The Summer House: A Novel

1

Hampshire, 2012

The beginning of March had been glorious. The earth had shaken off the early-morning frosts, and little buds had emerged through the hardened bark to reveal lime-green shoots and pale-pink blossoms. Daffodils had pushed their way up through the thawing ground to open into bright-yellow trumpets, and the sun had shone with renewed radiance. Birdsong filled the air, and the branches were once again aquiver with the busy bustle of nest building. It had been a triumphant start to spring.

Fairfield Park had never looked more beautiful. Built on swathes of fertile farmland, the Jacobean mansion was surrounded by sweeping lawns, ancient bluebell woods, and fields of thriving crops and buttercups. There was a large ornamental lake where frogs made their homes among the bulrushes and goldfish swam about the lily pads. Towering beech trees protected the house from hostile winds in winter and gave shelter to hundreds of narcissi in spring. A nest of barn owls had set up residence in the hollow of an apple tree and fed off the mice and rats that dwelt on the farm and in the log barn, and high on the hill, surveying it all with the patience of a wise old man, a neglected stone folly was hidden away like a forgotten treasure.

Abandoned to the corrosion of time and weather, the pretty little folly remained benignly observant, confident that one day a great need would surely draw people to it as light to lost souls. Yet today, no one below could even see those honey-colored walls and fine, sturdy pillars, for the estate was submerged beneath a heavy mist that had settled upon it in a shroud of mourning. Today, even the birds were subdued. It was as if spring had suddenly lost her will.

The cause of this melancholy was the shiny black hearse that waited on the gravel in front of the house. Inside, the corpse of Lord Frampton, the house’s patriarch, lay cold and vacant in a simple oak coffin. The fog swirled around the car like the greedy tentacles of death, impatient to pull his redundant body into the earth, and on the steps that led down from the entrance his two Great Danes lay as solemn and still as a pair of stone statues, their heads resting dolefully on their paws, their sad eyes fixed on the coffin; they knew intuitively that their master would not be coming home.

Inside the house, Lady Frampton stood before the hall mirror and placed a large black hat on her head. She sighed at her reflection, and her heart, already heavy with bereavement, grew heavier still at the sight of the eyes that stared back with the weary acquiescence of an old woman. Her face was blotchy where tears had fallen without respite ever since she had learned of her husband’s sudden death in the Swiss Alps ten days before. The shock had blanched her skin and stolen her appetite so that her cheeks looked gaunt, even if her voluptuous body did not. She had been used to his absences while he had indulged his passion for climbing the great mountains of the world, but now the house reverberated with a different kind of silence: a loud, uncomfortable silence that echoed through the large rooms with a foreboding sense of permanence.

She straightened her coat as her eldest son, now the new Lord Frampton, stepped into the hall from the drawing room. What are they doing in there, David? she asked, trying to contain her grief, at least until she got to the church. We’re going to be late.

David gazed down at her sadly. We can’t be late, Mum, he said, his dark eyes full of the same pain. Dad’s . . . you know . . . He looked to the window.

No, you’re right, of course. She thought of George in the hearse outside and felt her throat constrict. She turned back to the mirror and began to fiddle with her hat again. Still, everyone will be waiting, and it’s frightfully cold.

A moment later her middle son, Joshua, emerged from the drawing room with his chilly wife, Roberta. You okay, Mum? he asked, finding the emotion of such an occasion embarrassing.

Just keen to get on with it, David interjected impatiently. Joshua thrust his hands into his pockets and hunched his shoulders. The house felt cold. He went to stand by the hall fire, where large logs entwined with ivy crackled in the grate.

What are they doing in there? his mother asked again, glancing towards the drawing room. She could hear the low voice of her youngest son, Tom, and her mother-in-law’s formidable consonants as she held forth, as usual unchallenged.

Grandma’s demanding that Tom show her how to use the mobile telephone he gave her, Joshua replied.

Now? Can’t it wait till later? Her chin trembled with anguish.

They’re finishing their drinks, Antoinette, said Roberta with a disapproving sniff. "Though I’m not sure Tom should be drinking with his history, should he?"

Antoinette bristled and walked over to the window. I think today, of all days, Tom is entitled to consume anything he wants, she retorted tightly. Roberta pursed her lips and rolled her eyes at her husband, a gesture she wrongly assumed her mother-in-law couldn’t see. Antoinette watched her arrange her pretentious feather fascinator in front of the mirror and wondered why her son had chosen to marry a woman whose cheekbones were sharp enough to slice through slate.

At last Tom sauntered into the hall with his grandmother, who was tucking the telephone into her handbag and clipping it shut. He smiled tenderly at his mother, and Antoinette immediately felt a little better. Her youngest had always had the power to lift her high or pull her low, depending on his mood or state of health. A small glass of wine had left him none the worse, and she ignored the niggling of her better judgment that knew he shouldn’t consume any alcohol at all. Her thoughts sprang back to her husband, and she recalled the time he had managed to telephone her from the Annapurna base camp just to find out how Tom was after a particularly bad week following a breakup. She felt her eyes welling with tears again and pulled her handkerchief out of her pocket. George had been a very good man.

