Whilst Finula and Marcus were in Treweham, the question of the interview was put to Marcus. Both Tobias and Sebastian had quietly approached him and outlined their proposal and although Marcus had been quite taken aback initially, he soon saw it as an opportunity to rectify the issue of the missing footage.
They were in Tobias’ study, Tobias and Sebastian having collared Marcus as Finula made her way to the south wing to see Megan.
‘Are you prepared to go public, Marcus? It will mean a hell of a lot of press interest and intrusion.’ Tobias stared gravely at Marcus.
What choice did he really have? Marcus considered. He had to come up with something for the BBC. Besides which, the revelation would be sure to make the documentary a smash hit.
‘Yes,’ replied Marcus, ‘I’ll do it.’
‘Just one condition,’ said Tobias, crossing his arms, ‘Viola Kemp has no involvement.’
Marcus nodded, understanding his dislike of her after the way she had previously interviewed him.
‘I’ll make some calls, get—’
‘Let Jamie do it,’ cut in Sebastian. The two looked at him. ‘He’s more than capable, and it would be a chance to give him a real break.’
‘That’s not a bad idea. We’ll compose the questions, though,’ replied Tobias, ‘and make sure he sticks to them,’ he added in a dry voice.
‘Jamie’s hardly likely to make it difficult,’ Sebastian answered in his defence.
‘OK. I’ll brief Jamie and get hold of Len,’ said Marcus decisively.
Two days later and the interview was good to go. The lights and camera had been set up in Tobias’ study. His desk had been moved out of the way and the Chesterfield was placed under the portrait of Richard Cavendish-Blake.
Butterflies fluttered in Jamie’s stomach as he reread the questions on his clipboard. It was an amazing opportunity he’d been given and he intended to make the most of it. He knew Sebastian trusted him to do a good job and he so badly wanted to make him proud. Marcus had organised just the minimum of assistance with make-up, lighting and sound. Jamie scanned the room: all the equipment was in place and Len was ready. All they had to do was a sound check once Tobias, Sebastian and Marcus had been fitted with microphones. He took a deep breath when the three of them calmly sat down before him. Sebastian gave a discreet, sly wink, making him relax a little, and then Jamie took the huge, furry microphone, coughed slightly and spoke into it.
‘Testing one, two three. Testing one, two, three.’
‘OK, let’s roll,’ replied Len. There was a pause, then Jamie began.
‘Thank you, gentlemen, for agreeing to be interviewed. Marcus, it must be especially challenging to you?’
‘In a way, yes. Then again, I’m glad it’s all out in the open now.’
‘How did you feel when learning of your true parentage?’
‘I was always led to believe that my father had been killed in an accident. To be told the truth by my dying mam was astonishing.’
‘Tobias and Sebastian, how does it feel to have Marcus suddenly in your lives?’
‘He’s our brother and the family accepts this,’ Tobias answered resolutely. ‘I’m sure if our father had known of Marcus’ existence, then we would have been brought up with him.’
‘Diaries, written by Father prove he knew nothing about Marcus, which is a tragedy,’ confirmed Sebastian.
‘But they do document a relationship with my mam,’ explained Marcus.
‘And the DNA tests confirm we all share the same father,’ said Tobias.
And so the interview continued; three brothers united in one family. They spoke agreeably together, giving clear, concise answers, gelling seamlessly, with the picture of their father hanging above, looking down on them.
Inside the library next door, Megan, Beatrice and Finula sat quietly together, hoping to hear the interview through the open doors. Luckily Edward was peacefully sleeping in his pram. Tobias had allowed Len to film him for just a few minutes, much to the delight of Marcus – and Megan – who thought it would add a nice touch, showing the new heir of Treweham Hall in the documentary.
Beatrice moved to hover over Edward... What would her husband have made of all this? A new grandson as well as another son he didn’t know about? She’d accustomed herself to the situation now and had found a way to accept it. Sighing, she gazed in adoration at her beautiful grandson and gently rocked his pram.
Megan and Finula strained to hear the voices in the study, but couldn’t catch it all. They would have to wait until next autumn, when the documentary was due to be aired. Megan looked at Finula’s ring again.
‘I’ve just realised,’ she murmured, ‘we’ll be sisters-in-law.’
‘I know!’ Finula exclaimed, then quickly covered her mouth. ‘Who would have thought it?’ she whispered.