Lili didn’t want to bring that up again, and cause another argument, but there was something about that comment that made Lili think there was more to tell, and that Elspeth hadn’t finished her story.
‘Elspeth, what did you mean when you said I was here to claim what was rightfully mine? You were talking about the paintings – weren’t you?’
Elspeth cast her gaze around the cabin. ‘As you are all here, I might as well tell you. I think it’s time you all knew, especially Lili. Sooner rather than later you’re going to find out anyway.’
Sarah frowned. ‘Find out what, Mum?’
‘One day soon, this cabin and The Summerhouse will belong to Lili.’
‘Mum, what are you talking about?’
Lili glanced at Sarah. That’s what she wanted to know, too. She eyed Elspeth. ‘You must be mistaken.’
‘I can assure you, I’m not. This was the other reason I left Joseph. We had a huge falling out over his will. Lili, with your mother deceased, you are the sole heir to Otto’s fortune.’
Lili shook her head. ‘But Otto’s fortune is the paintings.’
Ray stepped in agreeing with Lili. ‘Joseph owns The Summerhouse.’ He could understand why Otto left the paintings to Alena’s descendants, but not The Summerhouse.
‘And that’s whereyouare mistaken, Ray.’ Elspeth shook her head at him. ‘You search for lost descendants. Well, congratulations, you found one, and she is the sole beneficiary.’
‘Of The Summerhouse?’ Sarah got out of her seat and turned to Ray. ‘How can that be?’
He shrugged his shoulders just as flummoxed as she was.
Elspeth sighed. ‘Otto’s will has nothing to do with the paintings. Although he acquired some of the collection, over time, from private sellers in different countries when they resurfaced for sale, they were never his to bequest. Their provenance proves that.’
Ray nodded. He understood that. How could you leave something in your will that never rightfully belonged to you in the first place? He wasn’t just thinking of the art collection. That was why he was confused over The Summerhouse.
Elspeth breathed a sigh. ‘There was a codicil in Otto’s will. Joseph can remain living in the house until he dies, but then the property reverts to Otto’s heir, whom he named as Lili’s mother.’ Elspeth turned to face Lili. ‘Otto changed his will after your last visit when you were a small child. In the event of your mother’s death, Otto’s estate passes, in its entirety, to you.’
Lili couldn’t believe what she was hearing.
‘I have asked Joseph many times to challenge the will, but he refused.’ Elspeth sighed. ‘It doesn’t surprise me that he was loyal to Otto until the bitter end. However, when Joseph didn’t hear from your mother again, I presumed something must have happened. Who wouldn’t turn up to claim The Summerhouse if they were still alive? In that case, the house would be left to Joseph and his descendants.’
Elspeth looked over at her son-in-law seated next to her daughter. She wondered when they were going to get on with it and sign those divorce papers; she knew they had been hanging around for almost five years. Just then, Elspeth was looking forward to Ray being herex-son-in-law. She threw him a sour look as she said, ‘I gather it was Ray who tracked down Lili’s parents, and … well, here she is – Otto’s heir.’ Elspeth clapped. ‘Well done, Ray. Quite ironic, isn’t it, that our very own heir-hunter has done his own family out of their inheritance?’
Sarah turned to Ray, repeating Elspeth’s words, ‘You fool!’
Ray shrugged. ‘How was I supposed to know?’
Lili looked from Sarah to Ray, her eyes settling on Elspeth. She was having a hard time wrapping her head around what Elspeth had just told her. ‘I’m sorry, what does this mean?’
‘It means,’ replied Elspeth, ‘that you stand to inherit The Summerhouse, along with the art collection too, assuming – as Ray pointed out – that Miriam is no longer with us. That means you will be a very wealthy young lady.’
Lili glanced around the room. All eyes were on her. She turned to Nate sitting next to her on the couch.
He stood up. ‘So, Elspeth was right. That’s what you came back here for, to check out the house and get what’s yours.’ He stormed out.
‘Nate?’ Lili called after him. As she rose from her chair, she felt Alex’s hand on her shoulder.
Ray reached out to Sarah. ‘I’m sor—’
Sarah flicked his hand away and stood up. She stormed out of the summerhouse too, Ray following in her wake with more lame apologies, his voice growing faint, as he followed her up the garden towards the house.
Elspeth clapped her hands together. ‘Well, I wouldn’t exactly call it a fun afternoon, but I for one feel so much better getting all that is off my chest.’ She breathed an enormous sigh. ‘I’ve been carrying the secret of the summerhouse around for too long.’
‘Are you mad at me?’ Lili asked Elspeth in a small voice. It was a dumb question; of course, she was. Lili’s very existence had cheated her descendants out of all this.