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‘The photo. It was taken when they were a young couple.’
‘So?’
‘The man in the photo, Daphne’s husband, wasn’t the young man on the movie reels.’
Lili lowered her glass. ‘Her first relationship, the one on the home movies, obviously didn’t last, and she met and married the army colonel.’
‘So, why did she keep the home movie reels of her ex?’
Lili shrugged. ‘Sentimental reasons. Who knows? Have you watched any more?’
Abigail shook her head. ‘To be honest, discovering that the connection between Toby and Daphne most likely had nothing to do with the Somervilles – that he was probably a foundling – put a whole different complexion on things.’ Abigail now believed Ray’s theory that Daphne had created the trust of the cottage for Toby as a charitable gesture.
‘When are you going to tell them that you inherited her cottage?’ Lili asked.
Abigail pursed her lips again. Emily had returned to her job as a cleaner at the Hall and had been surprised to discover her sister working there as their accountant. However, Abigail hadn’t mentioned the cottage she had inherited to Emily. She had asked her mum and stepdad not to tell Emily; they all knew she couldn’t keep a secret. So far, this seemed to have worked; Abigail assumed that if word had got back to Carys and Oliver, she’d know about it. ‘I’ve decided not to. Things are being handled between the solicitors. I think when they realise they haven’t got a case to contest the trust, it will all fizzle out. They’ll back down.’
For Abigail’s sake, Lili hoped that was the case.
Abigail’s interest in finding out more about Daphne, and watching more of her movie reels, had waned since her visit to see Ray, and since bumping into Clarissa, who’d told her about the DNA test and confirmed that Toby was not a blood relative.
‘I kind of lost interest, you know?’
‘I think your interest has moved into other things.’ Lili’s eyes drifted to Oliver.
‘Really, Lili!’
Abigail knew what she was implying. She looked about her, hoping nobody overheard the conversation. The staff were too busy chatting amongst themselves. ‘I am not interested in Oliver.’
Lili grinned. ‘You keep telling yourself that.’
Abigail glanced over at him talking to Carys. Why did she have butterflies in her stomach every time she saw him? It just wasn’t possible that she was falling for someone else so soon after losing Toby. There were so many reasons why a relationship with Oliver just wouldn’t work, she had decided. The trouble was, besides the little complication of the cottage, and it being too soon after Toby’s death, she couldn’t actually think of a single one.
‘I see the way he looks at you.’
Abigail said through gritted teeth, ‘Will you stop, already.’
Lili smiled at her and finished her wine. ‘Funny thing is, I thought Joss—’
‘I knew what you were up to, trying to pair me off with Joss. I’ve just lost my husband,’ Abigail said through gritted teeth. ‘What part of that don’t you understand?’
Lili’s smile faltered. ‘I’m sorry, Abigail.’
Abigail looked at her friend, her expression softening. It wasn’t Lili she was angry with, but herself. Lili was right: there was something between her and Oliver; an attraction. She could sense it.
‘Oh, look. Lord Somerville has arrived – finally! I’m running out of wine.’
Abigail smiled at her friend. She couldn’t stay mad at Lili for long.
There was a round of applause from the staff when Lord Somerville walked into the room, surprising Lili and Abigail. Lili commented under her breath, ‘It feels like I have just stepped into another era!’
‘I know,’ Abigail breathed.
After Lord Somerville had said a few words, Carys said, ‘And this all wouldn’t have been possible without Abigail.’
Abigail looked at Carys, wide-eyed. She was being summoned to join Carys, Oliver, and Lord Somerville.
Lili gave her a nudge.
