come between them had never existed.
One evening, after a dinner party to which Richard and Cassy Gardiner had been invited, the ladies withdrew to the drawing room. Jessica had asked to be excused and retired upstairs; but Elizabeth and Cassy were both eager to talk of Emily Courtney's situation and in particular, the conduct of her two elder children, Eliza and William.
Eliza and her husband, whose desire to return to his business as expeditiously as possible had earned him the censure of most other members of the family, had left on the morning after the funeral.
William at least had stayed on for one more day, ostensibly to ensure that his mother was well and able to look after herself. It was not known to what extent he had satisfied himself on these questions, before deciding to depart a day after his sister and return to Europe, to resume a series of concerts.
Elizabeth, as ever, was not lost for words.
"I am astounded that both Emily's elder children could have so little concern and affection for their poor mother that they could so readily arrange to leave, knowing she is likely to be alone at Oakleigh, with only young Jude and the servants for company. I should have liked to have invited her to stay at Pemberley for a while, as she has done many times in the past, but Emily has made it quite clear to me and to both Julian and Jessica that it is her preference to remain at Oakleigh."
Becky had to concur. In her own conversations with Emily, her friend had said without any reservation that she had no intention of quitting her home.
On being asked if she would consider leaving Oakleigh, even temporarily, she had said with fervour, "Mama and Papa entrusted this place to me; I am not about to abandon it, Becky. Remember, this is Jude's home too. If I leave, what is to become of him? Would it not leave the door open for others to intervene in his life?"
Becky had assumed that Emily had meant her brother Robert and his wife, whose outrage at being left out of Mrs Gardiner's will was well known.
"But how will she live and support the farm and staff?" asked Cassy.
"Richard knows that Emily has used up most of the money that their father left her, chiefly in supporting charitable causes in the parish. She has very little cash to spare, except what comes in from the tenants and Mr Mancini's lease," Cassy said.
Becky was completely confounded.
While she had been aware of the charitable activities of the Courtneys, she had not known all of the details that Cassy and Elizabeth revealed. That Emily and her husband had used up most of their funds helping the poor in the parish and especially a number of impoverished Irish families living on the fringes of the common came as a considerable shock to her.
"And you say she does not receive any income apart from the rents?"
"No she does not, because many years ago, she transferred all her assets to William to enable him to establish himself in his career," said Cassy.
"And now that William is doing so well, does he not assist his mother?"
Cassy and Elizabeth looked doubtful.
"We do not know if he does or does not, because Emily will not tell us, but there is little evidence that he sends her any money at all."
This revelation so perturbed Becky she rose hastily from her seat and walked quickly about the room, clearly distressed. In truth, she was thinking, playing with the possibility of making some money available to Emily, through Jessica perhaps, so as not to place her under obligation. She acknowledged it was a delicate situation indeed.
When she returned to join Elizabeth and Cassandra, she had the beginnings of a plan in mind. She would give Jessica a sum of money, with instructions that it be used to pay for the inevitable expenses that must come after Dr Courtney's funeral. Doubtless, her mother would be more inclined to accept such assistance from Jessica, she supposed.
"Do you not think so?" she asked, having outlined her plan, and both Elizabeth and her
One evening, after a dinner party to which Richard and Cassy Gardiner had been invited, the ladies withdrew to the drawing room. Jessica had asked to be excused and retired upstairs; but Elizabeth and Cassy were both eager to talk of Emily Courtney's situation and in particular, the conduct of her two elder children, Eliza and William.
Eliza and her husband, whose desire to return to his business as expeditiously as possible had earned him the censure of most other members of the family, had left on the morning after the funeral.
William at least had stayed on for one more day, ostensibly to ensure that his mother was well and able to look after herself. It was not known to what extent he had satisfied himself on these questions, before deciding to depart a day after his sister and return to Europe, to resume a series of concerts.
Elizabeth, as ever, was not lost for words.
"I am astounded that both Emily's elder children could have so little concern and affection for their poor mother that they could so readily arrange to leave, knowing she is likely to be alone at Oakleigh, with only young Jude and the servants for company. I should have liked to have invited her to stay at Pemberley for a while, as she has done many times in the past, but Emily has made it quite clear to me and to both Julian and Jessica that it is her preference to remain at Oakleigh."
Becky had to concur. In her own conversations with Emily, her friend had said without any reservation that she had no intention of quitting her home.
On being asked if she would consider leaving Oakleigh, even temporarily, she had said with fervour, "Mama and Papa entrusted this place to me; I am not about to abandon it, Becky. Remember, this is Jude's home too. If I leave, what is to become of him? Would it not leave the door open for others to intervene in his life?"
Becky had assumed that Emily had meant her brother Robert and his wife, whose outrage at being left out of Mrs Gardiner's will was well known.
"But how will she live and support the farm and staff?" asked Cassy.
"Richard knows that Emily has used up most of the money that their father left her, chiefly in supporting charitable causes in the parish. She has very little cash to spare, except what comes in from the tenants and Mr Mancini's lease," Cassy said.
Becky was completely confounded.
While she had been aware of the charitable activities of the Courtneys, she had not known all of the details that Cassy and Elizabeth revealed. That Emily and her husband had used up most of their funds helping the poor in the parish and especially a number of impoverished Irish families living on the fringes of the common came as a considerable shock to her.
"And you say she does not receive any income apart from the rents?"
"No she does not, because many years ago, she transferred all her assets to William to enable him to establish himself in his career," said Cassy.
"And now that William is doing so well, does he not assist his mother?"
Cassy and Elizabeth looked doubtful.
"We do not know if he does or does not, because Emily will not tell us, but there is little evidence that he sends her any money at all."
This revelation so perturbed Becky she rose hastily from her seat and walked quickly about the room, clearly distressed. In truth, she was thinking, playing with the possibility of making some money available to Emily, through Jessica perhaps, so as not to place her under obligation. She acknowledged it was a delicate situation indeed.
When she returned to join Elizabeth and Cassandra, she had the beginnings of a plan in mind. She would give Jessica a sum of money, with instructions that it be used to pay for the inevitable expenses that must come after Dr Courtney's funeral. Doubtless, her mother would be more inclined to accept such assistance from Jessica, she supposed.
"Do you not think so?" she asked, having outlined her plan, and both Elizabeth and her
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