You haven’t turned the heating off, have you? exclaimed the Dowager Lady Frampton accusingly. "I never let it get so frightfully cold!" In her long black dress, wide black hat, and mink stole Margaret Frampton looked as if she were off to crash a Halloween party rather than attend her only son’s funeral. Around her neck and wrist and dripping from her ears like elaborate icicles was the exquisite Frampton sapphire suite, acquired in India in 1868 by the first Lord Frampton for his wife, Theodora, and passed down through the generations to George, who had loaned it to his mother because his wife refused to wear such an extravagant display of wealth. The Dowager Lady Frampton had no such reservations and wore the jewels whenever a suitable occasion arose. Antoinette wasn’t sure Margaret’s son’s funeral was quite such an occasion.

"The heating is on, Margaret, and the fires are all lit. I think the house is in mourning, too," she replied.

What a ridiculous idea, Margaret muttered.

I think Mum’s right, interjected Tom, casting his gaze out of the window. Look at the fog. I think the whole estate is in mourning.

I’ve lost more people than I can count, said Margaret, striding past Antoinette. "But there’s nothing worse than losing a son. An only son. I don’t think I’ll ever get over it. At the very least, one would expect the house to be warm!"

Harris, the old butler who had worked for the family for more than thirty years, opened the front door, and the Dowager Lady Frampton stepped out into the mist, pulling her stole tighter across her chest. Goodness me, are we going to be able to get to church? She stood at the top of the stone stair and surveyed the scene. It’s as thick as porridge.

Of course we will, Grandma, Tom reassured her, taking her arm to guide her down. The Great Danes remained frozen beneath the weight of their sadness. Margaret settled her gaze on the coffin and thought how terribly lonely it looked through the glass of the hearse. For a moment the taut muscles in her jaw weakened, and her chin trembled. She lifted her shoulders and stiffened, tearing her eyes away. Pain wasn’t something one shared with other people.

The chauffeur stood to attention as Tom helped his grandmother into one of the Bentleys. Roberta followed dutifully after, but Antoinette hung back. You go, Josh, she said. Tom and David will come with me.

Joshua climbed into the front seat. One might have thought that his father’s death would unite the two women, but it seemed they were still as hostile as ever. He listened to his wife and grandmother chatting in the back and wondered why his mother couldn’t get along with Margaret as well as Roberta did.

That woman is so trying, Antoinette complained, dabbing her eyes carefully as the cars followed the hearse down the drive and through the iron gates adorned with the family crest of lion and rose. Do I look awfully blotchy? she asked Tom.

You look fine, Mum. It wouldn’t be appropriate to look polished today.

I suppose not. Still, everyone’s going to be there.

And everyone is going to be coming back, grumbled David from the front seat. He didn’t relish the idea of having to socialize.

I think we’ll all need a stiff drink. She patted Tom’s hand, wishing she hadn’t referred to alcohol. Even you. Today of all days.

Tom laughed. Mum, you’ve got to stop worrying about me. A few drinks aren’t going to kill me.

I know. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have mentioned it. I wonder who’s come, she said, changing the subject.

Perish the thought of having to chat to Dad’s dreadful aunts and all the boring relatives we’ve spent years avoiding, David interjected. I’m not in the mood for a party.

It’s not a party, darling, his mother corrected. People just want to show their respect.

David stared miserably out of the window. He could barely see the hedgerows as they drove down the lane towards the town of Fairfield. Can’t everyone just bugger off and go home afterwards?

Absolutely not. It’s polite to ask your father’s friends and relatives home after the funeral. It’ll cheer us all up.

Great, David muttered glumly. I can’t think of a better way of getting over Dad’s death than having a knees-up with a bunch of old codgers.

His mother began to cry again. Don’t make this any harder for me, David.

David peered around the seat and softened. I’m sorry, Mum. I didn’t mean to upset you. I just don’t feel like playing the glad game, that’s all.

None of us do, darling.

Right now, I just want to be alone to wallow in my sorrow.

I could kill for a cigarette, said Tom. Do you think I have time for a quick one round the back?

The car drew up outside St. Peter’s medieval church. The chauffeur opened the passenger door, and Antoinette waited for Tom to come round to help her out. Her legs felt weak and unsure. She could see her mother-in-law walking up the stony path towards the entrance of the church where two of George’s cousins greeted her solemnly. She would never cry in public, Antoinette thought bitterly. Antoinette doubted whether she had ever cried in private. Margaret considered it very middle-class to show one’s feelings and turned up her aristocratic nose at the generation of young people for whom it was normal to whine, shed tears, and moan about their lot. She condemned them for their sense of entitlement and took great pleasure in telling her grandchildren that in her day people had had more dignity. Antoinette knew Margaret despised her for continuously sobbing, but she was unable to stop, even to satisfy her mother-in-law. But she dried her eyes before stepping out of the car and took a deep breath; the Dowager Lady Frampton had no patience with public displays of emotion.

