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Chapter 43
‘So, what’s this about?’ They were the first words out of Oliver’s mouth when Abigail answered the door. He was avoiding eye contact, looking straight over her shoulder at his sister.
Abigail opened the door wide to let him in, feeling awkward. He didn’t even say hello or ask her how she was. She frowned at his back as he walked over to Carys.How rude. Although she didn’t know exactly what she had expected, she had hoped after that phone call, when it sounded like he was asking after her, that he might sweep her into his arms and welcome her home. Abigail rolled her eyes. What a silly thought. That wasn’t Oliver, even if they had been on speaking terms – which clearly they were not.
She closed the door, wishing Carys had never made that call. Why would Oliver be remotely interested in what Toby had to do with the Somervilles – apart from Daphne’s cottage, of course. The home movie would be of no interest to him.
‘Abigail, show him the home movie.’
She heaved a sigh. ‘You know what, I really don’t think Oliver will be interested.’
He sat down on the sofa beside his sister. ‘Let me be the judge of that.’
Carys slapped his arm. ‘Don’t be so rude! Apologise this instant!’
Abigail looked at Carys and stifled a smile. She sounded just like a bossy big sister.
‘Sorry.’
‘And look at her while you’re speaking to her.’
Abigail watched as he raised his eyes from the carpet. Those beautiful brown eyes looked at her apologetically.
‘I amsosorry, Abigail.’
Their eyes locked. His expression was pained.
She realised he wasn’t just apologising for being his usual taciturn self, but for his reaction back at the Hall when he’d discovered she’d inherited Daphne’s cottage.
Carys realised it too. ‘It’s been eating away at him, how he treated you that day.’
Oliver swiftly turned to his sister.
‘Carys!’
‘Well, it’s true – isn’t it?’
He hung his head, studying the carpet.
Ulysses, who’d been in the kitchen drinking from his water bowl, appeared in the doorway.
‘Yes. I … I shouldn’t have said what I did. It was inexcusable. I was upset for my sister. We thought Daphne would leave the cottage to her because, as you may be aware, the Hall, everything, will pass to me.’
‘My aunt was aware of that too,’ continued Carys. ‘We know it caused a rift between Daddy and her, but what could she do? It is the nature of primogeniture.’
Oliver nodded. ‘But I guess we thought that as she had no children, and knowing that her niece would inherit nothing, she would have favoured Carys, not given the cottage to some …’ Oliver glanced at Abigail, ‘stranger. Sorry.’
Abigail came over and sat down on the sofa next to Oliver. ‘You don’t have to apologise. I understand.’ She loved that he was so protective of his sister. It reminded her of her relationship with her brother, Luke. They’d always been so close.
She tried to quell the guilty feeling over her little sister, and the way she’d treated her over the years.
Oliver interrupted Abigail’s thoughts. ‘I don’t know why Daphne wanted you to have this cottage, Abigail, but she must have had her reasons.’
Carys said, ‘But that’s the thing – she didn’t give Abigail the cottage. She gave it to Abigail’s late husband, Toby.’
Oliver turned to Abigail. ‘Do you know why?’
She shook her head. ‘That’s what I’m trying to get to the bottom of.’
