The Sapphire Widow

by Jefferies, Dinah

  By Saturday the rain was holding off and Louisa had high hopes it would be dry enough at the cricket ground to attempt to teach Conor how to play. They waited in the garden. Conor was immediately drawn to a little overgrown patch at the back bursting with wild flowers, butterflies and humming birds. Then he rolled on the grass with Tommy and Bouncer, and Louisa couldn’t help thinking of poor Zip. The police had been no use at all. They hadn’t even been able to trace the child who had been paid to deliver the box.

  When Leo came straight through to the garden, he grinned at Louisa and she felt her skin tingle at the memory of the night they’d spent together. Conor leapt on Leo and he carried the child through to the sitting room where they were to wait for Jonathan.

  ‘So,’ Leo said, as he held the child on his lap. ‘How have you been getting on?’

  ‘We have been cycling, and swimming, and I painted a picture of you. And I can say Bonjour.’

  ‘That’s great. Who has been teaching you?’

  ‘Camille. She’s French.’

  As if on cue, the French kitchen maid came into the room and smiled at Louisa. ‘Do you wish a packed lunch for the cricket?’

  ‘No, I think we’ll be back for lunch.’

  ‘Very well, Madame.’

  ‘How did you like Irene?’ Leo asked Conor.

  ‘She’s all right.’

  ‘Good.’

  Soon after that Jonathan turned up, dressed in white flannels, and they all set off for the cricket ground. Louisa had dug out Elliot’s old cricket bats and two tennis balls and Jonathan had unearthed some stumps for the wicket.

  ‘By rights we should all be wearing white,’ Leo said, as they arrived, ‘and have pads up to our knees.’

  ‘The first thing he needs to understand is the point of the game,’ Jonathan said.

  Leo shook his head. ‘I’ll show him how to hold the bat first. Listen, Conor, the important thing is to keep a straight bat and play a forward defence.’

  ‘That’s too complicated for him,’ Jonathan said. ‘Just let him try and hit a few balls.’ He turned to Conor. ‘Here, take hold of the bat and Leo will bowl.’

  ‘I still think if he starts off with a straight bat he’ll do better,’ Leo said, but he went several yards away and bowled underarm as gently as he could. Conor, struggling a bit with the too big bat, missed the first two attempts, but at the third bowl he hit the ball. Louisa cheered while Conor jumped up and down in triumph.

  ‘Well done,’ said Jonathan. ‘Now, there are usually two batsmen, one standing at either end of the wicket. After the one facing the bowler hits the ball they both begin to run, swapping places with each other. That’s called a run.’

  ‘Me and Louisa can be the batsmen,’ Conor said. ‘You have to run fast, Louisa.’

  She nodded but was finding it hard to keep her eyes off Leo. ‘Aye aye, Captain.’

  ‘We should explain the game a bit more,’ persisted Jonathan.

  ‘Before he knows how to hold the bat?’ Leo said and snorted.

  Jonathan put on a serious face. ‘There are usually two teams with eleven players each, and the whole idea is to score as many runs as possible without losing players.’

  ‘How can you lose the players?’ Conor asked.

  ‘See where I’ve put the stumps just behind you?’ Jonathan said.

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘There would be another set of stumps not far from the bowler and that’s where the second batsman stands. Louisa in this case. The other side can get you out either by catching the ball when you hit it, or touching the ball to one set of the stumps before you finish your run.’

  ‘So, I hit the ball and then Louisa and me run between the stumps and we score runs?’

  ‘Excellent. You’ve got it. And from one set of stumps to the other is called the wicket.’

  ‘What happens if you are out?’

  ‘You go off and another batsman from your side takes your place.’

  ‘Now I really do want to show you how to keep a straight bat,’ Leo said. ‘It’s best if you learn from the start.’

  Jonathan frowned. ‘I still think we should just let him have a go.’

  ‘But he’ll stand a better chance if he’s not cross-batting.’

  Louisa laughed. ‘Come on, you two. This is a friendly game.’

  And so the morning went on with Jonathan and Leo arguing about the best way to teach Conor to play cricket. Louisa watched with a wry smile and performed her duty as second batsman, getting caught out at every attempt.

  At lunchtime Jonathan walked ahead to the house with Conor, but Leo held back and then he and Louisa followed slowly, well behind the other two.

  ‘Thank you for the other night,’ he said, and touched her cheek.

  She smiled and felt energy coursing through her body.

  ‘It’s wonderful to see you. And to see Conor so happy. But I wanted a quick word while we’re alone.’

  ‘Oh?’

  ‘I’ve been driving myself crazy thinking about Conor and Irene.’

  ‘And?’

  ‘And wondering if it might be best if Irene does have custody of Conor, after all.’

  She stopped walking and stared at him. ‘You have no idea what she’s like.’

  ‘So you said.’

  She frowned. ‘So I said?’

  ‘I’m sorry, that came out all wrong.’ He shook his head. ‘Conor could always visit me from time to time. Holidays and the like.’

  ‘How can you even consider such a thing?’

  ‘Well, he may not be able to stay with you for ever. You know that.’

  ‘Why not? I’ve grown very fond of him.’

  He swallowed before he spoke. ‘I can see how he might become a substitute child for you, Louisa. But –’

  She frowned. ‘But what? He needs a mother.’

