In the Brazilian's Debt(55)

                He should be there for her, if only to fight them off. Lizzie’s grandmother would expect him to do something for her granddaughter, and, after what that remarkable old lady had done for him, of course he would be there. This had nothing to do with his feelings for Lizzie. This was a moral duty, pure and simple.

                He showered and dressed, and then booked a private jet, which, in the absence of his own jet, was the fastest way for him to get to Scotland. He was concerned about Lizzie, and about the future of a vast estate that had been in the same family for generations. It wouldn’t be split up and sold off for a song, if he could help it.

                Lizzie was right in that he shouldn’t be thinking of leaving the ranch. It was the worst possible time for him, but it couldn’t be helped. The past had a way of catching up, he had discovered, and his return to Rottingdean, a place he’d vowed never to go near again, was now inevitable. Leaving Maria in overall charge, he explained to his students that extraordinary circumstances had forced him to leave them briefly. He would be back in the new year in time for their graduation, and in the meantime his top men would take over their training classes. He had no idea what sort of a mess he was going to find in Scotland, so he had given himself plenty of time.

                ‘I’m appointing Danny to be team leader in charge of discipline in Lizzie’s place,’ he told them, ‘so your training will continue uninterrupted.’

                Once that was done, he took the Harley to the helipad, and from there he flew to the airport where he would catch the flight to Scotland. He felt purposeful and determined, as he always did when he had everything under control.

                Why then did he feel such an overwhelming sense of dread by the time he reached the airport?

                * * *

                Lizzie was on the train to Rottingdean from the airport when she placed the call to her grandmother. When there was no answer, she called the housekeeper’s direct line.

                Still nothing. Feeling distinctly uneasy, she kept on calling until finally, to her relief, Annie answered. ‘Can you tell my grandmother I’m back, and that she has nothing to worry about?’

                There was silence on the other end of the phone. Lizzie’s stomach clenched with apprehension.

                ‘Lizzie?’ Annie was clearly distressed. ‘You haven’t heard?’

                ‘Heard what?’

                ‘Oh, Lizzie, I’m so sorry to tell you this, but your grandmother passed away peacefully just a few hours ago.’

                ‘She’s dead?’ The word seemed so bald and cold. Surely she was trapped in a nightmare? But, no. Annie confirmed that Lizzie was only just too late, which made it worse somehow. ‘I’ll have to try to contact my parents,’ she said numbly, speaking on autopilot.

                ‘Yes, I suppose you will have to,’ Annie agreed gently, sounding none too pleased at the thought of Lizzie’s parents being involved.

                It took for ever for Lizzie’s mother to answer the phone. Even so, Lizzie tried to break the news gently, believing that no one was ever ready to hear about a death in the family, however distant the people involved thought they had become.

                ‘You’re not thinking of coming here after the funeral, are you?’ Serena demanded.

                Lizzie was so shocked it took her a moment to reply. ‘No. Why?’

                ‘Where will you live now?’ her mother asked suspiciously.