by Dilys Xavier
David stared open-mouthed at the painting Anna pointed to. ‘Tell me – who does it remind you of?’ she said, pointing to the painting tucked away almost out of sight at the side of the large bookcase. ‘This is George, the wayward brother to the colonel. Remind you of anyone?
‘Strewth, yes – Quentin Hale.’
‘Exactly what I thought. I tell you, he’s the living image of my distant Uncle George when he was young.’ Only now did she recall that when Quentin Hale had first arrived at Hope House, his appearance had reminded her of someone, but she couldn’t quite remember who it was. She had dismissed it, but it had been the painting of George. And in her dream the colonel had said how his brother had an eye for the ladies. ‘It seems George never married, but he had eleven children, most of them by his favourite slave, a beauty named Kichea, and a son by his next door English neighbour. And that child was named Quint. Now is that a coincident or not? Anyway, I’m thinking there could be a connection.’ Anna took a deep breath akin to a sigh of relief. ‘See, later on, the name might have been corrupted, so I wouldn’t mind betting that Quentin Hale is a descendant of my distant ancestor George, through his illegitimate son Quint, who was born to his white next door neighbour.’
‘So you think Quentin may be a distant relation of yours? And that if you relinquish this inheritance, by gifting it to The Welsh National Trust, then he has a legal right to claim it?’
‘Exactly. That’s it, according to the will. As a legal ma, he knows how to get his hands on this estate.’
Chapter Nineteen
Anna and David returned to the main hall, both looking a bit stunned after what they had just acknowledged.
‘So that’s it in a nutshell,’ she murmured. ‘Quentin’s entitled to inherit it within the law, but only if I don’t want it.’ She stopped and took a breather. ‘Maybe that’s why he was curious to know so much about me. He knows I’m short of money, so maybe he’s hoping my venture will fail, and that I’ll need to gift this place. Then he could step in and claim it!’ She looked straight at David. ‘It all sounds so reasonable.’
David spoke up with conviction. ‘Now listen to me - he can only make a claim if you give it away, and until then, you’re safe. So don’t do it, Anna. Either way, you’re still strapped for cash, so hang in there, girl.’
‘I know that,’ she replied, soulfully. ‘But let’s wait and see what happens.’ She leaned on the reception desk and fidgeted with the guest book and, as she did so she glanced dreamily at the portrait that had fallen off the wall. ‘Would you be a pal and re-hang that fallen portrait for me, David?’
David crossed over, lifted the painting, and examined it. ‘Yes, only the corner of the frame is damaged a bit, but I’ll cover it over with plastic wood filler.’ He carried it to the door. ‘I’ll do it in the wash-house later,’ he said. ‘No rush, is there?’
‘No, but please don’t take months because the space where it was looks patchy now.’ Anna pointed to the wall at the foot of the stairs. David turned to look, walked over to it, and ran his hand over the spot where the portrait had been.
‘Yeah, see what you mean,’ he said. ‘It fell because the fittings came away, so the plaster’s loose now.’ He smoothed his hand over the wall then tapped it. ‘It sounds hollow too; needs re-plastering.’ As he tapped it again, a sizeable chunk fell off and he threw Anna a guilty look. ‘Oops; sorry, it’s worse now. I’d best fix it straight away.’ He hurried outside to fetch some tools from his van and in minutes had started to repair the wall. ‘Hey—look at this,’ he shouted, as he pulled off the last lump of old plaster. ‘It’s a big hole. And there’s something inside it. Come and see.’
Anna ran over and peered into the cavity, while David reached inside and drew out a sizeable wooden box with a carving on the lid. It looked like the coat of arms that was on the front door. He blew off the dust of years, and unlocked the box by using bits of wire he found in his toolkit.
He lifted the lid. ‘Oh, my gawd,’ he exclaimed. ‘Look at this. Someone took the trouble to hide these long ago.’ With Anna close on his tail, he carried the box across the hall, and set it down on the top of the desk. ‘I think you should examine the contents somewhere more private than out here,’ he said. ‘You don’t want anyone coming in to nosey around this lot.’
