flower arrangement. ‘I’m holding my late client’s will. I’m also aware that this house is rented in Ms Fox’s name, so if she asks someone to leave, then that person should do so immediately.’
‘I have no intention of leaving my sister to flounder around without support,’ Sebastian said. ‘You may not be aware that she had a nervous breakdown and was hospitalized for over a year.’
Sally turned to Miranda. ‘Is that true?’
‘That was over twenty years ago and I’ve had no mental health problems since. It was post-natal depression, actually. And if I need support now, it’ll be from my lawyer not from my brother, whom I don’t trust.’
‘Fine. You’ve made your wishes clear to me. As Ms Fox’s legal representative, I’m asking you to leave this house now, Mr Fox, and not to return unless your sister invites you to.’
His expression spoke volumes but after hesitating for a moment or two, he got up and moved towards the door, where he turned to say, ‘I shall be taking advice about this.’
When he’d gone Sally turned to Lou’s niece. ‘If you’ll make an appointment to come and see me in my office, I’ll explain your uncle’s will to you, Ms Rayne. I can tell you now, however, that you’re the major beneficiary.’
Hilary’s face brightened then her smile faded as she looked across at Miranda. ‘Has she been left anything?’
‘I’m not at liberty to disclose the other provisions Mr Rayne made – and the secrecy is at his express order.’
‘If he’s left anything to her, anything at all, I warn you I shall contest the will.’
‘You’re being rather premature and, if I may say so, rather greedy too. Mr Rayne has left you enough to live on in luxury for the rest of your days, but he’s also left generous amounts to several trusts and charities as well. I can’t see a court finding anything wrong with that.’
‘Is she included in that?’
Sally took a deep breath. ‘Please keep any further questions for when you come to see me. Do you wish Ms Rayne to leave now, Miranda?’
‘Yes, I do.’ She looked across at the younger woman. ‘I’ll get Jack to let you know about the funeral. Lou left him detailed instructions. I don’t know what he wanted. It was Lou who organized everything, not me.’
‘There you are. You have nothing to worry about.’ Sally gave Hilary one of her famous glassy smiles. ‘I think you’d better leave now and not come back unless invited by Ms Fox.’
She turned to the two servants. ‘Would you mind making statements about what happened today?’
‘Not at all.’
When she’d gone, Jack said, ‘I know Mr Rayne was going to change his will. Did he not do that?’
Sally sighed. ‘Unfortunately he died before everything could be signed. He was going to do that tomorrow.’ She looked at Miranda. ‘I’m sorry. You’d have been in a better position with the revised will.’
‘I’ll be perfectly all right. After all, I do still have the money from the trust to live on.’
‘And your brother to deal with. He seems to think he can bully you.’
‘He always has,’ she said in a low voice.
After a moment’s sympathetic silence, Sally turned back to the other two. ‘I’ll send my clerk later today to take your statements about what happened this morning. You’re not leaving yet?’
They looked at Miranda.
‘I’d be really grateful if you’d stay until after the funeral, when we should all know where we stand. And I’d like to thank you both very much for standing up for me today.’
‘We told the truth,’ Tania said. ‘It’s a good thing the intercom was switched on.’
‘I managed to switch it on without Sebastian realizing,’ Miranda admitted.
‘Well done!’ Sally said approvingly.
Only after the door had closed behind them did she turn to Miranda and lose the crisp look and tone. ‘I’m sorry you had to go through that, today of all days. The scene was like something out of a gothic novel! I can’t believe a lawyer with Fox’s reputation could behave like that in private.’
‘He’s always bullied me and when he physically manhandles me, I can do nothing about it, because he’s so big. He takes after Father’s side of the family and I take after my mother’s.’
‘Has he manhandled you before, then?’
‘All my life.’
Sally let out a huff of anger. ‘With your permission, I’ll take out an injunction on your behalf that he must stay away from you.’
‘I doubt he’ll obey it.’
‘Oh, I think he will. It would look very bad for a lawyer to be in breach of the law.’
