She nodded then breathed deeply. She needed time to think, to plan. She would not let him see the children, ever. They were hers

Ann took a deep breath and began to smile as a thought occurred. “Robert, let us not argue. “Whatever you desire is of course your command. But first, let me tell you about how things have been here in your absence. “Everyone else is well. Your cousin Caroline was distressed about the news of the bridge but she is resting, all is well with her lying-in.”

Ann glanced over at Robert. “Aunt Euphemia came to visit us one day.

“She informed me that you had been for luncheon that day of the tragedy as usual and so I had presumed you would be on your regular train, the 6.50 from Ladybank.

“We watched the train go over the bridge and then fall, tumbling into the depths.”

Robert removed his pocket watch from his waistcoat and peered at it in the dim light as she continued.

“But Robert, this is not the time to talk about the future. I would prefer if we do not inform the children until everything is settled.”

“And you will not tell anyone of my visit until I return from Glasgow, where I plan to go tomorrow to set about securing passages for us all on the next boat to Tasmania.”

Deceit

Oh, the deceit of the man. Why would he insist on keeping his return a secret unless his intentions were dubious?

She knew fine that his plan was to snatch her children from her and set up in Australia, where he would no doubt find someone else he could call a wife.

“And I have many things to attend to in the next two days before we can sail.”

“As you wish.” She nodded then breathed deeply. She needed time to think, to plan.

She would not let him see the children, ever. They were hers.

She looked directly into his dull eyes and forced herself to continue calmly.

“Then why do we not meet somewhere to discuss further, once you are returned. Does three nights hence suit you?

“You cannot return here, in case the children waken and see you.

“I suggest we meet down at the shore, you remember our favourite place, where we used to sit on that bench above the river. Is midnight suitable?” “That seems rather late.”

“Sunday will be quiet, we will not be disturbed. “And until we decide what to do, I shall not reveal that you are back, especially if it is only temporary.”

“Very well.” He sat forward and muttered, feigning disinterest.

“What else did Aunt Euphemia say?”

A smile played around Ann’s lips as she recalled the letter.

“She was in a most frightful state for she had an unpleasant task to perform.

“She had to go the mortuary at the station and identify a body.”

“Whose?”

Ann sat up straight. “One of her servants. Now, what was her name?” She shook her head then yawned widely.

Silence

His eyes opened wide. “Can you not recall, woman?” As he raised his voice, a sound was heard. They both looked towards the door.

“Is Lizzie still speaking in her sleep?”

Yes.” They waited until the heavy silence had resumed.

“I repeat, woman, can you remember the servant’s name?”

“Let me think. Yes, I know now. But it would be of no interest to you, Robert.

“She was a maid, her name was Janet Clark. Terrible head injuries, bashed about on the rocks.” “Janet? Dead?” He sat stock-still, his face pinched. “Dead,” she nodded. “Now, Robert, please leave before the children waken. We shall meet on Sunday evening.”

He staggered to his feet and headed towards the door, stumbling as he knocked against the side of the dressing table in the semi-darkness.

When she saw he had shut the door tight, she blew out the light and laid her head down on the pillow.

So, it was as she had thought, he had intended running away with the maid. vision and building our future. I am running for president of the United States #2020VISION.

Kanye West.

“

Well about 23 years ago I was sat in a room with Gary Neville, and the Spice Girls were on the TV, and I turned around to him and said, ‘Ohhhh, I like that one in the little black catsuit’. Who would have thought that all these years later we are celebrating 21 years of marriage...

David Beckham.

He would deem it another conquest of the lower class.

She had regretted burning the letter but the more she thought about it, she was convinced there were the letters J and C at the start of the names which were otherwise illegible.

A fling with a maid; well, he would pay for his stupidity. The ignominy of it all.

She uttered a long sigh as she shut her eyes tight. She had seen the woman that day in the station, the body of her husband’s lover.

She shivered and pulled the blankets up around her.

As her mind played over every word he had just said, she became convinced that, even though he could not run away with the serving maid, he was after the children. Her children.

He had come back to remove them from her. Well, that would never happen, not over her dead body.

He wanted to steal her precious children? There was no doubt about it, he would pay for this.

2015

“Oh, hi, Doug, how are things in Glenisla?” “Doing away fine thanks, Fiona. Had a busy season and the new chef’s settled in better now.” “Good, any other news?”

“There is actually,” Doug replied. “Do you remember that issue with Pete’s car, the one you thought was stolen?”

Fiona swallowed. She regretted having told Mrs C and Doug about that.

“Yes, have the police been?”

“No, but there’s a piece in the Alyth Voice today about Lawson’s, the car dealer in Main Street.”

“Is that where Pete bought his car?”

“Yes, you said his mate from Dundee got him onto it but he can’t have known.”

“Known what?”

“They’re crooks, all crooks, they’ve just been rumbled. First of all, one of the ghillies from Glen Clova estate shopped Bill Lawson.

“Wait till you hear what he’d been doing.”

More tomorrow.

Kanye West and David Beckham.