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  ‘I ought to have guessed. It was a pretty obvious place. Anyway, I’m glad we’ve cleared the air.’ Aunt Alice sipped her tea.

  Katie set down her cup. There was something she needed to know. ‘Did Jack, did he collect the things he needed from you?’

  Aunt Alice gave her a knowing glance. ‘Yes, as a matter of fact he did.’ Katie nodded. ‘Well, it’s up to him to make good now, although I don’t suppose he’s got much money left,’ she said casually, watching for Aunt Alice’s reaction.

  ‘You’ll not catch me out like that, Katie Mead! What went on between Jack and I was private business, at least for the time being!’

  And Katie had to be content with that. Her attention was temporarily diverted by an oil painting over the mantelpiece, depicting a tranquil, rural scene.

  ‘I haven’t seen that picture before.’

  ‘I fancied a change so Lyall put it up for me. It was painted by Uncle George’s mother.’

  Katie took herself off to the workshop where she found Shelley already engrossed in her enamelling.

  ‘I thought you’d completed the exhibition work.’

  Shelley grinned. ‘So did I, but I had a bit of inspiration and felt in a creative mood. Anyway, we desperately need to replenish our stock, Katie. I’ve had to do some trail enamelling on my pendants for the shop because that’s the easiest. Does Lyall know Jack visited Alice Mason yesterday?’

  Katie immersed in outlining a pattern on to a brooch with a scriber, prior to etching, did not look up from her work. ‘Yes, I’ve just been to lunch with Aunt Alice. Tell me, Shelley, how would you really feel about Jack returning here?’

  Shelley considered. ‘Well, after all the trouble he’s caused, he’d have to turn over a new leaf and promise to stay out of things until after the exhibition. Oh, and he’d have to pay back what he owes us before taking a cut of the profits.’

  Katie laughed. ‘He’ll be drawing his old-age pension before he finishes paying off all his debts at this rate!’

  ‘Perhaps he doesn’t want to come back. Anyway, Lyall’s here now and he’s much more reliable,’ Shelley said.

  Katie said, ‘Look, I quite understand how you feel, but Lyall only came to help out on a temporary basis. He’ll be off and away when he’s ready and then we’ll be back to square one again.’

  She was desperately trying to be realistic, but the thought of Lyall going away brought a lump to her throat, and she realised she was becoming too fond of him for her own good.

  Shelley packed her things away. ‘Well, that’s me finished for today. I’m off out with Kevin. See you tomorrow, oh, and Katie…’

  Katie looked up, ‘Yes?’

  ‘If we want Lyall to stay then we’ll have to tell him so, rather than just waiting until it’s too late. If we’re not careful we’ll lose him and, personally, I don’t think you’re so indifferent as you care to make out!’

  And, with that remark, Shelley went off, leaving Katie to stare after her, open-mouthed.

  Suddenly the door opened and Jack stood there. ‘Lyall said I’d find you here, Katie. I’ve come to tell you I’m going away shortly until after the exhibition. I wanted to wish you all the best for it. You’ve all given me a purpose in life, even though I still go off the rails from time to time. If you’d consider having me back then I promise I’ll pay back every penny I’ve taken from you.’

  She nodded gravely. ‘OK. We can discuss all that with the others when the time comes.’

  He perched on a stool. ‘I think it’s high time I told you about Lyall, myself and Aunt Alice.’

  She finished what she was doing and gave him her full attention. ‘When Lyall left for Australia he arranged for a friend to deal with his mail, but the very next morning this official looking letter arrived. I thought it looked important so I opened it.’

  He paused for so long that Katie thought he’d changed his mind about telling her, and then he said quietly, ‘It was the enquiry from the solicitor about Aunt Alice’s nephew.’

  Katie was listening intently now.

  ‘I’ve done a terrible thing, Katie and I’m lucky Lyall and Aunt Alice haven’t turned me in to the police. They’ve got reason enough. You see, it’s Lyall who’s Aunt Alice’s nephew, not me!’

  Katie’s head was in a whirl. ‘I can’t make sense of this. Lyall has a different surname from Aunt Alice so how can he possibly be her husband’s nephew?’

