on, Tessa, don’t talk like this,’ India exclaimed briskly. ‘Jack’s going to get her back, you’ll see. And you’ll settle things amicably with Mark, the divorce will go through, and things will be normal.’
‘Oh, India, I do hope you’re right, but he’s being very greedy, you know. He wants the house, a lot of money, and joint custody of Adele. I don’t think I could agree to joint custody; the house yes. But not joint custody.’
‘Once you’ve got Adele back I think you ought to try and move quickly, settle matters with him. You know very well you hate things hanging over your head.’
‘You’re right,’ Tessa agreed, suddenly brightening. ‘I’ll talk to my solicitor, perhaps we can get everything moving faster. Much faster. But it’s only a few months since I left Mark.’
‘That’s true, but so what. Anyway, Linnet and I both agree that Mark has always been avaricious, so he’s got his price, in my opinion. Buy him off, Tessa, it’s the only way.’ India peered across the table at her cousin. ‘That’s a Harte rule, remember.’
Jack and Linnet had walked out into the Stone Hall and stood talking quietly near the fireplace.
‘Mark has friends in Yorkshire, where he could stay with Adele? Is that what you’re suggesting?’ Jack asked, squinting at Linnet in the dim, early evening light.
‘Yes,’ she answered and moving across the floor she turned on several lamps.
He stood watching her for a moment, thinking how much she resembled Emma Harte – well, a young Emma – with her red-gold hair and English-rose complexion. He’d gone to work for Emma when he was eighteen, forty years ago, and he had loved, respected and admired her, found her to be the most exacting, exasperating, charming, bossy and brilliant woman he had ever known. She had been his favourite boss. Now, here was Linnet, the spitting image of her, and just as smart, smart as a whip. She was his favourite amongst this younger generation because to him she exemplified so much of the past and her family’s heritage as well as the present. It’s as if she has a foot in both worlds, the old and the new, he thought, and that makes her unique, and very special to me.
‘What are you thinking about, Jack?’ Linnet asked, sitting in a chair. ‘You look as if you’ve just had a most brilliant thought.’
‘Not all that brilliant, but yes, I’ve had a rather interesting thought. Actually, it’s a thought I’d had earlier and now it’s come back. Look, Linnet, Jonathan Ainsley’s in Hong Kong, that we know for certain, but the world’s a village today, and he could very well be masterminding this situation with Mark and Adele. By phone, probably. He wouldn’t want to put it in writing, in an e-mail or a fax. And, and this is very important, he’s got a former girlfriend in Yorkshire, and she –’
‘Of course, my mother’s secretary, Eleanor! And what you’re suggesting is that Jonathan is manipulating Mark long distance in order to hurt Paula and us, and that Mark goes along because he wants to spite Tessa. Good thinking.’ She gave him a penetrating look. ‘Are you wondering if Eleanor’s in on it?’
‘I am indeed,’ Jack answered, flopping down in the chair opposite her, crossing his legs.
‘If she is, she’s being very foolish,’ Linnet murmured. ‘My mother’s on to her. She has taken all power away from her. But she is an old flame of Jonathan’s, and they’ve recently been in contact again. Look, I’m not suggesting she’d help Mark take Adele, but perhaps she’s offering him –’
‘A safe haven for a few days?’ Jack ventured, cutting in, then smiling across at her.
‘Yes, that’s my thought.’
‘But would she risk her job, I wonder? She might tittle-tattle about your mother, but do you think she would really help Mark? It would make her an accessory. And it would be construed as a kidnapping if we have to go to the police, resort to the law.’
‘But not everybody’s familiar with the law, or as astute as you are, Jack. Maybe she just doesn’t understand. Also, there’s another thing we have to think about. Ellie does rather fancy herself, and she’s still a lovely-looking woman … so, perhaps she harbours the idea that Jonathan is going to get back with her after all. And if that’s the case, does her job working for my mother at the Leeds store really matter to her?’
‘You’ve got a point there, Linnet. And Mark could have taken Adele to Ellie’s home without her knowing what’s going on, if we’re to give her the benefit of the doubt.’ Jack now peered at his watch and stood up. ‘Time to make that call to Mrs Longden, I think. Come on, Beauty, let’s go on a fishing trip in Gloucestershire. Also, let’s keep this conversation to ourselves, all right?’
‘Absolutely,’ she said.
The moment Jack walked back into the library with Linnet he immediately picked up on the tension in the air. Tessa sat as rigid as stone on the sofa, her face strained, her eyes filled with suffering. India was sitting next to her, also stiffly erect in her seat, her expression one of worry and anxiety. Evan, standing next to a window, was talking on her mobile whilst Emsie and Desmond huddled on the upholstered brass fender, whispering together.
Linnet gave Jack a quick look, and then hurried across to the other sofa, where she was instantly joined by Evan.
Jack strode over to the desk and stood behind it, suddenly conscious of six pairs of eyes fixed unwaveringly on him. I’ve got to get this moving along, he thought, I can’t delay. Time is of the essence now. He knew he was going to have to bring in the police and the media if he didn’t succeed with Mark’s mother. And then there was the possibility that she didn’t know anything, was an innocent bystander. If that was the case, he would have calculated wrongly. He prayed he had been right in his assumptions, that she would be able to help them solve this.
In his usual businesslike way, and without any idle chit-chat, he told them: ‘I’m now going to call Mark’s mother.’ Fixing his gaze on Tessa, he added, ‘I’m putting the phone on the speaker so you can hear her responses, but I want you to be perfectly quiet.’ His eyes swept over the others. ‘And that goes for everyone else, of course. One other thing, Tessa. Will you have a word with your mother-in-law? It might be necessary.’
There was only a moment’s hesitation on Tessa’s part, and then she nodded quickly. ‘I’ll talk to her, yes. We’re not close, but as I said, she’s a decent enough woman.’ There was a little pause; Tessa frowned, then added, ‘Mark’s her only son and she’ll always be on his side no matter what, even though he leads her a merry dance. But if you think it’s necessary I’ll certainly come to the phone.’
Jack nodded his understanding and sat down. Picking up the receiver he pressed the speaker button and then dialled.
A few moments later a woman answered. ‘Camden Lodge. Hello?’ Her cultured voice was heard by everyone in the library.
‘Is this Mrs Hilary Longden?’
‘Yes, this is she.’
‘Good evening, Mrs Longden. My name’s Jack Figg. I phoned earlier but you were out. You don’t know me, Mrs Longden, but you do know my employer, Mrs Paula O’Neill.’
‘Well,
