Chapter Twenty-Four
Tim groaned as someone knocked at his door "What?!"
"Good morning Mr Grey." Mr Stokes stepped into the room and started to open the curtains. Tim winced "His Lordship's compliments, breakfast is served in the dining room."
"I'll just have coffee and toast here thanks" Tim grumbled, turning over.
"I'm sorry Sir, but His Lordship was most clear. You are expected to eat in the dining room." Stokes tried not to show too much pleasure at denying the younger Grey brother. "I have laid your clothes out in the dressing room. Will you require anything else."
Tim sat up "No."
"Very well Sir" Stokes let himself out.
Tim sighed and pushed himself to get out of bed. He would have much preferred to stay there and avoid any difficult conversations in the dining room, either with his father or Isobel.
As he descended the stairs he heard the front door close. Entering the dining room, he noticed his father reading the paper alone "Isobel not up yet?" he asked grumpily.
"Hmm? Oh, we've been up a while. Isobel has headed out to the hospital to catch up on her almoner duties. Then she normally has coffee with the Dowager Countess. So we have all morning to carry on looking through your affairs" Dickie gave him a pointed look.
"I really don't want to" Tim grumbled.
"Nanny used to say to me 'I wants don't count'. It would really be a better idea to know exactly what has happened and where you stand." Dickie was emphatic "If things are as bad as you insinuate they are, then you need to know exactly so that you can make a plan. Besides, if you remember anything useful we need to let the police know."
Tim huffed "I'm not telling the police anything!"
"Why on earth not?" Dickie asked "It's their job to find out where Larry is. Without everything we can tell them, they may not find him. And that has more consequences than just for me, you and John"
"How do you mean?" Tim asked "Larry's the one that's done a runner."
"It would seem with a lot of people's money. Depending on who they are, his life may be in danger. If we can find him, so can other people. By hiding him from the authorities we may just be allowing others to get to him first" Dickie pointed out "Then there's all the people who invested - it wasn't just you, you know - all the people employed by those investors, all the people employed by the bank, all the people employed at Merton House and at Cavenham. If this is as bad as I suspect it is, there are many ruined lives involved."
Tim just stirred his coffee and looked into it's dark depths.
-TW- -TW- -TW-
"So, did you have a good visit?" Violet asked as Mr Spratt arrived with the coffee.
"I did as a matter of fact. The luncheon was a great success. Lady Foxton sends her regards." Isobel smiled.
"And how is Marjorie? Still as militant as ever?" Violet chuckled.
"More worried about the love lives of her children these days I think" Isobel smirked. The door closed behind Spratt "And possibly with cause. Her Julia seems to be fixated with Tim."
"Tim Grey?! I would have thought she had more sense." Violet could sense some juicy London news coming out of this conversation and was looking forward to hearing the details.
"So would I, but after having lunch with her yesterday, she seems quite serious. Despite.." Isobel paused, Violet cocked her head to encourage her to continue "Well, first evening we were there we took Margaret and Hugh to the Ritz…"
"That's a bit grand isn't it?" Violet was surprised.
"It was meant as a thank you." Isobel bristled "Anyway, it just so happened that Tim was there with a young lady, who it later turned out was Julia Foxton. She left quite abruptly during our first course, and then Tim came over" Isobel paused to sip her coffee, maddening Violet "He was clearly drunk, blamed us - well me - for whatever he was upset about and caused quite a scene. The staff had to remove him."
"So, things haven't improved then?" Violet sympathised.
"Well, you wouldn't think so would you. But, well, I don't know what to make of it to be honest." Isobel placed her cup and saucer on the side table. "Dickie is concerned that this business with Larry has really upset him. He seems to think he's in quite a state, and was worried about him when he visited while I was at the luncheon. So much so that he invited him to stay at Crawley House for the weekend."
"He's staying at your house?! Now?!" Violet was genuinely shocked.
"Yes" Isobel confirmed, then raised a hand "I know! I know! He has apologised, sort of, but I'm not sure how far I can trust him - and I told him so. Dickie is helping him go through his paperwork and finances. He thinks Larry has deceived Tim just as much as the rest of us, but… well, I will need more convincing that this particular leopard has changed his spots."
"Well" Violet huffed "It's rare, but I'm almost lost for words!"
"Hmm" Isobel nodded in agreement "I can't quite believe I have one of the Grey boys under my roof."
"What do you plan to do?" Violet asked.
"Carry on as normally as I can. I shall go up for tea this afternoon - I have missed John - and make sure everyone knows he's here. I don't expect Cora to entertain him, but I will need to let her know our plans" Isobel pondered. "And I wanted to know if there are any firm plans for the shopping trip yet. I promised Lady Marjorie I'd let her know when I plan to be back in Town."
"Well, I can't deny I'm intrigued to see how this plays out" Violet chuckled "Would you like to stay for luncheon?"
"No, I'd better go home. Dickie will be upset if he thinks I'm avoiding Tim" Isobel sighed.
"Well, aren't you?" Violet asked
"I'm trying not to. As I said, I'm trying just to do my normal things. He wasn't up when I left for the hospital this morning" Isobel avoided looking at Violet "But if I don't spend time with him, how can I tell if he's changed? More importantly, how will I be able to stop Dickie getting hurt?"
