Chapter Twenty-One #2
‘He was pompous,’ she told Nathan afterwards, her face flushed with anger, ‘and very rude. Okay, we’re going to have to wait until Phillips returns our call but it’s worrying, you know.
I hate the thought of Luke’s future being in the hands of someone like that.
I don’t trust him to give Luke the support he needs.
We have to do something, Nathan. We have to get better legal representation. ’
‘But who? We don’t know anyone.’
Cat thought for a moment. ‘We don’t,’ she said, ‘but Aunt Em does. She has a godson. He has a practice in Bristol. I’m sure he’d help.’
‘Only if Em decides to play ball, which very much depends on the mood she’s in. And being banned from the hotel hasn’t exactly endeared her to us.’
‘I heard she’s ditched the Gossip Girls.’
‘When?’
‘Yesterday. Harry told me. She went shopping on her own this morning. Said she’d grown tired of them. That they were too childish for words. I think it might have had something to do with my visit.’
‘Well that’s a step in the right direction. Dad will be pleased.’
‘Yes but I’m still not sure she’ll help. She’s convinced the rumors are right and that he’s guilty.’
‘Well we can only try,’ Nathan said, finishing his drink. ‘Come on, let’s go see her.’
Standing at her window, Emelia Trevelyan watched as Cat and Nathan walked out of the hotel into the warm morning sunshine.
Intercepted by one of the guests loading luggage into his car, they paused to chat for a few minutes before they began making their way towards Caer Gwyn.
What did they want, she wondered? Here to give me another telling off, no doubt.
The thought annoyed her. Well, she was ready, because if Rosalind Myers had been causing trouble again it was no longer anything to do with her.
She had already given her and her dreadful conspirators the heave-ho.
Just let them start on me, she thought, as they reached the front door. I’m ready for them.
Moments later, the door opened and Marion ushered Nathan and Cat into the lounge.
She disappeared quickly, not bothering to stop and offer coffee or tea for the new arrivals.
Emelia considered Marion to have barometer-like instincts when trouble was brewing.
No doubt, it was why she had now beaten a hasty retreat back to her kitchen.
Emelia painted on a smile and indicated one of the comfortable sofas, inviting them to sit.
As they did she settled herself opposite, her keen eyes assessing both of them, their solemn expressions indicating some sort of problem.
But was she the cause or someone else? She squared her shoulders, ready to do battle.
It was well known that the best form of defence was attack, which meant a need to take control of the conversation right away.
‘So,’ she said, folding her hands in her lap as she looked from one to the other, ‘what has brought you both here this morning? Some complaint or other, I expect. If it is, I’ll tell you now you’re in the wrong place.’
‘Complaint?’ Cat’s eyebrows rose in surprise. ‘What makes you think that’s the reason we’re here?’
‘Because I know I’m tainted by association.’ Em sniffed, pulling a handkerchief from her sleeve and pressing it to her nose. ‘But I’ll have you know I’ve given Rosalind et al the boot.’ She huffed indignantly. ‘We no longer move in the same circles.’
‘Glad to hear it.’ Nathan’s remark earned him a dig in the ribs from Cat.
‘Well if you haven’t come to complain,’ she said, lowering the handkerchief, her eyes darting from one to the other, ‘why are you here?’
Nathan leaned forward, clasping his hands over his knees. ‘We’ve come to ask a favour.’
‘A favour? From me?’ Emelia’s curiosity was piqued. This was a first; no one ever asked such things of her.
‘Yes, it’s about Luke,’ Nathan began. ‘Currently, he’s got this duty solicitor who is totally useless, so we were wondering whether—’
‘—you could ask Liam to take Luke’s case on,’ Cat finished.
‘My godson?’ Emelia considered the request for a moment.
Carrenporth was already buzzing as they debated the whys and wherefores of Gareth’s decision not to help his nephew.
She knew she shouldn’t get involved in Hunter family business.
Ruan would be furious if he found out. ‘I don’t know.
’ She hesitated for a moment. ‘He’s usually very busy. ’
‘We wouldn’t normally ask this of you … and I’ll be covering his fees,’ Cat interrupted.
Emelia heard the desperation in her voice and raised a hand to silence her.
‘I suppose I could give him a call,’ she said almost grudgingly, ‘but don’t get your hopes up, either of you. As I said, he’s a busy man.’
‘We do understand, Aunt Em,’ Nathan said as he grasped Cat’s hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. ‘It’s a slim chance but we have to take it.’
‘You don’t believe he’s guilty either?’ Em was surprised. Nathan wasn’t one to follow his sister blindly. He was his own man and if he doubted Luke Carrack’s guilt she knew he must have good solid reasons.
‘No, I don’t.’ Nathan shook his head. ‘We’ve found new evidence but both police officers heading the case are in court today and the solicitor Luke’s been allocated won’t talk to Cat.’
Emelia paused for a moment, warring with her thoughts.
Eventually she got to her feet and retrieved her glasses.
‘Wait here, both of you,’ she said firmly.
‘I’ll see what I can do. Now, where did I put my address book?
’ she muttered, opening drawers in her small bureau before eventually tracking down the missing item.
With the book in her possession, Emelia left, closing the lounge door behind her.
She was angry with Gareth Hunter. She couldn’t understand why, after supporting his sister’s son financially for so many years, he’d now decided to abandon him in his moment of need.
She sensed Evie’s hand in this somewhere.
Coming from a poor working class home, marriage to Gareth had not only elevated her socially but it had turned her into an unbearable snob.
If local gossip was to be believed, Luke’s arrival in their home after his mother’s death had triggered a most violent outburst involving a large amount of broken glass and crockery.
She headed for the kitchen and the phone and dialled Liam’s number.
After several rings the call connected. Hearing the receptionist tell her yes, Mr Richardson-Clarke was in the office this morning, she breathed a sigh of relief.
Next came the familiar voice of Francesca, his PA, and they chatted for a moment before she was put through.
Their conversation was brief. Minutes later she was back in the lounge.
‘So far so good,’ she said, returning the address book back to its place in the bureau. ‘Liam has managed to squeeze us in an appointment at three thirty this afternoon. Now then, Cat, I’ll need you to come with me so you can explain the situation. Nathan, you can drive us.’
As she took charge of the situation brother and sister looked at each other nonplussed, making Emelia smile. They both high-fived and the next minute Cat was there, wrapping her arms around her in a warm hug.
‘Thank you, Aunt Em, thank you so much.’ She stepped back, wiping away the dampness from her eyes.
‘I think,’ Nathan said, studying them both thoughtfully, ‘on our return you should come and have dinner with us, Em. Would you like that?’
‘Well, yes, I’d love to.’ She hesitated. Is this all it took? One good deed? Was she forgiven? She couldn’t believe it but needed to find out. ‘Does it mean you’re allowing me back into the hotel?’ she asked cautiously.
‘Only for this evening,’ Nathan said firmly. ‘Dad is the one who will need to make a final decision on whether to lift the ban. But in view of your help and the fact you’ve been sensible enough to ditch those awful women he could have a change of heart, but,’ he raised his hands, ‘don’t quote me.’
Cat checked her watch. ‘What time should we leave? It’s just turned ten-fifteen.’
‘As soon as possible if we’re going to make Bristol by three thirty,’ Nathan said, looking at his great-aunt. ‘Can you be ready in fifteen minutes?’
Em nodded. ‘It won’t take me long to get my things together. I’ll meet you at the front of the hotel.’
She watched them leave, feeling more energised than she had for a long time, and happy she was being included as part of the family again. Something, she realised, that all at once had become very important to her.