‘On the contrary.’ Thomas grinned. ‘She is of age and can do whatever she wants. You should not be bothered at all. You said I could take her and go on several occasions. But you did not want to part with the money.’
He pushed away from the table and stalked towards Skeffington. ‘I can find no evidence that you have ever cared for Louisa, or her brother.’
The old man took a step backwards.
Thomas continued to advance. ‘You have abused and neglected them. Louisa particularly has been bullied and brow-beaten until she was a shadow of the woman she was meant to be.’
They were in the hall now, headed for the front door.
‘It was not bad enough that you withheld her inheritance from her. Now you have fired her gardener and mean to spoil her garden.’
‘Mygardener!Mygarden!’ Skeffington said, bracing himself against a doorframe and trying to gain back a little of his power. ‘Myhouse, as well. If I wish to burn it to the ground and let the land go to seed, I shall.’
‘I wouldn’t do that, if I were you.’
They both turned to see Louisa standing on the stairs, some papers in her hand. Had she always been this beautiful? How had he missed it? Today, she was positively radiant, beaming down at him from the landing like an angel returning from heaven. He touched his heart and held out an open hand to her, hoping she understood what he was offering.
She smiled widely. He could feel a tightness in his chest, as if he was gathering a breath and about to burst into song. But now was not the time. Soon, perhaps. But not just yet.
‘Did you find what you were looking for?’ he asked.
‘More than that,’ she said. ‘Perhaps, if Grandfather is threatening to burn down the house, we should have Mr Barnes stay with him until we decide what is to be done with him. Percy would be most unhappy to lose his birthright to a fire.’
‘The house is Percy’s?’
This was a surprise.
‘The deed is in his name,’ she said, waving a piece of paper. ‘It seems our great-grandfather was disappointed in his son and heir. He broke the entail on the property so that Grandfather inherited only the title without the land. But he was very fond of my grandmother and my father. He was over the moon when Percy was born and deeded this house directly to him, effective upon his death.’
‘My father had no right to do that!’ Skeffington shouted.
‘It is all quite legal,’ Louisa said, holding up another paper. ‘There are letters from my father, explaining his request that Grandfather be allowed to live here in this house until Percy came of age and could take possession of it.’
She smiled down at her grandfather as if she enjoyed the advantage of her high ground.
‘My father was a good man who did not wish to see his father without a home. But it is up to my brother whether you remain here or not. And you have not been very kind to either of us since our parents’ death. I fear that will colour his decision.’
Her grandfather let out a roar of frustration.
‘I would save some of your anger, if I were you,’ Louisa said. ‘I am not yet finished reading.’
She pulled out the last sheet of paper.
‘My father’s will clearly states that we are to receive our inheritances promptly on coming of age with no real conditions. There are a few vague directions for our guardian, but no indication that he intended it to be you. It seems we were only put in your care because the family is small and all the better candidates predeceased you.’
‘It is often the case that the most spiteful people thrive where others languish,’ Thomas said.
‘Like weeds,’ Louisa agreed.
‘You upstart girl! You had no right to rummage through my things. When I get my hands on you…’
Skeffington lunged towards the stairs. Thomas moved quickly, grabbing him by the collar. For a man who claimed to be an invalid, he had a surprising amount of fight in him.
‘Where is the money?’ he shouted, trying to thrash his way out of his coat.
‘What money?’ Louisa asked, with a wicked grin.
‘You know very well, what money,’ he screamed at her.
