Chapter 13 Chapter Twelve

After Rowley left "Stig", his footsteps naturally moved towards his home.But after walking a few hundred yards, he suddenly turned around and started back. His mind was slow to accept things, and it wasn't until this moment that he really realized the true meaning of Beatrice's words.If she had really heard that--he believed it had--everyone in the Cloade family would be in a very different position.The man best suited to handle the matter was, of course, Rowley's Uncle Jeremy.As a lawyer, Jeremy Cloade must have known how best to respond to startling news, and what steps to take.

Rowley, though he would have preferred to act himself, was compelled to admit in his heart that the matter was best left to a shrewd and experienced lawyer.The sooner Jeremy knew the news the better, so Rowley turned again to Jeremy's house in the high street. The little maid who opened the door told him that Mr. and Mrs. Cloade were still at their dinner.She would have taken him straight to the dining-room, but Rowley refused, offering to wait in the study for them to finish their meal.He had little hope that Frances would be there, and in fact the less people knew about it the better before they decided to take any definite action.

He paced restlessly up and down Jeremy's study.On the desk was a delivery box marked "The Late Sir William Garthami".Bookshelves filled with legal books.On the wall was an old photograph of Frances in evening dress, and another of her father, Sir Trendon, in riding clothes.The photograph on the table was of a young man in uniform—Jerome's son Anthony, dead in battle.Rowley sat back in his chair and looked again at the picture of Sir Edward Trendon. In the dining-room, Frances said to her husband, "I don't know what business Rowley is here for?" Jeremy said wearily: "Maybe it's something about government regulations. A farmer doesn't know a quarter of those forms. Rowley is an honest young man, so he's worried about them."

"He's very nice," said Frances. "Just a little slow. You know, I don't think there's anything quite right between him and Lynn." Jeremy murmured absently, "Lynn... oh, yes, yes, of course, I'm sorry, I... I can't concentrate all the time, it's too stressful..." Frances said quickly, "Don't think about that. I told you it would be all right." "Sometimes you scare me, you take things so lightly. You know..." "I know everything, but I'm not afraid. You know, Jeremy, I'm actually quite amusing..."

"Honey," Jeremy said, "that's what worries me." She smiled. "Okay," she said, "don't keep the young farmer waiting too long. Go and help him with the stuff—99 forms and all that." But when they stepped out of the restaurant, the front door just slammed shut.Edona told them that Mr. Rowley said it was nothing important, so he didn't wait for them.