  ‘John Mason, Lyall’s natural father, died when Lyall was quite young. A couple of years later his mother married James Travis and he adopted Lyall.’

  Light slowly dawned. ‘So you decided to reply to the solicitor’s letter, pretending you were Lyall?’

  ‘Not exactly. It was a big temptation and a golden opportunity to solve my own problems. I took a photocopy of the letter and made a note of Alice Mason’s address and then I resealed the envelope marking it, Gone Away.

  Then, a few days later I turned up on her doorstep explaining that I’d had cold feet when I’d first got the letter, but that now I’d had time to think about it, I’d decided to pay her a visit.’ Katie was still trying to make sense of what he was telling her. ‘So you’re not Jack Mason at all?’

  He shook his head. ‘My real name’s Jack Page. Coincidentally, Lyall’s full name is Lyall John Travis-Mason and of course, Jack is a nickname for John, so it was easy for me to say that’s what I preferred to be known as nowadays. As proof of identity, besides the solicitor’s letter, I showed her a bill with Lyall’s name and address on it and a couple of photographs of him as a child with his parents.’

  ‘Very neat, you’d got it all worked out, hadn’t you? But what about your age difference? Aunt Alice is no fool and must have realised you looked younger than Lyall would.’

  ‘Yes, that’s where I came unstuck, because I’d no idea that Lyall had stayed with her and Uncle George as a child. I knew George Mason had fallen out with Lyall’s father, but assumed it had been before Lyall was born.’

  Katie glared at him in disgust. ‘So you let Aunt Alice believe you were her husband’s long lost nephew? I just can’t credit you’d stoop so low, Jack. Deceiving an old lady like that! How could you?’

  He had the grace to look ashamed.

  ‘Aunt Alice must have sussed me out fairly early on. She’s only just told me that she ‘phoned Lyall’s tenants who put her in touch with one of his friends. For some reason she took pity on me and allowed me to stay and let me think she really believed I was her nephew, even after Lyall arrived. Lyall said it was up to me to tell her what I’d done, but, of course, they’d both actually known for months.

  ‘I know it’s difficult for you to understand, but I really wanted to belong. You see I was taken into care as a child and lost touch with my real family. Recently, I traced them through the Salvation Army. They’re living in Ireland now and that’s why I needed the money to go to visit them. They’d agreed to see me and, at first, I was over the moon, but then, when we met up, I could tell I wasn’t going to fit in and so that’s why I came back here. You and the others are the only family I’ve got now, Katie, and I’m going to miss you all so much if I have to go away for good.’

  He studied his hands. ‘Aunt Alice has forgiven me and says she likes the idea of having two nephews around and, if only you and the others could find it in your hearts to forgive me too, then I’d be so happy. I know I don’t deserve a second chance, but I promise I won’t let you down again.’

  He gave her a hug and a gentle kiss. She looked over his shoulders just in time to see the back of Lyall moving away from the open door. Now what would he think? He had obviously misconstrued the situation. She could have wept, realising that his opinion of her really mattered.

  After Jack had departed, Katie wondered if she should find Lyall and explain things, but why should she need to justify herself? What about Olivia Finch?

  She took a lump of clay from the bin and hurled it at the wall. It landed with a splat, narrowly missing Lyall.

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nbsp; ‘Artistic temperament?’ he enquired with raised eyebrows. ‘It won’t bring him back, you know. That was a touching little scene I witnessed just now. I was almost convinced there was nothing going on between you and Jack. Hopefully, you’re not considering walking out on us before the exhibition?’

  Katie glowered at him. Some perverse side of her nature made her say, ‘Of course not! What do you take me for? Jack’s prepared to wait for me. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I want to lock up and you’re standing in my way.’

  Lyall looked as if he were about to say something else, but, instead, changed his mind and marched off to his car. She sighed, feeling as if she’d just thrown away any chance she might have had of getting closer to him.

  For a while, she hadn’t trusted him, but now the boot was on the other foot and it was obvious he didn’t trust her.

  Well, if he chose to jump to conclusions without waiting for an explanation, then why should she bother to correct his mistake?

