The Complete Ravenscar Trilogy: The Ravenscar Dynasty, Heirs of Ravenscar, Being Elizabeth. Barbara Taylor Bradford

Amos say Masters ate pods and seeds, all sorts of strange roots and such?’ Edward now asked Neville.

      His cousin nodded. ‘He did indeed, and perhaps Aubrey Masters ate something that killed him. On the other hand, he could have had a stroke or a heart attack. Look, we’re just speculating right now. A waste of time. We’ll know soon enough what he died from. What else did Summers have to say?’ he asked, changing the subject swiftly.

      ‘That he was going to be with Mildred Masters until her sister arrived from Gloucestershire, that the body had been taken for an autopsy. He also told Oliveri to have Aspen work on Masters’s various tasks, under Oliveri’s supervision.’ Edward leaned back in the leather chair, and said with a wide smile, ‘And he made a point of telling Oliveri that he should remain in London for the time being.’

      ‘That’s good to know!’ Will exclaimed.

      ‘Isn’t it just,’ Johnny cut in with a laugh.

      ‘How long does it take to get the results of an autopsy, Neville?’ Edward now asked quietly.

      ‘Do you know, I’ve absolutely no idea,’ Neville answered. ‘A couple of days, perhaps? Unless one knows the pathologist involved. And in this instance we don’t.’

      ‘So what you’re saying is we’ll just have to wait,’ Will interjected.

      ‘That’s right,’ Neville replied, ‘and how he died doesn’t really matter to us, does it? In the meantime, I just want to say that I for one will not be sending any condolences to the grieving widow, if indeed she is grieving. Finnister led me to believe there was an estrangement in that marriage.’

      ‘And I won’t be offering any sympathetic words either,’ Edward announced in a sharp voice. ‘In view of the fact that we never received any condolences when our fathers and brothers were murdered in Carrara, Neville.’

      ‘Now, gentlemen, shall we repair to my club for a few drinks before dinner?’ Neville suggested. ‘I think it might be rather nice to raise a glass to each other, under the circumstances.’ Neville shook his head, then remarked, ‘It’s a pity Oliveri’s not here.’

      ‘It is rather, I agree,’ Edward murmured. ‘But his mother is in hospital and he wanted to go and visit her. However, we can toast him, can’t we? After all, it looks as if he might well inherit Masters’s job.’

      ‘Indeed he might,’ Will agreed. ‘Let’s face it, this sudden death might very well play in our favour.’

      At seven o’clock that same evening, Edward arrived at Lily’s house in Belsize Park Gardens. As he alighted from Neville’s carriage he said to Will and Johnny, ‘Enjoy your dinner, and come back around ten o’clock, please. Is that all right, chaps?’

      Johnny grinned at his cousin, and saluted. ‘Yours to command, sire.’

      Edward laughed as he went up the steps to the front door. It was Lily who answered his knock, not the housekeeper, and she opened the door wider, her smile radiant. ‘I’m so glad you were able to come tonight, Ned. I must admit, I’ve missed you.’

      As the door closed behind them he took off his overcoat, chuckled and shot back, ‘I saw you on Saturday afternoon for tea, at Vicky’s for goodness sake!’

      ‘But we weren’t alone,’ she reminded him in a low voice; slipping her arm through his she led him into the drawing room. ‘Would you like to have a whisky?’

      Ned shook his head. ‘No, thanks anyway. I had several at Neville’s club earlier.’

      As usual he went and stood in front of the fire with his back to it, looking across at her. She had seated herself on the sofa, and he couldn’t help thinking how lovely she looked in the pale blue silk gown with pearls on her neck and ears. He wished he had money so that he could buy her a gift.

      ‘You’re looking rather pensive, darling. Is something wrong?’

      ‘No, Lily, nothing’s wrong now that I’m here with you. I was just looking at you and thinking how beautiful you are, and wishing I had some money so that I could buy you diamonds and emeralds, cover you in jewels.’

      Shaking her head, giving him an indulgent look, Lily laughed. ‘Don’t be so silly, you don’t have to buy me anything! I have everything I could possibly want.’ She patted the sofa and said, ‘Come and sit down, tell me about your day.’

      He did as she asked and seated himself on the loveseat, gazing at her intently. ‘You look like a rose in full bloom, Lily, your skin is perfect, your eyes are sparkling…simply ravishing, that you are. But a little different somehow.’ Leaning forward, he kissed her on the cheek, and sat back. ‘Well, you asked about my day, and I can only say that it’s been a bit hectic. Aubrey Masters died last night, very suddenly.’

      ‘Oh my goodness!’ Lily’s eyes narrowed, and she went on swiftly, ‘Wasn’t he the head of the Mining Division? The one you had the huge argument with about your father’s office?’

      ‘He was indeed.’

      ‘Was he ill?’

      ‘Oh no—well, as far as we know he wasn’t. John Summers told us that Masters had chest pains last night, and that by the time the doctor arrived he was gone.’

      ‘Masters wasn’t very nice to you…’ Lily slowly shook her head. ‘My mother always said God doesn’t pay his debts in money,’ she added pithily.

      Before Edward could respond, there was a light knock on the door and Mrs Dane poked her head around it. ‘Dinner’s ready, madame,’ the housekeeper said, and added, ‘Good evening, sir.’

      ‘Evening, Mrs Dane,’ Edward responded, smiling, and stood up, offered his hand to Lily, brought her to her feet.

      As they went across the hall to the dining room, Lily murmured, ‘I asked Mrs Dane to make some of your favourite things—roast leg of lamb and roast potatoes, and I had Fortnum and Mason deliver their best Scotch salmon and Russian caviare, Beluga actually, I—’

      ‘Lily, I’m afraid you’re spoiling me!’ he cut in, put his arm around her shoulders as they walked into the room together, smiling down at her.

      After supper they retreated to the drawing room, and for a few minutes Lily fussed with pouring Edward a cup of coffee and then a balloon of Napoleon brandy. As she was doing so she said in a casual almost offhand way, ‘I’m thinking of buying a house in Kent, it’s not far from Stonehurst Farm and is rather charming. Fortunately, it’s in good condition, not a wreck like Vicky’s farm was when she bought it.’

      Edward looked at her, his eyebrows drawing together in a jagged line. ‘That’s always a blessing, not having to engage in remodelling and such. But Lily, why on earth do you want to have a house in Kent? I never realized you had a partiality to the country. Or that you would ever contemplate living there.’

      Lily realized at once that he was genuinely puzzled, and she replied quickly, ‘Oh, I do enjoy being out of town for part of the time, Ned, as long as there are friends nearby. However, I have another reason for buying the house.’ She cleared her throat, sat down on the small sofa, and continued, ‘There’s something I want to tell you, but please, I don’t want you to be upset. I’ll take care of everything, you won’t have to do a thing, I promise you.’

      Frowning again, Edward asked in a puzzled voice, ‘Lily, what are you talking about?’

      ‘I’m pregnant, Ned,’ she announced calmly in a strong, steady voice. ‘I’m expecting your baby—our baby.’

      He gaped at her in astonishment, and instantly experienced an extraordinary rush of emotion, a sudden sense of happiness.