Moorcroft - the Possession: Book One of the Moorcroft Trilogy by Sandra Callister Page B

someone must have something more pleasant to say.”
    Emily looked around the table. Victoria smiled across to Richard and gave him a gentle nod.
    He coughed lightly. “As a matter of fact, I have some cheery news for you all,” Again he looked at Victoria. “I have asked Vicky to marry me and she has accepted.”
    Everyone started talking at once, Emily tapped her glass again and everyone looked in her direction.
    She smiled at her son. “About time too, I want some grandchildren before I get too old to enjoy them.”
    Everyone laughed, Victoria blushed. John stood up and placed his hand on Richard’s shoulder.
    “I couldn’t be more pleased for you Son; she is a lovely young woman. I hope you both will be very happy.” He looked around the table at the smiling faces. “Now, if you’ll excuse me I have something to do in the study.”
    Emily sat and looked at her four children, for that was how she still saw them, chatting happily about the forthcoming wedding. They talked for a while and then she left them to it and went in search of her husband. In the hall she met Mary.
    “Tell your mother the meal was excellent.” She nodded towards the door. “I would leave the clearing up for a while, the children are still talking.”
    Emily entered the study to find John asleep in his chair. The room was warm and cosy, conducive to slumber. The logs had burnt low and the grate was now full of ash and dying embers. She gently raked the ash and put another log on the fire. She sat in the chair opposite her husband and looked upon his sallow face. His health had been failing over the last few months. John thought she hadn’t noticed, but she had. A half bottle of whisky was on the table by his side, an empty glass beside it. He had been drinking a lot lately it wasn’t good for his blood pressure. She turned on the lamp by her side and crossed the room to close the curtains, the night was upon them. She looked out over her rose garden. The rain had stopped and the moon illuminated the grounds making weird shadows of the trees across the drive as they were rocked by the light breeze, she thought it quite magical. She sighed, closed the curtains and turned back to the room. John stirred and opened his eyes.
    Seeing Emily he smiled. “I must have dozed off.” He reached for the glass and noticing it was empty returned it to the table.
    “I’ll ask Mrs Shaw to bring us a pot of tea. How does that sound?”
    John nodded.
     
    In the drawing room the girls sat on the settee talking non stop about wedding arrangements. Charles poured them all a drink and handed round the glasses.
    “A toast, I think. To Vicky and Richard, may they always be happy and their problems be little ones.”
    Sarah raised her glass and hugged her friend. Richard stood in front of Victoria and from his pocket took out a small blue box and placed it in her hand.
    “I meant to give you this later when we were alone, but now everyone knows, you may as well have it now.”
    With shaking hands, she opened the box to reveal a large solitaire diamond ring.
    Sarah took one look at it and exclaimed, “Wow, look at that.”
    Richard sat beside her and took it from the box and placed it on her third finger. “Now it’s official.” He took her in his arms and kissed her. Sarah had never seen her big brother acting with such affection and realised just how much he loved her dearest friend.
    At the back of the room Charlotte was brought to tears, how could Richard do this to her? There was no time to lose, she must get rid of this troublesome girl and quickly before it was too late. With a sweep of her hand she brushed the lamp from the side table and rushed from the room. Everyone turned and looked at the lamp. Charles picked it up off the floor and placed it back on the table and looked from Sarah to Richard, only Victoria looked confused.
     
    Emily poured the tea and handed the cup and saucer to her husband. He took it in shaking hands. They sat quietly