‘I imagine that was also the influence of her father, and her position,’ commented Abigail. ‘She had to dress conservatively, toe the line. It was all about appearances back then, I guess.’
‘What doyouthink?’ Carys asked her brother.
Oliver sighed. He made no effort to hide his disinterested tone when he replied, ‘I’m not all that bothered if Daphne had an affair, to be honest. I don’t see what that’s got to do with all this.’
Abigail frowned. ‘You’re right.’ She got up, stopped the projector and stood looking at them both. ‘So, do you want to do this DNA test?’
They both nodded. ‘How do we go about it?’ asked Oliver.
Abigail went to fetch her laptop from the kitchen. When she returned, she sat between them on the sofa after Oliver picked Ulysses up from his spot and put him down on the floor. The dog sat by Oliver’s feet, looking up at the three of them.
Abigail switched on her laptop and found the AncestryDNA website. She entered Toby’s details and password. ‘This is what it looks like. You log on, create a password, and buy a DNA testing kit. Then they’ll send you one in the post. You do the test and send it back. It’s as simple as that.’
‘May I?’ Oliver asked, reaching for her laptop.
‘Oh, you’re doing it now?’ she said in surprise.
‘Yep.’
‘I’ll join now too and buy one.’
Abigail turned to look at Carys. ‘Oh, okay.’
‘Can I do mine first, Oliver?’
He shrugged and passed the laptop across Abigail to his sister. ‘Sure, here.’
Abigail sat watching Carys as she punched some keys and set up an account. A few minutes later she’d bought her DNA kit. She passed the laptop to her brother and glanced at her watch. She stood up. ‘Well, I’ve got to love you and leave you, I’m afraid.’
Oliver looked up at her. ‘Why – where are you going?’
‘To The Anchor Inn. I have a hot date.’
‘The Anchor Inn?’ Abigail had an idea who she was going out with. She smiled. ‘Do I know this hot date, by any chance?’
Carys grinned. ‘I think you do.’
Oliver looked from Carys to Abigail and back again. ‘Is there something I’m missing?’
‘It’s Abigail’s brother.’
Abigail watched Carys pull on her coat and walk to the door. She turned around. ‘You will come back, won’t you Abigail – to Somerville Hall? We need you.’
Abigail didn’t know what to say.
‘He needs you,’ said Carys, pointing at her brother before skipping out of the door.