Antoinette walked up the path between her two sons and thought how proud George would be of his boys. Tom, who was so handsome and wild, with his father’s thick blond hair and clear denim eyes, and David, who didn’t look like his father at all, but was tall and magnetic and more than capable of bearing his title and running the estate. Up ahead, Joshua disappeared into the church with Roberta. Their middle son was clever and ambitious, making a name for himself in the City, as well as a great deal of money. George had respected his drive, even if he hadn’t understood his unadventurous choice of career. George had been a man who loved natural, untamable landscapes; the concrete terrain of the Square Mile had turned his spirit to salt.

She swept her eyes over the flint walls of the church and remembered the many happy occasions they had enjoyed here. The boys’ christenings, Joshua’s marriage, his daughter Amber’s christening only a year before—she hadn’t expected to come for this. Not for at least another thirty years, anyway. George had been only fifty-eight.

She greeted George’s cousins and, as she was the last to arrive, followed them into the church. Inside, the air was thick with body heat and perfume. Candles flickered on the wide window ledges, and lavish arrangements of spring flowers infused the church with the scent of lilies, freesias, and narcissi. Reverend Morley greeted her with a sympathetic smile. He sandwiched her hand between his soft, doughy ones, and muttered words of consolation, although Antoinette didn’t hear for the nerves buzzing in her ears like badly played violins. She blinked away tears and cast her mind back to his visit to the house just after she had heard the terrible news. If only she could rewind to before . . .

It seemed that every moment of the last ten days had been leading up to this point. There had been so much to do. David and Tom had flown out to Switzerland to bring back their father’s body. Joshua and Roberta had taken care of the funeral arrangements. Antoinette had organized the flowers herself, not trusting her daughter-in-law to know the difference between a lilac and a lily, being a Londoner, and her sister, Rosamunde, had helped choose the hymns. Now the day was upon them Antoinette felt as if she were stepping into a different life, a life without George. She gripped Tom’s arm and walked unsteadily up the aisle. She heard the congregation hush as she moved past and dared not catch anyone’s eye for fear that their compassion would set her off again.

While Tom greeted their father’s aunts, David settled his mother into the front pew. He glanced around the congregation. He recognized most of the faces—relations and friends dressed in black and looking uniformly sad. Then amidst all the gray, pallid faces, one bright, dewy one stood out like a ripe peach on a winter tree. She was staring straight at him, her astonishing gray eyes full of empathy. Transfixed, he gazed back. He took in the unruly cascade of blond curls that tumbled over her shoulders, and the soft, creamy texture of her skin, and his heart stalled. It was as if a light had been switched on in the darkness of his soul. It didn’t seem appropriate to smile, but David wanted to, very much. So he pulled a resigned smile, and she did the same, silently imparting sympathy for his loss.

As David left the church again with his brothers and cousins to bear the coffin, he glanced back at the mystery blonde and wondered how she fitted into his father’s life. Why had they never met before? He couldn’t help the buoyant feeling that lifted him out of the quagmire of grief into a radiant and happy place. Was this what people called love at first sight? Of all the days it should happen, his father’s funeral was the most inappropriate.

Phaedra Chancellor knew who David Frampton was, for she had done her research. The eldest of three sons, he was twenty-nine, unmarried, and lived in a house on the Fairfield estate where he managed the farm. He had studied at Cirencester Agricultural College, for while his father had found the life of a country squire unexciting, David was as comfortable in the land as a potato.

Phaedra had only seen photographs of George’s sons. Tom was without doubt the most handsome. He had inherited his father’s blue eyes and the mischievous curl of his lips. But David was better looking in the flesh than she had imagined. He was less polished than Tom, with scruffy brown hair, dark eyes and a large aquiline nose that did not photograph well. In fact, his features were irregular and quirky, and yet, somehow, together they were attractive—and he had inherited his father’s charisma, that intangible magnetism that drew the eye. Joshua, on the other hand, was more conventional looking, with a face that was generically handsome and consequently easy to forget.

She looked down at the service sheet, and her vision blurred at the sight of George’s face imprinted on the cover. He had been more beautiful than all his sons put together. She blinked away painful memories and stared at the man she had grown to love. She could see Tom and Joshua reflected in his features, but she couldn’t see David; he looked like his mother.

She sniffed and wiped her nose with a Kleenex. Julius Beecher, George’s lawyer, who sat beside her, patted her knee. You okay? he whispered. She nodded. Nervous?

Yes.

Don’t worry, you’ll be fine.

I’m not sure this is the right day to drop the bombshell, Julius, she hissed, as music began to fill the church.

I’m afraid there’s no avoiding it. They’re going to find out sooner or later, and besides, you wanted to be here.

