Chapter 29 #2
‘They agreed that he would pay for the child’s upkeep, but would never be acknowledged as the father, and play no role in the child’s life. No one knew about the relationship, not even when Ellen died and Ian came to live with Biddy at Greystone Manor.’
‘Wait, you are saying Ian lived at his dad’s house, but didn’t know it was his dad?’ said Jess.
‘That’s right. Ian only found out when the colonel died.’
‘Wild!’ said Dylan. ‘It’s like one of those soap operas where the mother turns out to be the sister’s daughter, but actually it was all a dream.’
Everyone laughed at his bizarre – but accurate – description, but the laughter quickly faded into a guilty silence. After all, two deaths were no laughing matter.
‘I still don’t understand why Ian was killed,’ said Sean.
Julia laid it out. ‘Biddy told me that after Clarence Loxton’s will was read, and it was revealed that the estate was to be split equally between his children, she decided to tell Ian that Colonel Loxton was his father.
She wanted him to claim his inheritance – his one third of the estate.
She felt he’d been denied his place in the family long enough, and the money was his by rights.
It turns out that Greg overheard that conversation between the two of them.
He came into the kitchen just as Biddy spilled the beans. ’
‘Soap opera,’ muttered Dylan.
Julia continued: ‘Greg then knew that Ian was the colonel’s son, which meant that he was entitled to a third of the estate.’
‘So Greg and Beth decided to kill him?’ Jess asked.
‘Not exactly,’ said Julia.
Hayley took up the story: ‘Greg was in a complete state, as you can imagine. He went to Beth and told her everything he had learnt. When she heard that he had a half-brother, and that he stood to lose a big chunk of his inheritance, she “freaked out”, to quote Greg’s statement.
He said Beth was furious – but he claims he had no idea that she was behind his father’s death, or that she intended to kill Ian. ’
‘Do you believe him?’ asked Sean.
‘Look, I’ve seen the worst of the worst, and those who know me will say it’s given me a cynical view of human nature,’ said Hayley.
‘That would be me, saying that…’ said Sylvia, taking her girlfriend’s hand.
‘There will be more investigation, but I believe Greg when he says that he was not involved in the killings, and he didn’t know or suspect that Beth had anything to do with them, either.’
‘I agree,’ said Julia. ‘He didn’t suspect her, because he had no idea that she was capable of such violence. Beth went off the deep end in a way that was hard to anticipate or imagine. And a very sad part of the story is that Ian wasn’t even going to claim his share of the inheritance.’
‘Whaaat?’ said Dylan, slapping his forehead dramatically. ‘No waaay. Are you kidding?’
‘Nope. Biddy tried to convince Ian that he should take the money, that it was his due, but the poor sweet chap just wanted to work in the garden, get his salary every month, and get on with his life.’
‘That’s right,’ said Hayley. ‘And the tragic thing was that while Greg overheard the conversation about the relationship between Ian and the colonel, he didn’t hear the next conversation with Biddy – Ian’s refusal. If he’d heard that part, Ian would still have been alive.’
‘That’s so sad!’ said Jess. ‘Poor Ian.’
‘Come now!’ said Julia. ‘Enough sad talk. This is a birthday party! Let’s talk about something nicer for a minute, and then bring on the food.’
‘Yes, something nicer, like Tabitha’s love life! Let’s talk about that,’ said Jess, rubbing her hands together in a show of eagerness. ‘I want to hear about the online dating.’
‘Excellent idea. Do tell, Tabitha,’ said Christopher, taking a chair. ‘What’s it like on the mean streets of online dating these days?’
‘Rather fun actually,’ said Tabitha, tossing her curls. ‘If you don’t take it too seriously, and you don’t believe half of what you’re told, you can have some good chats and a few laughs, and meet some nice people.’
‘They must have cleaned up those streets since I was last dating online,’ said Christopher dryly, earning himself a nudge of the elbow from Peter.
‘No rotters?’ asked Laine. ‘I thought online dating was full of rotters and cads and bounders.’
She sounded disappointed to learn of their absence.
‘Oh, I’m sure it is. And scammers, too. But I’m pretty wise to the old tricks, and I like to think I’ve got a good antenna for dishonesty and nonsense.’
‘You do!’ said Julia. ‘You’re a wise woman.’
‘Here’s to wise women!’ said Peter, holding up his glass. ‘I’m lucky enough to know quite a few.’
He nodded towards Julia, and gave her a smile. ‘Amongst them, my darling daughter – the birthday girl – and her mum.’ His voice wavered with feeling as he looked at his daughter. Julia felt a rush of emotion herself, and the prickle of happy and sentimental tears in her eyes.
Jess looked pleased and bashful. ‘Ah, thanks, Dad… And thanks, Mum, for everything.’
Julia raised her glass. ‘Happy birthday and all happiness for the year ahead.’ She surveyed the table and the dear faces bathed in the bounteous candlelight and said, ‘And blessings on you, my darling, and on you all, dear friends.’
* * *