He carried the box into the kitchen and they both set to at emptying the contents. Each item had been carefully wrapped in linen, and as Anna unwrapped them, she laid them out side by side on the surface of the wooden preparation table. ‘Oh look,’ she gasped, picking up a beautiful brooch. ‘I don’t know much about gems, but I think this could be emeralds and diamonds.’
Next, she unwrapped a wide collar of gemstones. ‘Oh, lordy, this must be the necklace Letitia is wearing in that portrait. I’ll bet these are real. Look at it - several rows of rubies, alternated with rows of emeralds.’ Her eyes were wide in amazement as she picked up piece after piece of exquisite jewellery made of every kind of gem imaginable.
‘They’ve got to be the real McCoy. I doubt anyone would hide bits of glass,’ David said, laughing excitedly. ‘A pirate’s treasure… I’ll bet that’s what this is,’ he said, excitedly. ‘All purloined from Spanish tall ships on The High Seas hundreds of years ago.’ He leaned close to Anna. ‘You’ve got yourself a right fortune there, no kidding.’
He stopped laughing and looked Anna straight in the eye. ‘Of course, you know what this means, don’t you?’ He fixed his hands firmly on Anna’s shoulders. ‘This lot can be turned into money. You’re no longer broke, Anna Williams; you have a pirate’s treasure chest there, and it’s all yours.’
Anna gawped at him, with an expression of disbelief in her eyes. On the kitchen table, the bejewelled collar took pride of place. Next to it was the peacock brooch, with the bird’s brilliant colours picked out in gemstones. Around those bigger items she arranged smaller brooches and necklaces, and lastly several sparkling rings.
‘Wait a minute,’ Anna said, her eyes narrowing as she thought. ‘I vaguely recollect an addendum to the will that I didn’t understand at the time, but it mentioned something about the colonel sitting on a treasure. That must have registered with me, because in one nightmare I’m sure he said he was sitting on a fortune. It was all so cryptic, but maybe he was trying to tell me he had hung his portrait over the cavity to conceal and guard the gems? I was stupid not to think of that.’
‘That was just a dream, and the way you interpret it doesn’t matter now,’ David said. ‘You’ve found them. You’re rich, Anna Williams – very rich.’
With that Greg walked in through the door, and both Anna and David began to talk excitedly at the same time, telling him about what they had just found.
He was as excited as they were, and added his bit of news. ‘I’ve done a lot of nosing around,’ he said, ‘and although I can’t prove it, I feel pretty certain that you’re the only legitimate living family member left, so it’s right that all this should come to you. Now, with these gems, Hope House is safely yours; money’s no longer a problem.’
What had just come to light hit home to Anna and she suddenly felt the need to sit down. ‘Of course,’ she said, frowning, ‘no one could blame a descendant of my distant Uncle George’s illegitimate line for watching his chance to claim this place if I rejected it. After all, there was no doubt it was mine - unless I rejected it. If Quentin is a genuine descendant, he has done nothing wrong.’
Both Anna and David were so excited over the revelations of the day, that time had passed quickly, and it was a surprise for David when one of the men popped in to say they were knocking off. When Anna glanced at the old grandfather clock ticking away in the corner of the hall, she realised Liz was about to arrive and stay the night again. Now she had some exciting news to tell her.
Within moments of thinking that, Liz walked in through the door. Anna and David literally pounced on her to relate the happenings of the day, both of them trying to talk at the same time.
‘Th
at’s a pretty tall story; is it lies we’re telling? Do you expect me to believe it?’
David went to make some coffee, and returned with a tray full of steaming hot beverage. Sat on the table, Liz dangled her feet over the edge while she drank it, Anna sat on the stool next to her, and David settled into the easy chair by the window.
‘Okay, tell me everything again right now.’
Anna related every detail to Liz, and how she thought that Quentin was there only because he genuinely wanted work experience with his uncle, rather than trying to discover what she intended to do with her inheritance. At the end of it all, Liz’s eyes were wide with surprise. ‘That puts a different light on things,’ she admitted. ‘But tell me, what’s your next move?’
‘Obviously to turn some of the jewels into hard cash so I can keep going,’ Anna said, ‘but not all of them. I’ve chosen quite a few pieces to keep.’ She gave a deep sigh as though the thought weighed heavily on her mind. ‘Of course, I’ll have to tell Mum about it, and about my plans, because I’d never be able to keep quiet about this. I don’t know how she’ll take it, so I’ve yet to decide how to break the news… which could be soon.’
