Chapter Fifty-two
Fiona opened the door in her dressing gown. Her lips parted in surprise. ‘Lara! Is everything all right? Is it Flynn? Don’t say we’ve had another drama.’
Lara’s stomach tightened. ‘No, not tonight. I know it’s late, but may I come in? There’s something I have to say.’
Fiona frowned but gestured for her to come inside. ‘Of course, but couldn’t it wait until morning?’
‘Not really.’
Henry emerged from the kitchen, wearing an old-fashioned smoking jacket that would have made Lara smile in other circumstances.
‘Lara? Anything wrong? You look beautiful, by the way.’
‘Thank you,’ she said, touched by his gallantry while feeling incongruous in her own medieval gown. What she had to deliver wasn’t fantasy: it was real-life bad news.
‘Lara has something to tell us. Sit down, my dear.’ Lara sat on the sofa while Henry took a chair and Fiona sat next to her. ‘Go ahead. It can’t be that bad, surely?’
‘You’re not leaving us, are you?’ Henry asked, leaning forward in alarm. ‘Not now Harriet and Julian are taking over. They’ll need you!’
‘I’m not leaving,’ Lara said wearily. ‘At least I hope I’m not …’
Fiona exchanged an anxious glance with Henry and murmured, ‘This sounds serious. Go ahead, my dear.’
Lara dived in, reasoning it was best to simply get it over with, like ripping off a very large plaster from an unhealed wound.
‘I have to tell you something that I should have said weeks ago and it’s related to the chalice.
I’m so sorry. You see, I – I – had a mishap with it the day that Flynn arrived.
And I only mention him because that’s how I remember the day it happened. ’
Fiona raised her hand. ‘Lara, take a breath, my dear. This can’t be that bad.’
‘I’m afraid it is, because I dropped the chalice onto the floorboards and I thought it was OK. But it wasn’t, it isn’t, and you must have noticed tonight, because there’s a tiny chip in the base … and I’ll hand my resignation in now.’
Henry’s gaze slid from Lara to the chalice and back to Lara. ‘Ah. I see.’
‘Oh dear,’ Fiona said, exchanging a tight-lipped glance with her husband. ‘I can see why you’ve been so worried. Hmm.’
‘I’ll leave Ravendale, of course,’ Lara said, feeling the disappointment in their voices crush her.
Henry made a harrumphing sound.
‘Oh dear,’ Fiona said again, glancing at the fireplace, as if she couldn’t bear to look at Lara.
Lara glanced up miserably then jumped as the sitting room door flew open and Flynn hobbled into the room. ‘Wait! I can explain!’
Everyone stared at him. He was breathing hard. Lara was dumbstruck. ‘Please, don’t blame Lara. It’s my fault the chalice was damaged.’
‘Your fault?’ Fiona said.
‘The day I arrived at the castle, I came across Lara in the tower. She was putting the chalice away and I burst into the room like a twa—idiot. She was startled and the chalice slipped out of her hands. So, I’m responsible and I’ll resign.’
Henry raised his eyebrows and glanced from Lara and Flynn to his wife. ‘My word, I don’t think I’ve ever seen two people so eager to take the blame for something that wasn’t really their fault.’
Lara found her voice. ‘But it is my fault,’ she insisted, glaring at Flynn looming over them all. ‘Yes, it was an accident, but I ought to have told you immediately. I was … worried you’d had enough shocks, with Henry’s illness, but that’s still no excuse for deceiving you.’
‘That’s partly my doing too,’ Flynn said, refusing to meet Lara’s warning glower. ‘I thought it was best if she – we – waited – until after Christmas. I kind of encouraged her to keep quiet.’
‘Flynn. No. It was my decision. I wasn’t influenced by him,’ she said firmly.
‘Can we all calm down, please?’ Fiona held up her hands. ‘And can we say something? Because we also have a confession to make.’
Lara’s lips parted but she didn’t say anything. Flynn also wisely kept his mouth shut. Even though the Penhaligons didn’t seem unduly angry, Lara clenched her fists tightly because her fingers weren’t steady and her stomach was churning.
‘Please, sit down,’ Henry ordered, with a steely glare at them both.
Flynn sat beside Lara, not daring to meet her eye.
Fiona took the armchair but Henry remained standing in front of the hearth, hands folded behind his back. It was all horribly like being summoned to the head teacher’s office, only much worse, considering what was at stake.
‘Now, I am a little disappointed that you didn’t feel able to tell me at the time that you’d damaged the chalice,’ Fiona began.
Lara closed her eyes briefly, longing to sink through the floor.
‘However, I totally understand why you didn’t want to risk upsetting us. That was kind of you, even if it was a little … misguided.’
Lara nodded.
‘Mainly I’m disappointed because you could have saved yourselves a lot of worry if you had come to us immediately. Because I would have told you a secret that must not go further than these walls.’
Lara stared at Fiona. Henry was smirking.
‘The chalice we used for the party is a twentieth-century replica. You don’t think we’d risk a family heirloom at a drunken ball, do you?’
Flynn made a strangled sound that might have been a swear word that he’d managed to hold back.
‘So it’s not the real chalice?’ Lara said.
Fiona was smiling. ‘No, my dear.’
So, so … thought Lara, she’d confessed for no reason. She hadn’t needed to blurt out the truth – not yet.
‘And I know what you’re thinking,’ Henry cut in. ‘That you could have waited a while longer to tell us the truth?’
