Leo loaded the bike into the back of the van, gave Louisa a wide smile, and within minutes they were gone.
‘Thanks for that, Pa,’ Louisa said. ‘Hopefully, when he comes back, it might make things easier. You know the school won’t have him?’
‘I heard about it from Elspeth Markham. Everyone seems to know he’s Elliot’s son.’
‘Does it bother you?’
He shrugged. ‘I have to admit it does. But more because I feel angry at Elliot than anything else. Conor’s a good little kid and he’s been through such a lot. To hell with the gossips, I say.’
She smiled at him proudly. Her father never let her down. ‘The thing is, I can’t educate him alone. I was wondering about a tutor.’
‘Don’t you have a French kitchen maid?’
‘Yes. Camille.’
‘Ask her to teach him some basic French. I’ll happily lend a hand with history and geography when I have time. If you can cope with maths, English and natural history.’
‘Sounds like a plan. I don’t want to overload him, but he needs to be kept busy or he’ll brood. Would you have time to spend an hour with him on Monday? I think he’ll take it from you and that might get the day off to a better start. Or maybe I’ll take him for a bike ride first – see what creatures we can find – and you can have him later.’
‘Monday it is.’ He scrutinized her face. ‘Now let’s take a walk around the ramparts. You look as if you could do with the wind in your hair.’
‘Gwen’s here, feeding the baby. I’ll see if she’d like to come.’
She went indoors but came out shaking her head. ‘No, she’s trying to put Alice down for her nap.’
Just before they set off the postman arrived and handed Louisa a single envelope. She tore it open then sighed deeply.
‘What is it?’
‘A note from De Vos asking me to meet him on Monday at midday in the court square.’
‘Is it signed?’
‘Yes. He must be after his money again.’
She pocketed the note and they began to move off.
‘A legal debt would have to come out of Elliot’s estate,’ Jonathan said.
She snorted. ‘What estate! Anyway, it isn’t a legal debt, is it? The contract was a forgery.’
‘Then you can just walk away. That’s all there is to it.’
‘Couldn’t we just find the money? Make the man go away once and for all?’
‘It’s an awful lot, and you still don’t know what happened to all the cash Elliot took out from his bank account. It must be somewhere.’
‘Some of it went to Zinnia, I think, but he did talk about putting money aside for them in a letter I found. Trouble is, I don’t know where else to look.’
‘Will you meet De Vos?’
‘I think so.’
‘I’ll come with you.’
‘No, I’d rather do it alone.’
‘Why?’
‘Because I feel I must be the one to stand up to him. If I don’t, I’ll never be rid of him.’
There was a short silence as they walked on.
‘Well,’ her father eventually said, ‘let me know if you change your mind. Now, tell me how things are proceeding with the emporium.’
Louisa told him the builders were doing well and that they thought they might complete the job within a few weeks, but she could do with encouraging another jeweller to get on board.
‘I have a contact for you on that count,’ Jonathan said. ‘A silversmith, who makes all manner of brushes, combs, ornaments and jewellery.’
‘That’s just what I need.’
Louisa and Gwen set off to have lunch at the New Oriental Hotel, carrying the baby between them in her basket, although now she was bigger it wasn’t so easy. Luckily, she still slept regularly and so their lunch was planned to fit around her nap.
‘Gosh,’ Gwen said when they arrived. ‘It was Christmas when I was last here. Hasn’t the time flown by?’
They walked through the imposing but smoky entrance hall into the elegant dining room.
Once settled at a table in the window, where they could watch people passing by, they talked in a desultory kind of a way. Then, after they had ordered, Gwen told her more about her life at the tea plantation and about how she had met Laurence in London.
‘I knew the moment I saw him.’
‘Love at first sight?’
Gwen nodded. ‘I think so. It was at a musical evening in London. I was lost the moment he charged over, held out his hand and grinned at me.’
‘Romantic.’
‘We saw each other every day after that. My parents weren’t happy that a thirty-seven-year-old widower wanted to marry me, but they came round when Laurence offered to leave a manager in charge of the plantation and return to live in England. I wouldn’t hear of it. I told him if Ceylon was where his heart belonged, it was where my heart would belong too.’