‘And are you going to challenge Quentin?’ Liz asked.
‘I suppose I’ll say something, but not yet,’ Anna said. ‘I feel I might have misjudged him, and in any case, he is a distant relation, so I wouldn’t want to be too hard on him. After all, he wasn’t going to steal it; he’d merely have claimed it if I’d rejected it, that’s all, And that’s something he’d be fully entitled to do.’
David leaned forward to have his say. ‘Letting him off lightly aren’t you? I’d put him in his place, and tell him to get lost; I’d say I know what he was up to,’
‘There’s no proof he was up to anything, as you put it. And there’s no need for me to worry about losing the estate now,’ Anna said, gesturing with her hand for David to cool down. ‘He’s not going to get it, thanks to the gems. Losing this place could be punishment enough if he envisaged it as his own one day.’ She lifted her brow. ‘For all we know, that thought may never have been in his mind.’
All was quiet at Hope House that evening, and the guests went out for meals, so Anna and Liz had a quiet night in, and caught up on some chat.
In the morning, with the sun streaming in through the kitchen window, Liz glanced over at Anna. ‘Did all that really happen last night? I wasn’t dreaming, was I?’
Anna laughed. ‘That was no dream. It was as real as you are right now. But look at the time, so get going, or you’ll be late for your appointment.’
‘I’ll meet up with Dot, and we’ll look up everything we can think of, here and abroad,’ Liz said, ‘births, deaths, marriages, wills, the lot, and Dot’s already got some info. I’ll take copious notes at this stage, as documents take time to come through. All I hope is that I can go far enough back to confirm that Quentin really is who we think he is. We don’t want any mistakes.’ She gave a sigh of satisfaction. ‘I’m pleased he’s got an unusual name; he could be a Williams or a Jones… and that would be a disaster.’
‘You’ve had enough experience doing your own family history, so I don’t think you’ll find it hard work, especially with Dot to help you,’ Anna said, giving her friend a wave as she hurried out through the door.
It wasn’t until early evening, that Anna made up her mind to go home and tell her mother about what had happened. As she went into the house, she felt quite apprehensive about what Margaret’s likely response would be.
‘Well, it’s about time you came to see me,’ Margaret said, hands on hips as usual, when Anna walked in through the door. She gave her a great big hug, and switched on the kettle. ‘No doubt you’re hungry.’ Margaret looked at the clock. ‘I made a lovely chicken casserole earlier today, and there’s plenty left.’
Anna knew it would be no good to say anything until she had eaten, so she bided her time and waited for the opportune moment. It came when Margaret made a cup of tea for them both, and sank into her favourite chair with a sigh. ‘It’s lovely to have you home again,’ she said. ‘I’ve missed you; it’s quiet here without you.’
‘I’m sorry about that, Mum, but right now there’s not much I can do to change things.’
Margaret pulled a face. ‘You won’t let the place go, you mean?’ she sniffed. ‘You could get shot of Hope House and come back home at any time you like.’
‘Yes, I know, but I’ve lots of exciting news to tell you, so I’ll start straight away.’ Anna sat in the chair opposite her mother and swallowed hard as she began to relate all that had happened.
All through the story Margaret sat bolt upright in her chair, not saying a word, but staring at Anna with her mouth gaping and utter disbelief in her eyes. ‘You’re not kidding are you, Anna? All you’ve said is gospel truth?’ The breath she took was long and deep, and without another word, she got up. ‘I need another cup of tea after listening to that.’ She made it quickly, and as she placed fresh tea for them both on the little coffee table, she looked at Anna with raised brows. ‘Well, finding a fortune is quite something for me to swallow.’ She lifted a finger. ‘Mind you, I’m not saying I don’t believe you, but I still need something a bit more convincing than just a long tale.’
‘Okay, so take a look at these,’ Anna said, handing her a little box containing the emerald brooch, the brilliant peacock brooch and the ruby and emerald collar, all items she had decided to hold back from the auction. ‘If you’d like the brooch, then take it. I’m sending most of it to be auctioned, but I’m keeping several pieces; and the necklace is for myself.’