I know. You’re right. I wanted to be here very much. But I wish I didn’t have to meet his family.

The choir walked slowly down the aisle singing Mozart’s Lacrimosa. Their angelic voices echoed off the stone walls and reverberated into the vaulted ceiling as they rose in a rousing crescendo. The candle flames wavered at the sudden motion that stirred the air, and an unexpected beam of sunlight shone in through the stained-glass windows and fell upon the coffin as it followed slowly behind.

Antoinette could barely contain her emotions; it was as if her heart would burst with grief. She glanced down the pew to where George’s aunts Molly and Hester, one as thin as the other was fat, stood with the same icy poise as the Dowager Lady Frampton. Even Mozart was unable to penetrate their steely armor of self-control. Antoinette was grateful for her sister, Rosamunde, who howled with middle-class vigor in the pew behind.

Antoinette felt a sob catch in her chest. It was impossible to imagine that her vital, active husband was contained within those narrow oaken walls. That soon he’d be buried in the cold earth, all alone without anyone to comfort him, and that she’d never again feel the warmth of his skin and the tenderness of his touch. At that unbearable thought, the tears broke free. She glanced into the pew to see the flint-hard profile of her mother-in-law. But she no longer cared what the old woman thought of her. She had toed the line for George, but now that he was gone, she’d cry her heart out if she wanted to.

When the service was over, the congregation stood while the family filed out. Antoinette walked with Tom, leaning heavily on his arm, while David escorted his grandmother. He passed the pew where the mysterious blonde was dabbing her eyes, but he didn’t allow his gaze to linger. He desperately hoped she’d be coming back for tea.

Outside, the fog had lifted, and patches of blue sky shone with renewed optimism. The grass glistened in fleeting pools of sunlight, and birds chirped once again in the treetops.

Who’s the blonde? asked Tom, sidling up to David.

What blonde? David replied nonchalantly.

Tom chuckled. The really hot blonde you couldn’t have failed to noticed about six pews behind. Very foxy. The day is suddenly looking up.

Come on, darling. Let’s not linger outside the church, said Antoinette, longing for the privacy of the car. The two brothers glanced behind them, but the congregation was slow to come out.

Margaret sniffed her impatience. Take me to the car, David, she commanded. I will greet people back at the house. She strode forward, and David was left no alternative but to escort her down the path. As she carefully lowered her large bottom onto the rear seat, David’s eyes strayed back to the church where the congregation was now spilling out onto the grass. He searched in vain for the white curls in the sea of black. Come, come, don’t dawdle. Good, here are Joshua and Roberta. Tell them to hurry up. I need a drink.

Beautiful service, said Roberta, climbing in beside Margaret.

Lovely, Margaret agreed. Though Reverend Morley does go on, doesn’t he?

They all love the sound of their own voices, said Joshua.

That’s why they’re vicars, Roberta added.

I thought what he said about Dad being every man’s friend was spot-on, Joshua continued, getting into the front seat. He loved people.

Roberta nodded. Oh, he was terrifically genial.

We certainly gave him a good send-off, didn’t we, Grandma?

Yes, he would have enjoyed that, said Margaret quietly, turning her face to the window.

David returned to Fairfield Park with his mother and Tom. The house was restored to its former splendor now that the sun had burnt away the fog. Bertie and Wooster, the Great Danes, were waiting for them on the steps. It seemed that the sun had lifted their spirits, too, for they leapt down to the car, wagging their tails.

Harris opened the door, and Mary, who cleaned for Lady Frampton, stood in the hall with her daughter, Jane, bearing trays of wine. The fire had warmed the place at last, and sunlight tumbled in through the large latticed windows. The house felt very different from the one they had left a couple of hours before, as if it had accepted its master’s passing and was ready to embrace the new order.

David and Tom stood by the drawing room fire. David had helped himself to a whiskey while Tom sipped a glass of Burgundy and smoked a sneaky cigarette—his mother and grandmother abhorred smoking inside, probably one of the only opinions they had in common. Little by little the room filled with guests, and the air grew hot and stuffy. At first the atmosphere was heavy, but after a glass or two of wine the conversations moved on from George and his untimely death, and they began to laugh again.

Both brothers looked out for the mysterious blonde. David had the advantage of being tall, so he could see over the herd, but, more dutiful than his brother, he found himself trapped in conversation first with Great Aunt Hester and then with Reverend Morley. Tom had thrown his cigarette butt into the fire and leaned against the mantelpiece, rudely looking over Great Aunt Molly’s shoulder as she tried to ask him about the nightclub he ran in London.

At last the mystery guest drifted into view, like a swan among moorhens. Tom left Molly in mid conversation; David did his best to concentrate on Reverend Morley’s long-winded story, while anxiously trying to extricate himself.