Lara shook her head in shame. ‘Yes, I could, but … I shouldn’t have waited, so it’s probably for the best.’
‘Do you feel any better?’ Fiona asked.
Lara realised she’d dug her fingers in the velvet sofa cushion. ‘Not much, though I am terribly sorry.’
‘Lara, this isn’t just on you,’ Flynn said, placing his hand over hers.
Lara didn’t take her hand away. She needed the warmth and comfort for moral support.
‘Well, this is very touching and chivalrous of you, Flynn, but we haven’t finished telling you everything,’ Henry said. ‘My grandfather had the replica made in the 1920s.’
Lara was still struggling to process the series of revelations: hers and the Penhaligons.
‘Oh. Oh, I see … I’d no idea, but I’ve still damaged the replica.’
‘That one can easily be repaired,’ Fiona said. ‘The original is safely in a vault in London, and has been since Grandpapa had the replica made. We could never risk having such a precious object on display or even here at the castle.’
Flynn squeezed Lara’s hand. ‘So, Lara – we – haven’t destroyed the Luck of Ravendale?’
‘No one can do that,’ Henry said, smiling. ‘As any rational person must realise. I know you two youngsters don’t believe in it.’
‘I don’t,’ Lara said.
Lara thought of Belle, examining the chalice and giving it an odd look and refusing to repair it. Had she known it wasn’t what it was purported to be, yet wouldn’t admit her misgivings? She decided not to mention Belle’s visit for now. It would only complicate things.
Flynn let out a sigh. ‘Thank God for that. Does anyone else know about the replica?’
‘No. No one outside the family and our current solicitors. And the truth must never ever get out,’ Fiona said solemnly.
‘People come to Ravendale to see the Lucky Chalice, sceptics and believers alike. Call it our version of a holy relic. It only has meaning if people believe – or if the rest of us keep its mystique intact. And that,’ this Fiona directed at Lara, ‘you haven’t damaged in any way. ’
‘It only has meaning if people believe …’ Flynn mused. ‘Like Santa Claus.’
Henry chortled. ‘Yes, I suppose so.’
‘And, actually, I have a particular reason for keeping that magical secret,’ Flynn said.
Lara glanced at him in surprise.
Fiona leaned forward with intrigue in her eyes. ‘What’s that?’
Flynn related, briefly, the story of Molly and Esme, much to the delight of the Penhaligons. ‘I wanted you to be the first to know apart from Lara,’ he said.
Lara thought she’d better keep quiet about Jazz knowing, but was relieved and happy that she no longer had to keep it all a secret. Flynn had sounded so proud, and she was delighted for him.
‘Oh, how wonderful!’ Henry declared. ‘Embrace every moment. We only wish we saw more of our grandchildren, even though they’re young adults now. We do remember those marvellous early days. Exhausting but so precious. You are a very lucky man, Flynn.’
Lara got to her feet, exhausted and light-headed with relief, yet still burdened with guilt. ‘I still need to pay for the repair to the chalice. And my offer to resign still stands.’
‘No. No to both,’ Fiona said.
‘We won’t hear of it,’ Henry declared. ‘What would we do without you? The events programme and Spectacular have been a resounding success. We think it should become an annual event. The revenue will help to keep Ravendale going for years to come – you have helped maintain its fortunes. You could say you have saved us.’
‘No. I can’t take all the credit.’
‘As for the replica, we can claim on the insurance,’ Fiona said. ‘You can help by finding an expert restorer to repair it. That way, no one will be any the wiser.’
‘I – I might know someone,’ Lara murmured. She noted Flynn was staring straight ahead with an expression of composed innocence on his face. ‘Thank you.’
‘How did you know I was going to confess?’ Lara asked Flynn, as they descended the tower in the lift.
‘I didn’t. I was going to do the same myself, so I hung around and then watched you go up to the tower. It took me ages to climb up, and I couldn’t risk getting stuck in this bloody thing.’
‘Oh, Flynn.’ Lara put her arms around him. ‘Thanks for trying to take the blame. Even though I told you not to.’
‘I rarely do as I’m told,’ he said.
She laughed. ‘I’ve worked that out.’
‘And is it a deal breaker?’
‘I think … I think that, annoying and frustrating as it is that you do the exact opposite of what I ask you to, life would probably be a lot less exciting if you were predictable.’
Flynn heaved a happy sigh. ‘Good. You mean everything to me. I’d rather get the sack than see you driven out of your beloved job and home because of something I had a hand in. I was worried I’d be too late. I was, but, in the end, it’s all turned out OK.’
‘I don’t know whether we’re lucky or it’s all down to the Penhaligons’ planning and cautiousness.’
‘Who cares? All I know is that you’re at the centre of my life and that I can’t bear to be without you or to see you suffer. I need you more than I ever did. Along with Molly and Esme, you’re my future, Lara.’
Lara leaned forward and kissed him, carrying on even when the lift gently touched down on the ground floor. Eventually, they broke apart and Lara’s hand hovered over the button. ‘What would we do if we got stuck? Everyone’s drunk or asleep and no one could come to rescue us.’
Flynn held her face in his hands. ‘Do you know, I don’t think being trapped in a lift has ever sounding more appealing.’
‘Agree …’ She walked her fingers up his shirt, fireworks exploding all over her body. ‘And I still haven’t given you your present.’
‘Don’t worry. I’ve got all I want for Christmas.’
‘Me too,’ said Lara, toying with the button on his chest. ‘But I have just thought of something that would be absolutely perfect …’