by Lotte Moore
“I just love homemade produce, I suppose,” Cheryl replied. “Have you ever tried my gooseberry and rhubarb relish?”
“Perhaps I’ll take some of that home too!” Beady laughed.
“Ah, there you are,” said Jonty with an armful of beetroot. “St James’s Palace rang to say the Prince will be here around 10.15am on Wednesday for an hour before he has to inspect some architectural designs at Aylesbury town hall.”
As her son talked, Beady began to wonder if coming back to England might not be more appealing than life in Madeira.
How much would I miss my friends out there? she wondered.
Chapter Nineteen
Moscow
Theo ambled through the front door exhausted. Baba gave him a hug as usual, happy to see him, and babbled away, but Theo didn’t respond.
“What’s the matter? You don’t want any food and you’re anxious. I suppose it’s pre-concert worries, is it?” she asked.
“No, Mother, I just want to think. I’ll go and play some music upstairs. See you in the morning,” Theo mumbled, hurrying to his room, ignoring his mother’s sad face.
*
At rehearsals Sergei came into the studio. “I was so carried away by the music, your talent, the expression on your…”
“I can’t listen to this now,” Theo interrupted furiously. “For God’s sake, my head will explode, it’s all too much! My wife and daughter are coming out soon for the concert. What do you think could possibly happen between us? We must never talk of this again.” He walked to the piano, raised its lid, and played several loud chords.
Sergei watched him for a few seconds then left the room. Theo found it hard to concentrate but an hour later was challenged to join Murel and the orchestra for their first run-through.
When Theo returned to his practice room, he found a hurriedly scrawled note on the concert hall piano about his train departure to Vienna and the coming week’s schedule, including the arrival time of Vivi and Georgie at the station. Information Sergei would usually deliver to him personally, but he was nowhere to be seen.
Chapter Twenty
Kensington
Serena had received a very exciting phone call from an Italian count called SanTranto. He said he’d read about her in a Times article and wanted to know if she’d consider a makeover of his Rome office.
“How much would he pay you?” asked Gems enthusiastically. Serena told her the incredible amount and Gems whistled, clearly impressed. “Wow! Your reputation could become European-wide after this.”
Serena nodded, but then sighed, thinking about Lang and the children coping without her. She tapped her chin with a highlighter pen.
“I won’t mention it just yet. We’re off to a ‘do’ in the country tomorrow. Maybe I’ll talk to Lang on Sunday. He may say yes, or absolutely not, depending on his mood.”
*
Serena felt vibrant in a backless, mauve, silk dress on Saturday morning while Lang looked suave in his pearl grey morning suit. They’d been invited to a wedding in Sussex. The reception was to be in a huge barn. Alicia and Freddie went to stay with Vivi and Benjie stayed with Maggie.
The wedding took place in a field with a long table instead of an altar. The bride’s dress blew in circles round her legs and she had to keep pulling it sharply down. At one point the groom even tried to tread on the dress to keep it anchored.
Luckily, it was a short ceremony, slightly spoiled when the wedding ring blew off the table in a sudden gust. All the guests had to go on hands and knees searching for the wretched thing. It was finally found by the cherubic page boy, embedded in mud.
The reception was Indian-style, with cushions and throws on the floor, draped scarlet curtains and incense sticks scenting the air. All kinds of spiced dishes had been prepared; chicken korma, poppadums and basmati rice. Everything looked and tasted amazing, while soft music came from the rafters.
The barn had an atmosphere of highly charged expectancy and was festooned with hanging candles. Flowers and fountains of purple water were positioned at each end.
After meeting various friends and enjoying the free-flowing drinks, Serena found herself quite tipsy. Guests reclined on cushions as dancers performed sensuous contortions. Serena and Lang ambled out of the barn with Serena swaying slightly. She ran her fingers slowly up his arm and Lang squeezed her waist.
On the way home, Lang drove up a remote country lane and began to hurriedly undress Serena as soon as the car stopped.
Oh, how good it is to have him back in a good mood.
