Inherit the Skies (71 page)

There remained the objection Sarah had raised – the damage that such a highly publicised disaster could do to the company. But as he had pointed out Leo had not known how close to the brink things really were and it could be that he had taken a calculated risk, gambling everything on an all-or-nothing throw. He had known Adam had asked to take over the South African division; with Sarah out of the way Gilbert would have been forced to rely on him as his right-hand man and eventually he could reasonably expect that control would fall into his hands.

It was a wild scheme – insane, almost – but then Adam had thought for some while that where power and position in the company were concerned Leo
was
a little mad.

Not for one moment did he doubt Perry's words. The man was a solid sort, without the imagination to dream up such a story even if he had thought it might help his case, and he had made no request to be reinstated on the strength of his information. What was more Adam happened to know that Perry had found other employment, servicing the engines for a transport concern in Bristol, so he would have been unlikely to go to such lengths even if such a thing had occurred to him. No, on balance Adam believed he had hit on the truth. But proving it would be another matter. Even with witnesses to say they had seen Leo in the sheds at the relevant time it was not evidence enough to take legal action. This was something which would have to be worked out between themselves.

His mind made up Adam turned the motor in the direction of home. With something like this hanging over him all his instincts called for immediate action. At first he had been shocked, now he was angry. He would have the matter out with Leo and do so now. There was no time like the present.

The trees outside Chewton Leigh House were casting long shadows as he turned into the drive. He parked the car in the yard at the rear and went into the house.

The library and drawing-room were empty. The family were all in their rooms dressing for dinner, he guessed. He was about to go upstairs in search of Leo but as he passed Gilbert's study he heard what sounded like a drawer being slammed shut. He turned on his heel and opened the door.

Leo was there, poring over two or three files which lay open on the big leather-topped desk. He looked up, startled, an expression of guilt surprised creeping over his thin features.

‘Adam! I was just …'

‘I can see what you are doing, Leo,' Adam said shortly. ‘Snooping.'

He went into the study, closing the door behind him.

‘Things have to be sorted out – and quickly,' Leo blustered. ‘ I thought if I were to make a start …'

‘It is no concern of yours,' Adam said coldly. ‘ You are not an executor of the will, neither were you named in it.'

Leo's cheeks burned dull red.

‘No, but I still hold a position of responsibility.'

‘Not for much longer, my friend.'

Leo's eyes narrowed. ‘Oh no, Adam, it won't be that easy to get rid of me.'

‘No? I wouldn't be too sure of that. I have a few things to say to you and when I have finished I expect you to pack your bags and leave.'

Leo laughed shortly, some of his confidence returning. ‘I don't think you are in a position to order me out, Adam. This house belongs to my mother now.'

‘I don't care who it belongs to!' Adam brought his fist down hard on the desk so that the ink pot and pens jumped. ‘If you don't do as I say, by God, I'll see you charged with murder!'

If he had had any doubts before as to the justice of Perry's accusation they were dispelled now. In that first shocked moment the guilt was all there, clearly written in Leo's face. The dark red flush had drained away leaving his face paper white and the momentary fear in his eyes was unmistakeable.

‘You swine!' Adam said. His voice was low and vibrant with anger. ‘ I ought to beat the hell out of you for what you did. You are responsible for the deaths of two men and you could very well have killed Sarah and me into the bargain.' Leo said nothing. He was too shocked at having been detected to protest his innocence and Adam went on: ‘How could you do it, Leo? God, if I had my way I'd like to force
you
up into the skies in a machine that you and I both know is not airworthy. But Morse Bailey couldn't stand another dose of bad publicity just now. And besides, dying is too easy for you.'

‘What do you propose then?' Leo sneered with a dash of defiance.

‘That you do as I say, clear out here and now, or I'll carry out my threat and see you charged with murder – and a host of other things besides. That wouldn't be good for the company either and it is not a prospect I relish – showing up my wife's stepbrother for a common criminal. But I warn you if it comes to the pinch I shall not hesitate.'