  She had a restless night trying to come to terms with her emotions, knowing that she must keep them in check, for Lyall was obviously involved with Olivia Finch. Anyway, she had to accept that he would probably be moving on, once the exhibition was over, and must have no idea of the way she felt about him.

  When she arrived at the workshop the following morning, it was to find a message from Lyall saying he wouldn’t be in until late, due to some unexpected business he had to attend to.

  ‘Shades of Jack,’ Shelley commented when she arrived presently.

  It was, in fact, two o’clock when Lyall finally put in an appearance. He removed his jacket and hung it on a hook. ‘So how are we doing?’

  ‘We are doing just fine. So what kept you?’ Katie enquired crossly.

  He collected his things together. ‘As a matter of fact, I’ve been up to London with Jack.’

  Shelley looked up from her enamelling. ‘Oh, so he’s finally decided to leave, has he?’

  ‘Where’s he gone?’ Katie asked.

  ‘I’ve taken him to a hostel run by a friend of mine. He’ll be all right there. Hopefully, it’s only a temporary measure until after the exhibition.’

  Over tea they discussed the final arrangements for the exhibition, but, for once, Katie’s heart wasn’t in it. She kept thinking about Jack and wondering if he really would return to Lyndhurst after the exhibition.

  ‘He’ll be OK,’ Lyall said softly, as Shelley went to rinse the mugs. ‘He’s a survivor and quite capable of taking care of himself, as you’re aware. I gather he’s told you about the tangle he got into?’

  ‘Yes, and about you being Uncle George’s real nephew. Why didn’t you tell me before, Lyall? It would have saved a lot of speculation and mistrust on my part.’

  He came to sit beside her. ‘Because, if you are to remember, Jack disappeared! Both Aunt Alice and myself agreed it was his story, and that if and when he came back then he had to face up to facts and admit to what he’d done.’

  ‘And was it just chance that brought you to Lyndhurst?’

  He shook his head. ‘My tenants gave Aunt Alice a friend’s number. After they’d spoken, he contacted me. I wrote to her from Australia and told her I’d visit on my return and she must do what she thought best regarding Jack. When she replied she said she’d decided to let him stay on for a bit. When I got back to England I was convinced Jack would have moved on and I was amazed to find him still here and apparently settled. You know the rest. I keep thinking that if only I’d loaned him the money, when he’d asked, things would have turned out differently.’

  ‘No, Lyall, you mustn’t blame yourself. Jack would have still left us in the lurch and probably taken his own things with him. We’ve valued your help these past weeks.’

  He grinned. ‘Thanks for that. Oh, and Katie, I’m aware I got the wrong end of the stick, yesterday. Jack’s told me you’ve only ever had a platonic relationship with him and that he’s not got a girlfriend at present.

  He caught her hands between his.

  ‘Friends again?’

  She nodded, wishing with all her heart that it could be more than that.

  The rest of the week flew by. It seemed to Katie that a great deal hinged on the exhibition. She could only hope and pray that it would prove to be worth all the hard work and aggravation on the day.

  They set things up on the Friday evening and, when they had finished,

  Katie had to admit that their stand looked very professional.

  * * *

  The following day was busy, but rewarding. A lot of interest was generated in their stand and they took several orders and made a number of sales. They also collected a silver medal for their jewellery.

  Around the middle of the afternoon, they had an unexpected visit from Olivia Finch who was accompanied by a tall, sandy-haired young man.

  ‘I’ve dragged Toby along because I’ve told him we must support you. He’s looking for a present for his grandmother’s birthday.’

  To Shelley’s delight, Toby purchased a cloisonné egg which she had only taken back from Faye and Dylan’s shop at the last moment. As Olivia reached out to pick up a brooch, Katie saw the enormous emerald and diamond engagement ring and her heart did a flip.

  ‘Congratulations are in order. Olivia and Toby have just got engaged,’ Lyall said in a matter-of-fact tone.

  As they left, Katie said, ‘I’m so sorry, Lyall, you must be very disappointed.’ He looked at her in astonishment.