He began kissing her avidly and threw his clothes onto the furrows of a ploughed field. He lowered Serena onto his crumpled jacket and passionately made love to her in the moonlight, producing groans of deep pleasure.
Afterwards, they lay happily in each other’s arms. It was after 3am on Sunday morning as they entered their sleepy household, relaxed, slightly muddy, and giggly, shushing one another.
Chapter Twenty One
City of London
Lang’s office
Lang’s firm was bubbling with news of a startling mining report and the fact that some Australian nickel shares were rocketing. Returning from a meeting, he found a message from Calder waiting for him.
Please come to my office as soon as possible.
Lang felt his stomach drop. The phone rang, making Lang jump.
“Darling, I’ve had a marvellous offer from—”
“Serena, I can’t talk now,” Lang interrupted. “I’ve got to go and see Calder. Ring me later.”
“But darling—” she said to nobody, as he put the phone down.
Lang walked anxiously along the corridor and knocked on Calder’s door.
“Come in Lang. Sit down. Now you told me that the debt for Sunrise Investment Co. was settled, but it isn’t, is it?”
“No, sir,” murmured Lang rather lamely.
“Is this company anything to do with you?” asked Calder quizzically.
“Well, err…” Lang faltered.
“I want you to tell me who owns the company and why it hasn’t paid up,” said Calder angrily.
Lang put his head in both hands and said, “I’m afraid it’s me.”
“You?”
“Yes. I own it and I haven’t the funds to pay off its debt.” There was silence for several seconds, then Calder stood up. “In that case I think you should clear your desk. Stay at home and you’ll hear from our solicitors shortly.”
Pale faced, Lang rose and hurriedly left with tears in his downcast eyes.
Arriving home, Lang dreaded seeing the children, but there was no avoiding it. As soon as he crept through the front door Alicia ran towards him.
“Hello, Daddy.” He pushed her away. “Why are you crying?”
Lang marched off and slammed his study door.
Maggie put her arm round Alicia in an effort to cheer her up. “Look at your poor kitten,” she chuckled consolingly. “Benjie’s sprinkled flour all over its head.”
Freddie came in wearing a papier-mâché spider mask. “Look what I made!” he shouted.
“Don’t go near Daddy,” Alicia told him. “He’s very sad and cross.”
Half an hour later, Serena rushed in while talking on her mobile. Alicia sat on the stairs waiting to hug her, but the conversation went on and on in another language. Freddie circled round and round on his scooter.
“Shh kids, go into the kitchen.” Serena waved them off. Eventually she finished talking.
“Daddy’s cross,” said Alicia sadly. “He didn’t even say hello.”
Serena hugged her and kissed Freddie on his mask. “I’d better go and see him then, hadn’t I?”
A few moments later as Serena gave a soft knock and walked into the study she saw Lang sitting slumped at his desk. “What’s the matter, darling?”
“I’ve been kicked out,” he replied bluntly. His voice muffled.
“What do you mean?” Serena frowned.
“It’s a mix-up over money,” he snap
ped.
“I don’t understand.” Her eyes roamed round the room, then returned to his face. “How will we live?”
“I have absolutely no idea,” mumbled Lang, putting his face in his hands.
Chapter Twenty Two
Vienna
Murel had given the orchestra a serious talk about what to expect in the Austrian capital, and Theo realised it would be an even bigger challenge for him than St Petersburg. A long rehearsal with many interruptions ensued, which annoyed him. He wanted to surge through all three movements and attack the problem phrases with the orchestra.
After lunch, a complete run-through restored his confidence.
“Bravo, Theo. Your tempi are excellent!” said Murel.
“A wonderful finale,” added Sergei, appearing from behind the piano.
“I’m going to the studio,” murmured Theo. “Please get me some black coffee and a sandwich, Sergei.”
One hour later, just as he was leaving, his mobile rang.
“Hello darling, how are you?” asked Vivi.
“Exhausted, but longing to see you and Georgie next week,” he replied softly. “Sergei has organised the hotel and your box. We’ll meet you at the airport.”
