‘Good God, you mustn’t tell him what I’ve just revealed to you, Evan! I never said anything to him, not even after Glynnis died and you came to London. I promised his mother
on my honour,
and you must promise me now…promise the same thing.’
‘I do. I won’t tell Dad about your conversation with Grandma, I promise.
On my honour.’
Marietta relaxed her body, let the tension ease out of it. She smiled at her daughter, and said in a low voice, ‘Thank you for today, honey, I’ve so enjoyed being with you…sharing…and I’m sorry.’
‘Sorry for what?’
‘Being
absent
in your life when you were growing up. We missed so much, you and I…’
‘You were sick such a lot. But there were times when you were there for me…I remember them all, Mom.’
‘I’m glad. About lunch tomorrow with Gideon, your father and I are
both
coming after all. I think he’s now quite looking forward to meeting Gideon.’
‘And George wasn’t upset that you can’t keep the date with him and Arlette?’
‘Of course not. That was just something floating around in your father’s head. Now, where shall we meet, and at what time?’
‘At the Dorchester at one o’clock. I’ll be waiting for you in the lobby,’ Evan replied, filled with happiness and relief that her parents were finally going to meet the man she loved and whom she had promised to marry.
It was two-thirty when India hurried into Tessa’s office at the store, exclaiming, ‘I’m sorry you couldn’t reach me. I got your message about my grandmother. Is she all right?’
‘She’s fine, India, in fact she sounds like a British general at the head of an army about to quell the natives, as she usually does. Great-Aunt Edwina must be made of cast iron.’
India burst out laughing. ‘I agree with you. Did she tell you what she wanted?’
‘Yes, you’re to phone her. But she also wants us to go to supper with her next week at Niddersley House. I said we would. But it will have to be Monday or Tuesday, because I have to come back to London on Wednesday afternoon. I’m going to Paris the next day with Lorne.’
‘That should cheer you up a bit,’ India said. ‘I wonder why Grandmother wants us to go to dinner with her? Did she give you a clue?’
‘None, but she sounded determined, feisty and, in a funny way, rather nice. I’ve often thought she was kind of–
cool.
Especially for a very old lady.’
‘I know what you mean,’ India concurred. ‘She doesn’t seem old, nor does she act it. Bustling around hither and yon like a youngster.’
Tessa smiled. ‘I’m to let her know tomorrow which evening we’re free.’
‘I’d like to make it Monday, if you don’t mind, Tessa, mainly because I’m hoping to take Dusty back to Willows Hall on Tuesday afternoon, and I’d be spending the evening there. Thankfully he’s very much on the mend, and the hospital’s going to discharge him at long last.’
‘I’m happy to hear he’s better, and Monday’s fine with me. When are you going to Yorkshire? Tomorrow afternoon?’
‘Yes. And you?’
‘The same. I’m taking Adele and Elvira with me. I want to get them settled before I leave on Wednesday. Linnet’s arriving at Pennistone Royal on Wednesday evening, to take charge, keep an eye on everything.’
‘I understand,’ India murmured, finally flopping down in a chair. She was convinced there was nothing to worry about now, since Jack Figg had turned the house and grounds into something akin to Fort Knox. India said, ‘They’ll be perfectly safe, to be sure they will. Any news of the dreaded Mark?’
‘Ugh, no,’ Tessa responded with an involuntary shudder. ‘Thank God. His solicitors are talking to mine, but it seems to be slow going. Mummy says it won’t be for much longer since once she gets back to London she’s going to light a fuse under them all.’
‘Knowing Aunt Paula, that’s
exactly
what she’ll do.’ India stood up again, moved over to Tessa’s desk and said, ‘Do you mind if I call my grandmother from here? And you can tell her a day early that we’ll see her on Monday.’
‘Be my guest,’ Tessa answered, indicating the phone.
India dialled, waited for the number to ring through, and when it was answered she said, ‘May I speak to the Dowager Countess, please.’
‘You’re speaking to her, India, dear. It’s me.’
‘Hello, Grandma. I’m with Tessa, she tells me you’ve been trying to reach me.’
‘Correct. I wanted to talk to you about your boyfriend. How’s he doing? Is he out of the hospital yet?’
India stared at Tessa, rolling her eyes and looking very surprised. ‘He’s better, Grandmother, and coming out of the hospital on Tuesday.’
‘Glad to hear it. You’d better bring him over to Niddersley House to meet me when he’s up to it. All right?’
‘Yes, that’s fine.’