Phaedra suddenly felt very nervous. She took a big gulp of wine and stepped into the crowd. Julius cupped her elbow, determined not to lose her, and gently pushed her deeper into the throng. She swept her eyes about the room. What she could see of it was very beautiful. The ceilings were high, with grand moldings and an impressive crystal chandelier that dominated the room and glittered like thousands of teardrops. Paintings hung on silk-lined walls in gilded frames, and expensive-looking objects clustered on tables. Tasseled shades glowed softly above Chinese porcelain lamps, and a magnificent display of purple orchids sat on the grand piano among family photographs in silver frames. It looked as if generations of Framptons had collected beautiful things from all over the world and laid them down regardless of color or theme. The floor was a patchwork of rugs, cushions were heaped on sofas, pictures hung in tight collages, a library of books reached as high as the ceiling, and glass-topped cabinets containing collections of enamel pots and ivory combs gave the room a Victorian feel. Nothing matched, and yet everything blended in harmony. George’s life had been here, with his family, and she hadn’t been a part of it. Just as she was about to cry again, Tom’s grinning face appeared before her like the Cheshire cat.

Hello, I’m Tom, he said, extending his hand. His eyes twinkled at her flirtatiously. I’ve been wondering who you are.

She smiled, grateful for his friendliness. I’m Phaedra Chancellor, she replied.

American, he said, raising an eyebrow in surprise.

Canadian, actually.

Ah, Canadian.

Is that a bad thing?

No, I like Canadians, actually.

She laughed at the languid way he dragged his vowels. That’s lucky.

Hello, Tom, interrupted Julius. The two men shook hands. Lovely service, he said.

Yes, it really was, very lovely, Phaedra agreed. Tom didn’t think he had ever seen such startlingly beautiful eyes. They were a clear gray-blue, almost turquoise, framed by thick lashes and set wide apart, giving her face a charming innocence.

So how did you know my father? he asked.

Phaedra glanced anxiously at Julius. Well . . . she began.

Just as she was about to answer, David appeared, and her words caught in her throat. Ah, there you are, Tom, said David, but his eyes fell on Phaedra, and he smiled casually, as if he had chanced upon bumping into her. I’m David, he said. His gaze lingered at last, drinking in her beauty as if it were ambrosia.

Phaedra Chancellor, she replied, putting out her hand. He took it, enjoying for an extended moment the warmth of her skin.

Hello, David, interrupted Julius, and reluctantly David let go of her hand. Where’s Lady Frampton?

Oh, hello, Julius. I didn’t see you there.

"Well, I am here, said Julius testily; he was very sensitive about being five feet seven and three-quarter inches short. I need to speak to her. You’re tall, David. See if you can spot her from your lofty height."

David looked down at Julius’s shiny bald head and red, sweating brow, and thought how Dickensian he looked in his black suit and tie. She’s not in here. Perhaps she’s in the hall.

Then let’s go and find her. I want her to meet Phaedra.

Tom and David both wished Julius would go and find their mother on his own, but the portly lawyer put his arm around Phaedra’s waist and escorted her out into the hall. Curious and furious, the two brothers followed after.

They finally found Antoinette in the library with her elder sister, Rosamunde. Wineglasses in hand, they were standing by George’s desk, talking in low voices. Ah, you’ve found me hiding, said Antoinette, composing herself. It was clear that she had been crying again.

We came in here for a little peace. It’s very busy out there, Rosamunde explained in her deep, strident voice, hoping they’d take the hint and go away.

Antoinette saw the stranger in their midst and stiffened. Hello, she said, dabbing her eyes. Have we met before?

No, we haven’t, Phaedra replied.

Phaedra Chancellor, David cut in, dazed by the force of her allure.

Oh. Antoinette smiled politely. And how . . . She frowned, not wanting to be rude.

Julius seized the moment. My dear Lady Frampton, I wasn’t sure that this was the right time to introduce you. But I know that Lord Frampton was very keen that you should meet. In fact, he was planning it when . . . well . . . He cleared his throat. I know this is what he’d want.

I don’t understand. Antoinette looked bewildered. How is Miss Chancellor connected to my husband?

Phaedra looked to Julius for guidance. He nodded discreetly. She took a breath, knowing instinctively that her answer would be neither expected, nor welcomed. But she thought of her beloved George and plunged in.

I’m his daughter, she said, fighting the impulse to flee. George was my father.

2

Antoinette stared in horror at the strange blond girl who stood before her, claiming to be her stepdaughter. Her first thought was how young she looked, possibly younger than David, which would mean that George had been unfaithful early on in their marriage. She wrung her hands anxiously but was too shocked to cry.

I really don’t think this is the time or place— Rosamunde began, taking off her glasses, but Antoinette stopped her.

How old are you, Phaedra? she asked.

I’m thirty-one, the girl replied, dropping her eyes. She didn’t look much older than twenty-one.

I need to sit down. Antoinette grabbed her sister’s hand. The relief that George hadn’t been unfaithful was overwhelming.

