[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
like the idea of leaving Hartgrove down here in this dank, dirty place.
But again, Hartgrove protested. 'No time. You must help..." He seemed to lose
breath once more, and the words trailed away.
Who did this to you?' Thom asked, desperately concerned for the man he had
never liked, had always feared.
'She ... she did. They ... both ... did,' came the muttered reply.
'Nell Quick and Hugo?'
Hartgrove nodded his head as if that might be easier than speaking.
"Where are they now? Are they with Sir Russell?'
More slow nodding of his head. You must help ...'
'I will. I'll get you upstairs. I'll call an ambulance.'
The hand gripping his arm left to grab his damp shirt. 'No. You must... you
Page 189
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
must help Sir Russell.'
'Is he in danger?' Thom already knew the answer, but watched as Hartgrove
nodded his head yet again.
They threw me down the stairs.' His voice became stronger with anger. They
wanted me out the way while ... while ...' Hartgrove groaned and tried to
touch the bruises on his face, but his hand fell away uselessly.
'Mr Hartgrove, you know me, don't you? It's Thom, Thom Kindred.'
Hartgrove's fingers fluttered in the space between them. 'I know ... you.'
'Can you tell me what this is all about? Why Nell Quick and Hugo have hurt
you, and what they're going to do to Sir Russell?'
Threw me . . down . . cellar . . stairs ...'
'I know, I know. But why? Just take your time and try and tell me why this is
happening.'
'I hid the Will from them. Sir Russell's last Will and Testament. It left ...
left everything ... to you.'
Thom was stunned, not sure he'd heard correctly. 'Surely everything will be
passed on to Hugo on Sir
Russell's death?'
Hartgrove shook his head from side to side and the effort was too much for
him. He seemed to lapse into unconsciousness.
'Hartgrove? Can you hear me?' Thom gently cupped the manservant's cheek in his
hand.
Hartgrove's eyelids flickered, opened. He regarded Thom in silence for a few
moments, then seemed to summon up whatever strength he had left.
'Hugo is not... a good ... son. He has hurt... his father in many ways. Let
him down, disgraced him. And now..." his lipless mouth formed a half-smile,
half-sneer'... and now he wants to sell Bracken Estate to developers. Do you
know ... what kind of developers?'
He began to cough and the spittle on his lips was pinkish. It turned red as
the coughing went on uncontrollably and Thom guessed he had sustained internal
injuries. Maybe a broken rib had pierced a lung.
'Don't try to talk.' he told the manservant. 'Rest here while I get help.' Now
he knew it would hurt
Hartgrove even more if he tried to take him up upstairs.
But when the coughing had stopped, Hartgrove continued, as if anxious to
impart as much information as possible before it was too late.
The developers, Thom. Do you know what kind? Can you ... can you guess?'
Thom shook his head and added, 'I've no idea,' in case Hartgrove's vision was
not too clear.
They're ... they're experts in things ... what do you call them? You know,
Thom, don't you?'
And suddenly, Thom did know. This ancient country
mansion, set in beautiful acres, with its own woodland, river and lake: Nell
and Hugo could only have one thing in mind. Open up Castle Bracken to the
public, certainly. But that wouldn't be enough, it still wouldn't bring in
enough income for Hugo. No, they probably wanted to turn the whole estate into
a theme park of some kind. Jesus, that's what it was all about. And Sir
Russell knew, somehow he had
found out. Perhaps Hugo and Nell had even discussed their plans in front of
him, thinking him comatose at the time. Sir Russell had then changed his Will
in favour of Thom, who was, after all, his natural grandson. My God, how could
Hugo even think of such a thing? To turn this wonderful countryside into a
theme park, to tear away its privacy, its stillness, its beauty. Hugo must be
desperate. And Sir Russell must have hated Hugo for it.
Page 190
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
Thom had room to feel wretched. It was not what he wanted. Hugo had always
been a good friend ...
hadn't he? Thom thought of the item that had gone missing from his London
home, the pair of dividers he'd had for years so that they were almost a
mascot to him, a talisman even. Probably the shirt button too. And the
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]