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He pushed his laptop away and sat back in the chair trying to straighten out his skein of thoughts and regrets ‘Kids are selfish, aren’t they? I spent my holidays here, school and university—unlessone of her occasional fits of maternal solicitude, but I was so wrapped up in the past I never took an interest in the present Never sa Grandfather was struggling, never tried to help’ He suppressed a deep sigh of regret

‘History is all well and good but it’s not very practical, is it? Grandfather suggested I go to the local agricultural college and do estate ement, come and work here I brushed his’

‘You were right’ She was perched on the ars crossed, and his eyes ran appreciably up the long bare li the black tweed shorts, this tiht floral shirt and her trademark hat was a cap pulled low over her forehead

‘Was I?’ He had been sure then, sure throughout his glittering career But the past few months had shown just hoed his ambition had been ‘Hawksley needed new blood, Grandfather was struggling and randfather was too proud to ask me directly and I was too busy to notice But s around—and been on the ground to stop ence’

It was ence His father’s wilful use of estate capital had been criminal

‘How could you have stopped it?’

‘The ant lifestyle came from a family trust It was never intended for private use, certainly not on his scale Just one look at the accounts would have alerted me’ And he could have stepped in

‘I was far too busy chasing my own kind of fame’ The taste in his mouth was bitter

She swung her legs down and hopped to her feet ‘Just because he suggested estate ement doesn’t mean he was desperate for you to live and work here He was proud of you no matter which path you chose’

‘I wish I believed that’ His uess we’ll never know’

‘I know’ She went over to one of the shelves, pulling a hardback book out ‘This is yours, isn’t it? The first one? Look hoell read it is, the spine is al your oords I think your grandparents must have read it Several times’

He took the book froned it and handed it over unsure if they would ever read it The hardback was battered, corners turned, the pages well thumbed A swell of pride rose inside him Maybe they had been proud of his chosen career He looked over at Daisy ‘Thank you’