Rosamunde guided her to an armchair in front of the fire while Tom remained staring at his new sister with a mixture of surprise and amusement. David felt as if the world had just spun away from him. How could it be that a few simple words had put her forever out of his reach? Are you sure you’re my father’s daughter? he asked, hoping there might be some mistake.

Absolutely sure, Julius replied firmly. Lord Frampton and Phaedra had their DNA tested before Lord Frampton changed his will.

They all stared at him in astonishment. George changed his will? Antoinette gasped. Rosamunde gave a disapproving snort. But he never told me anything about it.

He wanted to include his daughter, Lady Frampton.

But surely he would have told me.

Tom strode over to the club fender and took his mother’s hand. This is all very sudden. Was it really necessary to tell us the day of Dad’s funeral? Can’t you see Mother’s upset?

Tom is right. I think it’s unbelievably tactless to barge in like this, Rosamunde agreed, putting her hands on her sturdy hips. I think you should go away and come back another time, when Lady Frampton is better disposed to speak to you.

I’m sorry. I’ve been very thoughtless . . . Phaedra began, looking pained. She caught David’s eyes but looked away sharply, as if she saw the longing in them and was afraid.

Lord Frampton wanted Phaedra to become part of the family, Julius explained with an air of authority. We talked about it at length. Phaedra has a right to be here today, but it would have been odd not to have introduced you, and natural for you to have wondered who she is and how she is connected to Lord Frampton. We were left with no choice but to tell you the truth.

Antoinette gazed into the fire, fighting her distress. George always wanted a daughter.

How long have you known that George is your father, Phaedra? Rosamunde demanded.

About eighteen months, the girl replied.

Eighteen months? Tom echoed. Dad kept you quiet that long?

Phaedra sighed, finding it hard to explain. About two years ago the man who was my father for the first ten years of my life died. My mom decided then to tell me that he wasn’t my biological father, as I had thought, and that my real father was George Frampton. So I decided to track him down, not knowing whether he’d want to meet me. I came to the U.K. and found him. At first he didn’t believe me. It was a little awkward, to say the least. I left him my details and returned to Paris, where I was living, thinking I’d never hear from him again. About three months later he called me back. We agreed to meet, and, well, the rest is history.

I find it hard to believe that George kept such a big secret from me, said Antoinette. And for so long. We had no secrets, or so I thought.

Phaedra smiled, and the sweetness in her face seemed to soften the tension in the room. He kept me secret because he was so frightened of hurting you. He was devoted to you.

Well, his fears were founded, said Rosamunde.

Antoinette bit her bottom lip. Did your mother love him, too?

He was the love of her life. Phaedra flushed and lowered her eyes. But she was not his.

At that moment the door opened and Margaret strode in. I’m going home, she announced, ignoring the fact that she might be interrupting. She swept her imperious gaze over the solemn faces and sucked in her cheeks. My goodness, has someone else died?

I think I’ll go, said Phaedra.

Let me escort you out, David suggested.

"I’ll go with you," interjected Julius.

No, really, I can find my own way out. Thank you. She turned to Antoinette. I’m sorry to have barged in like this. It’s been very nice meeting you all, finally. I just want you to know that I loved him, too. With that she strode past Margaret and disappeared down the corridor.

Who was that rude girl? Margaret demanded.

Your granddaughter, Antoinette replied.

It was Margaret’s turn to sink into the sofa. David handed her a glass of sherry, and Tom opened a window. It’s not true!

He was going to tell us, apparently, said Antoinette numbly.

It’s absurd. A daughter we never knew about.

She’s from America, said Rosamunde.

From Canada, actually, Tom corrected.

Margaret looked horrified. "She’s American? Good God, I have an American granddaughter? Her face hardened. I simply don’t believe it."

It’s been proven, said Antoinette. Ask Mr. Beecher.

Indeed it has, Lady Frampton, Julius confirmed. A DNA test verified that Phaedra is Lord Frampton’s biological daughter.

He’s included her in his will, Antoinette added.

"He’s changed his will? Did you know about this?" Margaret rounded on her daughter-in-law.

No one but Lord Frampton and I knew about the will, interjected Julius pompously. As his lawyer it was my job to arrange it. Phaedra had no idea he was including her until I informed her at the time I informed her of his death.

So she lives in England, does she? Margaret sniffed.

For the time being she’s staying at a friend’s house in London, Julius replied. Though I understand she’ll be returning to Paris shortly.

What does she do?

She’s a photographer.

"Doesn’t she have a proper job?" Margaret snapped.

"Photography is a proper job, Grandma," David interrupted.

Does it make her any money? Margaret persisted. Or was my son keeping her?

Julius hesitated.

Antoinette looked worried. Mr. Beecher?

Lord Frampton was very keen to be a father to Phaedra, he replied carefully. But it is fair to say that the girl is very independent. She never asked anything of him besides friendship.

Really, this is all very odd, Margaret declared, taking a large swig of sherry.

What are we going to do? Antoinette asked.

Do? Margaret retorted. "Why do we have to do anything?"

Because she’s family, said David.