‘And it has.’
‘Yes.’
Louisa took a deep breath. ‘I wanted to explain more about Conor.’
Gwen smiled warmly. ‘Only if you’re ready.’
Louisa nodded and told her the whole story about Elliot’s debts and about Zinnia and their son.
‘I still don’t understand why he did it,’ she said. ‘The affair had been going on for about eight years. Can you believe it? For two thirds of the time we were married.’
Gwen reached across the table for Louisa’s hand. ‘It’s not your fault, you know that?’
‘It’s what I tell myself.’
‘Believe it.’
‘I think it might have been different if we’d had a child. I feel like a mother, you know.’
‘That must be so hard. I am sorry.’
Louisa gazed out of the window and spotted Janesha the shopkeeper passing. She raised a hand to wave.
‘He was so caring when we lost Julia. I used to think I couldn’t have asked for a better husband. Now I just feel like a fool.’
‘He was the fool for not realizing what he had.’
‘That’s the thing. I think in many ways he did realize but he just couldn’t help himself. He couldn’t resist the temptation and went to her straight after my first miscarriage. I suppose our fate was sealed then.’
‘Not if he had stopped.’
‘Maybe.’
‘At first it seemed that everything was falling apart. I felt utterly duped, as if I had suddenly become nothing. That I didn’t matter. That he couldn’t have done it if I’d mattered. I felt so small, as if I wasn’t even real.’
‘And now?’
‘Now the deception still hurts, but maintaining the anger is just too exhausting.’ She sighed. ‘Anyway, I feel as if I’ve got myself back now. Or at least the parts I need most.’
‘I felt as if I’d lost myself after Liyoni.’
‘I’m so sorry. It’s a horrible feeling, isn’t it? I’m stronger now. If I wasn’t, I couldn’t look after Conor.’
‘You may feel stronger but things have a habit of catching up with us.’
It was then that the food arrived and they busied themselves with eating. Alice murmured in her sleep and Gwen bent down to check on her.
‘She’s dreaming,’ she said and stroked her daughter’s cheek. ‘Now tell me more about Leo.’
‘We’re friends.’
She grinned at Louisa. ‘And?’
‘Well, as I said, he runs a cinnamon plantation not far from Galle. It’s where Zinnia lived too. They were cousins. It’s a pity you were busy when he collected Conor this morning.’ She paused.
‘So?’ Gwen prompted.
‘So, the truth is, I really like being with him.’
‘Aha! Sounds exactly what you need.’
‘Not too soon?’
‘Does he make you happy?’
Louisa thought about it. ‘He makes me feel alive again and seems so solid after Elliot. We’ve spent quite a bit of time together and I find it so easy to talk to him. I wish you could meet
him.’
‘Maybe I will when he brings Conor back tomorrow. Has he ever been married?’
Louisa shook her head.
‘A bit of a bachelor.’
‘A bit but there’s more to him.’
‘I think if anything makes you feel good about yourself it’s a good idea. What Elliot did must have knocked your confidence terribly.’
Louisa nodded.
‘Whatever the outcome, don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.’
‘You really think so? I’m nervous about making a mistake. How can you tell if someone genuinely cares for you?’
‘We have to trust our instincts.’
‘But that’s exactly it. I want so much to trust Leo and sometimes I think I really do, but after Elliot …’
‘Don’t let Elliot ruin your future. If Leo is what you want, turn your back on what happened. You must.’ Gwen sighed. ‘I don’t know, but whatever life flings at us we have to find a way to get through it, don’t we?’
‘But you’ve been happy with Laurence?’
‘Yes, but we’ve had our trials.’
‘Of course. Losing your daughter must have been so terribly sad for you both.’
Gwen glanced down and Louisa wondered if there was something more her friend wasn’t saying.
