Winners and Losers by Linda Sole Read Free Book Online Page B

into a cart to be taken off to a tip somewhere. They had even made good some of the holes in the walls. ‘I feel awful, because you’ve spent the whole of your holiday working – and I haven’t even paid you.’
    â€˜You gave my mates something for their trouble and that is all that matters. You should get at least three estimates for the restoration work, Emily. If they are all too expensive, I’ll do a bit of decorating next time I come.’
    â€˜You have already done more than I could ask or expect,’ Emily said. ‘It depends on those pictures I told you about. The gallery has agreed to sell them, though they say nothing is worth more than a hundred or two.’
    â€˜If I were you, I would put them in an auction. You might do a lot better that way – perhaps twice as much.’
    â€˜Do you think so?’ Emily looked thoughtful. ‘Well, I did think a couple of them ought to be more valuable. Perhaps I shall sell those at auction, but they may go for nothing – like the farm sale.’
    â€˜That was a bankruptcy sale. Dan had no control – but you have. Put a reserve of one thousand pounds on each and see what happens.’
    â€˜That is a lot of money!’
    â€˜If they don’t sell, you can let the gallery have them at another time. You can’t lose either way.’
    â€˜I suppose not . . .’ Emily laughed. ‘You’re a bright lad, aren’t you? Why do you waste your time on the farm?’
    â€˜Because Dan needs me. It won’t be for ever. As soon as he has paid his debt I’m off. He told me he should be clear in another few months.’
    â€˜I wish I could help more. I have some of the money Vane left me . . .’
    â€˜You need to keep something in reserve. I’m in no real hurry. I’m not sure what I want to do yet.’
    â€˜You could go into building – or decorating,’ Emily suggested. ‘You’re good with your hands, and you could run a business. You are clever enough, Con. You’re not like Henry.’
    â€˜Poor devil,’ Connor said. ‘It was too much worry for him, Emily. He should never have had to carry all that through the war. Clay should have helped him.’
    â€˜Don’t talk to me about Clay. The last time I saw him we had a row. He treats poor Dorothy like dirt. I do not know why she puts up with it. I wouldn’t stay if I were her.’
    â€˜Dan should have let Margaret report him to the police. He would have had the money for his garage then – and Clay deserved it after what he did.’
    â€˜It would have upset Frances. I shouldn’t have liked the scandal either, but Frances had to live in the village – and she worried about what her mother-in-law thought.’
    â€˜Much good that did her. Sam Danby tried to rape her and then had her shut up in a mental home. If it hadn’t been for you, she might still have been there.’
    â€˜Dan had too much on his plate to think about Frances, but I am sure he would have got round to it in time.’
    â€˜I’m not certain he would.’ Connor frowned. ‘He gave Sam a bloody nose when he found out, though. If Sam hadn’t killed himself, I’m not sure what might have happened.’
    Emily nodded but didn’t answer. The official line was that Sam Danby had taken his own life while in an unstable state of mind, but Emily had always suspected that his wife might know more than she had let anyone guess.
    â€˜Frances came out of it with a lot of money. Not that it has made her happy, as far as I can see. She works so hard at that hotel of hers. I keep inviting her to stay but she never comes.’
    â€˜I suppose she feels the way you do about this house.’
    â€˜I’m not sure she does. I don’t think she is happy, Connor. Not truly happy.’
    â€˜Are you happy?’ Connor asked.
    â€˜Yes. Yes, I am. I have my problems,