Unexpected Blessings. Barbara Taylor Bradford

      Linnet exclaimed, ‘Once the Harte media companies go public here it will be on American television. Mummy will have to be told before she hears it from another source.’

      Jack gave Linnet a fleeting smile. ‘I’ll be calling her after I’ve been in touch with the police, if that becomes necessary. You and Tessa can speak to her as well. But the main thing now is to find out whether or not Mrs Longden knows anything.’ Jack leaned back in the chair trying to relax his tense muscles, and glanced across at the grandfather clock as he did.

      There was a sudden silence in the room. No one spoke. Everyone was lost in their own thoughts.

      Tessa’s mind was in a turmoil, her senses swimming. It was almost six and she had no idea where her child was, and she was more frantic than ever. She felt nauseous, and making a snap decision she jumped up. ‘I need some air!’ she cried to the room at large.

      Immediately India pushed herself to her feet and hurried over to Tessa, took hold of her arm. ‘Come on, darling, let’s go for some fresh air. After ten minutes outside you’ll feel much better.’

      ‘I think I will,’ Tessa mumbled, pushing down the sickly feeling.

      After Tessa and India had left the library, Evan cleared her throat and said to Jack, ‘I didn’t want to bring this up in front of Tessa, but what if it’s neither Mark nor kidnappers but a paedophile?’

      A long sigh escaped Jack and then he said, ‘That had crossed my mind.’ At this moment his mobile began to ring and he turned it on. ‘Figg here,’ he said, pressing it to his ear. Standing up, he walked over to the windows, and stood listening to his caller, eventually murmured his thanks and clicked off. Walking back to the desk, he told them, ‘That was one of my operatives who’s been checking every hotel in the area. Mark Longden was definitely in Yorkshire three nights ago. He stayed at the Queen’s Hotel in Leeds. And last night he was at the Swan in Harrogate. However, he has checked out of both places. So far my chap hasn’t found him registered anywhere else. Not yet.’

      ‘Perhaps he’s staying at a private home,’ Linnet said, and gave Jack a knowing look, trying to indicate she needed to speak to him alone.

      ‘I’m really frightened,’ Tessa said quietly, staring at India, ‘frightened that some harm might come to Adele. She’s such a delicate, sensitive little girl, so defenceless. But then all small children are defenceless against adults, aren’t they?’

      ‘That’s right,’ India agreed. ‘But let’s try and look on the bright side. I’m sure she’s with Mark, not strangers, and therefore she’s quite safe.’

      Tessa shivered and goose flesh sprang up on her arms. ‘You don’t know what Mark’s become, India! A drunk, a drug-addict! He’s not been himself for a long time, and he’s an abuser. I’ve feared for my life …’ She peered at India. ‘Did you know that?’

      ‘Yes, your mother told me he’d been violent with you. It’s shocking when you think about it – that he could become somebody else, totally different almost overnight.’

      ‘When he’s in control of himself he’s fine. It’s when he’s under the influence of drink or drugs that he’s dangerous, and quite inadvertently he could hurt Adele. That’s what worries me.’

      ‘I understand. But as I said, we’ve got to remain positive.’ As she spoke, India got up from the wooden garden seat, and suggested, ‘Why don’t we go down to the old oak and sit there for a while? It’s nicer there.’

      ‘All right –’ Tessa stopped, turned to India. ‘Perhaps we ought to go back inside. I’m afraid of missing something.’

      ‘Linnet will come and get us if there’s any news. It’ll do you good to be out of that room for a bit. It was becoming claustrophobic.’

      Tessa nodded, and the two of them walked down the path, past the long terrace; they crossed the sloping lawn and finally came to a stop under the ancient tree. They sat together at the wrought-iron table but remained silent for a few moments, each of them involved with their own thoughts.

      It was Tessa who finally broke the silence when she said in a low voice, ‘I don’t know what I’ll do if anything happens to Adele, I love her so much, she’s my life. I’d just fall apart forever, everything would become so meaningless without her. Without my little girl my life would be over.’

      ‘Come on, Tessa, don’t talk like this,’ India exclaimed briskly. ‘Jack’s going to get her back, you’ll see. And you’ll settle things amicably with Mark, the divorce will go through, and things will be normal.’

      ‘Oh, India, I do hope you’re right, but he’s being very greedy, you know. He wants the house, a lot of money, and joint custody of Adele. I don’t think I could agree to joint custody; the house yes. But not joint custody.’

      ‘Once you’ve got Adele back I think you ought to try and move quickly, settle matters with him. You know very well you hate things hanging over your head.’

      ‘You’re right,’ Tessa agreed, suddenly brightening. ‘I’ll talk to my solicitor, perhaps we can get everything moving faster. Much faster. But it’s only a few months since I left Mark.’

      ‘That’s true, but so what. Anyway, Linnet and I both agree that Mark has always been avaricious, so he’s got his price, in my opinion. Buy him off, Tessa, it’s the only way.’ India peered across the table at her cousin. ‘That’s a Harte rule, remember.’

      Jack and Linnet had walked out into the Stone Hall and stood talking quietly near the fireplace.

      ‘Mark has friends in Yorkshire, where he could stay with Adele? Is that what you’re suggesting?’ Jack asked, squinting at Linnet in the dim, early evening light.

      ‘Yes,’ she answered and moving across the floor she turned on several lamps.

      He stood watching her for a moment, thinking how much she resembled Emma Harte – well, a young Emma – with her red-gold hair and English-rose complexion. He’d gone to work for Emma when he was eighteen, forty years ago, and he had loved, respected and admired her, found her to be the most exacting, exasperating, charming, bossy and brilliant woman he had ever known. She had been his favourite boss. Now, here was Linnet, the spitting image of her, and just as smart, smart as a whip. She was his favourite amongst this younger generation because to him she exemplified so much of the past and her family’s heritage as well as the present. It’s as if she has a foot in both worlds, the old and the new, he thought, and that makes her unique, and very special to me.

      ‘What are you thinking about, Jack?’ Linnet asked, sitting in a chair. ‘You look as if you’ve just had a most brilliant thought.’

      ‘Not all that brilliant, but yes, I’ve had a rather interesting thought. Actually, it’s a thought I’d had earlier and now it’s come back. Look, Linnet, Jonathan Ainsley’s in Hong Kong, that we know for certain, but the world’s a village today, and he could very well be masterminding this situation with Mark and Adele. By phone, probably. He wouldn’t want to put it in writing, in an e-mail or a fax. And, and this is very important, he’s got a former girlfriend in Yorkshire, and she –’

      ‘Of course, my mother’s secretary, Eleanor! And what you’re suggesting is that Jonathan is manipulating Mark long distance in order to hurt Paula and us, and that Mark goes along because he wants to spite Tessa. Good thinking.’ She gave him a penetrating look. ‘Are you wondering if Eleanor’s in on it?’

      ‘I am indeed,’ Jack answered, flopping down in the chair opposite her, crossing his legs.

      ‘If she is, she’s being very foolish,’ Linnet murmured. ‘My mother’s on to her. She has taken all power away from her. But she is an old flame of Jonathan’s, and they’ve recently been in contact again. Look, I’m not suggesting she’d help Mark take Adele, but perhaps she’s offering him –’

      ‘A safe haven for a few days?’