A Hidden Life Read Free Page A

He was very pale and there was a tremor in his voice as he spoke.
    â€˜Everyone, this is Andrew Reynolds. He works for Reynolds and Johnson, solicitors. He’s got something to say, I’m afraid.’
    Afraid? What did that mean? Justin looked bemused. Lou saw Nessa glancing at him with the slightest shrug of her shoulders as if to say
I’ve no idea what this is about either.
The man, who was gingery and skinny, was holding a large folder. He coughed, clearly embarrassed, and his face went red.
    â€˜I was instructed by Constance Barrington shortly before she died to draw up a new will—’
    â€˜What on earth—?’ Justin interrupted him and Lou saw her father put a hand on his arm to shut him up. Justin looked like someone from a Calvin Klein perfume ad and reckoned that, because of his appearance, he could do exactly what he wanted, when he wanted. He’d been like that ever since Lou could remember, relying on his charm and looks to achieve his ambitions. The strategy had seemed to be working quite well so far.
    â€˜I know Matthew’ – Andrew Reynolds nodded at her father – ‘is his mother’s executor and had been in charge of her legal affairs. There is a will, dated May the eleventh, 2003, drawn up by him shortly after the death of Mrs Barrington’s husband, John, but I was called in to see her only two weeks ago, very shortly before her unfortunate death.’
    The silence was so thick you could almost feel it in the room. Lou wondered whether it was the waves of a still-stormy sea she could hear, or simply a roaring in her ears. Mr Reynolds went on, ‘This document is very brief. There’s a great deal of the usual thing – being of sound mind, making all other wills invalid, etc., etc., but the actual bequests are very swiftly dealt with. I’ll read them at once.’ He coughed. ‘I took this down at Mrs Barrington’s dictation, you understand. And the will is witnessed by the two nurses who were looking after Mrs Barrington at the time of her death:
    â€˜This is my last will and testament. The will I made when my husband died is superseded by this one. I know what I’m doing and have not been influenced by anyone. This is what I wish to leave to my son and my grandchildren and others after my death. To my son, who owns his home outright and has control of the law firm Barrington and Son, I will not burden you with looking after a house you’ve never really liked and endless troublewith the taxman. Milthorpe House and the lands attached to it I am bequeathing to Justin Barrington, who is young enough to benefit from it for a very long time to come, even after taxes have been paid. To his sister, Vanessa née Barrington, now Williams, I leave half of my estate. The other half I leave to my only son, Matthew. This includes stocks, shares and so forth and I calculate that each of you will come away with a fairly substantial sum, again even allowing for the present crippling rates of taxation. To Eleanor della Costa, who has been like a daughter to me, I leave any of my clothes which take her fancy, and all my jewellery, which she has admired for years. She will wear it with style. To my granddaughter Louise, I leave the copyright in my late husband’s books. To my daughter-in-law, Phyllida, I leave my collection of china and glass …’
    Mr Reynolds went on speaking, but Lou heard nothing. The roaring in her ears had subsided. She was sharply aware, as one is in a dream, of everyone looking at her, staring at her. Nessa had a hand over her mouth. She would just be coming to terms with the fact that Justin had done much better out of this than she … no surprise there. Constance had been besotted with him since childhood. Justin was managing to look gleeful and horrified at the same time. Dad’s face was chalk-white and Mum was holding his hand. Ellie’s mouth was open. Lou thought: