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Carys stood up. ‘You can’t be serious.’
Oliver turned to her. ‘It’s the only way to know for sure. I don’t know why it didn’t cross my mind before. I asked father once to do a DNA test with me.’
Abigail was staring at Oliver when her attention was momentarily diverted by Ulysses jumping on the sofa and nudging her hand for a stroke.
‘You what?’ Carys put her hands on her hips. ‘When was this?’
‘Oh, some time ago after I heard the rumours.’ Oliver glanced at the dog that had appeared out of nowhere.
‘What happened?’ asked Carys.
‘He point blank refused.’
‘Well, I bet he did. He must have been livid that you’d even asked. Did he tell you off for listening to those silly rumours?’
‘No, he reminded me that bastards won’t inherit Somerville Hall.’
The room fell silent.
Abigail stared at them. She had to ask, ‘What do you mean?’
Oliver slumped down on the sofa next to Abigail while Carys explained, ‘If father had an affair and Oliver was illegitimate, he would forfeit his right to inherit the Hall.’
Oliver spoke up. ‘Ditto if they discovered that my mother had an affair and Lord Somerville isn’t my father.’
‘So, don’t do it! Don’t take the test, Oliver,’ Carys implored him. ‘You are my brother,nothalf-brother. I would know if that wasn’t so.’
‘Would you, though?’ Oliver shot back.
The room fell silent again.
Abigail broke the silence. ‘Look, it’s only us. If it turned out that Hugh isn’t your father, it will not change anything.’
‘ButI’dknow.’
Carys threw her arms up in the air in frustration. ‘So, leave it be.’
‘I can’t after watching that movie.’
Abigail shook her head. ‘This is all my fault.’
‘No, it isn’t,’ Carys and Oliver said in unison.
‘It’s Daphne’s fault,’ said Carys. ‘She always was secretive.’ She cast her gaze around the cosy lounge. ‘It’s such a shame that whatever her reasons for putting the cottage into a trust for Toby, she took that secret to her grave.’
Abigail frowned.
‘Not exactly.’
They both turned to look at her.
‘There were two trustees.’
‘Who are they?’ Carys said, getting excited. ‘See, Oliver, neither of us has to take a test. We can just ask—’
‘I know what you’re going to say, Carys,’ Oliver interrupted. He turned to Abigail. ‘If it was that easy, then why hasn’t Abigail just asked them about Toby’s connection to the Somervilles?’
‘You don’t know who they are,’ Carys concluded.
