Ruby (22 page)

‘Well, we don’t have a choice. We have to go back to Southend again and talk to her face to face. It has to come from us and it has to come before the funeral or the formal reading of the will.’

‘I’m worried, George. Ruby has been so happy lately, and then there’s Maggie. I’m scared this may change the way it’s all working …’ Babs’ voice trailed away.

‘Maggie is our daughter, legally signed and sealed. Let’s not look for things to fret over.’ George wheeled himself backwards away from the desk and then turned the wheelchair so he was facing his wife. ‘Leonora meant well and we have to abide by her wishes and accept that it will be for the best for Ruby.’

Babs stood up. ‘Maybe we should take this as a reminder to us to get our own affairs in order in case anything unexpectedly happens to either of us.’

George smiled at his wife, his affection for her written all over his face. ‘We’re already all in order, my darling. Now if you could telephone Ruby and tell her we’re going down to Southend again tomorrow, I’ll go through to the surgery and throw myself at the mercy of the locum again!’

As they had talked and tried to decide the best way to go about making sure Leonoras Wheaton’s will was executed according to her wishes, neither of them had realised that their driver, Derek Yardley, was standing near the open window, tucked away out of sight beside the blooms of the gnarled wisteria growing up the outside of the house.

He’d originally stepped out for a cigarette but the sound of voices had pulled him across the garden and he was doing what he did best. Snooping.

He couldn’t hear every word but he heard enough to draw a conclusion that made his head spin. Ruby Blakeley, the random evacuee who had inveigled her way into the family, was in for a windfall from the lately dead aunt and they were worried about her family and Johnnie Riordan finding out. That told him the inheritance had to be big.

When he eventually slipped away from the window he was seething, but at the same time a plan was forming in his head to pay back the Blakeley bitch.

Later that day, when he knew that George was safely ensconced in his surgery and Babs was down at the church hall with Maggie, he’d slipped in the unlocked back door and headed straight for the desk in the hall near to the telephone where Babs Wheaton kept her assorted notepads and address books.

He flicked through until he found what he was looking for, scribbled the information on a scrap piece of paper and sneaked out again with his prize clutched in his hand. He couldn’t believe he hadn’t done it before.

The next day, after a long sleepless night, Ruby stood at the window in the office, watching the road outside and waiting for the Wheatons’ car to pull up. Gracie had taken over the day-to-day business of the hotel and was busy dealing with it all while Ruby nervously waited for them. She felt like a child again, desperately needing them to support her and reassure her that everything would be all right, to promise that they would look after her, whatever happened.

For the third time in her life Ruby felt lost, with nowhere to go. She wouldn’t ever go back to Walthamstow, and Melton was out of the question, with Maggie there. The only option she could see for herself was to find a live-in job at another hotel; to be a small fish in a big pond after several years as Leonora Wheaton’s assistant.

She went from the window to the desk, which was dominated by an imposing typewriter, shuffled a few papers and then went back to the window. The wait was nerve-racking and, to add to her distress, when the car did pull up, she saw Yardley was driving. She didn’t want him to see her upset and she certainly didn’t want him inside the hotel, but she knew George and Babs would expect him to be invited into the kitchen for a drink and a snack after the long drive. It had been a secret that she was living here, but suddenly it didn’t really matter any more, especially if she was going to have to move out.

She quickly wiped her eyes once again, powdered her nose and went outside to greet them. She managed a watery smile as she welcomed them and, without actually looking at him, she made the offer to Yardley, which, to her relief, he declined, pleading the need to stretch his legs.

George told him to be back in an hour to take him to meet the solicitor and deal with the formalities of the impending funeral. He turned and walked off in the direction of Southend itself as the Wheatons and Ruby went inside. Ruby found it strange to be sitting with them in Leonora’s hotel without her being there; she had to force herself not to think about her lying all alone in the chapel of rest less than a mile away.

‘I wasn’t expecting you back until the funeral. I’m worried now!’ she laughed nervously. ‘Is it bad news?’

‘Not at all, dear,’ Babs said. ‘George has a meeting with the solicitor that you have to go to as well, but first there is something you should know … something we have to talk to you about.’

