Free Winds of Change by Anna Jacobs Page B

small sofa and an armchair in the sitting area. Oh, didn’t you say there was a balcony, Sebastian?’
    They moved towards it and found it had barely enough room for the two small outdoor chairs and tiny table that were squashed there.
    â€˜Mean, I call that,’ Lou said. ‘Could you find nothing better than this place for your sister, Fox?’
    â€˜This flat is perfectly adequate for Minnie.’
    â€˜You can’t know that till you ask her opinion, which I gather you didn’t. Let’s look at the bedrooms, then.’
    Miranda grew angry as she went into a bedroom only just big enough for a double bed and a second room big enough to accommodate a single bed and not much else.
    â€˜Your father must have had less money than you thought, Miranda dear,’ Lou said, ‘or he’d have got you something better than this cat-box.’
    â€˜Look here, Rayne, I don’t appreciate your snide comments and—’
    Miranda surprised herself by interrupting. ‘Lou’s only saying what I’m thinking. We often think alike, don’t we . . .’ She summoned up her courage and added, ‘dear’ before turning to her brother. ‘Is this really all Father could afford for me?’
    â€˜It’s all you need.’
    â€˜No, it isn’t.’
    The look Sebastian threw at Lou would have soured milk. Then he looked at his watch. ‘I can’t stay much longer. When do you want to move in?’
    â€˜We’ll take over here as soon as you hand us the keys,’ Lou said. ‘I’ll help Miranda arrange the move.’
    â€˜
Minnie
can surely do that herself.’
    â€˜Miranda,’ she corrected.
    â€˜I can never think of you as anything else, I’m afraid.’
    â€˜That’s a pity, because you’ll find I don’t respond to anything but my real name from now on.’ Suddenly words burst out. ‘I’m going to do what
I
want from now on, which includes using my real name.’
    She might just as well have kept that thought to herself.
    â€˜You’ll soon forget this stupid whim, as you’ve forgotten others over the years.’ Sebastian took a key off a labelled key ring he’d been jangling. ‘You’ll have to get another key cut if you need one for your . . . friend. I’ll keep this one as a spare, just for safety, in case you lock yourself out. I’ll come over to Father’s tonight and discuss what furniture you can take from there. No need to buy new things when there’s plenty of stuff going free.’
    â€˜I have my own furniture.’
    He waved one hand dismissively. ‘Antiques won’t fit in here. You need minimalist stuff. I’ll take your antiques off your hands, save you the trouble of putting them up for auction. I’ll get them valued, give you thirty percent less, to allow for the commission you’d pay at an auction and—’
    â€˜You are such a cheapskate,’ Lou said in a cheerful, conversational tone.
    Apart from a quick hiss of breath, there was no response as Sebastian glared at him, then turned to leave without waiting for his sister’s answer.
    Lou nudged her and whispered, ‘Tell him about Sally.’
    Miranda rushed to bar the doorway with one arm. ‘Just one more thing. My lawyer will be in touch with you shortly, Sebastian. I’m not happy about how things have been left, so I’m taking legal advice.’
    He spun round again, gaping at her and then scowling at Lou. ‘I suppose I have
you
to thank for this.’
    She was so angry at being ignored she raised her voice. ‘No, you have
me
to thank. I’m the one who’s hired a lawyer. I’m the one you’re trying to cheat out of my inheritance.’
    â€˜If you ever say that again, I’ll make you very sorry indeed!’ he bellowed. ‘And why on earth are you complaining? We’ve found you a home at a good address. What