‘He has a giant-sized talent. Correction, it’s more than great talent. The man’s a genius.’
‘Oh yes, he is,’ India exclaimed, relieved that her grandmother was sounding positive about Dusty, obviously had no objections to him. ‘Tessa wants to talk to you, today instead of tomorrow.’
‘You’ve settled on a date for supper, have you?’
‘Yes, Grandmother.’
‘When?’ Edwina barked.
‘Monday evening, if that’s all right with you?’
‘Naturally it is. I’m hardly leading the social life of a debutante in demand, India. Oh, and by the way, what’s all this nonsense about you and Tessa giving a dinner for me?’
‘She mentioned it then? We just thought it would be nice to…
honour
you, as the oldest living member of the Harte family.’
‘Don’t remind me of that!’ Edwina exclaimed, and then she chuckled. ‘Since you’re both part Fairley, as indeed I am, I’ll consider the idea. Do you think you can drag your father out of the bogs of Ireland? Will he come?’
‘I’m certain of it, Grandma.’
‘Let us discuss it on Monday. Seven o’clock sharp, India. Goodbye.’
‘’Bye,’ India said but Edwina had already slammed the phone down. India stared at Tessa and said in a puzzled tone, ‘She knew about Dusty? Who could have told her?’
‘You didn’t?’ Tessa asked.
‘No. I hadn’t told anyone except Linnet, and even then she didn’t know his name, only that I was involved with someone. It was after the stabbing that it all came out in the open.’
‘Then there’s your answer. The whole family suddenly knew,’ Tessa pointed out.
‘She probably got it from Uncle Robin, because Evan chats to him every day, well, practically,’ India remarked, making a good guess.
‘Do you care she knows? Anyway, what was her reaction?’
‘She says he’s a genius…she wants to meet him.’ India returned to the chair, leaned back against the cushions and muttered, ‘The problem is,
he
won’t want to meet her.’
‘Why ever not?’
‘Because he thinks the family’s stuck up, snobbish, all that silly stuff, just because Daddy has a title.’
‘I bet he will meet her if you paint the right picture, oh, do excuse the pun. You must make her sound like a real eccentric, which she is.’ As she was speaking Tessa turned off her computer, reached for her handbag and said, ‘I’ll meet you at Niddersley House on Monday evening, and now I’m going home to be with my child.’
India jumped up, saying, ‘I’m going to call it a day, too. Do you have your car, or can I give you a lift to your mother’s house?’
‘I was going to walk, but that’d be great, India, thanks.’
Within minutes the cousins were strolling to the carpark not far from the store. As they turned into the small parking lot, Tessa said, ‘I’m surprised you still use this place, after what happened to Evan, the way she was mugged around here in June.’
‘It’s all right in the summer months,’ India explained, ‘when it’s still light. I’ll have to make other arrangements in winter, probably use a car service, or a driver, like you do.’
‘I think that would be extremely wise on your part,’ Tessa remarked as they came to a stop next to India’s Aston Martin. ‘It’s so dangerous in London lately…even in daylight.’
On the way to Paula’s house in Belgrave Square, India spoke for a few minutes about Dusty and the portrait he was painting of her, and then she suddenly asked, ‘How long are you going to live with your mother and father, Tessa?’
Glancing at her swiftly, Tessa replied, ‘Until the divorce is final and everything’s settled with Mark.
Then I’ll find a flat. I don’t want to live at the Hampstead house, even though it’s actually mine. I can’t bear the place, Mark turned it into something so ugly, cold and grim. He can have it and he’s welcome.’
‘I know he wants a lot.’
‘He does. My mother seems to have some sort of plan, but I won’t know about it until she gets back at the beginning of September. In the meantime, the Belgrave house is rather large, and there’s the downstairs flat, Paul McGill’s old quarters. I have a bit of privacy down there, if I need it.’
As they turned into Belgrave Square, India said, ‘Can I pop in for a minute? I’d love to see Adele, give her a hug.’
‘Of course. Oh, my God, India! That’s Mark on the doorstep, ringing the bell. Oh God, what does
he
want?’
India said firmly, ‘Don’t panic.
We
can deal with him,’ and a moment later she brought the car to a standstill outside the house, pulled on the brake. ‘Keep calm,’ she murmured as Tessa made to get out of the Aston Martin.
‘I will.’ Alighting, Tessa hurried across the pavement, exclaiming, ‘Mark, what do you want?’
