‘It’s just that I thought—’
‘No need to,’ said Camilla. ‘We’ve thought of everything.’
‘And I fear, Virginia, there is another matter I have to raise with you,’ said Clarence. Virginia shifted uneasily in her seat. ‘It has been brought to my attention by Mr Moxton that my father, without my knowledge, made you a loan of £185,000. Fortunately, Moxton had the good sense to formalize the arrangement,’ said Clarence, as he turned to the third page of a document Virginia remembered signing. She suddenly wished she’d spent a little more time reading the first two pages.
‘The loan was made for a period of five years, with a compound interest rate of five per cent. If my father died before then, the full amount was to be repaid within twenty-eight days. I have consulted my accountant, and he has written to let me know —’ he turned his attention to a letter lying on the desk — ‘that with accumulated interest, the exact amount you currently owe the estate is £209,145. So I have to ask you, Virginia, if you have sufficient funds to cover that amount.’
‘But Perry told me that if he died before me — and I remember his exact words — the slate would be wiped clean.’
‘Do you have any proof of that?’ asked Camilla.
‘No. But he gave me his word, which surely should be enough.’
‘It’s not his words we’re discussing,’ said Camilla, ‘but yours.’
‘And if he did,’ said Clarence, ‘he certainly didn’t let Moxton know of any such arrangement. There’s no mention of it in the original agreement, which my father also signed.’ Clarence swivelled it around so Virginia could see a signature she recognized well.
‘I will have to consult my lawyers,’ she stammered, unable to think of anything else to say.
‘We have already consulted ours,’ said Alice, ‘and Mr Blatchford has confirmed that there is no mention in Father’s will of any such gift, just an allowance of five thousand pounds a month, a briar walking stick and two porcelain vases.’
Virginia suppressed a smile.
‘If you are unable to repay the loan,’ continued Clarence, ‘our accountant has come up with a compromise which I hope you will find acceptable.’ He returned to the letter. ‘If we were to withhold your monthly allowance of five thousand pounds, the full amount would be paid off in approximately four years, at which time your allowance would be restored.’
‘However, should you die at some time during the next four years,’ interjected Camilla, ‘let me assure you, the slate would be wiped clean.’
Virginia remained silent for some time before blurting out, ‘But how can I be expected to survive in the meantime?’
‘My father told me, on more than one occasion,’ said Clarence, ‘that your brother gives you a generous monthly allowance which you once said you were never able to spend, so I rather assumed...’
‘He stopped those payments the day I married your father.’
‘Then we must hope that once he has been acquainted with your present circumstances, he will be willing to restore your allowance, otherwise you will have to rely on your substantial assets, which you also mentioned to my father. Of course, if you are able to repay the full amount of the loan within twenty-eight days that will solve the whole problem.’
Virginia bowed her head and burst into tears, but when she eventually looked up, it was clear that none of them was moved.
‘Perhaps this would be a good opportunity for us to discuss some domestic matters,’ said Camilla. ‘As my brother has explained, my husband will be taking over the management of the estate, and our family will be living here in the castle. Clarence and Alice will be returning from time to time, but in my brother’s absence, I will be mistress of Castle Hertford.’ Camilla waited for her words to sink in before she continued. ‘I wish to make it clear, so there can be no misunderstanding in the future, that you will not be welcome here at any time, and that includes Christmas or any other holidays. You will also make no attempt to contact either of my children, or any members of the castle staff. I have made my wishes clear to Mr Lomax.’
Virginia looked at Clarence and then at Alice, but it was obvious the family were acting as one.
‘Unless you have anything to ask concerning your future arrangements,’ said Clarence, ‘we have nothing more to discuss with you.’
Virginia rose from her place and left the room with as much dignity as she could muster. She walked slowly across the hall to the front door, which the butler was holding open. He didn’t address her as she walked out of the castle for the last time. All she heard was the door closing behind her.
Another door was already open so she could be driven back to the Dower House. Once Virginia had been dropped off, she went straight to her study, picked up the phone and dialled a London number, to be greeted with the first friendly voice she had heard that day.
‘How nice to hear from you, your grace. How can I help?’
‘I need to make an appointment to see you as quickly as possible, Mr Poltimore, because I’ve changed my mind.’
36
‘I have no doubt,’ said Poltimore, ‘that you’ve made a wise decision. But can I ask what caused you to change your mind?’
‘My late husband wouldn’t have wanted anyone to think he was selling off the family heirlooms.’
‘And the new duke?’ asked Poltimore. ‘How does he feel?’
‘Frankly, Clarence wouldn’t know the difference between Ming and Tupperware.’
Poltimore wasn’t sure whether to laugh, and simply said, ‘Before you agree to allow the vases to go under the hammer, your grace, you might like to know that I’ve had an offer of seven hundred thousand pounds for them from a private dealer in Chicago, and I’m confident I can push him over the million mark. And perhaps it could be done without anyone even knowing the transaction had taken place.’
‘But surely a dealer will simply be selling my vases on to one of his customers?’
‘While at the same time making a handsome profit for himself, which is why I’m confident they will fetch a far higher price at auction.’
‘But there must be an outside chance that if the vases do come up for auction, the same dealer might pick them up for less than a million.’
‘That’s most unlikely, your grace, with a piece of this importance. And despite that possibility, I still consider it a risk worth taking, because I’ve already approached half a dozen leading collectors in the field, and they all showed considerable interest, including the director of the National Museum of China in Beijing.’
‘You’ve convinced me,’ said Virginia. ‘So what should I do next?’
‘Once you’ve signed a release form, you can leave the rest to us. You’re well in time to catch the autumn sale, which is always one of the most popular of the year, and I have already suggested that we feature the Hertford vases on the cover of the catalogue. Be assured, our customers won’t be in any doubt how important we consider these pieces to be.’
‘Can I mention something in the strictest confidence, Mr Poltimore?’
‘Of course, your grace.’
‘I am most keen that there should be the minimum of publicity before the auction, but the maximum amount possible afterwards.’
‘That shouldn’t be a problem, especially as the arts correspondents from all the national newspapers will be attending the sale. And if the vases fetch the sort of price we anticipate, it will generate considerable interest in the press, so you can be sure that the following morning, everyone will be aware of your triumph.’