Page 156 of The Christmas Invitation
‘Mark and I were only ever friends,’ I said.
‘I can see why you thought Meg and Mark marrying would be the best solution,’ Henry said.
Sybil nodded. ‘Even if Piers told everyone the truth about the marriage and Meg’s mother being legitimate, it wouldn’t matter, would it? Meg would be in her rightful place at Underhill and part of the family.’
‘ThenIturned up for Christmas and spoiled it all,’ said Zelda.
‘There was nothing to spoil,’ I assured her.
‘It’s not that I don’twantMark to marry you, dear, but you can see how easy his marrying Meg instead would have made things,’ Sybil told her earnestly.
‘Well,’ said Tottie thoughtfully, ‘what happens now? Would Meg’s mother, if she’s still alive, be the rightful heir, or Meg, if not?’
‘Since I’m the daughter of a bigamous marriage, I think she must be,’ said Sybil.
‘So Underhill might not be mine after all?’ Mark said, looking stricken.
‘Not necessarily,’ Clara said. ‘When Henry and I talked it over last night, after I’d read Nessa’s letter, it seemed to us to depend on the terms of George’s will.’
‘But I don’twantto claim Underhill, or any part of your inheritance, Mark!’ I burst out. ‘And nor will Mum.’
‘Just as well,’ said Henry, ‘because George’s will was very carefully written; I remember thinking so at the time: he named exactly who was to inherit. And Underhill wasn’t entailed, so he could leave it to whoever he wanted. I think Meg or her mother probablycouldhave a strong claim to some money from the estate if they went to court, but I’m sure it won’t come to that.’
‘No, absolutely not,’ I declared. ‘In fact, when Mum comes back and I explain all this to her, she’ll hardly take in the facts.She only lives in the moment and this story all belongs to the past.’
‘But what are we going to do?’ said Mark.
‘Keep it in the family,’ I said firmly, ‘and carry on as if that misguided marriage between George and Nessa never took place.’
‘I think that’s the only sensible way forward,’ River agreed, speaking for the first time. ‘Nothing need change: Meg has already become a part of your family.’
‘Clara and I thought that was the easiest solution, too,’ said Henry. ‘And Mark needn’t think he isn’t entitled to the estate, because his grandfather very obviously intended him to inherit it.’
‘Piers might tell people, though, in a fit of pique,’ suggested Tottie.
‘I doubt it. There’s the blackmail angle, for one thing,’ said Henry. ‘And who would he tell? I doubt he has any real friends left, and no passing acquaintance at his club is going to take any notice of his stories. Or not to the extent of searching the wedding registers, at any rate.’
‘And since we can arrange it among the family, it’s nothing to do with anyone else,’ agreed Clara.
‘I still don’t feel that it’s right that—’ Mark began, looking pale and stubborn.
‘Just think of all those complicated noble families over the years, leaving property to their illegitimate, as well as legitimate offspring,’ Henry said.
‘And perhaps Megwillmarry into the family, anyway,’ Zelda said brightly. ‘What doyouthink, Lex?’
‘Now, Zelda, don’t tease your brother,’ Clara said absently, as I went scarlet under the interested gaze of several pairs of eyes. ‘We have to decide now how to handle things at the party – or handle Piers. At this point, we can’t really ban him from coming.’
‘And I can’t hit him, because he’s too old,’ Mark said, with one of his familiar dark scowls.
‘You’d better leave it to me,’ Henry told him. ‘I’ll remove him for a quiet conversation, after which he’ll no longer be welcome in this house, or to contact any member of my family.’
Sybil was wearing the sort of expression you see on the faces of people getting off a rollercoaster, though tinged with faint hope.
‘There,’ Clara said. ‘That was just like the denouement at the end of a Poirot novel, wasn’t it? Do we all feel better for our complete catharsis?’
‘Ifeel like getting into a hole and never coming out,’ said poor Sybil. ‘I don’t know how I can ever look any of you in the face again, especially Meg.’
I found myself assuring her that all was forgotten and forgiven and, in fact, that I really didn’t mind her having tried to kill me in the least …
