‘Now that Elizabeth has her eye on high office, she has to project family values, loyalties, caring and concern for people.’ A touch of acid crept into his voice at associating such things with a woman to whom they meant nothing. ‘What was good for her ambition before is now a liability. Voters want to see personal warmth. Matt is to be her showpiece...’
‘And you, darling,’ Elizabeth drawled. ‘Devoted husband and father. I want both Matt and you to give my new image solid credibility.’
His jaw tightened. It clearly took an effort to unclench his teeth and continue. ‘It will be argued in court that I prevented Elizabeth from knowing her own son because I went to the US which prevented her exercising visiting rights.’
Sasha couldn’t let that pass. ‘But you went to the US because Daniel rejected your system and...’
‘We’re not talking about truth, Sasha,’ Nathan cut in, a thread of passion breaking through the monotone. ‘We’re talking what will be argued.’
‘You’ve learnt a lot in the last year or so, Nathan,’ Elizabeth remarked, then enjoyed herself by driving a few more nails into the argument. ‘Alienation of natural love and affection...I’ll have a field day in the Press. Women everywhere will naturally sympathise with my plight against this bullying man.’
It was a total travesty of justice and she relished it, Sasha thought, feeling both helpless and hopeless in the face of such consciousless and callous manipulation of others’ lives.
Nathan didn’t bother explaining any further. The situation was explicit enough. He was up against a ruthless woman who didn’t care what damage she did as long as she won her own way.
Seeing that she was not about to draw more blood from Nathan, Elizabeth shrugged carelessly and said, ‘Where is the child anyway? I suppose I should see him.’
If looks could kill, Nathan Parnell’s look would have killed Elizabeth right there. She should have gone to hell and perdition, Sasha thought.
‘If you want me to fall in with your scheme, Elizabeth, you damned well put on your best political act with Matt.’
‘Mummy awaits,’ she syruped back at him.
He glowered disgust at her and left the room.
Elizabeth finished her drink and set the glass on the mantelpiece. She turned to Sasha. ‘I suppose you’re paying some pittance rent under the will of Seagrave Dunworthy?’
Sasha disdained a reply. She wasn’t going to feed this woman’s malice.
Elizabeth sneered. ‘What an old fool he was. Brain the size of a peanut. A walrus could have outperformed him in high intellectual capacity. And making such a clown of himself, at his age, with all that passion over such a contemptible girl, illegitimate child and all.’
Sasha held her tongue. She had no idea what Elizabeth was talking about and she wasn’t about to show ignorance.
The other woman’s gaze travelled around the room as though cataloguing its contents. ‘Still, he did leave something of value and substance. Pity I’ll never inherit, although, of course, under a tontine, anything is possible.’
A tontine! Sasha’s mind did a swift whirl. Seagrave Dunworthy’s will must be more eccentric than she’d thought. Under a tontine, the beneficiaries of an annuity shared in a trust, the shares increasing as each beneficiary died, until the whole went to the last survivor. Did this mean that Elizabeth Maddox was related to Seagrave Dunworthy? Or were Nathan and Matt?
The avaricious grey eyes returned to Sasha. ‘Don’t bet on staying here, rent or no rent. I’ll make sure you’ll very quickly lose any desire to remain under this roof.’
Nathan came back in, leading Matt by the hand. The little boy lagged a step behind, hesitant about what was expected of him. Nathan squatted down so that his eyes were on a level with his son’s. He spoke softly but very seriously.
‘Matt, I want you to meet someone very special to you. The most special person in the world. It’s your Mummy, Matt.’
The little boy’s gaze fixed on Elizabeth.
She gave her automatic smile. ‘Hello, Matt.’ It was the indulgent voice of a politician on an ingratiating mission, a concession to Nathan’s demand. She held out her arms, inviting the child to run to her.
He did not. He sidled closer to his father and put his arms around Nathan’s neck.
‘Please, Matt,’ Nathan gently begged. He tried to ease the stranglehold of Matt’s arms, urging him into acceptance. ‘Come with me and meet your...’
‘She’s my mother,’ he whispered, flinging an arm out
of Nathan’s hold and pointing backwards at Sasha, but not looking at her. ‘The same as Bonnie, Daddy.’
‘No, Matt. You know we cannot tell a lie...’
‘You said you were a police officer.’