*
The next morning, Theo woke to a tense neck and shoulders. He didn’t quite know what he was saying, but shyly asked Sergio for a neck rub. He half expected him to point blank refuse, but Sergei agreed, although he was more withdrawn as he tenderly rubbed his client’s shoulders this time.
There was a hasty knock on the door and Murel walked in with a plump bearded man carrying several cameras.
“This is our photographer who’s going to take some promotional photos,” he announced.
Pulling on his jacket and scraping a comb through his messy blond hair, Theo sat poised at the piano.
“Now play, please,” instructed the photographer.
Once they were done, the photographer wanted to come to the rehearsal to take pictures of the orchestra.
Theo was getting impatient about the waste of time. Soon Shostakovich was piercing the walls of the auditorium. The rehearsal went well and was up to the standard Murel hoped for. As the orchestra drifted away, Sergei asked Theo if he wanted a lift to the airport.
“Thank you,” said Theo, avoiding eye-contact. “That would be very helpful.”
They drove in a tense silence and at the arrivals barrier, Theo and Sergei could hear yells of “Daddy!”
Georgie almost fell onto her father, while Vivi followed serenely. Sergei drove them all to a small hotel near the opera house where everyone was to stay.
Georgie stood beside Theo on a tiny balcony and stared at the cityscape below in great excitement, talking non-stop.
Sergei handed him a schedule for the next day. “Rehearsals begin at 10am prompt. I’ll pop in later.”
Vivi linked arms with Theo and Georgie. “This is all so wonderful” she beamed. “Let’s unpack, then go down and have something to eat.”
The hotel restaurant was full of elegant mirrors, chandeliers and gold statues. Georgie, wide-eyed and full of laughter, gasped at everything. Vivi looked radiantly at Theo as they exchanged news.
“At some point I’ll show you where Mozart lived, but you must go to some of the galleries and museums while I’m rehearsing,” Theo said.
“Are you all enjoying yourselves?” asked Sergei approaching the table tentatively. Then spotting that Vivi and Georgie most certainly were added, “If you’d like me to drive you around tomorrow morning while the Maestro’s rehearsing, I’d love to show you some of the sights of this magnificent city.”
“Oh, that would be perfect,” said Vivi excitedly.
“Thank you,” said Georgie.
The two men glanced at each other meaningfully. Vivi noticed this and remarked, “I’ll leave you two to chat while I put Georgie to bed.”
Later that evening, Theo and Vivi fiinally got some peace and space, just the two of them. They sat on the balcony above the soft flowing Danube.
“What a spectacular view,” exclaimed Vivi. Then, after a moment’s pause. “How are you feeling about the concert?”
“Nervous, but it’s good to have you and little Georgie here.” He kissed her tenderly.
*
The reflections from the water shimmered on their bedroom ceiling as there was a gentle knock at the door, followed by Georgie bounding in wide-eyed and expectant.
“Where shall we go first?”
“Let’s wait for Sergei to suggest places,” said Vivi drowsily, then added after a yawn, “Do your concert clothes need pressing, darling?”
“I’ll leave them for the valet to do.”
Breakfast arrived a few moments later, much to Georgie’s delight. Theo was restless to start rehearsals.
“I’ll meet you this afternoon at the Café Central,” Theo told them.
Half an hour later, Sergei took Vivi and Georgie on a tour along cobbled streets to several museums, then they went on a water taxi along the Danube.
“It’s so beautiful,” Vivi called to Sergei, sitting in the bow.
“Isn’t it?” he agreed. “This wonderful river flows for miles and miles and finally goes into the Black Sea.”
“Wow!” said Georgie. The boat rocked as she stood up to try and touch the bridge they were passing under.
“Careful!” called Sergei, then smiling at Vivi. “I’m so glad she’s enjoying herself. Which reminds me, I thought we could all go to the Mozart House with Theo tomorrow after he’s finished rehearsing.”
While Sergei continued talking, Vivi thought she’d prefer to go on alone with Theo.