He swung around on hearing her voice. ‘I want to see my daughter, that’s what. You’re keeping her from me and that’s not fair,’ he said in a belligerent voice, his face turning red, filled with anger.
‘You know you’re supposed to make an appointment, you can’t just show up like this,’ Tessa cried, drawing to a stop at the bottom of the steps, staring up at him, trying to hold her emotions in check.
‘Well, here I am, Mrs Longden. It’s my right to see Adele, she’s my child. I love her and she loves me.’
‘You forfeited the right to see her the day you abducted her,’ Tessa told him.
‘I didn’t abduct her, I just took her out for a drive and lunch. I brought her back unharmed, I would never harm her, whatever you might think, and I have said so to your solicitors. You’re unconscionable, the way you’ve badmouthed me.’
‘You cannot see her until we have an iron-clad agreement,’ Tessa announced coldly, glaring at him. ‘You’re the one slowing it down.’
‘You’re such a bitch, and–’
At this moment the door flew open and Harriet, the housekeeper, stood on the threshold, having just responded to the ringing doorbell.
‘Oh, it’s you, Miss Tessa,’ she said, and waited for instructions, since, like the rest of the staff, she knew the situation.
India hurried to join Tessa and took hold of her arm. ‘I think it might be better if we let him come in for tea. You can’t stand here, having a shouting match, it’ll be much easier in the end.’
Tessa walked up the steps with India at her side, and said to him in a lowered voice, ‘Come in then, Mark. We’ll have tea with Adele.’
Harriet was hesitant for a split second, and then opened the door wider for Tessa. ‘It’s all right,’ Tessa murmured. ‘There’s no problem, Harriet. Is Ben here?’
‘Yes, thank God,’ Harriet muttered, relieved that her husband was in the house watching TV.
Once they were inside the hall, Tessa turned to Mark and said in a voice dripping ice, ‘Just this once I’ll overlook the rules you agreed to last week. But this is it until we have the settlement worked out. Do you understand?’
He nodded, and quietly followed her up the stairs to the playroom which had been used by the rest of the family when they were young. Now it was Adele’s favourite place, her haven.
When they walked inside and Adele saw her father she smiled and waved, but it was Tessa to whom she ran, crying, ‘Mumma, Mumma, I’m glad you’re home.’
Tessa bent down, caught the running child, hugged her to her, kissed her cheek, and hugged her again. Then straightening, she said, ‘Here’s Daddy and Aunt India. We’re going to have a tea party. With you, Elvira and your dolls.’
‘Oh, that’s lovely, Mumma. And Reggi has just put the kettle on,’ she said inventively, in her usual imaginative way, pointing to the favoured rag doll.
‘Well then, let’s all sit down and wait for Harriet to make the tea,’ Tessa murmured lovingly.
An hour and a half later Tessa escorted Mark down the stairs to the marble entrance foyer. ‘Thanks,’ he said softly, and before she could stop him he had pulled her into his arms, began to kiss her face, stroke her silver-blonde hair. She struggled with him, finally managed to push him away, and exclaimed, ‘Don’t ever do that again!
Ever,
do you hear me?’
‘I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to grab you so hard.’
‘Just don’t ever touch me. Not ever,’ she cried, her voice shrill.
‘Tessa, I’m sorry. I know I surprised you, I surprised myself. Look, I love you. Let’s try again, let’s start over, forget this divorce. Let’s be a family again. The three of us.’
Tessa stood in the middle of the hall gaping at him in fury, finding it hard to believe what she was hearing. The gall of him. He was preposterous. Suddenly, something in her snapped, and she cried, ‘Start again! You’ve got to be out of your mind. After all you’ve done to me–humiliated me, abused me, mentally
and
physically, stolen Adele. You’re insane to think I’d even consider it!’
‘Tessa, please, you’re exaggerating as usual.’
‘Please leave,’ she said, her tone icier than ever; she walked over to the front door and opened it. ‘Leave, Mark.
Now.’
He threw her a sour look and left without uttering another word, the set of his mouth mean and ugly, his eyes filled with anger.
She slammed the door behind him and slid the bolt, then turned and ran upstairs. She was shaking inside, and still furious, but she managed to push the bland expression onto her face before she went back into the playroom.
India rose when she saw her, and hurried across the floor. ‘Is something wrong?’ she asked, knowing there was. Her eyes gave her away.
‘He just suggested we get back together. Can you believe that bastard? He tried to pretend
he
didn’t do anything to ruin our marriage.’