Ruby’s heart started to thump. ‘I knew it. The hotel’s got to be sold and I have to move out. It’s OK, I was expecting it,’ she said quickly.

Her hands shook as she pulled a cigarette out of the packet she’d been holding and flicked away at the silver table lighter several times before there was a flame. She inhaled deeply and leaned back before blowing the smoke slowly up into the air.

‘This is all so horrible. I’m still so upset about Aunt Leonora, I can’t think straight. Thank God there are hardly any guests to look after at the moment. Do you think we should close for a couple of weeks? It’s too sad.’

‘I know,’ Babs said, ‘we’re all upset, especially as it was so unexpected. She was one of those ageless people who always seemed as if she would go on for ever. But one consolation is that she knew nothing about it, although I do wish it hadn’t been you who found her.’

Tears welled up in Ruby’s eyes. ‘It was horrible. She was just lying there. I knew as soon as I saw her even though I’ve never seen anyone dead before.’

‘I know,’ George said sympathetically. ‘But, Ruby, we have to talk before I go to the solicitor—’

‘Can I stay in the flat until I find somewhere else?’ she interrupted sharply. ‘Maybe the new owners will give me a job. I know what I’m doing now.’

‘If you’d just listen for a moment we might get somewhere. I’ve spoken with the solicitor, her solicitor, and Leonora has mentioned you in her will …’

But Ruby wasn’t listening at all. She just didn’t want to hear what they had to say so she chattered on, putting off the evil moment of truth that she was sure was coming.

‘I’ve already asked Gracie to put her ear to the ground; she knows so many people in so many hotels and boarding houses all over town. I might even get a decent job at the Palace now I’ve got the experience.’

‘Stop it, Ruby! Just stop interrupting and listen to what we have to say.’ Babs looked at her husband. ‘George? Can you please tell Ruby about Leonora’s will? You understand it all better than I do.’

‘Ruby, listen to me and don’t say a word. Leonora made a new will recently. I don’t think she thought she was going to die so soon. I think she was thinking about you in the future. And Maggie …’ He looked at her. ‘Ruby, Leonora’s will states that—’

‘The hotel’s going to be sold,’ she interrupted again, trying her best to pretend she didn’t mind. But she did. She minded so much it hurt.

‘Calm down and listen, Ruby. You’re acting like a child.’ George was getting impatient with her. ‘Babs just said Leonora has left you something – well, she’s left the hotel to you.
To you
. It’s all very complicated but the general gist is that the hotel is yours so you’ll be staying here and running it. If that’s what you want to do, of course.’

‘But that can’t be right. I’m just a kid. I’m not even a relation …’ Ruby’s eyes were everywhere, her hands were shaking and she was palpitating. It was all too much for her to take in. She pulled another cigarette out but this time George picked up the lighter. He flicked it once and the flame glowed. As Ruby leaned forward with the cigarette in her mouth for him to light he took the opportunity to continue what he was saying.

‘No buts. You have the hotel, Maggie has a trust fund for when she’s twenty-one, and Babs and I have been left some investments and insurances. I hadn’t realised how shrewd my sister was in business. Cleverer than me, that’s certain!’ George laughed. ‘There are stipulations, of course. You can’t sell it for five years, and Babs and I as executors have been asked to oversee everything for those five years to give you a little support.’

‘Are you sure you’ve read it right? It should be yours. You’re family, and it was the family house that bought this place, she told me.’

‘Yes, but it was hers to do with as she wanted,’ George said quietly. ‘And you
are
family and you’ve worked hard here. We’re proud of you. You deserve this opportunity, and what would we do with a hotel in Essex? Our lives and the surgery are in Melton, we’re very comfortable, and we’re all used to village life, including Maggie.’

‘You could sell it. That’s what I was sure was going to happen. I can’t believe it. The hotel is mine? Really?’ Ruby was excited at the thought of owning the hotel, but her excitement was tempered by the sorrow of how it had come about.

‘Yes, really. There is a reserve to go with it for emergencies, but other than that you’re going to have to work like a Trojan to run it, and you’re going to need someone alongside you, as you were for Leonora. We also need to talk about the implications.’