  ‘Olivia and I are old friends, nothing more, Katie. She met Toby in Australia. He turned up in England about a week or so ago and asked her to marry him. His father’s a millionaire, apparently.’

  He frowned. ‘Don’t tell me you thought that Olivia and I? I only took her out because the poor girl was devastated at parting from Toby and needed cheering up!’

  ‘Thank goodness for that,’ Shelley said. ‘She’s most definitely not your type!’

  By the end of the day they were tired but exhilarated at the same time. Kevin arrived to collect Shelley and as they were packing up Lyall said, ‘I thought we deserved a treat, after all our hard work so I’ve booked us a ride on the London Eye.’

  It was an experience Katie would never forget, standing with Lyall by her side in a glass pod, his arm around her shoulder, exclaiming over the spectacular views.

  As they touched ground again, the others went off to enjoy the rest of the evening. Lyall took Katie’s arm and together they strolled along by the river.

  ‘I’m glad today was a success.’

  ‘So am I. Thank you, Lyall, for helping us out.’

  There was still something she needed to know. ‘Lyall, I’ve been wondering. What was the cause of the quarrel between your father and Uncle George?’

  He looked surprised. ‘Didn’t Aunt Alice tell you? It was about that painting hanging over her mantelpiece. My grandmother, Josephine Mason, made quite a name for herself as an artist in her day, but she only kept that one picture. When she died both brothers laid claim to it. My father being the oldest won and I inherited it.’

  ‘And now you’ve given it to Aunt Alice.’

  ‘I brought it with me so that I could produce it when the time was right. You see, Jack didn’t know the reason for the quarrel, but I did, so Aunt Alice knew that I was genuine.’

  She nodded her head. ‘Oh, you’re genuine all right, Lyall Travis. I don’t know why I ever doubted you.’

  Suddenly a lump rose in her throat. ‘I suppose you’ll be leaving us soon?’

  He smiled down at her. ‘Well now, that rather depends…’

  ‘On what?’ she asked rather breathlessly, heart pounding.

  ‘On whether you agree to becoming my wife.’

  For a moment she thought she couldn’t have heard him correctly, but then he caught her in his arms and kissed her with an intensity that sent the blood pounding through her veins.

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  Secrets of the Heart

 
Chapter One

  Heathercote Mill was even more imposing than Annis remembered. She stood for a moment surveying the old building. The stone walls of the hotel and conference centre were clad in Virginia creeper, which would glow like rubies in the autumn.

  For several years she had been happy working at Heathercote Mill alongside her friend, Sally Barnes. It was Sally who had introduced her to Andrew Freeman. A surge of emotion filled Annis as the memories flooded back - some of them bittersweet. She swallowed hard.

  Suddenly the door swung open and Sally Barnes was standing there, her pleasant face wreathed in smiles. The two friends hugged each other wordlessly.

  ‘I saw you coming up the drive,’ Sally said at last. ‘Come on in – I can’t believe you’re really here!’

  The place had certainly changed from when Annis had previously worked there and, she couldn’t help being impressed by the tastefully modernised reception area with its huge reproduction mahogany desk. Her feet sank into the deep pile of the mushroom- coloured carpet. The walls were a burnt orange adorned by bright block prints and photographs of weddings that had taken place at the Mill in recent years.

  Sally whisked her into an office gleaming with state of the art equipment.

  ‘You have absolutely no idea how relieved I am to see you. It’s been pandemonium here since Zoe left to have her baby. We had a temp, but she just wasn’t suited to the job. Since then, I’ve been working all the hours God made, trying to keep on top of things - and failing dismally.’

  Annis laughed. ‘You always were a dramatist, Sal. I don’t believe a word of it, knowing how efficient you are…Where’s John?’

  ‘Off on a course – he was pushed into it by Ross. You know what my husband’s like – totally unambitious.’

  Annis grinned. ‘And what about Bryn?’

  She thought affectionately of Bryn Freeman – one of Heathercote Mill’s owners and cousin to Sally’s mother.

  Sally frowned. ‘Oh, I’m afraid Uncle Bryn’s taken rather a back seat since the fire – he leaves most of it to Ross and Tristan these days.’