Page 6 (2/2)

Although the e was brief, Cornelius silently noted that Timothy was the first member of the family to show any sympathy for his predicament

When he heard the doorbell ring, he placed the letter on the kitchen table and walked out into the hall He opened the front door to be greeted by Elizabeth, his brother’s wife Her face hite, lined and drained, and Cornelius doubted if she had slept a great deal the previous night

The an to pace around fro to see that everything was still in place, as if she couldn’t accept the words she had read in the solicitor’s letter

Any lingering doubts must have been dispelled when, a few ent appeared on the doorstep, tape rapher by his side

‘If Hugh was able to return even part of the hundred thousand I loaned him, that would be most helpful,’ Cornelius reh the house

It was some tiht to consider her response

‘It’s not quite that easy,’ she eventually replied ‘You see, the loan wasseveral people’

Cornelius knew all three of the several people ‘Then perhaps the tih to sell off some of your shares’

‘And allow soer to take over the company, after all the e’ve put into it over the years? No, we can’t afford to let that happen In any case, Hugh asked Mr Vintcent what the legal position was, and he confiration on our part to sell any of our shares’

‘Have you considered that perhaps you have ato face his sister-in-law

‘Cornelius,’ she said, avoiding his stare, ‘it has been your irresponsibility, not ours, that has been the cause of your downfall Surely you wouldn’t expect your brother to sacrifice everything he’s worked for over the years, simply to place my family in the same perilous position in which you now find yourself?’

Cornelius realised why Elizabeth hadn’t slept the previous night She was not only acting as spokeswo the decisions as well Cornelius had always considered her to be the stronger-willed of the two, and he doubted if he would coreement had been reached

‘But if there’s any other e entle tone, as her hand rested on an ornate gold-leafed table in the drawing room

‘Well, now youthe house on thefor’

‘That soon?’ said Elizabeth ‘And what’s going to happen to all the furniture?’