‘I’m beginning to wonder how I’ve struggled through,’ Mateo said wryly.

‘Ah, but you’re third-generation rich, that’s different; you’re native to it and that makes all the difference in the world. Did you know that ninety per cent of families fail to pass down their money beyond three generations?’

He looked less glib about that fact. ‘Well, we may yet conform to that stereotype then.’

‘No, this is by no means a done deal.’ She shook her head firmly. ‘I’m going to start by introducing myself. Get to know her. See what makes her tick.’

‘But why should she believe what you say? For someone in her position, these are pennies from heaven. She will take her chances, no matter what you say. You can’t talk her out of becoming a multimillionaire.’

‘Quite right. But I’m hopeful that once she’s been shown the full reality of what that amount of money can do, we can perhaps negotiate her down to a token amount that will prove to be in everyone’s best interests – manageable for her, palatable for you.’

‘You really think you can do that?’

She nodded. ‘I know better than anyone how money screws people up, Mr Mendoza, and it’s my job to highlight these pitfalls to her.’

He sighed, looking only vaguely mollified. He sipped his drink, looking out over the lawns, and she let the silence settle; there was a lot for him to digest. ‘. . . If I could just speak to him. If he could just tell me why he was doing this,’ he murmured. ‘It’s the not knowing anything that makes it so hard. Why would he give everything to this woman no one’s ever met or heard of? Carmen, I could understand, but why her? Who is she? When did she come into his life? And why is she more important to him than everyone else? We are his family.’

Charlotte was quiet for a moment longer. ‘Well, perhaps this isn’t about Marina, per se; maybe it’s about him. The urge for philanthropy can become increasingly strong as people approach the end of their lives, particularly when they’ve enjoyed such . . . ease. I’ve seen it happen before, almost as a barter, a way to minimize the guilt that’s almost inevitable when one has so much and others so little. Equally, other people can feel a sense of guilt for the way the fortune was created – historic Nazi collaboration, arms dealing, the tobacco industries . . . Feelings of guilt are particularly prevalent in inheritors, rather than the first-generation wealth creators.’

‘But my father has worked hard all his life,’ Mateo said defensively. ‘He wasn’t just some spoilt little rich boy. It was he who diversified the business after the war; he who foresaw the end of bullfighting and predicted the rise of large-scale fruit farming.’

‘I’m not disputing it. I’m just saying he was born into money too. His starting point was different from most people’s and the guilt of having been “born lucky” into the right family may be an impetus in all this.’ She gave a sigh. ‘But as you rightly say, he was also a wealth creator and perhaps his drive to give back is originating from there . . .’ She trailed off. How could they possibly know which way to turn with this? The man’s reasons were his own secrets, zipped shut in a frail and unconscious body. An idea came to her. ‘You know, perhaps that’s where we should be concentrating our efforts.’