Family secrets

Family secrets

Family secrets

Lies! Always lies! Why couldn’t the family share the truth about its own Who’s Who, including the embarrassing sprout lopped off the family tree. Bastards did not fit into its pristine descent pattern, that was only for legitimate spouses and their offspring. Nor were they ever likely to inherit anything.

Nicolas’s grandfather had recently passed away, and the family solicitor had convened all concerned for the reading of his Will. Nicholas held no illusions that his grandfather’s Will would make any provision for himself. His mother, Selina, had been a household servant who was seduced by the randy young son, George. Unfortunately she died of meningitis when the unintended offspring of this brief relationship was barely three years old. Nicholas was simply an embarrassment for George, who preferred to forget his existence. Since he married his denial was fully supported by his prissy wife, Gwen. The hypocrite ‘Gee Gees’ would be horrified if their children– or another family member or friend– were to discover the hidden truth of George’s days of sowing wild oats.

As predicted, the lion’s share of Ian Melville’s estate and shareholdings were to pass to his son, George, apart from an education fund for the Gee Gee’s two children, some generous donations to charities, and certain personal effects for Nicholas.

The solicitor advised Nicholas that there was no need for him to attend the reading of Melville’s Will, which he appreciated would avoid embarrassment for the Gee Gees. He explained that there was a separate document addressed to Nicholas, endowing him with the contents of his grandfather’s study– the massive oak partner’s desk, Chesterfield chairs, and considerable library. This suited the socialite Gee Gees fine. As their grandfather’s health declined over the last couple of years, they had planned the mansion’s makeover down to the last detail with the library/study becoming an extension of the living room. They had no interest in their grandfather’s intellectual interests, so good riddance to the library. They had no interest in Nicholas either, and were intent on keeping the family secret of George’s bastard son.

Nicholas appreciated his inheritance, although meagre in comparison with the rest of the estate. He shrugged off the bitterness he felt at the Gee Gees’ rude, self-centred attitude, and their refusal to recognise him even at the funeral.

It was difficult to explain why there was such a difference in attitude between George’s refusal to acknowledge his natural son, and Ian’s open acceptance of his oldest grandchild. Was it because George’s social pretensions and his political ambition to be elected to Parliament meant he had to have a perfect family man profile? Or was it because, under his thick skin, he was acutely embarrassed at his bad treatment of Selina knowing he had forced her to have sex with him against her will and even beaten her once when she refused.

From his early childhood, Nicholas’ grandfather Ian had been his protector and the study a safe haven. Even in his earliest memories, a tiny school desk, bench and bookcase stood beside Ian’s grand ones and precious ‘quiet time’ was shared while both were occupied with their books and drawings. As Nicholas grew in stature and his interests broadened, so did his study furniture and library.

After the solicitor’s meeting, the Gee Gees summoned a furniture removal truck with indecent haste, barely giving Nicholas time to get back to Cairns and empty the largest spare bedroom to make way for the library. His house was a Federation Queenslander, standing proud on its stilts and featuring the characteristic wide verandas, ornate balustrades, and large sash windows. The polished wooden floorboards, high ceilings and light-filled spaces of the large bedroom were perfectly suited for housing his new substantial library, as well as his computer and large music system. Nicholas anticipated spending many pleasant hours, working, reading and relaxing.

A few weeks later, once the library furniture and books were installed to his satisfaction, Nicholas chose his favourite deep-seated leather chair and positioned himself in front of the expansive desk. Its antique dignity did not suit a computer set-up, so his solution for this now indispensable equipment was to separate it into its own space. The more traditional library equipment included a set of map drawers for storing prints, maps and etchings, a couple of easels for contemplating paintings, music stands, and two comfortable arm chairs with well-worn leather upholstery.

The desk itself was magnificent: an oak partner’s desk with pedestals of four drawers on each side, original brass fittings, and an expansive top inlaid with a green tooled leather insert. What’s more, as Nicholas remembered, it had a secret drawer. The central panel, above the kneehole, looked like the other drawers with the same marquetry pattern and brass knob, but it was just a front that did not open. If you knew the secret, a small drawer was concealed a handwidth behind this panel. As a child, Nicholas would give his grandfather an inquiring look, then if a nod of permission was given, his adept fingers would open the secret drawer to find the hidden bonbon.

Remembering this special treat, Nicholas smiled to himself and felt for the secret drawer behind the panel. To his surprise, on opening it his fingers found an envelope. Withdrawing the envelope from its hiding place, he saw it was addressed to him in his grandfather’s hand writing. How curious!

Without further delay Nicholas opened the envelope which contained a letter and a printed document. The letter had been written two years ago when his grandfather was in better health and still mobile. He addressed Nicholas affectionately and wrote that he understood Nicholas’ probable feeling of deception upon the reading of his Will that his estate– apart from the library and its contents– had been left to George. The letter concluded that the library and its contents (underlined) inherited by Nicholas included the enclosed document.

The document was the title deed to a large property in the hinterland of Cairns, a sugar plantation currently being operated under management. If Nicholas chose he could take over the management himself, or continue with the current contract. The name of the property was Selina, and its existence was a family secret.