AllFreeNovel
Share Us
‘I think she drowned herself because her husband took the infant from her. He knew she was dying and there was a good chance that he might not return from Spain. He gave the baby to his brother-in-law.’
Miss Collins faced her with a belligerent stare. ‘If that’s true, where is that child today?’
‘She is standing before you, ma’am,’ Freddie said firmly.
‘You!’
‘I know, I find it difficult to believe.’ Nancy took the swaddling cloth from her reticule. ‘I was wrapped in this when they found me on the steps of the orphanage.’
Miss Collins took it gingerly between finger and thumb. ‘It is the Greystone crest, but this could have been stolen from the nursery. Anyone could have taken it.’
‘But you admit that Lady Greystone had a child.’
‘Yes, it’s no secret. We do not speak of it because of the disgrace. My cousin chose to take her own life and we thought the life of her baby, too.’
Freddie walked over to a rosewood bureau in the corner of the room. He studied a watercolour portrait hanging above it. ‘Is this your cousin, Miss Collins?’
Martha gave it a cursory glance. ‘Yes, that is my dear Helena. A nicer, kinder person never walked the earth.’
Freddie lifted it off the hook and examined it carefully. ‘Who does this remind you of, Miss Collins?’
‘It’s Helena, of course. A perfect likeness. Put it back at once.’
Freddie crossed the floor to stand beside Nancy, holding up the portrait. ‘This could be you, Nancy. Isn’t that so, Miss Collins?’
Miss Moon had been standing quietly in the doorway, but she stepped forward, gazing at the painting. ‘It is a striking resemblance, Martha.’
‘I think you know more than you are telling us, Miss Collins.’ Freddie hung the portrait back on the wall. ‘You were obviously close to Lady Greystone.’
‘We were like sisters.’ Martha’s voice broke on a sob. ‘She was an angel.’
‘I think you should tell them about the document, Martha.’ Miss Moon moved to the bureau and opened it.
‘No, leave it where it is. I was entrusted to keep it until such time as it was needed.’
‘Isn’t this the time, Martha? I believe this young lady is Helena’s daughter. Think what she would want.’
Martha stood up and went to stand by the window. She was silent for a moment and then she turned slowly to look directly at Nancy. ‘You do resemble Helena when she was a girl. How old are you?’
‘I’m nearly nineteen.’
‘All right, Moon. Find the document and give it to her. I don’t want it to fall into the wrong hands. Gervase North was here looking for it, having been through all the family papers, but I had no intention of allowing it to fall into his hands.’
Miss Moon handed the sealed document to Nancy. ‘This has been waiting to be read for nineteen years.’
Nancy’s hand shook as she took it from Miss Moon. She broke the seal and unfolded a yellowed piece of parchment.
‘I think I know what it says.’ Martha resumed her seat by the fire. ‘Tell me anyway.’
‘It seems to be Sir Oliver’s will,’ Nancy said slowly. She passed the document to Freddie.
‘Well, what does it say?’ Martha demanded imperiously. ‘I’ve kept it all these years so I feel I have a right to know its contents.’
Freddie cleared his throat and began to read.
This is the last will and testament of Sir Oliver Greystone, revoking all other wills. I leave all my possessions, including Greystone Park and the entire estate, to my wife, Helena Greystone, but knowing her delicate constitution I fear her life will be tragically short. In the event of her death I leave everything to my only child, my daughter, who has yet to be named. Due to unforeseen circumstances I am forced to flee the country, but I leave my daughter in the safe hands of my sister, Elizabeth North. Witnessed this day the thirtieth of March in the year of our Lord 1844 by Dr Horace Bulmer and Midwife Violet Betts.
‘Is it a legal document?’ Nancy asked slowly. ‘I was left at the orphanage on the thirty-first of March 1844. They chose that as my birthday so I’ll be nineteen in just over a week.’
