Page 180 of Wife After Wife

The revelations about Harry Rose were shocking. Until now, apart from a wobble during the factory closures episode, the British public had held the man who’d become part of their tapestry in deep affection. There had been outpourings of sympathy for the tragedies he’d endured—four wives dead, all far too young. They’d been pleased for him when he married Clare, who seemed such a lovely lady, andhorrified when they heard about the shooting accident in Scotland that had almost killed him.

Except, it wasn’t an accident. Monday’sDaily Mirrorclaimed it was a murder attempt by a former mistress, Miranda “Merry” McCarey, who also happened to be the sister of Harry’s second wife, Ana.

Merry’s close friend Darius Draper said: “I had no idea she was planning this, but she’s always said Harry Rose ruined her life. And recently she’d been acting very strangely, claiming he killed her sister. Percy North, who was engaged to Ana before she married Harry, came to see Merry and put all sorts of ideas in her head about a Russian assassin! When Merry found out Harry was coming up for a pheasant shoot, she got this look in her eye. I should have realized what she was planning.”

HARRY THE HYPOCRITE!screamed theSunon Tuesday, reminding readers how Harry’s coldhearted behavior had driven lovely young Caitlyn Rose to throw herself off a bridge. She’d been friendless, with no family, in the grip of an evil drug dealer, and Harry had been her savior. Until he’d turned his back on her.

HARRY’S MOSCOW MURDERER?inquired theDaily Telegraphon Wednesday:

Harry Rose’s second wife, Ana, almost certainly didn’t die of natural causes, claims his ex-lawyer, Tom Cranwell. Although Cranwell has no evidence to back up his theory, he told theDaily Telegraphthat he believes a Russian associate of Harry’s arranged her assassination after she demanded half of his empire as her divorce settlement. Cranwell, who was dismissed from Rose Corp. for sexual harassment, refused to name Harry’s alleged Russianaccomplice, but at the time there was considerable Russian investment in the media giant...

On Thursday, Zara Lively, former face of Rose Air, took to Twitter:Harry Rose sexually harassed me #MeToo.

Harry sank back on his pillows. Surely it was only a matter of time before “Harry’s secret love child” made an appearance.

He was finished.

•••

“I’ll ask you again, Harry,” said Clare. “Is it true—about your part in Ana’s death?”

They were sitting in the living room on Sunday morning, curtains drawn against the press pack outside. The day before, Clare and Eliza had fetched Harry from the hospital. This was the first time she’d raised the topic of the media revelations.

“There may be a few truths. I’m sorry you had to find out this way. But the press have twisted everything, as per.”

“These things they’re saying—I’m still processing them. I can’t take it all in.”

“Then don’t. I’ll tell you what really happened.”

Eliza came into the room. “Dad, have you seen theSunday Times?”

“Funnily enough, I’m avoiding the papers today.”

“You need to read this,” she said, holding out her iPad.

The headline read:THE TRUTH ABOUT HARRY ROSE?He checked the byline: Terri.

“Go on, read it,” said Eliza. “And then I want to talk about Mum. Ana. Properly. None of your usual bullsh—spin.”

Harry processed Terri’s words. Clare and Eliza sat watching him.

Terri painted a picture of a brilliant but deeply flawed man, one who’d made terrible misjudgments when it came to the women in his life. Harry Rose loved women, but he’d “loved” them in ways that hadharmed them, been deadly, even. In spite of his track record, he still insisted he’d always tried to do the right thing, even when what he’d convinced himself was right clearly wasn’t. And often that concerned how to off-load one woman so he could move on to the next.

Harry’s refusal to acknowledge the error of his ways, to confront his conscience, had led to mental-health issues and addictions. But Terri believed he was finally facing up to his mistakes, was serious about redeeming himself in the eyes of his family and the British public. Did he deserve a second chance? Or was it too late?

What now for Rose Corp.?she asked. Harry’s position at the top was surely untenable in light of the recent revelations. His daughters, Maria and Eliza, were heirs to the Rose crown and showed great promise. Maria was breaking new ground with her ethics policies at Rose, while Eliza had all her father’s charm and brilliance, and none of his obsession with the opposite sex. In fact, reported Terri, she’d resolved to remain a virgin for the foreseeable!

Perhaps it was time for Harry to take a back seat.

Harry put down the iPad.

“Dad,” said Eliza. “I want to know the truth. Did you know Mum was going to die?”

“No, Eliza. Truthfully, I didn’t. Andre made a remark about Russians knowing how to deal with troublesome wives, but I didn’t take him seriously. Obviously I should have done.”

“Is that all he said?”

Harry didn’t meet her eye.