She giggled. ‘The auctioneer who valued it all for me said he thinks the necklace must have graced the neck of royalty years ago. They’re the real thing, Mum, not costume jewellery.’
Margaret’s jaw dropped in surprise. She turned them over and over in her hands, fingering them, and lifting them up to the light. ‘They really are gorgeous,’ she said, putting the necklace on the table and trying on the brooch. ‘This one please; I like this green one, Anna. Brooches are fashionable again now.’ She handed the necklace back to Anna, and leaned back again. ‘Now, if you don’t mind, before you go, I’d like to ask if you intend to keep Hope House and run it as an hotel?’
‘Yes, Mum. That’s going to be my job from now on.’
Margaret lifted her hands, and gave another deep sigh. ‘Oh, well, I should have known you’d stick with it somehow.’ She shook her head. ‘But oh, my word, treasures galore. I can’t believe it. What next I wonder?’
‘No more surprises I hope, Mum, but I have yet to tackle Quentin about his family history, and tell him what I know about his background. Liz has gone to search out his history so that I’ll have something concrete to present to him.’
She moved to Margaret’s side and gave her an affectionate squeeze. ‘All I want now is for you to come to terms with my plans, Mum, and I want you to consider coming to live at Hope House with me. There’s plenty of room there, and with your expertise you can help me run the place.’
‘Well, I don’t know about living and working there,’ Margaret said, pensively, ‘but I promise to think seriously about it; let’s see how I feel later on. Maybe I could stay one night, and then another, and if it feels okay, who knows, I might stay for good!’ She frowned then. ‘I must say the idea doesn’t thrill me, though.’
Anna gave her mother another hug. ‘It’s great to hear you say you’ll give it a whirl, Mum; it takes a load off my mind. I’m sure you’d find it a lovely house to live in, and I’d be there with you all the time.’ She put on her jacket and picked up her handbag. ‘I must go now; sorry I can’t stay longer, but I need to be there for phone calls and to sort things out for tomorrow. On top of that, I’m looking forward to Liz coming back tonight with the results of the search on Quentin Hale. I hope it’s as revealing as I need it to be.’
Chapter Twenty
The moment Liz walked into Hope House, waving her notebook wildly in the air,
Anna knew she had been successful.
‘Got what you need, and more,’ she said, breathlessly, and dumped the notebook in front of Anna on the reception desk. ‘I searched through all the relevant records I could find here and abroad. You’ll be delighted with the results, so when you’ve got a minute, we’ll go through it, somewhere quiet, okay?’
Anna made time straight away; after all, this was of prime importance, because once she was sure of her facts, she intended to talk with Quentin Hale about it. She needed to clear the air as soon as she could… she wanted all anxiety about her inheritance to go.
‘Yes, yes, I see,’ Anna said, as Liz took her through what she had found of Quentin’s ancestry. ‘He definitely qualifies as a Williams, and is certainly a descendant of the Colonel’s brother, George The Younger.’
Anna stopped her. ‘I thought as much; he’s the living image of his ancestor - a real throwback. I wondered who he reminded me of earlier on; it was George The Younger.’
‘What are you talking about?’ Liz said, impatiently. ‘How would you know that?’
‘The portrait in the library, of course.’
‘Come on,’ said Liz, ‘let’s finish sorting this out before you get distracted.’ Liz ran her finger over her notes. ‘See,’ she said, tapping them, ‘if you had relinquished your claim, he is fully entitled to make a legal claim on it by virtue of his lineage. He’s in no way as closely related as you are, but he’s one of the Williams family all right.’
‘No doubt, had I not figured in the scene, Hope House Estate would have gone to him,’ Anna said, as she closed the notebook and looked at Liz. ‘You’re a jolly good friend, and I want you to know how much I appreciate what you’ve done for me.’
She put her arms around her and hugged her tightly. ‘I’ll phone Dot and thank her for the help she gave as well, but I’m taking you for a drink and a nice meal somewhere to celebrate. Then she produced a box she had put to one side, and opened it. ‘I kept these back,’ she said. ‘Mum’s chosen a brooch, I’m keeping the necklace, and there’s something for you, as a token of appreciation.’ She laughed at Liz’s look of surprise.
