the cliff. His jacket, with the note, was near the path that goes
down to the beach near Westover. I think he swam out to sea
until he was too tired to come back. He told me once that would
be the best way to die. He loved the water.’
She was silent for a minute, and then told her friend the secret
fear she had hidden for so many years.
‘I’ve always been afraid that hght.e changed his mind about what
he was doing, but only when it was too late to come back.’
‘Oh Bee, no! What a frightening thought! I’m sure it wasn’t
like that. Patrick was deeply unhappy after his parents’ death,
and confused and worried because Latchetts suddenly belonged
to him. It was all too much for him, and he was so miserable
that he….took a way out.’
‘Perhaps you’re right. It seems a long time ago. Let’s ger back
to the present and Simon’s party. You won’t forget to give me
your brother’s address, will you?’
‘No,I’ll look it up as soon as I get back home. But remember,
he’s Alec Loding in the theatre, not Alec Ledingham. It’s a long
time since he came to Clare; he doesn’t really like the country.
But an Ashby twenty-first birthday, that’s something special.
That’s sure to interest him.’