‘I WONDER WHY Philip Hemingford wants to see us in his office,’ Hugo asked Alice as they walked through Chelsea together.
‘Last time we had an appointment with him, he practically had to referee a fight,’ Alice said. ‘When you thought I was a gold-digger.’
‘And you thought I was a vain clothes horse.’
She looked pointedly at his shoes. ‘Says the man with handmade Italian stuff on his feet.’
He laughed, and kissed her. ‘And who was it who found me that suit on our honeymoon, Dr Grey?’
‘You looked cute in it,’ she said with a grin.
Hand in hand, they walked into the solicitor’s office. He was already waiting for them.
‘Lovely to see you both,’ he said, shaking their hands in turn. ‘Thank you for the invitation to the opening of the butterfly house next week. I’m looking forward to it.’
‘Pleasure,’ Alice said.
‘So what can we do for you?’ Hugo asked.
‘I have a letter from Miss Grey. You’ve met the conditions for it to be given to you,’ he said.
‘A letter from Great-Aunt Rosemary? For both of us?’ Hugo looked confused.
‘Yes.’
‘Do you have any idea what’s in it?’ she asked.
He shook his head. ‘None at all. Miss Grey was a bit of a law unto herself.’
‘Perhaps we should ask you to read it to us,’ Hugo said. ‘And we promise not to shout at each other.’
The solicitor gave a small smile. ‘I’m glad to hear that.’ He opened the letter and scanned it.
‘What does she say?’ Alice asked impatiently.
My dear Hugo and Alice,
If you’re reading this, then I know my dearest wish has come true. I’ve been trying to get you to meet each other for months, but whenever one of you was at the house with me the other one wasn’t.
The only way I could think of to get you to meet was to change my will. I knew you’d have to be at the solicitor’s, and I hoped that if you worked together—with you in charge of the garden and the butterflies, Alice, and you in charge of the buildings, Hugo—you’d see the same that I do. That you’re perfect for each other.
I know you’ve both suffered a lot in the past, and I think you’ll make each other very happy.
Congratulations on your wedding, and I do hope you’ll forgive an old woman for interfering.
With much love to you both,
Rosemary
Hugo and Alice looked at each other.
‘Matchmaking from beyond the grave,’ Hugo said.
‘And she was right. We’re perfect for each other,’ Alice said. ‘If she hadn’t changed her will and put in those conditions, we probably wouldn’t have met.’
‘We wouldn’t be married,’ he said.
She rested her hand on the almost imperceptible bump of her stomach. ‘I have a feeling that this little one’s going to be a girl. And I also think her name should be Rosemary Viola Emma Grey.’
‘Rosemary Viola Emma Grey,’ Hugo echoed, and his eyes were full of love.
* * * * *