Free The Legacy by Evelyn Anthony Page B

‘I’m sure your mother will think about it,’ he said. ‘I’ll try and talk her round.’ He was naturally at ease with Belinda, but not with her. Guarded, calculating; she couldn’t pin it down, but the effect was uncomfortable.
    â€˜Lindy, we’ve got to talk some business, so you go on and amuse yourself, will you?’ she said. They waited in silence till Belinda had left them. Then she asked, ‘What can I get you to drink? And do sit down.’
    â€˜Vodka on the rocks, please,’ he said. ‘But can’t I get it for you?’
    There was a tray of wines and spirits laid out on a fine walnut table. Richard had insisted that they had their pre-dinner drinks alone and talked about what they had done during the day. Not even the adored only child had been allowed to intrude on that private time. She had always prepared their drinks.
    â€˜No thanks, I’ll do it.’ She noticed with a jolt that he had taken Richard’s chair. Not that he knew it, of course, but combined with his personality, it jarred on her. She poured vodka, added crushed ice and lemon and then a much smaller drink, filled with tonic, for herself. She sat opposite to him. ‘It’s good of you to come down,’ she said.
    â€˜I felt it was really necessary. And again, I’m sorry I’m so late. I hope you’re not going out this evening and that I haven’t inconvenienced you?’
    All this politeness, she thought; this modest approach—it didn’t suit him. She wished he would stop and be himself, whatever that was. ‘No, I wasn’t doing anything. Lindy and I were just having a quiet supper together.’
    He drank the vodka and said pleasantly, ‘This is very good. Is it Stolichnaya?’
    â€˜Richard wouldn’t touch anything else. I find it very strong. He always said I drowned everything.’ She smiled slightly, not at Rolf, but at the memory of Richard’s gentle teasing. ‘Now, Mr Wallberg, why are you so worried about me seeing my stepson?’
    He looked straight at her. ‘Because I think it’s some kind of a trap,’ he said. ‘You’ve given him an opening and he’s taken it. Not because he wants a peaceful resolution, but because he sees it as weakness. Who else will be at this meeting? His lawyers? He didn’t mention that, just gave you what sounded to me like a rude ultimatum. Can I ask you something? What gave you the idea of making personal contact? The letter mentioned James, your other stepson. Where does he figure in this?’
    â€˜He came down to see me,’ she replied. ‘I asked him to talk to Alan.’ Rolf began to see the pattern. James had ingratiated himself with his brother by coming down to spy on her and report back, and she’d given him a weapon Alan could use against her.
    Christina saw the hard expression and thought suddenly that he was as intimidating as Alan Farrington, yet he had said she should try for a settlement; that really surprised her. He caught her looking at him and knew that he was being examined. ‘Mrs Farrington,’ he said very quietly, ‘you don’t have to like me, but you do have to trust me. I’m your lawyer and I’m on your side, and I would feel a lot more comfortable if you called me Rolf. Please.’ He saw her face flush.
    â€˜I’m sorry … I didn’t mean to give an impression like that. I was just being po-faced.’ She smiled at him awkwardly and said, ‘Please excuse me.’
    â€˜Po-faced? I haven’t heard that before.’
    â€˜I hadn’t either till I came to live here. It’s very English; very Fifties, I think. It means sour, disapproving. Boot-faced … they have such funny expressions.’
    â€˜They’re a funny people altogether. We’re open, easy to understand; they’re not. I wonder how you managed to be happy; it’s all so different from