Into Temptation (Spoils of Time 03) by Penny Vincenzi Page B

was silent; then he said, ‘No, Barty. It’s very sweet of you. But I don’t think I want to do that. It’s a difficult time for me professionally, as well as personally. I’m trying to decide which publishers to go to.’
    ‘What did you think of Michael Joseph?’
    ‘I loved it. But I think actually I preferred Wesley. They’re so new and young and – well, so enthusiastic. They had such plans for me and the books. And – well, I’m not sure about working with Izzie.’
    ‘Why ever not? Surely you don’t still—’
    ‘No, no. Of course not. But we’re – very close. Even now. We get on so, so well. We think alike, almost spookily so, love all the same things, and – I don’t know, someone might – well, put two and two together and make four and a half. And I don’t want to risk it. For her sake, not mine. Incidentally, what’s the situation with Jenna and her inheritance? I seem to remember Father saying you were wondering about trying to get her some more.’
    ‘Oh I’ve decided against the whole thing. I’m going to waive the claim legally. It means going to court—’ ‘Court! To ask not to have something!’
    ‘Yes. Odd isn’t it. I have to plead my case before a judge. I suppose because they want to be sure I’m acting in Jenna’s interests. But that’s all right. I just don’t want it for her. Fighting, almost certain unpleasantness, for money she simply doesn’t need. We have more than enough. I don’t
    want her to have millions of dollars—’ ‘Millions?’
    ‘It would be. Many more millions. Obscene isn’t it?’
    ‘It is a bit.’
    ‘I really think so. Millions of dollars neither she, nor even I, have earned. I think it would be terribly corrupting. And the lawsuit, fighting for it, more so.’
    ‘I think you’re right.’
    ‘I’m so glad you agree. Of course it isn’t straightforward, because if Laurence had known about her, then he would have wanted her to have some of it. Not all, because he was very fond of his other children. But – well, he didn’t. And it’s all gone to them.’
    She was silent; Kit took her hand again.
    ‘I’m so sorry. That must be your biggest regret. That he never knew Jenna, I mean, not about the money.’
    ‘It is. Yes.’ She fished in her bag for a hanky, blew her nose. ‘In some ways, the only one. I mean of course I miss him terribly every day, I loved him so much, Kit, so, so much – oh dear—’ She heard her own voice tremble, stopped talking. ‘Sorry. It’s the champagne talking.’
    ‘No it’s not,’ he said gently, ‘it’s you. Go on. If you want to.’
    ‘Well – I think so much about it. That last lovely time, that was so sad and so wonderful, when he was in London you know, during the war, and—’
    ‘And you got married.’
    ‘Yes. And we got married, and didn’t tell anyone. It was so extraordinary. So intense. And even the last time I saw him, saying goodbye to him for ever – only I didn’t know it was for ever of course – it was so absolutely joyful, in its own way. And then, then there was Jenna, and he never knew and he would have loved it so much. Loved her so much of course, but just knowing she – existed. He never had that happiness. And it’s so cruel. Such a – huge, dreadful loss for him. Even though he wasn’t aware of it. Everything else I can come to terms with. And God knows what sort of marriage we would have had, once the war was over. He was absolutely impossible.’
    ‘Go on. Tell me about him. You never have. Please. I really want to know.’
    ‘He was the most extraordinary mixture,’ she said slowly, ‘of good and bad. He behaved quite appallingly, a great deal of the time. Not just to colleagues and employees, but to the family. Maud. His brother Jamie. To Robert—’
    ‘Who’s still alive. Amazing.’
    ‘Yes. Dear Robert. He’s even still working. He loves Jenna so much. Says she looks exactly like her grandmother. It’s true actually, I’ve seen