by A B Morgan
‘Whilst it is easy to consider mental instability and incorrect diagnoses as having a bearing on this case, the true facts of the matter lie many years prior to the events at Top Field Farm. The birth of a child is a precious gift and children are not possessions to be bandied about at the will of an adult who fears social repercussions. Neither is the law to be flouted in protection of that child, no matter how difficult the reality of the situation. Consanguineous marriage is illegal in this country and greater efforts must be made to ensure accurate identification of blood ties before marriage…’
❖
After the hearing, warm hugs with Zoe and Gianni settled her jangling nerves. Ella then walked sombrely arm in arm with Mal, leading a subdued Konrad and Lorna back to the Mercedes they had all travelled in for mutual support. As usual it was Konrad who sought to draw matters to a close as they journeyed home.
‘So, Ella, now that you’re a fully-fledged genealogist and private investigator … and probate specialist with your own office and business partner…’
‘Yes,’ she replied warily from the back seat; Lorna sitting beside her.
‘In the light of Guy Nithercott’s inevitable suicide in prison…’ Konrad drawled, ‘can you tell me who is the main beneficiary of the Nithercott millions?’
Mal’s mouth widened and he blasted Konrad’s right ear with a string of loud expletives, followed by, ‘don’t you ever give up?’
‘A story is a story, young Mr Khan, and you can’t keep a good journalist down. Take the two of you, for example; a success borne out of tragic circumstances, against all odds and various religious and cultural expectations, you are going to stick two fingers up to convention and get married. That is an excellent ending.’
‘But?’ Ella asked, sensing he was probing for something else.
‘But in the case of the Nithercotts it’s untidy as endings go and I need to put the finishing touches to the documentary. We accept that Abigail was as nutty as a bag of peanuts, she did have erotomania or whatever you call being a crazed sexual predator. And we agree that Guy was a depraved individual who liked nothing better than shafting his own sister.’
‘Oh, Kon. Really!’ Lorna interjected. ‘Do you have to be so coarse?’
‘Yes, dear, I prefer to say it like it is. Now then, as I was saying before you so rudely interrupted me, the final piece of the puzzle is … who gets the money? How many relations get a share of the Nithercott fortune?’
Ella let out a long sigh, knowing the Nithercott’s family tree was dying. Despite Betty’s deathbed assertions, legally speaking Guy was the only child of Dominic Nithercott and had died childless. Dominic and Beulah had both left a Bloodline Will to ensure the Nithercott wealth was only bequeathed to direct blood descendants.
‘As expected, Guy inherited everything from his parents.’ Ella announced. ‘But in his will he made sure Abigail would be the main beneficiary. In deference to the man he called father, he put the remaining funds into a business foundation trust to support budding entrepreneurs, which would ensure the name Nithercott didn’t fade into oblivion.’
Konrad pulled down the sun visor and flipped open the vanity mirror there. ‘I hear a “but’ coming,’ he said, catching Ella’s eye.
‘But,’ she responded, with a smile in her voice. ‘Abigail and Guy had a problem when it came to who should inherit in the event of their deaths. Who would have a claim? Who would contest any will? They couldn’t make a bloodline will, there were no offspring.’
‘You can see their dilemma.’ Konrad nodded sagely. ‘No children of their own and the pair of them with a dark secret to hide.’
Ella raised a forefinger, ‘So they put in a binding clause about blood relatives—’
‘Blood relatives?’ exclaimed Lorna. ‘But who’s left?’ she asked, tapping out a rapid beat on the arm rest as the car sped along. ‘Beulah is dead. Betty’s dead. Oliver is dead. Their niece Isla Renfrew is dead. Everyone related by blood is dead.’
‘Not quite,’ Ella said. ‘Oliver’s brother, who is uncle to Abigail and to Guy by blood, inherits the whole kit and caboodle. Ironic, when you think about it, but small recompense for the loss of a daughter. Mind you, given the size of the windfall, he and Faye are not complaining, and neither are we. The commission alone will keep us in extravagant cars for years to come.’
Konrad grinned. ‘Lorna and I couldn’t be more happy for you. We all are. Netty was in floods of tears when she got that call.’ He turned his head as far as he could, straining to see Ella. ‘Asking them to be “foster parents of the bride” was inspired, the pair of them have done nothing but talk about it ever since.’
He turned to Mal.
‘Now put your foot down, Lewis Hamilton, let’s get to the pub before Barney drinks all the beer.’
The End.
The Bloodline Will End…
Note: For all animal lovers who may be worrying about what happened to the small Jack Russell terrier who sat loyally at Oliver Renfrew’s feet in the wig department of Pearls and Curls: He was looked after by Rosie - ‘Rosetta D Bauchery’ - who lavished every comfort upon a small dog and who helped the business to survive and thrive.
