‘Well, Mr Mountcastle,’ she said firmly. ‘I rather think it’s up to Evelyn who she chooses to spend time with, don’t you?’
‘No, I do not,’ he snapped. His voice was getting louder all the time, and a few people passing by turned their heads to see what was going on. ‘I know your sort,’ he continued. ‘You see an old woman living on her own and you think that if you befriend her there might be something in it for you.’
Ah! Light dawned on Pip. He thought she was a gold-digger. That was rich. She was the only person in decades to pay any attention to Evelyn, and he immediately suspected her motives. Whatever happened to community spirit? His attitude was particularly disappointing in this small town where everybody looked out for everyone else, because she was beginning to see things in those terms now. What she had previously considered the nosiness of those around her she now understood to be a healthy concern.
‘Oh, I get it,’ she said slowly. ‘You’re worried in case I’m trying to get Evelyn to change her will.’ She laughed at how ludicrous that was. ‘Are you worried I might get you disinherited?’
Nicholas spluttered out an answer. ‘No. Of course not. That isn’t it at all,’ he said, although from his demeanour it was obvious she had hit the nail on the head. ‘I’m just concerned for my aunt,’ he added.
‘Yes, I can see that,’ Pip replied pointedly. ‘You leave her in that big house, drowning in dust and cornflakes. You throw away her things without asking and the first time anyone shows any interest in her for years, you try to warn them off. It’s very clear just how much you care for her.’
It was harsh, Pip knew, but it seemed that her cross-examination muscles were still strong, and she was enjoying flexing them. Plus, it was fun to watch him squirming on the hook. The almost-forgotten feeling of having a witness exactly where she wanted him rose up and she welcomed it like a long-lost friend.
‘You have no right . . .’ he began, but Pip put up a hand to silence him.
‘Listen, Nicholas,’ she said more gently. ‘You honestly have no need to worry. I went to the house to return the diary. Evelyn and I got chatting and discovered that we have more in common than you might think. It’s as simple as that. I have no need of your aunt’s money, and I would much rather have her alive and available to talk to than otherwise. So please, rest assured that all is well. There’s no Machiavellian plot afoot here.’
He looked first cross, and then relieved. When he spoke again his voice was much softer, confirming her suspicion that he had built himself up to come and have it out with her.
‘You do understand my position, though,’ he said.
Pip nodded and gave him a little half-smile by way of peace offering, which he returned. ‘I’m not sure I do,’ she said, ‘but it’s fine. You can rest assured I’m not trying to steal any inheritance out from under your nose.’
‘Well, it’s good to hear that,’ he said, immediately showing her all his cards.
He gave up awfully easily, Pip thought. He’d make a terrible barrister. ‘Actually, now that you’re here,’ she said, ‘there was something I wanted to run past you.’
Nicholas looked a little taken aback at the reversal of roles, but he was listening.
‘Your aunt had a friend in London back in the day. Ted. I was thinking of trying to get in touch with him. I’m sure your aunt would love to see him, but I’d like to make it a surprise. Do you think she’d be up for something like that?’
Nicholas’s brow wrinkled as he thought about what she’d said. ‘Yes, I should think so. She’s a game old bird. But she’s never mentioned anyone from the old days to me, and you’ve only spent a few hours with her. How’ve you heard about him so soon?’
Pip felt her blush creep up her chest and burn her cheeks.
Nicholas was on to her straight away. ‘You read her diary, didn’t you?’ he asked her slyly. ‘The one I brought here by mistake.’
Pip could deny it, but what would be the point? ‘I did,’ she replied. ‘I had to work out who it belonged to so I could return it.’ She knew it sounded feeble, but it was the best she had.
‘Well I never,’ he said, looking very pleased with himself. ‘Not quite as whiter than white as we’d like to make out, are we?’ he said with an air of triumph.
Pip was cross to have been caught out, but there was nothing she could do about it so she tried to rise above it and pressed on. ‘Anyway, I don’t have much to go on, but I’ll see if I can track him down.’