And it’s what Dad wanted, Tom added, getting up to pace the room. He found it hard to remain still for very long.

"Well, I shan’t be doing anything about it, Margaret informed them resolutely. She can’t just turn up here on the day of my son’s funeral and expect us all to embrace her like the Prodigal Daughter. I don’t know her, and George never once mentioned her."

He had planned on mentioning her, Lady Frampton, said Julius.

That may well be, Mr. Beecher, but as far as I am concerned, the matter is of no consequence.

The stubborn pursing of Margaret’s lips aroused in Antoinette a desire to be contrary. She got to her feet. "Well, the matter is of great consequence to me, she said, feeling a sudden rush of empowerment as her mother-in-law let out a silent gasp. If George accepted her as his daughter, then so shall I. I am willing to embrace her into the family. She’s a part of George and therefore a part of me."

Good gracious, Antoinette, that’s very noble, but is it prudent? Margaret asked. You know nothing about her.

I’m with you, Mum, said Tom in surprise. I rather like the idea of having a sister—and such a pretty one, too.

I’m in, David agreed. If it’s what Dad wanted. She’s flesh and blood.

Blood is thicker than water, added Rosamunde, standing by her sister like a loyal hound.

Antoinette turned to Julius. I’d like to meet as soon as possible to read the will, Mr. Beecher.

At your convenience, Lady Frampton, he replied. I shall call you when I’m back in my office on Monday and arrange a meeting. I will now leave you in peace. I’m glad you have decided to accept Phaedra as your stepdaughter.

Margaret gave a disapproving sniff. I’m afraid I’m going to take a little longer to convince. It’s more than I can absorb in one day. Burying my son has been quite enough, thank you very much. I’m going home. We’ll talk about it tomorrow, when I’m feeling stronger. David, escort me to my car.

David did as he was told and accompanied his grandmother down the corridor and into the hall. Guests parted to let her through. Harris helped her with her stole, and she leaned on David as she descended the steps to where Lord Frampton’s chauffeur waited to drive her to the pretty Queen Anne dower house positioned at the other end of the estate. Do you know what distresses me the most? she said, hesitating at the open door. That my son felt he couldn’t confide in me.

He didn’t confide in anyone, David reassured her.

But I’m his mother.

I think mothers are often the last to know.

Well, George and I were very close. I can’t understand why he didn’t tell me. How long had he known this girl?

Eighteen months.

Eighteen months! How could he have kept something so important from me for that long? I mean, I would have been surprised, certainly, but I wouldn’t have thought any less of him.

He was probably biding his time, waiting for the right moment.

Of course he was. He could not have predicted this!

David watched the car disappear down the drive and turn left up the farm track that cut through the estate. It irritated his mother that Margaret lived so close and visited so often. Fairfield House punctuated her daily walk through the park with Basil, her Yorkshire terrier. Being a woman ill at ease in her own company, she appeared unannounced most days, and Antoinette felt compelled to entertain her while Bertie and Wooster chased Basil up and down the corridors. After all, the house had once belonged to her, before she and her late husband, Arthur, had moved out to accommodate their son and his growing family. Antoinette could hardly turn her away.

David did not want to go back inside. The sun now shone brightly and the damp grass glittered, beckoning him to walk over it. The countryside looked resplendent, as if the mist had given it a good polishing. He was still reeling from the disappointment of discovering that the first girl he had taken a shine to in years had turned out to be his half sister. It was as if life had played a horrid practical joke at his expense.

He decided to wander around the gardens. Bertie and Wooster pricked their ears and watched him disappear through the gate in the hedge. Then they bounded down the steps to join him, eagerly expecting a long walk. He had to smile at their exuberance, although now he no longer felt like smiling at all. His soul was once more plunged into darkness, and his heart felt heavy again, like a sack of ash.

His father had been such a dominant presence in his life; it was unimaginable that he would no longer be around. He gazed at the towering trees and gently undulating lawn, and remembered that nothing was forever. Not even the earth he was standing on. Eventually, everything would pass away.

Life was quiet in the countryside. His father had advised him to settle down young, as he had, but David had failed to find the right girl. He had had relationships, but love had always eluded him. He had watched Joshua marry Roberta and knew that he didn’t want a joyless marriage like theirs. He didn’t want the rootless life that Tom had, either. A different girl every night so that in the end they all blurred into one soulless encounter.

He had really liked the look of Phaedra. In retrospect, perhaps it had been their common blood that had attracted him to her. Perhaps he had sensed a bond, subconsciously. Whatever it was, the attraction was fruitless. When he saw her again, he’d have to suppress it.

She had been brave to come today, he thought, although misguided. His mother was understandably upset about the whole situation. He wasn’t upset as much as surprised—suddenly to discover a half sibling at twenty-nine was a very big surprise. He couldn’t care less about his father changing his will. If he had wanted to include his daughter, that was his business. Tom wouldn’t mind, either. He wasn’t avaricious, just extravagant with what he had. Joshua and Roberta were a different matter altogether. He wondered how they would take the news. Not well, he concluded. If anyone was going to make a fuss about money, it was Roberta.

