Chapter 34
I’m not sure my nerves can stand another minute of this and once again I am smartly dressed and waiting to discover something that may change my life.
As weeks go, this one is the most thrilling and yet scariest of my life.
David was most accommodating when I called him with my urgent request for the meeting and within two hours, I am stepping out of the cab at his London office address.
Harvey Williams lies in a prestigious square off Marble Arch and I glance at the white stone building that has a gleaming brass name plate outside. This world is so different to the one I’m used to and the nerves flutter inside me as I walk up the steps toward the shiny black door.
I finger the pendant that Valentin gave me with unusual nerves and swallow hard as I enter the building, admonishing myself for being so weak. I tell myself I’m meant to be here. I’m a client of theirs. Well, my aunt was and I am here at their request.
I suppose I’m more nervous about what might be inside the box he insists I open in private, and yet the dormant detective in me is rubbing her hands with glee.
This may be everything we have been trying to find. The information we seek and I approach the task with a combination of reverence and excitement, mixed with dread because the contents could signify the end of my relationship with Valentin.
“Miss Scott-Stanley.”
A smart woman approaches with a smile and, as I grasp her outstretched hand, she says brightly, “My name is Lorna Travers. I am David’s assistant. Please allow me to escort you to his office.”
“Thank you.” I smile but my nerves are fluttering inside me as I follow her up a carpeted staircase where grand paintings of solemn looking men frown down at me as we pass.
The history in this building makes it creak with secrets and the wood paneling creates a darker atmosphere than I usually enjoy.
I’m almost afraid to speak out of fear of disturbing the peace and as we advance to a landing, I follow her to the right.
There are several wooden doors, all with names on brass plaques, and she stops before the one announcing that David Marchant lives inside.
She knocks discreetly and then opens it, standing to one side, saying pleasantly, “Miss Scott-Stanley to see you, Mr. Marchant.”
“Polly.”
David rises from his desk and heads my way with a broad smile and an outstretched hand that I grip in a firm handshake.
“David. It’s lovely to see you again.”
My voice sounds confident even though I’m not and he smiles broadly.
“I’m so glad you didn’t delay your visit. Loose ends and all that. We like our clients to be satisfied that we deliver on our promises.”
He points to the seat before his desk and I drop into it and sit stiff-backed as I watch him return to his.
He draws a file open from the side of his desk and glances my way with a concerned expression.
“I have some documents for you to sign, authorizing me to present the boxes to you. I will need some form of identification that I must copy for our records and your signature, here, here and here.”
He slides the paperwork across the desk and I nod, fumbling in my bag for the driver’s license I always keep in my purse.
As he sets about taking a copy, I glance at the official document and reach for the pen, signing my name with a flourish.
My fingers shake as I do so because there is something so incredibly important happening here and if I didn’t know better, my aunt set this up for a very good reason.
He returns and smiles as he collates the signed documents.
“May I fetch you some tea before we venture to the secure room?”
“No, um, thank you David. I’m good, thanks.”
I’m so nervous my palms are sweating and he nods, apparently satisfied that everything is in place.
“Then follow me, Polly and I will take you to a private room to unlock the safety deposit boxes.”
As I follow him, my nerves are all over the place because there could be anything in them.
It’s as if everything is riding on the contents of those boxes and I am more than excited to discover what they hold.
We head down to the basement and pass through several security coded doors before we reach a small room with one large table in the center and nothing else. I glance around me nervously, noting there are no doors, windows or even security cameras in here. It’s almost a cell and David says with an encouraging smile.
“This room is private in every way. I will leave you here because the contents of the boxes are for your eyes only. There are no cameras, hidden devices, or subterfuge of any kind. You are free to spend as long as you need, but a word of caution if I may.”
I glance at him with trepidation and he says with a serious expression. “I would advise against removing anything from this room. Your aunt was most insistent that what’s inside is for your eyes only and seemed agitated that the contents might fall into the wrong hands. Obviously, that is at your discretion and not understanding what is inside makes it your call to make.”
He nods toward the door and smiles reassuringly. “There is a bell on the wall. Just press it when you’re done and I’ll return.”
He smiles. “Now, wait here and I’ll fetch your boxes and their respective keys. There is a tamper seal that was applied by your aunt that you must break before gaining access. If you have any questions at all, I will be happy to answer them.”
As he leaves, I’m more nervous than I was before and finger the pendant as a comfort mechanism. This is thrilling yet scary at the same time because what in the hell was my aunt involved in that the contents of these boxes are so top secret?
David returnsquickly and I note with interest he is carrying two small boxes. He sets them down on the table and hands me two small keys.
“I will leave you alone. Take as long as you need.”
I smile gratefully as he exits and when the door closes, I am left with a sense of responsibility, I wasn’t expecting.
Aunt Veronica was a stranger to me and yet here I am, entrusted with her secrets. If anything, I’m sad about that because she died alone and I wonder what that must have felt like.
If she was in love with Andrei Romanov, it must have been a bitter sweet experience because from the sound of it he was never going to leave his wife. I am so interested in discovering more about her, him and their relationship, so I take the first key and insert it into the lock with a sense of trepidation that I may not like what I’ll find.
As instructed, I break the small tamper seal, not really understanding why it’s necessary. I only have David’s word that my aunt secured it, but I don’t miss the sense of occasion as I break the plastic tie.
The last person to touch the contents of this box was Aunt Veronica, and I’m sad I never got to meet her. I wonder why she kept her distance. My parents never spoke about her much, just referred to her as the black sheep of the family and changed the subject whenever I raised it.
I’m surprised to see a sheaf of letters tied in a red ribbon inside the box and as I open the first one, I notice they are letters, much the same as the ones I found in her desk at Thorn House.
