Before I Met You Read Online Free PDF Page B

left her an hour earlier, neatly upon her back, arms at her sides, face slack in repose, her heavy breathing the only real evidence that she was, in fact, alive and not newly expired and laid out as for a wake.
    She was about to turn and leave when she heard Arlette’s sheets rustling. Arlette was awake and she was smiling. ‘Is that you, Betty?’ she asked quietly.
    ‘Yes, Arlette, it’s me.’
    She closed her eyes, still smiling, and just before she drifted back to sleep, murmured the words: ‘I love you, very much.’
    ‘Oh,’ said Betty, her stomach lurching pleasantly at her words, her hand at her heart. ‘I love you too.’

6
    1995
    THIS Last Will & Testament is made by me ARLETTE FRANÇOISE LAFOLLEY of LAURIERS HOUSE, LAURIERS MOUNT, ST PETER PORT, GUERNSEY, BRITISH ISLES, GY1 3DG on the 22nd day of SEPTEMBER 1988.
    I APPOINT as executors and trustees of my will, JOLYON ADAM LAFOLLEY OF LAURIERS HOUSE, LAURIERS MOUNT, ST PETER PORT, GUERNSEY, BRITISH ISLES, GY1 3DG, and ALISON CATHERINE DEAN OF LAURIERS HOUSE, LAURIERS MOUNT, ST PETER PORT, GUERNSEY, BRITISH ISLES, GY1 3DG and should one or more of them fail to or be unable to act I APPOINT to fill any vacancy ELIZABETH JANE DEAN OF LAURIERS HOUSE, LAURIERS MOUNT, ST PETER PORT, GUERNSEY, BRITISH ISLES, GY1 3DG.
    I GIVE
    (1) My home, Lauriers House, and all its furniture, to my son JOLYON ADAM LAFOLLEY.
    (2) My MG Midget to my son JOLYON ADAM LAFOLLEY.
    (3) All clothes – including in particular my mink coat which, at the time of writing, is on the top shelf of my middle wardrobe – all jewellery, personal effects, ornaments, photographs, books and ornamental furnishings to my son’s stepdaughter, ELIZABETH JANE DEAN OF LAURIERS HOUSE, LAURIERS MOUNT, ST PETER PORT, GUERNSEY, BRITISH ISLES, GY1 3DG. I also give Elizabeth Jane Dean the sum of ONE THOUSAND POUNDS, to be paid to her in CASH and thereafter the sum of ONE HUNDRED POUNDS to be paid to her every year on her birthday, to be spent on champagne, designer dresses and parties.
    (4) The rest of my estate, including all accounts held in my name, savings accounts, pensions and bonds, to CLARA TATIANA PICKLE a.k.a. CLARA TATIANA JONES of (last known address) 12 ST ANNE’S COURT, SOHO, LONDON, W1A 2DF. If Ms Pickle/Jones is deceased these monies will revert to her children. If her children are deceased these monies will revert to her grandchildren. If she is deceased and found to have no immediate family these monies will revert to ELIZABETH JANE DEAN. If the executors have been unable to trace Ms Pickle/Jones within a one-year period of my demise, monies will revert to ELIZABETH JANE DEAN.
    I WISH my body to be BURIED in the plot reserved for me at St Agnes’ Church, beside my late husband. My son, JOLYON ADAM LAFOLLEY, has already been made aware of my requirements for the style and tone of my internment and subsequent celebration. I have given him written instructions and a sum of money to cover expenses. What I would now like to add to these requirements is that I should very much like there to be jazz and dancing.
    Signed,
    Arlette Lafolley
    THE LAWYER LOOKED from Jolyon to Alison and then to Betty.
    ‘Clara Pickle?’ said Jolyon, his large neck wobbling back and forth as he shook his head blankly. ‘Who the hell is Clara Pickle?’ He looked at Alison. Alison shrugged. He looked at Betty. Betty shrugged. He looked at the lawyer. The lawyer said; ‘So you don’t know who this woman is?’
    ‘Do I look like I know who this woman is? Here …’ He put out his hand and the lawyer passed his mother’s last will and testament to him. Jolyon read the document, once, twice, three times.
    ‘St Anne’s Court …?’ he muttered.
    ‘That’s in Soho,’ said Betty.
    ‘Soho? What the …?’
    He ran a hand through what remained of his hair and looked perplexed. ‘This is crazy,’ he said.
    ‘How much money are we talking about?’ Alison asked.
    He shrugged. ‘Not much, not any more. Ten