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‘Wow, that was intense,’ said Clara as she and River walked away from the care home. She felt punch-drunk from the intensity of the last twenty minutes and she could sense that River felt the same way. He was breathing heavily beside her, as if he’d just been for a run. ‘I can’t believe that we found Audrey. I only hope we did the right thing in coming to see her.’
Clara knew she was seeking reassurance but she was still worried that her need to know the truth about Audrey had trumped her concern for the elderly woman’s well-being.
‘I think it was the right thing,’ said River, his footsteps falling into synch with hers. ‘It was emotional but Audrey said herself that she wanted to share the truth before it was too late. She wanted to tell us what had happened, and she seemed more at peace, somehow, once she’d got it off her chest. She’s been waiting for the truth to catch up with her for almost seventy years and hopefully she’ll feel better now that her secret’s been shared.’
‘It’s been a big secret to keep,’ Clara agreed, thinking of her grandmother who had guarded it ’til her dying day. ‘One that’s shaped her whole life.’ She glanced across at River, whose breathing had slowed. ‘A part of me wishes we could tell your dad, though.’
‘Me too.’ He shrugged. ‘We’ve got a big secret to keep now. The baton has been passed to us. But we promised Audrey and she’s probably right when she says it’s better that he doesn’t know. He’s got enough to cope with at the moment and, as far as he’s concerned, the trauma surrounding Audrey’s apparent death was dealt with ages ago.’
‘I guess so,’ said Clara, although she wasn’t sure anyone could ever deal fully with such a traumatic event. But River was right; they’d promised Audrey so there was nothing to be done.
‘Did you leave the diary with her?’ asked River.
‘Yeah, it’s hers and she can do what she likes with it – keep it or destroy it,’ Clara answered, remembering how her mum had dumped the book into the bin with the vegetable peelings. Audrey would never have been found had it stayed there. But perhaps the diary had now done its job and it was time for it to disappear for ever, along with Audrey Brellasham.
They walked a little further along the busy street before Clara asked: ‘Do you believe her about the diamonds?’
‘I don’t know,’ said River, side-stepping a woman with a buggy. ‘Maybe she sold them to fund her new life. I wouldn’t blame her.’
‘Or they’re resting on the seabed somewhere off Heaven’s Cove.’
Clara could picture them glinting in shafts of sunlight that filtered through the depths.
River suddenly stopped in the middle of the pavement. ‘It was hard to hear how badly my grandfather treated Audrey.’ He turned to face Clara, ignoring tutting passers-by who had to walk around them. ‘Do you think I’m like him? I lose my temper sometimes and I can be stubborn and single-minded and?—’
Clara grabbed hold of his arms. ‘River, listen to me. You’re nothing like Edwin. You’re kind and sensitive and caring. You hardly ever lose your temper, you put up with me for years, and you didn’t even thump Bartie when he was being horrible. There’s no resemblance, honestly. You’re two very different men.’
River breathed out slowly and nodded. ‘OK. Thanks,’ he said gruffly.
They walked on towards the car park and neither of them made any comment when Clara slipped her hand into his.
32
RIVER
‘How many stalls are there in all?’ River asked, wiping sweat from his forehead. ‘One thousand? Two?’
He and Clara had been busy all morning, helping a team of volunteers to build the market stands that local traders would use at the fete tomorrow – and the task seemed never-ending.
‘Thirty-three,’ said Clara, her eyes shining when she laughed. ‘We usually only have twenty-five, tops, but people in Heaven’s Cove are pulling out all the stops because they know this year’s Brellasham Manor Charity Fete and Open Day will be the last.’
Her smile faded. ‘Talking of which, what’s happening with prospective buyers for this place?’
‘It’s all in hand. I’ve been in touch with a couple of specialist estate agencies who know how best to handle this kind of sale. They’re visiting next week to take down all the particulars and get photos, and then it’s just a case of finding the right buyer.’
‘What did they say about the grounds?’
River frowned. ‘I’m afraid they say the grounds are a prime spot for development and that’s what buyers will be interested in, as well as the manor house itself.’
It was inevitable, thought River, but depressing, especially on a day like today when the land surrounding the manor house looked so magnificent. The breeze was rustling through the branches of the tall trees that edged the cove and his father’s beloved gardens were a blaze of colour, with the moors rising up beyond them.
Clara folded her arms, looking thoroughly fed up. ‘Yeah, I thought they’d say that. How long is a sale likely to take?’
‘It depends who’s interested in the deal but, when the right person or company comes forward, I’m told it can all be dealt with pretty quickly. I’m sorry I can’t be more specific than that.’
‘It’s not your fault. We’re dealing with a lot of unknowns, which is what Mum is finding so hard. She could be out of a job and a home in two months’ time, or six months, or perhaps not for a year. It’s all making her very anxious.’
‘She won’t have to worry about money, not initially anyway, because I’m sure my father will arrange a good redundancy package.’