*   *   *

Phaedra drove her sky-blue Fiat Uno into a lay-by and turned off the engine. She dropped her head onto the steering wheel and squeezed her eyes shut. She had wanted more than anything to go to George’s funeral, but she could see now that it had been a terrible mistake.

She winced as she recalled the look of horror on Antoinette’s face and the way she had sunk into the armchair, her hands visibly shaking; the reproachful twist to her sister Rosamunde’s mouth; the disbelief that had set the boys’ cheeks aflame. Only Julius had remained resolute, as if he relished having dominance over them. She wished she had had the power to keep her name out of the will. She wished she hadn’t come. If only she could now disappear in a puff of smoke.

The trouble was that George had died without giving her time to say good-bye. She would have told him she loved him. She would have told him she had forgiven him. He didn’t need to change his will to make it up to her. She didn’t want his money. She didn’t want his gifts. She wanted security of a different sort, and that he could no longer give her.

She had needed George, the man. The father figure of her early years had left her mother when Phaedra was ten and gone to live in New Zealand, eventually marrying again and starting a new family. Phaedra had been forgotten, or mislaid, in the murky past, and she never saw him again. From then on her mother had jumped from unsuitable man to unsuitable man like a frog in a pond of lily pads, hoping that the next landing would make her happy. She didn’t realize that with every hop she carried the source of her unhappiness within her, and she couldn’t run away from herself. She resented Phaedra, for she was a living reminder of her husband’s rejection and an unwanted responsibility. So, while her mother sank her sorrows into bottles of gin, Phaedra made her own way, relying on her friends and her dreams to carry her through the hard times. As soon as she was old enough she left home and her mother forever. She had no desire ever to go back. She had not only closed the chapter, but thrown away the book.

George had given her a lifeline that promised stability, permanence, and love. She had grabbed it with both hands and held on to it with all her might. But it had broken, and George had gone, leaving her alone and adrift once again. Nothing in this life is permanent, she mused—only love. That thought made her howl for her own sorry predicament and the future that had died with him.

After a while she calmed down and wiped her nose and eyes on the sleeve of her black coat. She glanced in the rearview mirror and recoiled. She had managed to put on a pretty good show at the funeral—she had wanted them all to see her looking her best. If they saw her now, with puffy red lizard eyes and blotchy skin, they’d be extremely underwhelmed.

She started the engine and turned on the radio. The music made her feel a little better. She wouldn’t worry about the future but would take every moment as it came, and as for the past—that lived only in her memory now, giving her pain whenever she dwelt on it. So she wouldn’t dwell on it. She looked about her as she motored up the lane, the fresh green buds reminding her of renewal. If they could reawaken after winter, then so could she.

*   *   *

When David returned to the drawing room, he found that most of the guests had gone. Only Molly and Hester remained with an old curmudgeonly cousin of his grandfather, drinking sherry out of small crystal glasses beside the fire. Julius had left; Antoinette had retired to her bedroom to lie down; and Rosamunde and Tom remained in the library with Joshua and Roberta, who had just been told the news.

It’s unbelievable, Roberta was saying from the sofa, her angular face ashen against her black jacket.

I suppose they’ve told you about Dad changing his will, said David as he entered the room with Bertie and Wooster. A deep loathing of his sister-in-law propelled him to provoke her.

I can’t believe he’d do such a thing, she continued, sitting back into the cushions and folding her arms. I mean, he’s known her, what? A year and a half? Do you think she would have made an effort to be part of his life had he been a simple farmer?

Don’t judge her by your own standards, Roberta—and don’t presume she’s after his money. She might be wealthy in her own right, for all you know. David made for the drinks tray. Anyway, she only learned about the will after Dad had died.

You’re being naïve, David. Of course she’s after his money, Roberta retorted, giving a little sniff. To someone like her, an English lord is synonymous with a large fortune.

By that you mean someone American? asked Tom, back on the club fender, smoking.

Yes.

Then you should be ashamed of yourself, he reproached her. She’s not from some haystack in Kansas, you know. She’s Canadian, anyway, which is very different. Canadians don’t like to be mistaken for Americans.

Is she pretty? she asked.

David poured himself a glass of whiskey. Extremely pretty, he replied, to torment her.

She’s hot, Tom agreed, grinning. Though a little too wholesome for my tastes.

Oh really, Tom. You fancy anything in a skirt! Roberta retorted.

I think I saw her, said Joshua. Long curly blond hair, with very pale gray eyes.

Roberta rounded on him. "That’s a lot of detail, darling, for someone who thinks he saw her."

She was the only person in the congregation under thirty, he explained.

She’s thirty-one, actually, David corrected.

"Blinded by her good looks: no wonder you boys can’t see through her. Takes a woman to understand a woman, don’t