Free As if by Magic by Dolores Gordon-Smith

responsibility. She left Charles when you were a few months old and went abroad.’ He looked away. ‘She went to Paris with Belmont. He was far more her type. He was an artist, a successful one, I believe.’ He cleared his throat awkwardly. ‘She wasn’t a conventional woman, George. Much to Charles’s distress, she lived an openly scandalous life with Belmont until the divorce was granted. She married him after that.’ He looked at his grandson with worried eyes. ‘I’m sorry I had to be the one to break such unpalatable news.’
    â€˜It’s not your fault, sir,’ said George. ‘It’s just – well, it’s a bit of a shock, you know?’ He paused, then shrugged helplessly. ‘I don’t suppose there’s much I can say.’
    â€˜She obviously never forgot you, George,’ said Anne, gently. ‘I don’t suppose it’s much consolation, but she left you all her money.’
    He looked at her bleakly. ‘I don’t think that’s very important. Not now.’ He heaved a sigh. ‘I wish I’d known. My father should have told me.’
    â€˜He probably wanted to put it behind him,’ said Anne. ‘We’ve never talked about it but I know David – David’s my father-in-law – still finds it difficult. We were in the Tate a few months ago and some of Jerome Belmont’s paintings were there. I knew something was wrong and asked what the matter was. David looked at the paintings and said, “I don’t know much about art but I know about the devil who painted these. He’s the swine who ran off with my brother’s wife.” He wouldn’t tell me much more. I gathered it was a painful subject still.’ She glanced at Jack. ‘You’ve heard of Jerome Belmont, haven’t you?’
    â€˜Jerome Belmont? Yes, of course I’ve heard of him, but the name didn’t ring a bell when George told me about his legacy, I’m afraid.’
    â€˜I imagine the money came from Belmont’s paintings,’ said Mr Lassiter. ‘Rosemary certainly never had any of her own.’
    â€˜I wonder what happened to it?’ asked Anne. ‘You say it was claimed from South Africa, George? There must be some mistake. I’m sure the solicitors will be able to sort it out.’
    â€˜They weren’t very helpful when I saw them before.’
    â€˜Yes, but things are different now. I mean, you know who Rosemary Belmont was now, and where you fit in and so on. There must be a mistake.’
    Mr Lassiter looked grave. ‘If there has been a mistake it might be more difficult to put right than you imagine, Anne. In my experience lawyers are very reluctant to admit an error.’
    â€˜Excuse me for asking, sir,’ said Jack, ‘but one way George can put the matter right is to prove who he is. I don’t suppose you’ve got George’s birth certificate, have you?’
    â€˜His birth certificate?’ Mr Lassiter looked surprised. ‘I imagine it’s in the desk in the library with all the other family papers. If you think it will help, George, I can look it out for you but even then, I’m afraid it may be some time before you see the money.’ He looked at his grandson. ‘Rosemary did have feelings for you. You mustn’t think otherwise. She did write once, many years ago, I remember, wanting to know where you were. I forwarded the letter on to Charles but I don’t know what happened afterwards.’
    â€˜He must have answered her, Grandfather,’ said Anne. ‘That must have been where she got George’s old address from.’
    â€˜That’s true enough,’ agreed Mr Lassiter. He took a deep breath. ‘My word, I haven’t thought of either her or Belmont for years. I’d forgotten his name until you mentioned it just now.’ He sipped his drink thoughtfully. ‘I had no idea David still