Chapter 45

Tabitha travelled to Gatley the next day, as promised, and booked a room at the Old Fox. After some dithering I decided to tell Jim, and sent him a message.

Hey. Just to let you know Tabitha will be staying at the Old Fox tomorrow and the following night. She's coming to see Margaret and get the brooch and would like to see you as well, if you're around? Of course I understand if you'd rather not, but thought I should tell you

The three dots danced and for a few seconds, I was hopeful. Was he going to say yes?

Thanks for letting me know.

Maybe when Tabitha arrived he might change his mind. All I could do was keep trying to get through to him.

When Tabitha arrived, she messaged me, and I went to meet her at the Old Fox.

‘Thanks so much for coming,' I said.

‘Is Jim not with you?' she said.

‘I told him you were here, and that's all I can do. Perhaps he'll change his mind before you go back?'

‘Oh, I was hoping he might have had a chance to come round already. Let's hope he does. Shall we go and see Margaret then?'

I drove Tabitha to Hyacinth Place. When we arrived, Margaret was waiting in the lounge, elegant in a green dress and a string of pearls round her neck. Her nails were painted bright pink and she wore lipstick to match. Her hair was in a bun, and she looked fabulous.

Tabitha approached her, and took her hands, and said, ‘Dear Margaret. I want to thank you for persevering with your search for me.'

‘It is good to see you, Tabitha.'

‘I'm sorry for everything.'

‘My dear,' Margaret said. ‘I know you had your reasons for leaving, but all that matters is you are here now.'

Margaret took a red box with Ellis and Son written on top in gold letters out of her handbag and placed it on the table.

‘Here is your brooch.'

Tabitha looked at the box, shaking her head.

‘I can't believe this is for me,' she said.

‘Open it,' Margaret said.

Tabitha opened the box, and there lay a beautiful oval-shaped brooch with an emerald in the centre and encrusted in diamonds.

‘I don't know what to say,' Tabitha said.

‘Your mother wanted you to have it. She asked me to take it out of the safe at Gatley Hall and give it to you on your wedding day, but I thought my husband had sold it. When he died, I found it had been in a shoebox in the back of his wardrobe all along.'

‘Thank you, Margaret,' Tabitha said, closing the box. She wiped away a tear with her hand. I felt privileged to witness such a special moment between the two of them.

‘I know it's taken many years for Margaret to track you down and give you this brooch, Tabitha, but what would you think about me borrowing it for the exhibition?' I said. ‘I could arrange for it to be returned to you in Italy – I could even bring it over myself, if necessary.'

Tabitha laughed. ‘So, I've come all this way to get it, and you want to keep it for longer?'

Nodding, I said, ‘Yes, it would mean the exhibition is complete, and then we can get lots of press attention for Gatley Hall, meaning more funding for the preservation of the estate.'

‘That sounds good to me. All right.'

Tabitha flew home the next day without getting to see Jim. He remained at Cleveland House, and I wondered if he'd ever come back. Perhaps he would arrange to be transferred there. We'd stopped messaging each other, and every time my phone vibrated, I hoped it might be Jim. I wondered if I'd even see him again.