Read Online The Dying Light by Henry Porter - Free Book Online
Authors: Henry Porter
Tags: Fiction - Espionage
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which is currently rented out on a short lease, a car and all his shares and savings. He’s made one or two big bequests to local charities and so forth, but essentially you are his main heir. The estate is worth well over three and a half million pounds. And I should tell you that the savings and cash will very adequately cover the inheritance tax if you are minded to retain the property.’
She sat back. ‘I’m astonished.’
‘I can well understand that, but I hope you feel that this news is some consolation in what I know will have been a very sad day for you. I have his will here and a letter addressed to you.’ He unzipped a leather document case and took out two envelopes, which he placed between them on the table. ‘There are also some larger documents, which are in the safe at my offices. Perhaps you’d care to drop by this afternoon and pick them up and we can begin on the paperwork. There’s quite a lot to go through.’
‘When did he make this will?’ she asked eventually.
‘Let me think. September or late August. About six months ago: it was after he had had some . . .’ He stopped and frowned.
‘What?’ she said, leaning forward slightly.
‘I believe he received some worrying news about his health, though I am not sure of its precise nature. He intimated that he had been told to get his affairs in order. There was hope but he thought it was best to be on the safe side.’
That explained why Eyam had planned his funeral, but not what he was doing in Colombia. She thought for a moment. ‘You think it was cancer - something terminal?’
He shrugged.
‘Did he say why he was going away?’
‘No, I didn’t know he’d left until I heard of his death. He was away about a month and what with Christmas, well . . .’
‘Why would he go away when he was ill? Presumably he was being treated in England.’
‘I’m afraid I can’t say because I don’t know.’
‘And these documents; do you know what’s in them?’
‘No. These are his private communication to you. The contents do not concern me.’ He smiled sympathetically. ‘I know this is going to take some time to sink in. It is after all a rather large legacy to come out of the blue. But the one thing I did want to bring to your attention is the house, which has been unoccupied for over three months. There will be things that require attention: we can talk about all of that when you come to see me. The lease on the flat in London is due to end in a few months’ time so you don’t have to think about that for the moment.’
Her hand moved to the envelopes. ‘May I?’ she asked.
‘Forgive me. All this is a little irregular, but please do.’
She opened the will first and read that Hugh Arthur Russell and Annabel Spring, wife of Russell’s partner Paul Spring, were appointed as Executors and Trustees. She read on:
(i) I bequeath to Kate Grace Koh Lockhart absolutely the property known as Dove Cottage, Dove Valley, Near High Castle, in the county of Shropshire, all the contents therein and my car (Bristol Series 4,1974 Chassis number: 18462 Registration Number N476 RXL) and also the property at 16 Seymour Row, London W1, currently let on a two-year lease to George Harold Keenan, together with its contents.
(ii) I bequeath to Kate Grace Koh Lockhart absolutely the sum of £780,000 and the portfolio of shares and bonds held in my name at the time of my decease.
(iii) I give to High Castle Arts Trust absolutely the sum of £12,000 and to High Castle Film Society the sum of £12,000 to be used in an annual lecture and film screening and to The Marches Bell Ringers Society the sum of £125,000.
There were a few smaller bequests - Amnesty International and a charity called Tree Aid. Attached were a paper detailing the extent of his shareholding as of October 21st the previous year, and the address of his accountant in London.
She let the will drop to the table and picked up the letter addressed to her in
She sat back. ‘I’m astonished.’
‘I can well understand that, but I hope you feel that this news is some consolation in what I know will have been a very sad day for you. I have his will here and a letter addressed to you.’ He unzipped a leather document case and took out two envelopes, which he placed between them on the table. ‘There are also some larger documents, which are in the safe at my offices. Perhaps you’d care to drop by this afternoon and pick them up and we can begin on the paperwork. There’s quite a lot to go through.’
‘When did he make this will?’ she asked eventually.
‘Let me think. September or late August. About six months ago: it was after he had had some . . .’ He stopped and frowned.
‘What?’ she said, leaning forward slightly.
‘I believe he received some worrying news about his health, though I am not sure of its precise nature. He intimated that he had been told to get his affairs in order. There was hope but he thought it was best to be on the safe side.’
That explained why Eyam had planned his funeral, but not what he was doing in Colombia. She thought for a moment. ‘You think it was cancer - something terminal?’
He shrugged.
‘Did he say why he was going away?’
‘No, I didn’t know he’d left until I heard of his death. He was away about a month and what with Christmas, well . . .’
‘Why would he go away when he was ill? Presumably he was being treated in England.’
‘I’m afraid I can’t say because I don’t know.’
‘And these documents; do you know what’s in them?’
‘No. These are his private communication to you. The contents do not concern me.’ He smiled sympathetically. ‘I know this is going to take some time to sink in. It is after all a rather large legacy to come out of the blue. But the one thing I did want to bring to your attention is the house, which has been unoccupied for over three months. There will be things that require attention: we can talk about all of that when you come to see me. The lease on the flat in London is due to end in a few months’ time so you don’t have to think about that for the moment.’
Her hand moved to the envelopes. ‘May I?’ she asked.
‘Forgive me. All this is a little irregular, but please do.’
She opened the will first and read that Hugh Arthur Russell and Annabel Spring, wife of Russell’s partner Paul Spring, were appointed as Executors and Trustees. She read on:
(i) I bequeath to Kate Grace Koh Lockhart absolutely the property known as Dove Cottage, Dove Valley, Near High Castle, in the county of Shropshire, all the contents therein and my car (Bristol Series 4,1974 Chassis number: 18462 Registration Number N476 RXL) and also the property at 16 Seymour Row, London W1, currently let on a two-year lease to George Harold Keenan, together with its contents.
(ii) I bequeath to Kate Grace Koh Lockhart absolutely the sum of £780,000 and the portfolio of shares and bonds held in my name at the time of my decease.
(iii) I give to High Castle Arts Trust absolutely the sum of £12,000 and to High Castle Film Society the sum of £12,000 to be used in an annual lecture and film screening and to The Marches Bell Ringers Society the sum of £125,000.
There were a few smaller bequests - Amnesty International and a charity called Tree Aid. Attached were a paper detailing the extent of his shareholding as of October 21st the previous year, and the address of his accountant in London.
She let the will drop to the table and picked up the letter addressed to her in
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