Chapter 84

“Your mother and I will see her remains are interred in the family plot. We’ll also see St John isn’t left without any moral support, so you needn’t concern yourself with his wellbeing. You may pay your respects in a month or so, when the gossip has died down.” He slammed the phone down.

I lowered the receiver into its cradle. My father was overreacting. Who would think one person could talk another into committing suicide? It was something out of TheTwilight Zone, surely.

My fingers began to ache with how tightly they were clenched. I straightened them and then flexed them to work out the ache.

The telephone rang again. Was it the Wolf, calling to label me a stupid git and demanding—in much the same way as my father—to know what I’d done?

There was no point in delaying the inevitable. Once again I answered it. “Trevalyan.”

“James.” As it turned out, it was not the Wolf.

“Mr Waters.” I hadn’t spoken to Jeremy’s father in ages. “To what do I owe the honour of this call?”