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‘It’s okay, but he’s not the easiest of people to get on with.’
Sarah smiled. ‘I can imagine. I don’t think I’d like to work there, to be honest.’
‘Oliver is just so miserable a lot of the time.’ Abigail was thinking what a contrast he was to Joss.
‘It’s not surprising, though, is it? He will inherit the responsibility of that estate. It’s not for everybody. Think about it – it’s not as though he had a choice about what to do with his life.’
Abigail hadn’t thought about it that way.
‘It’s his duty to his family, but what if he wanted to make other choices? That’s not possible with primogeniture.’
Abigail knew what that meant. ‘I don’t think it helps that he and his father don’t seem to get on. I heard that Oliver’s mother died giving birth to him and that he blames him for that.’
‘Ah, yes, the small-town rumour mill. Did you hear that from The Gossip Girls?’
Abigail looked at her blankly.
‘Mabel and Marjorie in the charity shop next door, in Cobbler’s Yard?’
‘Er, no – I haven’t been into that shop.’
Sarah smiled wistfully. ‘Well, I’m sure you’ll meet them. They’re sisters, widows in their early eighties. I call them The Gossip Girls because they know pretty much everything that goes on, and they gossip about it.’
‘Do they now?’ Abigail stared at her, wondering what else they knew, or had heard, about the Somervilles – Daphne in particular. Although she felt that Ray was probably right: Toby was no relation of the Somervilles, and his link to Daphne was through the cottage, not blood. It didn’t stop her wanting to know about Daphne, though. And would the sisters know about the other trustees?
‘Dinner won’t be long,’ Ray said.
That was Abigail’s cue to leave. She rose from her seat. ‘Well, it’s been lovely to meet you.’
Sarah smiled. ‘Likewise. I’m glad Lili’s got someone on board to help with the accounts. I was pretty good, but it’s really not Lili’s strong point. Is it a permanent arrangement? Will you be staying on?’
Abigail hesitated. No, she would not, but she wanted to tell Lili that in person. She didn’t want her to hear it second-hand. Abigail didn’t want to answer her question. Ray saved the day, calling out, ‘Right, we’re ready!’
Abigail glanced at Ray. He’d flung a tea-towel over his shoulder and slipped on some oven gloves. ‘I’d better go,’ she said.
Ray looked up. ‘Wait, I’ll see you out.’ He closed the oven door and walked into the lounge. ‘Sarah, would you like to take a seat outside?’ He pulled the sliding doors on the other side of the room open to reveal the wicker table and two chairs laid out for dinner that Abigail had spotted when she first arrived. The look on Sarah’s face when she spotted the table said he’d definitely done the right thing, organising dinner alfresco on his boat. Abigail smiled as Ray walked her to the door. They seemed a nice couple. She hoped things worked out.
Abigail stepped out of the other sliding doors, on to the deck, the tow path side.
‘Now, remember what we discussed, Abigail. If I were you, I would go and see Toby’s sister and his stepdad. They might know more than you think. Even his mother, or adoptive mother, if that’s the case.’
Abigail was about to respond, but Ray continued. ‘I know what you said, but she might have a lucid moment.’
Abigail remembered what he had said about Toby’s mother being one of the trustees. The more she thought about it, the more it seemed quite conceivable. If he was a foundling and she had adopted him, then Daphne would have told the nurse her plans, and made his adoptive mother a trustee. If that were the case – and just then, she had every reason to believe it was – the question remained: who was the third?
Ray had his mobile phone to hand. ‘I want to give you my number, so you can contact me whenever you want. If you want to tell me how you got on talking to them, and you change your mind and want to trace his real family, then get in touch. I’d really like to help.’
Abigail smiled. ‘Thank you, Ray.’
‘You are most welcome.’ He paused, his eyes flicking past her. Something had caught his attention on the tow path. ‘I think Joss is waiting for you.’
Abigail sighed when she followed his gaze and saw Joss. He was standing along the tow path. He waved.
She reluctantly waved back, wishing he hadn’t waited for her. Wasn’t he meant to be going to her parents’ guesthouse on Shingle Cove to check in?
Abigail took Ray’s number, said her goodbyes and returned along the wide, sturdy gangplank, through the gate and back on to the grassy path that led back towards the village of Walberswick.
Joss was waiting for her by the bridge. Abigail stopped in front of him and eyed him. She hoped that seeing Ray preparing for a romantic dinner for two hadn’t given him any ideas.
‘I thought you were going to the guesthouse?’
He nodded. His ready smile had gone. ‘That was the idea, but my uncle’s car broke down. I can’t get it to start.’
‘Oh.’
‘I called the breakdown guys but they won’t be here for a few hours, so …’ he trailed off.
