“Some woman in Manchester wrenched her back. She’s in hospital and I better go see her. Maybe I can prevent a lawsuit. I’ll be back before I’m missed.”
“Not possible,” Kate murmured, then said louder, “Tell me something about the night of the party that no one else knows.”
“I...” She took a breath. “I think Clive saw everything.”
“He told you that?”
“No. I, uh, I kind of followed him when he went outside. There was a fight. Loud voices. I was too drunk to know who it was. Clive was... I think maybe he was hiding from me.”
“In the stables?”
“Not sure. I think—” The door to the office opened and Nadine came out. Immediately, Willa turned and hurried down the street, not wanting to be seen.
“Who was that?” Nadine asked.
“She was asking for directions. Did you see a lawyer?”
“Yes, he wrote my father’s will. Everything was left to me and I’m to take care of Teddy.” Nadine gave a look of disgust. “No debts but no money either.”
“Your father used a lawyer from a small village?”
“Yes. Edward Terran. I always did like him.”
“Willa mentioned him.”
Nadine gave a little laugh. “I forgot about that. They used to walk around the estate together. He was a great history buff and loved to explore. He’s the one who got Bertram to fence off the conservation area.”
“Before or after Sean and Diana disappeared?” Kate snapped.
“I don’t remember. No, wait. I was about thirty months pregnant—at least it felt that way—and Dad came to visit my husband and me. He’d been to Oxley and had news. I remember he said Bertram caring about the birds was odd and it must have been for a tax break. I was too miserable with my body to listen much but I do remember that.”
“What’s the lawyer like?” Kate asked.
“Not bad. He’s kept himself in shape. Let’s just say that if I didn’t need money, I’d go out with him.”
“Did he ask you?”
“No. Not even close. Years ago, I tried, but for some reason, he liked Willa.”
Who could imagine that? Kate thought. “Why did they break up?”
Nadine shrugged. “Nicky and Byon didn’t want to lose her adoration—or the food she brought for us. Truffles cost a lot.” She smiled at Kate’s expression. “It was bad of us to break them up, but kids are a bitch, aren’t they? I need to go. See you later.”
Kate watched her leave. They broke up what might have led to marriage and children, but it was dismissed with “kids are a bitch.”
“You weren’t kids,” Kate said aloud.
Across the road she saw Sara and Jack watching her out the pub window.
If Kate’s mind hadn’t been on all that she’d heard from Willa and Nadine, she would have seen Clive sitting with Jack and Sara, and she probably wouldn’t have entered the pub again. Ever since Kate had heard their remarks about her being an “heiress,” she’d stayed away from him. The idea of someone wanting her for money was a new—and thoroughly despicable—idea. It made her have sympathy for Willa.
But Clive saw her before she could escape so she went to them. Sara had a big bowl of what looked like bread pudding and another one of thick yellow cream. When Sara saw the look in her niece’s eyes, she ordered a second one.
Kate and Clive greeted each other, then he said, “Who was the woman you were talking to? I couldn’t see her face but she looked good.”
“She was asking me where she could buy gifts for her four kids.”
Sara nearly choked, and Jack gave a cough to cover his laugh.