Absent in the Spring (The Shakespeare Sisters 3)

‘That’s what I like to hear.’ He grinned back.

They came to a halt and the metal doors slid open, revealing a man standing on the other side. Almost immediately Lucy walked out, and offered her hand. ‘Sinclair, it’s good to see you again.’

As soon as Lachlan stepped out, she introduced them. ‘Sinclair, this is my client, Lachlan MacLeish. Lachlan, this is Sinclair Dewey, representing your brother.’

‘Half-brother,’ Lachlan murmured.

That earned him an eyebrow raise from Lucy.

‘Can I offer either of you a drink?’ Sinclair asked them, as he led Lucy and Lachlan through a pair of double doors embossed with Dewey and Clarke, Solicitors on them. They followed him down the corridor into a large, wood-panelled boardroom at the far end.

‘I’m fine, thank you,’ Lucy replied. Lachlan shook his head in response, too.

On one side of the room were two large screens. One of them displayed Duncan MacLeish Jr., and on the other was the boardroom they were standing in, showing all three of them in their shining glory. He’d sent his apologies for not being there in person, but Lachlan couldn’t pretend to be sorry. Having his brother thousands of miles away, his image on a flat screen put Lachlan immediately at an advantage. And that was exactly the way he liked it.

‘Please sit down,’ Sinclair said, pointing at the chairs opposite him. A man in his late fifties, he was well known in Edinburgh circles for only representing the richest people in the city. He turned to the screen. ‘Duncan, can you hear us?’

‘Yes, I can hear you.’

Lachlan stared at his brother for a moment, but Duncan was too busy looking at his phone to notice him.

‘Well, let’s start by saying that this meeting is without prejudice, as we agreed. And on behalf of your brother, I’d like to thank you for coming today, Mr MacLeish.’

Lachlan nodded, but said nothing. He glanced at Lucy from the corner of his eye. Her face betrayed nothing.

‘As you know, we’re here to discuss the claim you both have over Glencarraig Lodge.’

‘And the title,’ Duncan added, his voice loud through the speakers.

‘It was my impression I’m the only one who has a claim,’ Lachlan said mildly. ‘I’m the one named in my father’s will, after all. And I’m his eldest son.’

‘Not a legitimate one, though,’ Sinclair pointed out. ‘And my client believes he has a fair claim on the land and the title.’

Lucy shuffled her papers, and all attention moved to her. Lachlan hid a smile. Point well made, he’d shut up now.

‘Perhaps you can start by explaining why your client wishes to claim ownership of the land and title,’ Lucy said, looking first at Sinclair and then at Duncan. ‘As far as we know, he’s shown no interest in it for years.’

‘Because it’s mine,’ Duncan said. ‘I’m the eldest legitimate son, I was brought up to be heir. Ask anybody, they’d tell you it’s true.’

Lucy looked at the man on the screen. ‘When did you last visit the estate, Mr MacLeish?’

‘What?’ Duncan frowned. ‘What’s that got to do with anything?’

‘Miss Shakespeare, my client’s claim on the estate has nothing to do with when he last visited,’ Sinclair pointed out.

‘I’m simply trying to work out his connection to it, and why he wants it so much,’ Lucy replied, her face completely relaxed. ‘Because if he has no connection then he really has no reason to stake a claim.’ She gave a little laugh, though Lachlan could tell it was fake. ‘I think we can all agree that there’s no way my client coerced his estranged father to leave it to him, and I’d be extremely surprised if your client believe

s their father wasn’t of sound mind when he made his will. So that means you need to demonstrate a strong and continued link to the Glencarraig estate and title in order to make a case.’

Duncan leaned forward, until his face was only inches from the screen. ‘I went there all the time when I was a kid.’

Lucy nodded. ‘So the last time you went there was at least sixteen years ago?’ she asked. ‘Can you tell me why you haven’t been there since?’

‘No he can’t.’ Sinclair put his hand up. ‘This isn’t a court of law, Lucy,’ he reminded her. ‘We’re simply trying to avoid litigation, because it’s not in anybody’s best interests.’ He nodded at Lachlan.

Lucy looked down at the papers Lachlan had given her. ‘Maybe I can ask another question instead?’ she suggested. ‘Mr MacLeish – Duncan – have you ever attended a MacLeish clan gathering?’

‘What the hell is a gathering?’ he asked.