The rest of the day passed uneventfully but, contrary to her expectation, Louisa found she was missing having Conor about the house. And when Gwen took a late afternoon nap with Alice, apart from the usual creaks and groans of old floorboards and new plumbing, the house was too quiet. Feeling like a stranger in her own home, she read part of a novel, caught up with sewing her patchwork quilt, and took the dogs for a walk. And, in the silence, she found herself daydreaming about Leo, her mind returning to him again and again. The way he talked, the way he moved, and the way his dark eyes shone when he smiled at her. She could picture him so clearly it was as if he were in the room. What she had told Gwen was true; Leo had helped her to recover her confidence and she eagerly looked forward to seeing him again.
The next day, hearing a baby’s cry, Louisa woke suddenly. But with her eyes wide open she knew it had been a dream. No baby. Then as if to mock her, she heard baby Alice crying. She thought of Conor. She had a child to look after now, didn’t she, and a child was a child, so Conor might be her only chance.
That afternoon Irene and Margo turned up unexpectedly. Louisa felt apprehensive and gave Margo a look as she ushered them into the sitting room. Margo raised her brows and shrugged.
‘It’s a shame you missed tea,’ Louisa said. ‘Instead of our usual Sunday cake we had a French one made by Camille. A tarte Tatin. She’s actually very good.’
Margo nodded.
‘Dinner won’t be long but I’ll get Cook to rustle up a sandwich. Will that do?’
‘It will have to,’ Irene said and puckered her lips.
‘You should have let me know you were coming.’
‘Sorry. We got the early bus,’ Margo said. ‘It was all rather a rush.’
‘I won’t beat around the bush,’ Irene said. ‘I’ve come to see my grandson. Margo says he’s here. Not that she wanted to tell me, mind.’
Margo mouthed an apology at Louisa.
Louisa sighed. ‘I’m afraid he’s not here.’
Irene shot her a piercing look. ‘Where is he then?’
‘The plan is for him to spend weekdays here and weekends with Leo until he’s old enough to go to boarding school.’
‘That sounds most unsatisfactory. Children need continuity, stability, things to remain the same. All this chopping and changing won’t do at all.’
‘We think we can make it work.’
‘I plan to stay for a week at least. Though Harold is not for it, I want to get to know the boy.’
Louisa’s heart sank. ‘That’s not such a great idea, Irene. Let him settle down with me first.’
‘I’m afraid I’m going to have to insist.’
‘He needs time, Irene, before he meets anyone new. It’s been a huge change.’
‘I am not anyone! I am the child’s grandmother. I warn you, I have instructed my solicitor to take out an application for custody.’
Louisa sighed. That was all they needed.
Irene was the last person she wanted judging her attempts at communication with Conor, especially as she seemed serious about custody. She glanced across at her sister-in-law, but Margo appeared subdued and that made Louisa wonder if it was because of something to do with William and his divorce.
There was a knock at the door and Camille, the French maid, brought in a plate of sandwiches.
‘Excuse me,’ she said. ‘Ashan has had to go out. Is there anything else you need?’
‘Gin and tonic,’ Irene piped up.
‘Just water for me, please,’ Margo said.
‘Actually, Camille, while you’re here, I wanted to ask if you’d be prepared to help the little boy staying with us to learn some basic French.’
‘It would be my pleasure, Madame.’
Once the girl had left the room Irene glared at Louisa. ‘You’re asking a kitchen maid to tutor my grandson?’
‘It’s a good idea. He has never been to school and has a lot of catching up to do.’
‘Why can’t he go to school here?’
‘They won’t have him because he’s illegitimate. Only a nastier word was used by the children.’
Irene’s eyes widened. ‘I won’t say it isn’t an obstacle, but were we to adopt Conor that would give him legitimacy, wouldn’t it? And if he were at school in Colombo –’
Louisa interrupted. ‘I don’t think Leo would allow it, Irene. His home is the cinnamon plantation. It’s all he has ever known.’
‘Who is this Leo to the child? From what I hear from a friend of Elspeth Markham’s, he’s just a second cousin of some sort, or a first cousin once removed. I forget which it is. Either way, a grandparent takes precedence.’
