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‘Well done,’ said Cornelius

‘Thank you, sir,’ said the agent, with more respect in his voice than Cornelius had heard from anyone for weeks, ‘but I think we should hold on for a little longer I’m confident I can squeeze some more out of them If I do, my advice would be to accept the offer and ask for a 10 per cent deposit’

‘That sounds like good advice to ned the contract, I’ll need you to find me a new house’

‘What sort of thing are you looking for, Mr Barrington?’

‘I want so about half the size of The Willoith perhaps a couple of acres, and I’d like to remain in the immediate area’

‘That shouldn’t be too hard, sir We have one or two excellent houses on our books at the moment, so I’m sure we’ll be able to accommodate you’

‘Thank you,’ said Cornelius, delighted to have spoken to soun the day well

He was chuckling over an ite He checked his watch It was still a few minutes to ten, so it couldn’t be Elizabeth When he opened the front door he was greeted by aa clipboard in one hand and a parcel in the other

‘Sign here,’ was all the courier said, handing over a biro

Cornelius scrawled his signature across the bottom of the form He would have asked who had sent the parcel if he had not been distracted by a car co up the drive

‘Thank you,’ he said He left the package in the hall and walked down the steps to welcome Elizabeth

When the car drew up outside the front door, Cornelius was surprised to find Hugh seated in the passenger seat

‘It was kind of you to see us at such short notice,’ said Elizabeth, who looked as if she had spent another sleepless night

‘Good h,’ said Cornelius, who suspected his brother had been kept awake all night ‘Please coh to the kitchen – I’m afraid it’s the only room in the house that’s warm’

As he led the corridor, Elizabeth stopped in front of the portrait of Daniel ‘I’h nodded his agreement