"Shall I come to Crawley House for luncheon then?" Violet offered, trying to look innocent.
"I really don't think that would help!" Isobel said exasperated.
-TW- -TW- -TW-
"Hello Darling" Dickie smiled widely as he came into the hall to meet Isobel as she arrived home "Did you have a productive morning?"
"I did" Isobel kissed him "Violet was pleased to see me as well. She makes out she doesn't get any other visitors, but I'm sure that's not true."
Dickie smirked "I'm sure she still knows everything that's going on in the village, even so"
Isobel led the way to the drawing room, but was surprised to find it empty. "No Tim?" she asked Dickie.
"We had a productive, but ultimately disappointing morning" Dickie said quietly "He's upstairs having some time to himself. I said I would let him know when lunch was ready."
"Is it that bad?" Isobel asked, just as quietly, as she invited Dickie to sit beside her on the sofa.
Dickie sighed "Yes. Larry has basically cheated him out of about 80% of his inheritance. He had lump sums from my father and Ada. He should have been quite comfortable, especially as a second son."
"And there's no hope of getting any of it back?" Isobel reached for Dickie's hand.
"Some of the papers he was given are just total duds. I recognised the company names from conversations I've had with Inspector Money. His account at Greenall's looked quite healthy, until the latest statement was received. It's now empty - just like the others. We're talking over £20,000."
Isobel's mouth hung open involuntarily. "How could he do that?" She whispered "It's bad enough doing it to complete strangers, but.. his own brother?!"
Dickie ran his hand over his face. "I can barely think how much he must have taken if that's what he's got from Tim. I mean, I know roughly what he's taken from Cavenham too, but I think he may have spent a good portion of that." Dickie shook his head "I really don't think we'll see him again. He's got more than enough cash to keep him secluded in luxury somewhere."
Just then Stokes arrived to announce luncheon. Dickie asked him to inform Tim and they all met in the dining room. It was quite a quiet affair, with Tim barely eating anything. Isobel shared some updates from the hospital. Dickie commented on some story in the morning paper. It felt stilted and uncomfortable.
"Do you have plans for this afternoon?" Isobel asked, trying to make some kind of conversation.
"Not really" Dickie replied "I was wondering whether you were free?"
"I am" Isobel smiled at him "I thought we could go up to the Abbey early for tea, to spend some time with John."
"I'd like that" Dickie's smile was genuine "Will you join us Tim? We could take the children for a walk down to the lake: they like that and Nanny is always grateful for more hands"
Tim just shook his head without raising his eyes from his plate. Isobel and Dickie shared a look.
-TW- -TW- -TW-
"Here they are! The wanderers return!" Announced Robert as Isobel and Dickie arrived in the library with the children.
"They were only in London for two nights!" Noted Cora with exasperation. "And how was it? Did you enjoy the time with your friends?"
"Donk, can we play snakes and ladders?" George asked. Robert moved to the coffee table to start the game and encouraged Tom and Sybbie to join in too.
"I did! And I'm sure you'd like them as well. I'm hoping to see them again when we're down for the shopping trip" Isobel gushed. "Barbara has said there's a meeting to discuss the reforms to the Representation of the People Act too: I was hoping we'd be in Town for that."
"Ooh, that would be interesting." Cora agreed "I think Edith was saying maybe the first week in December. I'll try to get her to tie down a date. Rosamund is looking forward to us all visiting"
"Are we chaps invited too? Or are we expected to sit at home and tend the fires?" Robert enquired. Dickie chuckled from the window where he was showing John the view.
"I'm sure Rosamund would be happy to host her dearest brother, but I didn't think you would be interested in the shopping?" Cora was amused.
"Well, maybe not the shopping bit" admitted Robert "But we could see a show, have a dinner out or two"
"Your turn Donk!" announced Sybbie.
"This is beginning to sound like a party not to be missed" Tom commented "How many of us can Rosamund cope with?"
"Margaret and Hugh are only 4 doors down, I'm sure they'd be happy to put us up if Rosamund is full" said Dickie. "We would be a merry party" He lowered John to the floor to play with some blocks.
"How come I always land on the snakes?" Robert grumbled. George laughed at him.
"Speaking of merry parties, are you joining us for dinner tonight?" Cora asked Isobel.
Isobel looked at Dickie who said "Well, we have Tim staying and after the way he's behaved in the past, I wouldn't expect you to include him."
There was a stunned silence.
Cora looked at Isobel "Tim's staying at Crawley House?" Isobel just nodded.
"I invited him. This business with Larry has hit him for six. I was rather hoping that some time in a real family home would help him recover a bit" Dickie said with a forced lightness.
Around the room there were shared glances of disbelief and astonishment, before Cora gathered her wits enough to say "Well, of course, he's welcome if he wishes to come."
Isobel looked to Dickie. "Can we let you know when we get home?" Dickie asked "He may feel awkward coming to a big family dinner, all things considered."
"Of course" Cora obliged, and shared a meaningful look with Isobel over the rim of her teacup as she took a sip.
/
N.B. £20,000 in 1927 equates to about £1,300,000 (US$1,768,000) today