Page 48 of A French Inheritance
‘I loved being a TV presenter, but I guess I could go back to being just a freelance journalist,’ Robyn said.
‘I’d advise you to find a pen name if you do that,’ Elliot said, staring at her. ‘Time to go.’ This time when he moved to open the front door, a subdued Robyn followed him.
By the time they’d walked across the farmyard and Elliot had opened the car door for Robyn, he could tell that she’d pulled herself together and the successful, confident act she presented to the world was firmly back in place.
Robyn slid onto the driver’s seat, switched the engine on and lowered the window after Elliot closed the door.
‘Goodbye, Robyn, I hope you manage to sort out your life,’ he said. ‘Mine is good now and I wish you the same, although somehow I doubt you’ll ever be truly happy.’ He turned to walk away when Robyn called out.
‘Elliot – you know that abortion I had that upset you so much? You shouldn’t have been – it wasn’t your baby anyway.’
* * *
When Elliot and Robyn had disappeared into the Corn House, Briony had joined Lucy and Adam keeping an eye out through the farmhouse window.
‘I wish she’d hurry up and leave,’ Adam muttered. ‘The longer she’s here, the more I worry.’
‘I’m trying to work out why she’s here,’ Lucy said. ‘The only thing I can think of is that somehow it’s connected to that letter Elliot received, wanting him to get involved with some TV programme or other.’
‘The door of the cottage is opening,’ Briony said quietly.
The three of them watched as Elliot escorted Robyn to her car, opened the door for her, waited while she got in and closed the door.
‘He just said something to her,’ Adam said. ‘I hope to hell it was along the lines ofnever contact me again. At last he’s walking away.’
‘Hang on,’ Lucy said. ‘She’s determined to have the last word. Now she’s off.’ They all watched silently as Robyn drove out of the yard and disappeared.
‘I don’t like Elliot’s body language,’ Adam said, sighing. ‘He looks absolutely shattered. What the hell has that bloody woman done to him now?’
Briony watched as Elliot began to slowly walk towards the farmhouse. As much as she wanted to help, to comfort him, she knew it wasn’t her place. Elliot needed his brother and his family around him.
Briony gave Lucy a quick look. ‘I’m sure Elliot would appreciate some private time with you two. I’ll disappear for a bit. See you later.’
She was already on her way to the door when Elliot walked in visibly upset. Briony gave Elliot a gentle smile as he walked in and closed the door behind her.
* * *
Briony left Jeannie sitting in the garden with Meg when she walked up to the farm for the Saturday evening welcome aperitifs for the guests. ‘I shouldn’t be more than an hour,’ she said. ‘Pizza and a glass of wine on the terrace when I get back?’
‘Sounds like a plan,’ Jeannie said.
As Briony got close to the farm, she could hear the quiet hum of conversation out on the terrace. Lucy and Adam were talking to the couple staying in the Cider House and the Dunkling family arrived at the same time as she did. Briony quickly went into work mode pouring drinks, as Lucy made her way over to introduce the Dunklings to the other couple. There was no sign of the family who were staying in No.1 The Stables. There was also no sign of Elliot or the girls.
Briony helped herself to a glass of lemonade from the jug on the drinks trolley Lucy had placed near the table and walked over to Adam. ‘No Elliot?’ she said quietly.
Adam shook his head. ‘Debs and Hannah have taken him to Cannes to cheer him up. He was in a bit of a state.’ He glanced at Briony. ‘My money is on them not succeeding after what she told him. Bloody Robyn and her antics.’
Before Briony could comment, the family from No.1 appeared and whilst Lucy poured them drinks, she started to hand around the nibbles that were on the table, but her mind was far away, thinking about Elliot. She couldn’t help but feel that he would need more than an evening out on the town with his god-daughters to regain his peace of mind after Robyn’s visit. The numb, closed-off look on his face earlier when he’d walked into the farmhouse had told Briony just how much he was hurting. She knew there was nothing she could do to help him but her heart ached for him in a way that surprised her. She longed to simply reach out, put her arms around him and hold him tight. Impossible, of course, they were just friends.
36
Briony was up early on Easter Sunday and walked Meg to the lake. She’d been there no more than five minutes thinking about Elliot and what had happened yesterday, when he and Luna appeared.
‘I was hoping you’d be here,’ Elliot said, bending to let Luna off the lead as Briony released Meg. Both dogs raced off to the water.
‘Me too.’ Briony smiled. ‘Did the girls manage to take your mind off things last night?’ Looking at the shadows under his eyes and the pallor of his skin, she could guess the answer.
‘I don’t remember; they plied me with drink,’ Elliot said ruefully.