‘What implications?’ Ruby asked curiously. Her head was in overdrive but she tried to concentrate.

‘First, there’s the commitment of you having to manage Thamesview completely, no easy task for anyone, let alone someone as young as you. Then there’s fortune-hunters. You’re an attractive, single young woman who is now of independent means; a businesswoman, an owner of property. You’re going to have to be very aware because there will doubtless be men who will want to court you for the wrong reasons.’

‘Never! It’s a hotel, not the crown jewels,’ she laughed in embarrassment.

‘Oh, it’s very likely!’ Babs said firmly. ‘So it may be best if you’re discreet about your inheritance. And talking about young men, are you still seeing the chap that you told us about? Tony?’

‘Sort of. But he’s not a fortune-hunter, he’s a solicitor, and I’ve known him for years, ever since I came here.’

‘Where does he live?’

‘At the family home, just a road back from here. His parents own the café in the parade of shops up the road. They used to live over the shop but they’ve moved to somewhere bigger; they are such nice honest people, though they have spoiled their son.’

‘He doesn’t know anything about Maggie, does he?’

‘No, of course not. I’m not stupid. No one knows except us and Gracie, and I’d trust her with my life,’ she replied sharply, annoyed that they would even think she’d betray them and Maggie.

‘I’m sorry – we’re all being oversensitive at the minute – but you’re going to have to be more aware than ever before. Even with people you know.’ Babs said.

‘Tony’s all right. Once he’s more experienced he’ll earn a fortune. He’s ambitious.’ She stopped for a moment. Then: ‘Can I tell Gracie?’

‘Not straight away, nor Tony.’ George said. ‘Best not to tell anyone until it’s all formalised. Now we have to leave for the solicitor.’ He looked at his wife. ‘Can you see if Yardley is with the car?’

As she stood up Babs Wheaton smiled at Ruby. ‘This is going to be a challenge for you, but I know you’re capable and we’ll be there to help.’

While George, Babs and Ruby had been up in the flat talking through the details of Leonora’s will, Derek Yardley had walked along the seafront, taking in the air and looking for a postbox. When he got back to the hotel he crossed the road, sat on a nearby bench and, almost in a trance, watched the world go by.

He watched the mix of people walking along the promenade, some with dogs on leads, others with babies in prams, elderly couples arm in arm just taking the sea air. Despite a chill in the air there were children and adults alike paddling in the sea, absolutely caught up in the moment and savouring the freedom from everyday life. It was so peaceful, and he leaned back on the bench and imagined himself living there in the comfort of a seafront property with perfect views and the bustling social life of the town just up the road.

A picture-postcard place to live.

And now Miss Ruby Blakeley, the snivelling little evacuee kid, was not only going to live there on Wheaton money, his permanently listening ears told him that she was going to own the whole hotel.

He wondered how long she had been living there and he also wondered why. Something just wasn’t right about the whole situation, but he couldn’t figure out exactly what it was. He sat there and seethed with resentment and anger. The anger was, however, tempered a little by the knowledge that Ruby Blakeley had a couple of shocks in store.

Deep in thought and warmed by the sun, he was annoyed when he saw Babs Wheaton appear on the steps and look across at him. As she waved so he stood up, carefully straightened his uniform, fixed a neutral expression on his face and walked back over the road to the hotel where the car was parked.

Once again he manipulated George Wheaton’s wheelchair into the boot of the car and then followed the directions that took them to the line of shops and offices on Thorpe Bay Broadway. During the short drive he made a point of catching Ruby’s eye in the rear-view mirror as often as he could. His expression was neutral but he made sure she knew he was watching her and he enjoyed the power he could see he had over her.

On the way back he again looked at Ruby and could almost feel her discomfort, her desire to get away from him. That annoyed him, so as she climbed out of the car back at the hotel he caught her eye once again, gave a sly smile and winked. She pretended not to notice but the tiny action was somehow so sinister it took her breath away.

‘Well, we have to go shortly, darling. It’s a long drive, as you know,’ Babs Wheaton smiled as they all went back inside. ‘But I’m pleased Gracie is staying with you. She’s a lovely girl and you’re lucky to have her as a friend. And vice versa, of course.’