‘He’ll find a way to circumvent it.’ She felt indignation rise. ‘Why did he bring up my bout of depression? He talked as if I’d turned into a halfwit.’
‘We’ll have to keep an eye on that.’
‘I shan’t feel safe, even if we do take out an injunction. My sister and Lou both said I should get out of the country, as far away from Sebastian as I can, and they were right. Once everything’s sorted, I’m going to go and live in England.’
Sally stared at her in approval. ‘What a good idea! We’ll start working on it after the funeral. I’d like to help you, if that’s all right with you?’
‘Why should you do that?’
‘Because I hate to see people being bullied and because Lou cared about you. There will be no charge whatsoever.’
‘Thank you. I can’t believe you’re being so kind.’
Miranda saw her visitor to the door, then trailed back inside, making for the kitchen because she suddenly felt very thirsty.
Tania turned as she entered.
‘I just wanted a cup of tea.’
‘I’ll make it for you. Oh, and there was this piece of paper under the table. It’s something printed from the Internet. Is it yours or should I throw it away?’ She held it out.
Miranda took it and realized it was the paper Lou had been holding, something he’d printed out from the Internet for her. ‘It’s mine. Thank you. I’ll be out on the patio if you don’t mind bringing my tea there.’ She’d already learned that the kitchen was Tania’s territory during the day, so left her to it.
She went to sit in Lou’s favourite spot, feeling desolate and alone. The paper crackled as she clutched it to her chest and she smoothed it out, wondering what he had been so excited about. If he’d gone to this much trouble, she was certainly going to read it. But not now. Now she just wanted to sit in peace for a while.
Ten
The day of the funeral dawned with intermittent clouds and sunshine, a typical late autumn day in Western Australia. As Miranda got dressed, she couldn’t help remembering her father’s funeral, when she’d looked so shabby. It seemed a long time ago and yet it was only a couple of months. Today she was wearing some of the beautiful clothes Lou had bought for her and her hair had been properly cut and styled.
The woman in the mirror stared back at her, looking a little anxious, but also very elegant. That st
ill surprised her every time she saw herself. The only garment Lou hadn’t seen and approved was the hat, an elegant confection in black mesh with a wide brim and one black silk rose sitting in a spray of leaves that curved around the crown of the hat. He’d have liked the hat. She’d known that as soon as she put it on in the shop.
Regina had emailed to offer condolences, wish her well and bring her up to date about Nikki. Something about her sister’s email was different, less confident perhaps. Miranda didn’t have time to think about it just then. She hadn’t heard from Nikki herself for a while and would make an effort to get in touch with her niece once this was over.
The funeral was to be held at the crematorium without any clergyman officiating, by Lou’s express wish. His instructions said that his beliefs were his own and he didn’t want a stranger, priest or not, pontificating about him.
Hilary got out of a sleek black vehicle just as the limousine carrying Miranda and Jack drew up. They got out and waited. She turned to glare at them and took the lead position in the line of people waiting to follow the hearse from the gathering point to the chapel.
The funeral director came to escort Miranda into the second position in the line, leaving Jack to go to the rear. She tried to demur, but he said that Mr Rayne had worked it all out and left them a list, so she stayed where she was. If Lou wanted her here, then here she’d stay. She felt a lot better, however, when Sally fell into place beside her.
There were more people there than Miranda had expected and more arriving all the time. These people exuded money: men with confident faces and perfectly fitting suits, dagger-thin women dressed in what she was sure were designer clothes, all nodding familiarly to one another.
‘Lou was well liked,’ Sally said quietly as people continued to arrive.
‘Why did he never see any of them?’
‘They knew he had terminal cancer and didn’t intrude. Some of them have flown in from the eastern states or overseas.’
Eventually the hearse came along, moving very slowly, and they walked behind it to the chapel. The tears Miranda had been holding back overflowed and ran down her cheeks, so she bent her head a little, hoping the hat would hide them.