As he said it, angry as he was, he wondered if Leo would realise he was bluffing. He was not in possession of the evidence to have Leo charged with anything. But Leo, trapped by his own guilt, did not think to ask Adam just how he would go about carrying out his threat.

‘You'll be sorry for this!' he blustered.

‘I doubt it. There is going to be a clean sweep at Morse Bailey. I want you out, Leo, as soon as you can pack your things together. I don't know how you will explain to your mother and neither do I care. You can tell her what you please – though I doubt it will be the truth, that you were responsible for the death of her husband.'

‘Aren't
you
going to tell her?' Leo asked unpleasantly. ‘I should have thought you would enjoy doing that.'

‘Unlike you, Leo, I do not gain pleasure from causing pain to others. In fact I feel sorry for your mother. She has done some despicable things in her time and I don't believe she brought much happiness to Gilbert. But I dare say most of what she did was with your good in mind. She is an old woman now. She won't be happy about you going. But it will hurt her less than the knowledge that her son is a murderer.'

‘Damn you, Adam!' Leo said softly. ‘Damn you all! I hope you rot in hell!'

‘Possibly. One thing is very sure, Leo – if we do we shall be certain of meeting you there. Now get out of here before I do what I am itching to and smash that ugly face of yours to a pulp.'

A look of sheer hatred disfigured Leo's features. The evil of him had never been more transparent than it was now. But he was beaten – for the moment – and he knew it.

‘Don't think you will get away with this, Adam,' he spat from the doorway. ‘I'll have my revenge if it takes me a lifetime. And don't you forget it!'

Then he was gone. Adam brought his hand crashing down on the desk again, delivering the blow he had longed to land square on the face of the man who had been responsible for two deaths. Nothing would have given him more pleasure than to see Leo spreadeagled on the floor choking on his own blood. But it would have done no good. This way at least they were rid of him. They could begin to pick up the pieces of the company which meant so much to all of them – and rebuild their shattered lives. His anger spent, he began to put away the files into which Leo had been prying. Tomorrow they would have to be taken out again. Perhaps Sarah could help him sort out the intricacies they contained, for Adam was not a desk-man. But if necessary he would become one. That much he owed to Gilbert's memory.

The lengthening shadows cast a gloom over the study as Adam stood there alone contemplating what was over and done with and what was yet to be.

Sarah's letter arrived with the morning mail. Adam found it in the pile beside his breakfast plate. He recognised her writing and his eyes narrowed. Then as he tore it open and read the contents he swore.

Hellfire and damnation, why had he left her alone last night? He had known she was upset by the traumas the day had brought. But it had never occurred to him she would do something like this … Of course it would never have happened if we had had our plans cut and dried, Adam thought. He had let things drag on for one reason and another and it had only made matters worse. Now he knew the time had come to delay no longer. He had to be free so that he and Sarah could make a life together. Better to make the cut cleanly than to bleed slowly to death.

He pushed back his chair and stood up leaving his breakfast untouched, strode into the hall and took the stairs two at a time. The door to Alicia's room was open, he knocked cursorily and went in.

Alicia was sitting at her dressing table mirror putting up her hair and talking to Guy's nanny as she did so. Guy was there too, fiddling with a pile of her hairpins. As he entered the room she looked up in surprise.

‘Adam! What brings you here?'

He ignored the question.

‘Nanny, would you kindly take Master Guy downstairs? I want to talk to my wife.'

Nanny glanced at Alicia; she was not in the habit of taking orders from Adam.

Alicia nodded briefly. ‘It's all right, Nanny. You may do as Mr Bailey says.'

‘But Mama, I don't want to go!' Guy had a slightly whiney voice which irritated Adam.

‘You, young man, will do as you are told!'

‘Go along, Guy. You may come back later,' Alicia said. When Nanny had ushered him out she addressed her husband. ‘To what do I owe this visit, Adam? You come to my room seldom enough, and never in the morning.'

