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substantial but elegant titbits. The few other people present ate a little, drank a little and behaved in a restrained way, as if the family really was grieving.
    Miranda could feel her determination to stand up for herself shrivelling by the minute as the others continued to chat easily, smiling at one another, ignoring her.
    When everyone had left except for the family and the lawyer, Sebastian looked across the room at her. ‘Come and join us, Minnie. I don’t know why you always have to retreat to a corner. We need to explain Father’s will to you.’
    This was the final straw. She got up and moved across, forgetting all the tactful phrases she’d planned, forgetting her usual fear of standing up to him. ‘I do speak English, you know, so I daresay I’ll understand the will. And anyway, I read the new will for myself. How did you persuade Father to treat me like that? I warn you, I shall contest the will. I want full control of my share like Regina has.’
    He blinked in surprise at her blunt words, then she saw his face grow dark with anger, which he mastered with a visible effort after a quick sideways glance at the lawyer. ‘I don’t see how you can possibly have seen the will.’
    â€˜Father had left a copy of the draft in a drawer. I was putting some things away and found it.’
    â€˜I see. Well, it’s changed a little since then. Mr Tressman can explain the implications to you. You’ve been generously looked after, will never want for anything, so you’ll have no cause to complain or contest the will.’
    She didn’t trust him. He had that smug, I-am-the-winner look on his face.
    The lawyer stepped forward, his tone soothing. ‘Your father was worried about you, Miss Fox. He knew you . . . were sometimes in need of support—’
    She broke in angrily. ‘I had a post-natal depression many years ago. I’ve not had any trouble since.’
    His smile was fixed and glassy. ‘Of course, of course. But you aren’t used to handling money, so he’s left your share of his estate in a trust, which your brother and I will manage for you.’
    â€˜What does that mean in practice?’
    Sebastian’s voice was patronizing. ‘It means we’ll help you with the big stuff, like buying somewhere to live, and we’ll make sure your money is invested carefully, so that you have a steady income for the rest of your life. You’re too old to find a decent job, not to mention having no training, but Father did appreciate the way you’d looked after him, as did Regina and I.’
    â€˜How much money did he leave me?’
    They all looked at her disapprovingly.
    â€˜How much?’ she insisted.
    â€˜Twenty-five per cent. It’s in a trust. It’s not left
to
you. It’s left for you to use, then when you die, the money comes back to the next generation – my children and Regina’s. If you’d had a child, he or she would also be a legatee.’
    â€˜I did have a child.’
    â€˜Who was adopted at birth, so is not now a member of the family, may even be dead for all we know.’
    â€˜Do you and Regina have a trust too?’
    â€˜No. Father knew we were both used to handling money.’
    He was smiling at her as if she should be pleased. Well, she wasn’t. She felt about an inch tall and sick with humiliation.
    â€˜Sebastian, that’s a bit unfair,’ Regina said. ‘I’m sure Minnie can manage her money as well as the next person.’
    â€˜And I’m sure she can’t. So was Father. Don’t interfere, Regina. It’s a done deal.’
    Under his scowling gaze, Miranda felt like weeping and running out of the room. But that would only make him more certain that she wasn’t to be trusted. Would he never forget that one episode of depression? Pride alone kept her standing there, kept her eyes dry. Well, almost dry. At least she didn’t let