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Cally gasped. 'You mean you—bribed her into going?'
'I bought her an apartment in the South of France and agreed to pay her removal expenses on condition that she takes that old witch of a housekeeper with her and that neither of them return.'
She said faintly, 'My God.'
'You disapprove?' He shrugged a shoulder. 'Now, I felt it was money well spent.'
'Of course,' she said. 'Especially as it frees up the Dower House.' She threw back her head. 'You don't have much mercy, do you, Nick? Can't you imagine what it will be like for me—what it will do to me—living so near—seeing you all the time? Seeing you with her. The word seemed to explode out of her as her voice rose. 'Is she going to be moving into the Hall with you-—part of the "working relationship" you mentioned? Is that the cosy plan?'
She shook her head. 'Just—don't ask her to do any interior design work for the Dower House, that's all. In fact, don't let her take one step over the threshold. Because I really couldn't stand that—not again. This time I'm choosing my own colours, my own decor. And your mistress will not—not—be involved.'
Out of the corner of her eye she was aware of movement— a shadow falling across the carpet.
She looked round and to her horror saw Cecily Tempest standing at the French windows. Saw her face frozen in shock, and realised she must have heard everything as she crossed the terrace.
'My mistress? Cally—what the hell are you talking about?' Nick said hoarsely.
'Oh, I forgot,' she flung back at him. 'I wasn't supposed to let the cat out of the bag, of course.' She got unsteadily to her feet. 'I'm sorry, Cecily. I apologise for breaking the taboo. For mentioning her in your presence. For once speaking the terrible, unsayable truth.'
She took a choking breath. 'But you see I can't go on pretending. Not any more. I can't go on letting people think that everything's all right when I'm dying—bloody dying inside.'
'Cally, my poor girl.' Her mother-in-law's voice was warmly compassionate. 'You're surely not talking about Vanessa Layton?'
Cally squared her shoulders. Yes, but I truly didn’t mean you to hear,' she said quietly. 'I—I suppose I forgot that Nick and I weren't alone in the house. I—I'm so sorry.'
Dr Tempest turned to her son. 'Nick—what on earth is this?'
He spread his hands almost helplessly. 'I swear I haven't the faintest idea. She—Cally—can't have thought such a thing.'
Cally rounded on him. 'How can you say that?' she demanded, her voice hoarse. 'When I saw you with her—on our wedding day. Adele told me where you were—what you were doing—so I went there—I went to the cottage. I saw you holding her in your arms—heard what you were saying—what you promised. Everything.' She swallowed convulsively. 'Then you took her up to the bedroom and I watched you at the window— drawing the curtains so that you could be with her just hours after you married me. And that—that's when I ran away.'
There was a silence, then Nick said, 'Oh, dear God,' as horrified comprehension dawned in his face. 'Adele told you that’
'The Dowager Lady Tempest seems to have a great deal to answer for,' Cecily Tempest said grimly. 'But at least, my dear Nick, you have dealt with that particular problem. After tomorrow she'll be out of your lives, and incapable of doing any more harm. As for this beloved girl of yours,' she went on. 'The time has come for total honesty, I think, and I feel very strongly that the truth should come from me.'
She walked across to Cally and took her cold hands in hers, urging her to sit down again. 'My dear child, Vanessa Layton is not and never could be Nick's mistress. But a relationship does exist which Nick, out of consideration for my feelings, has always tried to keep hidden from me.'
She took a deep breath. 'You see, Cally, Vanessa is Nick's half-sister. My late husband's illegitimate child by the woman who was once his secretary.'
Cally stared at her. 'His—lister?' Her voice was barely a whisper.
Nick said roughly, 'Cally—1 tried to tell you, but you refused to discuss it. You said you already knew about it—from Adele.' He banged his clenched fist into the palm of his other hand. I should have realised that if that arch-bitch had really known the truth she'd have seen it as a golden opportunity for blackmail.' He looked at his mother. 'But you—you knew? And said nothing to me all this time?'
'Yes,' Dr Tempest said firmly. 'I've always known about Vanessa. But my ridiculous pride would never let me admit it before. I was even content to let you go on sheltering me in my supposed ignorance. But in the light of all this sadness— these terrible misunderstandings—all that no longer matters. It's time we all stopped pretending.'
