Deborah took a file from her bag and began sifting through it. ‘I have here copies of the valuation of Mr and Mrs Tallon’s estate.’ She passed one to Sennen, then stretched her arm out to Henry and handed him the remaining sheets. He took one and passed it on to Kit who gave it to Ella. Debbie continued, ‘When Mr Tallon died nine years ago, he left everything to Mrs Tallon. When Mrs Tallon died, she left no will. However, in our role as executors we took advice from you, Henry and Ella, and due to the fact that you were both now living in London, you agreed that we should sell White Water, your family home. The monies from the sale of the property were invested by us. They remained so as we searched for your mother as she would be the sole beneficiary, if alive, or if proven to be deceased, her descendants, you, would become the beneficiaries.’
She turned to Sennen and smiled. ‘Thankfully, we tracked you down.’
Sennen wasn’t listening. She was reading the page in her hand.
Henry, white-faced, was reading his copy.
Ella’s hands were shaking as she scanned hers. ‘Golly. It’s a lot of money,’ she said.
Henry screwed his sheet into a ball stood up and walked to the fireplace. He tossed it into the flames. ‘Well, that’s all our darling mother’s now.’ He turned to look at her. ‘You’ve got what you came for, now off you trot.’
Sennen stood up. ‘Henry – I know you are angry …’
Henry laughed cruelly. ‘Angry doesn’t cover it.’ He looked at his sister. ‘Come on, Ella. She’s got what she wants. You and I have coped this far without her. We don’t need her or her money.’
Sennen reached for his arm but he swerved from her touch. She pulled back, stung. ‘Henry, please.’
Fury suffused him. ‘Do you know how old Poppa was when he died? Hm?’
Sennen gripped her hands, twisting her fingers.
‘Well?’ he shouted. ‘No? You haven’t a clue have you. Have you?’ He stared at his mother and raked his hand through his hair. ‘Selfish bitch. He was fifty-seven, that’s all. He should be here now. He should be here to walk Ella down the aisle, if and when she gets married. He should be enjoying a comfortable retirement. But he’s dead.’ The last words were filled with pain and venom.
Sennen hung her head and Henry took a step closer. ‘And do you know what killed him?’
Sennen shook her head and whispered, ‘Don’t. Please stop.’
He continued. ‘You. You broke his heart.’
Ella put her hands to her face in horror. ‘Henry, stop. Don’t say such things.’
‘Why not? It’s true.’ He glowered at the room. ‘And because he died, Granny died too. The two people she had loved most in the world had gone. Her beloved husband and her feckless tart of a daughter who wasn’t worth her love.’ Henry saw the pain in his mother’s face but couldn’t help sticking the knife in deeper. ‘Do you know that they removed every bit of you from our home? You hurt them so much that every trace of you was taken from the house. No belongings, no letters, no photos. You were deleted. It was as if you didn’t exist.’
The room hung in stillness, the bitterness of Henry’s outburst ricocheting through the air.
There was a knock at the door and Penny came in with a tea tray followed by Simon with sandwiches and cake.
‘Thought you could all do with a cup of tea,’ Penny smiled.
Deborah, remaining seated, managed, ‘Lovely.’
Kit came from Ella’s side towards Penny. ‘Let me help you.’
Henry had thrown himself back into his chair and was biting his nails, staring into the fire.
Ella held back tears, her anger directed at Henry.
Sennen smoothed her multi-coloured dress and rearranged her scarf. ‘That’s very kind of you, but I have to leave.’
‘So soon?’ asked Simon anxiously.
‘Yes,’ Sennen replied and looked at Debbie. ‘Would you take me back to Trevay, please?’
Deborah took the cue seamlessly and collected her bits together. ‘Of course. Thank you so much for hosting this initial meeting, Simon. Penny.’ She looked at Henry and Ella and held out her hand. ‘Call me when you are ready.’
Ella got up and shook her hand. ‘Thank you. We need time to … You understand?’
‘Of course.’ She looked over at Henry who was still chewing his fingers. ‘Goodbye, Henry.’
The room emptied, leaving Ella, Henry and Kit, holding the teapot, in shocked silence.
‘Well,’ said Henry dryly, ‘that went well.’
Ella let rip. ‘You stupid idiot. You couldn’t have made it worse, could you? That was our mother. You may not want to know her but I bloody well do. Granny and Poppa would be ashamed of you. They loved her. They loved us. They would want this to be a happy ending, but oh no, not you, you want to play life’s victim and smash anything good that might come to us.’
‘Who’s playing the victim now?’ Sneered Henry. ‘I’m protecting you, Ella. Can’t you see that? The minute you got close to her she’d kick you in the teeth and leave again. She’ll break your heart and I’m not going to let that happen. Leopards do not change their spots.’
Ella began to cry with frustration and shock. ‘She came out of love. Love for us.’
‘Nope. It’s love of money. That’s why she’s here.’
‘You don’t know that. People change. You haven’t given her a chance. I want to know why she left and where she’s been. Then I can make up my own mind and not have you doing it for me.’
Henry looked at his watch. ‘Kit, would you be kind enough to take me to the station. I need to be back in London.’
He looked at Ella, sitting tear streaked and shaky in her chair. ‘I’m sorry, Ells, but it’s better you face reality.’