Chapters (49)
- Cover
- Dedication
- Chapter One
- Chapter Two
- Chapter Three
- Chapter Four
- Chapter Five
- Chapter Six
- Chapter Seven
- Chapter Eight
- Chapter Nine
- Chapter Ten
- Chapter Eleven
- Chapter Twelve
- Chapter Thirteen
- Chapter Fourteen
- Chapter Fifteen
- Chapter Sixteen
- Chapter Seventeen
- Chapter Eighteen
- Chapter Nineteen
- Chapter Twenty
- Chapter Twenty-One
- Chapter Twenty-Two
- Chapter Twenty-Three
- Chapter Twenty-Four
- Chapter Twenty-Five
- Chapter Twenty-Six
- Chapter Twenty-Seven
- Chapter Twenty-Eight
- Chapter Twenty-Nine
- Chapter Thirty
- Chapter Thirty-One
- Chapter Thirty-Two
- Chapter Thirty-Three
- Chapter Thirty-Four
- Chapter Thirty-Five
- Chapter Thirty-Six
- Chapter Thirty-Seven
- Chapter Thirty-Eight
- Chapter Thirty-Nine
- Chapter Forty
- Chapter Forty-One
- Chapter Forty-Two
- Chapter Forty-Three
- Acknowledgements
- About the Author
- Also by Sue Fortin
- About the Publisher
‘That’s what I thought, especially as I found it first thing in the morning after the cleaners had been in last thing the night before.’
Harry met his mother’s gaze. No words were needed. Harry understood the implication perfectly. ‘What have you done with the earring?’
‘I’ve given it back to her.’ She continued to hold his gaze. ‘Maybe Dominic has got reason to dislike her.’
The idea troubled Harry as much as it irritated him. ‘Dominic doesn’t know what he’s talking about. He needs to calm himself down.’
‘He’s only looking out for you.’
‘No, he’s not minding his own business,’ snapped Harry. ‘And you wonder why I moved to France.’
He regretted the words as soon as they had left his lips and he saw the hurt in his mother’s eyes that followed.
‘I don’t want to argue,’ she said.
‘Neither do I. I’m sorry,’ said Harry. She smiled and patted his arm in a conciliatory way, which made him feel a complete shit.
‘Let’s not, then,’ said Pru. ‘Life’s too short for petty squabbles.’
Her words knocked the air from him. Such a loaded expression. ‘Are you OK?’ he asked, wanting not only to change the subject but also to try to coax his mother into telling him about her health.
‘Me? Yes. Couldn’t be better. I was just heading up to bed,’ she said. ‘Not that I’m tired; I was watching the news, but it’s all doom and gloom – far too depressing for me.’
He put his arm around his mother’s shoulders and shepherded her out of the office and into the hall. ‘Do you want me to take you to your room?’
She gave a tut and a small chuckle. ‘I’m not that old and frail yet,’ she said. ‘Next you’ll be bringing me cocoa and a shawl for my shoulders.’ She gave him a peck on the cheek. ‘I’m fine. I’m going to read my book for a while, and I have the girls to keep me company.’
Harry looked at the three bichon frises which had appeared from the living room to find their mistress. ‘Fair enough. Sleep well.’ He watched as the dogs trotted off up the stairs and reflected on how the outside world didn’t matter to his mother. As long as everything in her own Conmere House world was all right, she was happy.