The Legacy by Evelyn Anthony

that?’
    â€˜Richard would never have admitted it,’ she answered. ‘I never thought about it. It’s your life, and it’s no-one else’s business.’
    â€˜Father ignored it because he’s just like Alan; if it’s something they don’t like, it isn’t true. So simple, the Farrington philosophy. Didn’t you realize how much alike they were?’
    Christina said flatly, ‘No, I didn’t and I don’t. Richard was gentle, loving and, above all, fair; your brother is a bully and a thug. Please don’t try to make comparisons.’ She felt herself blush with anger. He had shrewd eyes, they watched her and calculated. He had gone too far and he retreated quickly.
    â€˜I’m sorry, I’m sure Father was all those things to you, and to Belinda, of course.’ He put out his cigarette. ‘You’re right about my brother; he’s a bully and a thug, but there are explanations.’
    â€˜Then you can tell me about them after lunch,’ she said. She walked past him through the French windows into the drawing-room. He closed the doors on to the terrace and followed her across the great hall into the dining-room.
    She could be strong, he decided, and a lot tougher than she looked. Alan might not ride as rough shod as he hoped when he took on his hated stepmother. He might be very glad of any help that James could give him.
    While Christina and James were lunching in the tranquillity of RussMore, Rolf Wallberg was called into Humfrey Stone’s office. Humfrey pushed a file across to him.
    â€˜Farrington’s solicitors,’ he explained. ‘Asking for copies of all the relevant documentation. Trust deeds, new executions altering the original settlement, minutes of meetings between Richard Farrington and ourselves … And, of course, the will. Cheeky letter from them too.’ He frowned. The tone had been hostile and combative. Alan Farrington had chosen a firm that matched his style.
    â€˜But you expected this,’ Rolf said. ‘What’s the problem?’
    Humfrey looked up at him. ‘The problem is’, he said, ‘I’m up to my eyeballs with the Ringwater Estate. I just haven’t got the time to cope with all this. I was hoping Mr Ruben would handle some of it, but he’s dumped the lot on me. Rolf, I’m going to ask you to take on this Farrington correspondence; deal with Mrs Farrington and keep it ticking over for the next few weeks. Can you handle that?’
    Rolf didn’t hesitate. ‘Of course, but you’ll need to explain the situation to your client, first. Clear it with her and I’ll start right away.’ Humfrey was still worried. He liked Christina and had fully intended to defend her interests himself, but Ruben Stone had decreed otherwise. ‘You got on, didn’t you?’
    Rolf hid a smile. The fact that he asked meant he’d sensed they didn’t like each other. Or rather that she didn’t like him. ‘We’re both Swedes,’ he assured him. ‘We’ll understand each other. My only interest is to win the case for her. Emphasize that when you talk. After all, it would do my reputation a lot of good internationally, if I won. This will be a high-profile action; it could go to the Court of Appeal.’
    â€˜It could go to the Lords!’ Humfrey sighed. ‘You’ll be here for the next five years—no, seriously, the best course is to settle. We all know that there are no winners, only losers when it gets into court.’
    Rolf raised his eyebrows in mockery. ‘Aren’t you forgetting the fees?’
    Humfrey didn’t rise. He worked hard and he earned a fortune, but he had always put his clients’ interests above money. He doubted whether Rolf Wallberg could say the same. ‘I’ll put a call through to her.’ He ended the meeting by reaching for his telephone. ‘Get me Mrs Farrington, please, Joan