These letters are from Andrei. I recognize his writing and it seems wrong to be reading them at all. They are private correspondence and date back many years, judging by the date scrawled in black ink at the top of each one.
My darling Veronica.
I am lost without you. Russia is a lonelier place, knowing you are so far from me.
Has it really been three months since I last held you in my arms?
If it wasn’t for my position and my family, I would be with you now. One day, this will all change. It must change. We will be together as we should have been, and this nightmare will be over.
As always, I can’t say much, but know the deep love I hold in my heart is for you—it has always been you. Circumstances dictated we walk along different paths in life, but I glance over at you walking alone with a deep sadness and regret.
This should never have happened, but we must accept that sometimes sacrifices must be made for snatched moments of pleasure that cost us so dearly.
Until we meet next month, stay safe, my darling, and I am thinking of you every minute of the day.
Always yours
Andrei
Tears bubblebehind my eyes as I read the sad words. They were deeply in love and apparently had been for some time. They were the Romeo and Juliet of their time and I wonder what kept them apart and why they couldn’t be together.
I glance through many of the other letters and they are much the same. Love letters that I feel bad about reading. Almost as if I am trampling over their love story and interfering in their private thoughts.
I’m unsure why these letters are to remain in this box. They appear no different to the ones inside my aunt’s desk and so I make a decision to remove them and study them back at the house where I’ll have more time.
As I place them carefully in my bag, I wonder if it’s such a good idea, but then turn my attention to the other box that is larger than the first one.
Once again, I break the seal and as I raise the lid, I notice several velvet boxes nestling inside. As I lift the first one, I stare in amazement at the most beautiful diamond necklace that must be worth a small fortune.
I gasp as I remove it and hold it to the light and the weight of the piece, along with the sparkle in the room, tells me this necklace is worth a great deal.
I replace it and set about opening each one and inside every box is a beautiful piece of exquisite jewelry that I’m confident my aunt would never have been able to afford.
These must be gifts from her lover. Andrei. I picture her receiving them and wearing them with pride. They are so beautiful and I’m sad they are locked away in darkness, unable to shine in the light and yet to wear even one of these pieces would involve a security guard on either arm.
At the bottom of the box is another envelope and I’m shocked to see my name written in beautiful calligraphy on the white vellum paper and my fingers shake as I open it and scan the words.
My dearest Pollyanna.
If you are reading this, I am dead. You must be feeling very shocked right now and I apologize for that.
I expect you have many questions, so many of them, and yet they will always remain that way. I am unable to give you the answers you seek because my secrets belong in my grave with me.
I just wanted you to know one thing. I love you.
My eyes swimwith tears because I wasn’t expecting that and for a moment I can only focus on that. She never knew me, so why would she love me? It doesn’t make sense.
I turn my attention back to the letter and carry on reading.
Your parents didn’t knowwhy I kept away. I never offered them an explanation. When they died, I wanted to reach out so badly but the only way to keep you safe was to say, or do nothing at all.
When your father died, part of me died too that day. I gave up my past, my present and my future for something I had no control over.
Now, everything I own is yours. A small consolation for a lifetime of neglect, but I hope that one day you will find it in your heart to forgive me. I don’t deserve it. I don’t expect it, but I wanted you to know I did it all for love.
You must be confused reading this and yet this is all I can divulge, which must be confusing and I apologize for that. The jewelry I left is yours, but can never be worn in public. It is worth more than my homes but must never be sold. There will be too many questions raised, ones that will cause you more harm than good, and so I beg you to leave them hidden forever. Let them rot where they are.
I can’t believewhat I’m reading. Perhaps they are stolen, or belong to somebody else and I’m confused as to their meaning.
However, the final paragraph makes the ones before it irrelevant as she finishes off.
My final secretis not in these boxes. It is too valuable to be hidden in plain sight. If I didn’t die of old age, you can guarantee it is the reason I am lying in my grave and I’m obligated to warn you to be on your guard.
I have been a reluctant guardian of certain information that could be catastrophic in the wrong hands. By now you will have read the letters Andrei sent me over the years. He was my guilty secret that I sacrificed a normal life for. Circumstances brought us together and circumstances tore us apart, but our love never died. We do incredible things for love, Pollyanna. I only hope you discover a man you would sacrifice everything for because nothing in the word compares to the riches love can bring into your life.
Now, back to the reason I am probably here. It’s not love. It’s probably not revenge and I doubt its natural causes why you’re reading this now. It’s because our secret has fallen into the wrong hands and your life is now in danger as the heir to my estate.
I urge you to do one thing to stay safe. Sell everything. Thorn House, Briar House and Rose Cottage. Take the money and don’t question the purchaser.
Don’t be me, Pollyanna. This is not our secret to hold, and it has ruined so many lives already, and I will not let it claim another soul.
Find Marsha Steele and load the problem onto her extremely broad shoulders. She deserves everything coming to her and I will not let her claim another victim. In short, don’t be me, Pollyanna. Walk away from the secrets and the lies and live a normal life. Fall in love with a man who is one hundred percent yours. Don’t live with lies, deceit and secrets and don’t sacrifice your soul for one dance with the devil, no matter how tempting that will be.
Don’t continue my legacy because it deserves to die with me and my soul will rest in peace knowing you walked away from the burning ashes of my shame and made it all count for something.
Good luck my darling and remember, a long life spent with an honest man is better than one of pain, knowing the man you love married someone else but couldn’t let you go. I should have walked away. I should have turned my back and I should never have trusted people I once considered my closest friends. You come into this life alone and you leave it—alone. Do what’s right for you because ultimately the one person who walks beside you every step of the way is you.
Your loving aunt
Veronica.