‘He died two days after his ninety-first birthday,’ Eric said. ‘I couldn’t be particularly sorry, for the old man had had a good innings.’

‘Sorry’ Violet exclaimed. ‘He was so disagreeable, so mean, that I don’t think anyone could be hypocritical enough to pretend to be sorry. But what has that got to do with your coming to the South of France?’

‘Well, as a matter of fact he has made me his heir,’ Eric Featherstone said apologetically.

‘His heir!’ Violet exclaimed. ‘Oh, Eric, I am glad.’

‘Had to come down and see about the sale of some property he had in Nice,’ Eric explained. ‘I have no desire to keep it, too tricky having to deal with foreign lawyers and all that sort of thing.’

‘Eric, this means you have come into Medway Park,’

‘That’s right! I was always fond of the place, but I never thought it would be mine.’

‘Oh, but I’m simply delighted,’ Violet said. ‘You used to enjoy going there despite the fact that your Uncle Harold was the most disagreeable host it was possible to imagine. And the place was like an ice house even in summer. For goodness’ cake, Eric, put in central heating and some more bathrooms.’

‘I’m seeing to all that,’ Eric said. ‘Ought to have a good season there next year too.’

‘Season?’ Violet queried for a moment, then remembered. ‘Oh, partridges! Yes, of course. There will be splendid duck shooting, too, won’t there? How you will enjoy being a Country Squire! You will get fat and pompous for a certainty.’

‘Not fat,’ Eric retorted. ‘There is too much to do on the Estate. The old man neglected it rather badly, wouldn’t spend any money on fences or keepers. There is a lot to be done.’

‘And you will adore doing it,’ Violet laughed.

She thought of the big rambling mansion in Norfolk with its five thousand acres of shooting and knew that, if anyone had attained his dream of heaven upon earth, Eric had. He loathed London and the five-storeyed house in Park Lane which she had loved. He had hated the Balls, Concerts and Theatres which she had thought an inseparable part of their existence. He lived only for the time when he could get away to shoot, fish or hunt.

He had no conversation except on those three subjects, and any attempt to make him talk of other things was doomed to dismal failure.

Yes, Eric would be happy in Norfolk. The house was nice, Violet thought, or could be provided one spent money on it. The drawing room would have to be refurnished. New curtains and carpets everywhere would make a great deal of difference, and there must be some very valuable pictures mixed up with a lot of junk. Of course she would have to –