He ignored the implication. ‘ There is something I have to say to you, Alicia, and I will not insult you by beating about the bush. You must know that our marriage has been over for some time now and I think it is high time the situation was regularized. I want a divorce and I want it as soon as possible. The time has come to put an end to the charade.'

She froze, her hands still holding her hair in place. He could see her face reflected in the mirror – it was expression-less but for the widening of her eyes.

‘Really? And what has brought it to a head just now?' she asked after a moment and he found himself unwillingly admiring her containment.

‘I want to marry Sarah.'

‘Oh, I see.' She slipped a pin into her chignon with calm deliberation. ‘You want to marry Sarah. Well there is nothing new in that is there? I suppose the only thing that has changed is that now she is as good an investment as me. The same third share in the estate, the same control in the companies. Well, I admire your astuteness, Adam.'

Sarah's letter seemed to burn a hole in his pocket. He was on the point of telling her that if he had wished he could have both – Sarah intended to make all her shares over to him. But he did not. He had no intention of being sidetracked now.

‘I will provide you with the grounds for divorce, Alicia,' he said. ‘You need have no fear that I will drag your name through the mire.'

‘Very commendable,' she said drily. ‘But has it not occurred to you that I might refuse?'

‘It has, yes. And in that case of course my offer to behave honourably will no longer apply. If you force me to it, Alicia, then I will divorce you. Make no mistake of that.'

She twisted the last strand of hair into place and turned to face him.

‘I see. You are determined, aren't you? Is there nothing I can say to make you change your mind?'

‘Do you really want me to, Alicia? Surely you know as well as I do that our marriage is a mockery. It is no happier a situation for you than it is for me. You would be far better off free to meet and marry someone who would appreciate you.'

She smiled but it was a hard smile. Was there no softness in Alicia? he wondered.

‘Your concern for me is touching,' she said. ‘There is, however, someone else involved in this. Your son. What you feel for me is irrelevant to what really matters. If you don't care about disgracing me surely you will continue to keep up the pretence of our marriage for his sake. Think of Guy, Adam. Think of your son.'

Adam's eyes hardened. His mouth was a bitter line.

‘Oh Alicia, I did hope you would not try to use Guy to hang onto me. To bring him into it will only make things worse.'

‘What do you mean?' she challenged him.

He glanced towards the door, it was firmly shut, no sound of a childish voice coming from the other side.

‘Because, my dear, you and I both know that Guy is not my son.'

He saw her eyes narrow; a muscle tightened in her cheek. But she replied with admirable coolness.

‘Oh? And whose son is he then?'

‘His father was one of your recuperating officers, I dare say – probably the one I caught you with. I'm really not very interested. All that matters to me is that I know very well he is not mine.'

‘I see,' she said stiffly. ‘ So now you intend to disown him.'

‘No.' He crossed to the window and stood with his back to it. ‘I won't disown Guy. If I had intended to do that I would have done it a long time ago, when I came back from my prisoner-of-war camp to find I had miraculously become a father. I decided then that for the boy's sake I would allow everyone to think that what you had led them to believe was true, and I see no reason for changing that now. Guy has handicaps enough without being labelled a bastard as well.'

‘You would prefer people to think that you abandoned your own son?'

He shrugged. ‘I shall make proper provision for him, now and in the future. And my shoulders are broad. As far as I am concerned the world can continue to believe I am his father just as long as you release me from this charade of a marriage.'

‘Oh Adam!' She threw back her head suddenly and laughed.

‘What do you find so funny?' he enquired.

She shook her head. ‘The irony of it! Our marriage began with blackmail; now it looks as though it will end in the same way.'

‘I would prefer to call it an ultimatum, Alicia, but I dare say it amounts to the same. Give me my freedom and I will continue to own Guy as my son. Even he need know no different, though I don't suppose he will thank me for it.'

‘And Sarah?' He saw the flash in her eyes, recognised the rivalry that still existed between the two women.