“The cafés here are popular and have always been a meeting place for artists and writers. The Café Central has an extraordinary wax figure of Peter Altenburg, a homeless poet and sketch artist who was an oddity and almost lived in the Café. His wax model sits in the window table and he is shown reading a newspaper. That’s where we’re meeting Theo shortly.”
Vivi noticed every time Sergei mentioned her husband he smiled. It was nice that he clearly was so fond of her husband.
“Oh, this boat trip is so fun. I love the pretty houses,” enthused Georgie. “Are we going to see Daddy now?”
“Yes,” replied Sergei. “Right now!”
As they arrived, Theo was sitting in a corner seat looking very tired.
Vivi kissed him on the brow. “You look exhausted,” she murmured, sitting down whilst Georgie jumped on his knee.
Sergei walked up to Theo. “I’ll see you in later in the theatre dressing room. Try and get a little rest before the concert. I’ll show you to your box at 7.15pm, Vivi.”
Chapter Twenty Three
Kensington
Serena was frozen in fury and abject fear. “What are we going to do? Why has this suddenly happened? What went wrong? We seemed so safe and you were making good money, especially when you were promoted.”
With his head in his hands he whispered, “We’ll have to sell this house and pay off the mortgage. I’ll never get another job in the City.”
“Why? Tell me what’s happened!” she cried.
“My dealing company made a big sale of shares which it didn’t own. The price went up and I had to buy them back. I’ve defrauded the firm. There’s no way I can pay the loss—I’m finished.”
Serena was totally stunned. “Where will we go?”
“Perhaps Jonty might have a cottage or know of one we could rent,” Lang suggested quietly.
“That would mean I’d have to commute. I must continue my work as it’s going so well. Oh God! I want to scream! Wasn’t there any warning it was going to happen? And what about the kids’ education? How could you be so stupid, Lang?” she said angrily.
“We’ll have to find them a state school wherever we live,” replied Lang, turning away from her.
“And poor Vivi. If we move she’ll be lonely.”
“Oh, stop going on and on. First thing is to ring the bank, the solicitor and
your brother. We may have to sell the furniture. If we can get more than £1.5 million for this house at least that would pay off the mortgage and leave a bit over.”
Black despair gripped his guts. The shame, the utter shame, stripped him bare. Lang’s throat tightened as the bile rose.
He began to tremble as Serena left the room shouting, “Why the hell did you have to gamble our lives away?”
She sat on the stairs and wept convulsively. How she hated her husband right now. She took a deep breath and dialled Jonty.
“Hi, Cheryl, can I speak to JJ? Oh, is he? Well, in that case could you get him to ring me back as soon as possible,” she said quietly, before climbing the stairs to her spacious bedroom. She looked at the garden where the children were playing hide and seek with Benjie.
I wonder how they’ll be affected if we have to move, leaving all their friends? thought Serena. She felt as though steel bands were constricting her body.
“Pull yourself together, girl,” she said, wiping the tears away. Her mobile rang. “Hi Jonty. Something terrible has happened. Lang has lost his job. He’s actually been sacked and owes a lot of money. We’ll have to sell the house and find somewhere…” She broke down crying. “Somewhere smaller. Sell the furniture and… oh, it’s quite ghastly, JJ.”
“Shall I come up and see you?” he asked anxiously.
“Oh yes, please do. I think Lang’s breaking down. He’s in a frightful state. I don’t know how to help him. Please don’t tell Mum about it yet.”
Alicia burst into the bedroom and flung her arms round Serena. “My friend said she thinks you’re the prettiest mum in the school.”
Serena rang off and hastily wiped her eyes.
“Have you been crying Mummy?” Alicia asked studying her face.
“No, I was just talking to Uncle Jonty, darling.”
“Is Daddy alright now? I want to play snap with him.”
“No, don’t bother him now,” said Serena, stroking her daughter’s long hair. “Come and help me bathe Benjie.”
Freddie wandered in. “Daddy’s gone out and wouldn’t play football with me,” he said grumpily.