Camille came back with the drinks and the room went quiet. Louisa wished Irene hadn’t arrived. It was going to complicate everything. As for Conor, she didn’t know what to expect but hoped for better behaviour, or she’d have to suffer Irene’s gloating comments.
42.
When Leo brought Conor back, the late afternoon sky was still a gentle pearly lilac with little wind and showing no sign of imminent rain. Gwen and Louisa went outside together and Louisa introduced her friend to Leo.
‘It’s a pleasure to meet you,’ Gwen said, smiling broadly and holding out her hand.
Leo shook it. ‘Likewise.’
‘How has Conor been?’ Gwen asked.
Leo tilted his head. ‘Very good.’
And indeed, Conor seemed like a changed boy. Instead of his habitual glower he smiled at Louisa and she noticed there was colour in his cheeks. It was a welcome sight and she hoped it might signal an easier week ahead.
‘Conor has been on his bicycle almost the whole weekend,’ Leo added. ‘I told him he could cycle round Galle too if somebody goes with him.’
‘I love to cycle,’ Louisa said and bent down to talk to Conor. ‘When I was a child I spent all my time on my bike. First thing tomorrow morning we’ll go for a ride. If you like, that is. And later, my dad will help with your history lesson.’
Margo came out and, as she and Gwen chatted with Conor, Louisa drew Leo aside. ‘I’m afraid Conor’s grandmother, Irene, has turned up with all sorts of plans.’
‘Such as?’
‘Taking him to live in Colombo, for starters. Honestly, Leo, she’s the last person who should take care of him. She’ll ruin him.’
‘Well, she’ll have me to deal with first. Don’t worry. It may come to nothing.’
She sighed. ‘I hope you’re right.’
While Conor was absorbed with Gwen and Margo, Louisa suddenly turned and gazed at Leo and felt the full weight of this, whatever this was. She hardly dared think of what the future might bring but wanted to hold on tight to the feeling of being so close she coul
d hear him breathe.
‘Are you okay?’ he said softly.
She nodded.
‘If you need me, just call. And not just for Conor. Do you understand what I’m saying?’
She nodded again. Her eyes misted up and she blinked rapidly.
‘Anyway, before I leave, perhaps you could introduce me to Irene?’
Just then Irene came out and glanced at Louisa and Leo with a puzzled face.
Louisa felt paralysed but Leo held out a hand to Irene. ‘Leo McNairn, Conor’s guardian.’
Irene sniffed but took his hand. ‘Irene Reeve.’ She turned to Conor and without the slightest hesitation clapped her hands and started cooing over him. ‘And this must be my darling little grandson. But my, how like your father you look. How lovely is that? Uncanny, isn’t it, Louisa?’
‘Yes. Just like Elliot,’ she said, but even without looking at Conor’s face she knew the child was perplexed by the sudden acquisition of a grandmother. It hadn’t been the subtlest meeting and she worried about how Conor was taking the news.
‘Well,’ Leo said. ‘It’s nice to meet you, Irene, and you too, Gwen, but I must be making tracks. Be good, Conor.’
Conor gave him a hug and then stepped back and looked as if he was struggling with something. ‘Is she really my grandmother?’ he eventually blurted out.
Leo nodded. ‘But Louisa is looking after you. Remember that.’
Louisa would have preferred to introduce Conor to Irene indoors, once Leo had gone, but now the woman had seen the way Leo had been gazing at Louisa and how close she’d been to tears. Louisa knew it might lead to pointed comments and goodness knows what other opposition. As Leo and Louisa walked over to his van he spoke in a quiet voice out of Irene’s hearing. ‘Would you be able to get away one evening? I’d love to see you properly.’
She felt a frisson of pleasure. ‘Yes.’
He broke into a broad smile.
‘I had thought to pop over here again, but with your mother-in-law around it might not be too comfortable for either of us.’
‘How about Tuesday? That should give Conor time to settle back in.’
‘Excellent. And don’t let Irene get under your skin.’
‘I have to tell you, she really is after getting custody of Conor.’
The Sapphire Widow Page 28