Inherit the Skies Read Online Free

aristocratic face and thick snowy white hair could inspire such hatred. Leo de Vere did not look like a monster. He did not even look like a prominent businessman, but more like an aging nobleman or exiled prince whose throne in some obscure state had been snatched by revolutionaries. Yet hate him they did, including her beloved grandmother, who, in spite of her strong character and business acumen, was one of the kindest, most generous women alive.
    Now, it seemed, there was a chink in the armour. There was one of the family who did not hate him, and that someone was Guy Bailey.
    â€˜What did happen when Leo was drummed out of the company?’ she asked now. ‘ It couldn’t have been that he wasn’t good at his job, whatever that was. If he hadn’t been good he couldn’t have built up a successful company of his own. So what was it? What went wrong?’
    Sarah made a small impatient gesture. ‘Oh Kirsty it’s much too long a story for me to go into now. And besides it all happened nearly fifty years ago. It’s ancient history. Suffice it to say that this is what Leo has always wanted. I dare say he’s spent the biggest part of his life scheming for it one way or another. He has always had to accept defeat before. Now, with Guy on his side, it looks as if he’s about to get it.’
    Kirsty thought for a moment. ‘What about Uncle Max? Can’t he help?’
    Sarah’s face softened slightly. Max Hurst, Sir Max nowadays, had always been her closest ally. He had been Adam’s original partner; he had been in Morse Bailey from the beginning. But Max was an old man now. That was the trouble. They were all growing older – those that were left.
    â€˜Max has been very sick,’ she said. ‘ He’s never really recovered from that last bout of pneumonia. And though I’m sure he’ll vote with me his shares are not sufficient to make any difference. No, I’m afraid there’s nothing Max can do to help.’
    For a moment Kirsty sat turning it over, then she spread her hands eloquently. ‘I don’t believe you’ll lose Morse Bailey now, Granny,’ she said. ‘ You’ll think of something.’
    â€˜That’s what I keep telling myself. But so far I have come up with only one solution.’
    â€˜There you are, Granny!’ Kirsty said triumphantly. ‘ One solution is all you need – provided it works.’
    â€˜Exactly,’ Sarah said drily. ‘I should save your enthusiasm, Kirsty, until you’ve heard what it is.’
    â€˜Well – go on.’
    Sarah touched her hand to her forehead. Suddenly she was feeling tired again.
    â€˜I shall have to appeal to Alicia,’ she said. She raised her eyes and caught the shocked surprise reflected in Kirsty’s face.
    â€˜Aunt Alicia? But you haven’t spoken to one another for years and years. Not since …’ she broke off, not wanting to re-open old wounds and Sarah let the sentence hang unfinished in the air.
    â€˜That was only the last straw,’ she said at last. ‘Alicia and I never got on.’ She paused, thinking what an understatement that was. Never got on … bland words to mask a lifetime of resentment and rivalry that had finally culminated in bitter hatred. Alicia, whom she had wronged and who had wronged her in a hundred ways; Alicia, whom she had once admired and envied until attitudes and events had alienated the two women for ever.… Well, there was no point raking over old coals now. ‘I can see no other way,’ she went on slowly. ‘As I say, Alicia has given Guy proxy to vote with her shares any way he thinks fit. But she wouldn’t want this merger any more than I do. She loathes Leo, just as I do. And if I could persuade her to come to the meeting and throw in her voting shares with mine, then we could carry the day. Alicia and I still have sixty per cent between us – that was