Free A Question of Inheritance by Elizabeth Edmondson Page B

the most resolute of nuns.’
    ‘She did get into a lot of trouble one way and another.’
    Gus said, ‘Was she expelled?’
    Freya said, ‘It was phrased more tactfully than that. Just that the nuns felt that perhaps it wasn’t the right establishment for her. In fact, it was clear that no establishment would be suitable for Sonia and so she had a governess after that.’
    ‘I wonder if Polly would be happy in an English boarding school. If St Ursula’s is prim and proper, very English, she might feel uncomfortable there. Where did you go to school?’
    ‘I was sent to a boarding school in the north of England. A bleak establishment and I can’t say I liked it. Georgia was there, too, before she came to Selchester. She hated it.’
    Gus said, ‘Georgia seems a young lady with strong opinions.’
    Freya decided to be direct. ‘You mean the hostility she’s showing to Polly. It’ll pass. She feels unsettled, it’s not been an easy time for her.’
    Gus said, ‘I didn’t like to ask Hugo. He’s her brother, but much older than she is. Are there any other brothers and sisters? What about their parents?’
    ‘Their parents died in the war. Georgia didn’t have a very good time of it. She was in London with her mother and their house was hit by a V2 bomb. She was hauled out of the rubble alive, but her mother wasn’t.’
    ‘What a terrible thing. Poor child. And so she has no one left but Hugo?’
    ‘There’s an aunt, who looked after her, only she got married and went off to America. Hugo had a job that took him abroad, but when he injured his leg last year, he took up a position at Thorn Hall here in Selchester. Georgia goes to the Girl’s High School here.’
    ‘Priscilla was talking about Babs being a debutante. I can’t see it.’
    Freya said, ‘Priscilla thinks like that. It’s not a bad way to get to know people if you’re sociable, and if you like dancing and going to parties, it’s quite fun.’
    ‘Did you do this Season? And Sonia?’
    Freya said, ‘Neither of us did. The war came. I didn’t mind, it was never what I wanted to do, but Sonia was furious. You’d have thought Hitler had started the war with the sole intention of preventing her from being a deb.’
    ‘What do you want to do, Freya?’
    ‘Don’t you come all head of the family with me, Gus.’ She spoke lightly, but meant to warn him off. ‘I want to do what I do now, which is writing and helping out at the bookshop in town from time to time.’
    ‘Ah, the family history. I assume you have a private income?’
    If he knew how little that was after tax, he’d know it wasn’t enough to keep her clothed and fed and Magnus in fish. But she wasn’t about to tell him how she really made her living. The exploits and adventures of Rosina Wyndham’s lively heroine, Clarissa de Witt, were best kept between herself and the page.
    ‘I manage. Now, you’ll have to have a quick lunch if you’re to get to the estate office for your appointment with Mr Jonquil.’

Chapter Four
    Scene 1
    The train was already in, the big locomotive letting out hisses of steam as the driver hung out of his cabin to speak to the guard. Hugo’s tall, lean uncle was standing at the ticket barrier talking to Mr Godley, the station-master.
    Hugo was amused. Mr Godley had strong views on gentlemen in Roman collars, but he also knew that he would be treating Father Leo Hawksworth with the respect due to visitors to the Castle. Mr Godley still regretted the glory days before the war. When GWR didn’t really stand for Great Western Railway, but God’s Wonderful Railway. In those days, weekend after weekend, trains had brought visitors for the Castle. They would alight with their luggage and their servants, to be carried off in cars to the Castle.
    As usual, Leo Hawksworth was travelling light and had a single suitcase with him. The station’s only porter, Bill, eyed it gloomily, knowing his services wouldn’t be needed.
    Hugo got out of the car and