He would be like a modern day Robin Hood while she would come out of it as the bitter mistress who had been dumped and was trying to get her own back.

Between them, Kelly, Flowers and Caitlin had her right where they wanted her. But the worst of it was that, for all Patrick had done and was going to do, she still wanted him.

Chapter Thirty-One

Chapter Thirty-One

Edith was worried - about what she was not really sure. Since George’s weird reaction to Natalie, she had felt a shiver of apprehension go through her every time they were together. It was nonsense, of course. George was her closest living relative. Her child was like his child.

She shrugged. He had just been overcome, that was all. The flight, the excitement, they had taken their toll.

Today, at lunch, he seemed a bit more relaxed. Edith watched him as he stared across the table at her daughter. It seemed to her, though, that he stared at Natalie for too long. She had to force herself to look away from George and concentrate on Joss when he was talking.

George, like herself, had obviously noticed Natalie’s startling resemblance to their mother. Over the years it had distressed her too, so she could guess how he was feeling. But inside Natalie was the antithesis of their mother. She was kind, considerate, caring; she had a lot of friends, real friends, that bore evidence to this. She was a beautiful person inside and out. And if the talks they had had were to be believed, she was still a virgin.

No, Natalie had none of her grandmother’s licentiousness. A deeply religious girl, she lived a good, clean, wholesome life. They would never have to worry about Natalie.

Unaware of the stir she was creating, Natalie was listening to her father telling one of his long boring golf stories. She was a good daughter who laughed in all the right places and Joss loved her for this alone. His son on the other hand looked bored, as did George and Edith. He brought the story to a premature ending and concentrated on his steak.

George still watched Natalie closely, unaware that Edith was watching him.

Every movement the girl made was his mother’s, even the way she brushed her hair from her face. Her shoulders in the lightweight dress were his mother’s. They looked too fragile to hold up the enormous breasts.

George cut into his steak so hard he scraped his knife across the plate, causing more than one set of teeth to be set on edge.

‘How long are you staying, Uncle George?’ Joss Junior was not really interested but felt the question was expected from him.

‘For a couple of weeks. If I like it I might sell up and move out here. I have nothing at home any more.’