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absurd sense of exhilaration have its head. She must calm down, be practical, and above all remember that Rupert Carrington had relied on her.
    She heard the church clock strike six. The family would be home any minute. Picking up her armful of flowers, she hurried down the stairs and through the garden. Indoors, she filled the pantry sink and left the flowers there, then ran into the hall and lit the fire.
    Soon she heard the car coming up the drive and being driven to the garage. Then Richard entered, alone. He said Clare had gone to call for Merry.
    Jane had imagined telling them all together – silly of her, she now saw, for she could hardly wait until they all arrived. She rather wished she could have talked to Drew first, then remembered that all Rupert’s messages had been for Richard, who would now have to act as the head of the family. As he came towards the fire she said: ‘I’m so very sorry. I have to break bad news.’
    It was easier than she had expected. Richard, after one horrified ‘Good God!’ took it very calmly, simply eliciting from her all the information he could – which amounted to less than she had foreseen because she found she could not bring herself to repeat some things Rupert had said. She cut his kind references to herself, his reflection on himself as a father and his description of himself as a crook. But she did make it clear that he had tacitly admitted his guilt.
    Richard accepted this. ‘Oh, yes, otherwise I’m sure he wouldn’t have bolted. Well, I hope he makes it – I suppose he may get caught at some port or airport. He gave you no idea how he hoped to get out of England?’
    She shook her head, then handed over the envelope of notes. ‘He sent apologies that it wasn’t more.’
    â€˜It would have been if he could have managed it. I don’t see why he doesn’t want to write to us. Surely the police can’t intercept letters – or can they, if they can tap telephone calls? Perhaps he just wants to get away from us, as well as the police – and I wouldn’t blame him; this household must costa fortune. But he insisted that things should go on as in my grandmother’s day, that we should live here just cultivating the talents she credited us with. What are we going to do?’
    â€˜People do earn their livings,’ said Jane. ‘We must think of things.’
    â€˜I’m glad you’re going to stay with us for a bit.’
    She had told him his father wanted her to, but she’d made no mention of her salary.
    â€˜I’ll advise you in any way I can. Oh, I’ve remembered something else he said –’She relayed Rupert’s wishes about Merry but censored his remark that hers was the only talent he was sure of. ‘Not that she can legally leave school until she’s fifteen – and that’s far too early, really.’
    â€˜I wonder if her school fees are paid,’ said Richard. ‘And where can she live while she’s at school if we others get jobs and close this house?’
    â€˜Perhaps you can get local jobs.’
    â€˜Well, there’s always a shortage of domestic help in the village. I might go out as a male char.’
    She heard voices outside and went to a window. ‘They’re all back. I think you should tell them on your own. Shall I make some tea?’
    â€˜They’ll have had it. Perhaps you’d start preparations for supper – Cook leaves us things. Not that I’m exactly hungry.’
    â€˜Nor I,’ said Jane. ‘Still, food can be a help at times like this.’
    As she reached the kitchen she heard the front door open and a cheerful babble. After that, with the kitchen door closed, she could hear no more. She looked around her dazedly – how lost one felt in an unfamiliar kitchen! Well, that was obviously soup on the stove, waiting to be heated, and sandwiches had been mentioned that morning.