  He took a step away and then turned back to look at her. ‘If anything were to change, I wouldn’t want you to be hurt.’

  ‘Nothing has to change.’

  He shook his head sadly. ‘I’ve looked at it from every angle and no matter how much I want to, I just can’t give him everything he needs. It breaks my heart – but Irene has the time, the money, can give him a stable home, and she and Harold are his closest blood relatives.’

  ‘I can’t believe what I’m hearing! Didn’t you listen when I told you how she ruined Elliot’s character?’

  ‘Does it occur that you might be … how can I say it? A little biased?’

  ‘What?’

  ‘Come on, Louisa. We have to think of what’s best for Conor. Irene can pay for a good education. You know the plantation is still expanding, but I’m not there yet.’

  ‘But you love him!’

  ‘I do and I’m sure Irene will too.’

  ‘Conor loves you, not Irene. I thought you believed he was best off with you.’

  ‘I did.’

  ‘But now you just want him off your hands. That’s it, isn’t it? Well, I must say I’m terribly disappointed.’

  ‘Louisa, come on. Be rational.’

  ‘No. There’s nothing rational about this.’

  ‘Look, when can I see you again? We can talk about it then.’

  He put a hand on her shoulder but she shook him off. ‘No. I don’t think so. You don’t want the responsibility of Conor. I’m glad I’ve seen the truth before anything more could happen between us. Bring Conor back tomorrow evening. I’m going home.’

  She marched off, overtaking her father and Conor, and then she went into the house and up to her room. Upstairs she lay on her bed and felt the disappointment in the pit of her stomach. She had thought Leo was different, that he cared for Conor and that between them they would find a way to look after the little boy. To hand Conor over to Irene seemed like the worst possible outcome.

  The next morning her father turned up again, unexpectedly, saying he had something for her, but that it was outside in the garden. They went through the French windows and there, trembling in
Ashan’s arms, was a small liver-and-white spaniel puppy.

  She ran across and Ashan grinned as she took the little one in her arms. Its pink tongue leapt out and licked her on the cheek. ‘Oh, you adorable thing. What shall I call you?’

  ‘I got him from a man called Oliver,’ her father said.

  ‘Oliver is a lovely name.’

  She buried her nose in his fur and then burst into tears.

  ‘Oh darling, I’m sorry. Have I been insensitive? I know nothing can replace Zip.’

  She shook her head. ‘He’s perfect. It was a lovely thing to do and Conor will adore him.’

  In fact, she couldn’t wait for the evening when Conor would be back and for the rest of the day introduced Oliver to Tommy and Bouncer, who sniffed the newcomer and smelt all his parts before apparently accepting him as one of the family. Much of the afternoon the puppy slept on Louisa’s lap as she flicked through magazines, with her only rising now and again to take him outside to do his business. If Tommy and Bouncer were jealous they didn’t show it. And if she felt anxious about seeing Leo again she didn’t admit it.

  That evening she went to the door when she heard them arrive in the van. Leo looked stiff and serious and she barely glanced at him before welcoming Conor back and telling him there was a lovely surprise waiting for him.

  ‘Can Leo see the surprise too?’ he asked.

  ‘Maybe another time. I’m sure Leo must have plenty of work to do.’

  Conor gave Leo a hug.

  Then she put an arm around the child and told him to wait in the sitting room.

  ‘Right,’ she said to Leo. ‘I shall expect you back next Saturday morning. Goodbye.’

  Then she shut the door on him while trying to ignore her pounding heart. She knew she might be overreacting; maybe Leo really did have Conor’s best interests at heart. But she wanted him to fight for Conor, not take the easy way out.

  Afterwards she and Conor went outside to where all the dogs had curled up together. At first it was hard to make out the puppy among all the various paws, but then he wriggled to his feet and raced across, wagging his tail.

  ‘He’s called Oliver. Do you like him?’

  ‘Is he for me?’

  ‘Well, he’s for both of us. We can share him. How does that sound?’

  The look of adoration on the child’s face as he fondled the puppy gave Louisa a rush of joy. She felt hugely protective not just of the new puppy, but of Conor himself. They had come such a long way since those difficult early days and, she had to admit, she really was beginning to think of the child as hers.

  46.

  On Monday Louisa received a call from Margo saying the solicitors had agreed that she wouldn’t have to appear in the divorce court, as just the photos would be used in evidence. After that Himal, the builder, turned up at the door carrying something. As it was blustery they didn’t talk on the doorstep and Louisa showed him into the hall where he handed her a package.

  ‘What is this?’ she said.

  He grinned. ‘Open it. We found it under those loose floorboards.’

  She opened it up and found a thick wad of banknotes. She immediately suspected this had to be the missing money Elliot had withdrawn from his account, but why he’d taken it out she still didn’t know, unless he’d been planning to use it to pay off his debt to De Vos. As she thought of De Vos she wondered if he might turn up later. The week he had given her was now up, but she had heard nothing from him yet. Perhaps he’d given up hope?

  ‘That was very good of you, Himal,’ she said. ‘Thank you.’

  ‘I thought you’d be pleased.’

  She glanced up at him. ‘I am. Of course, I am. And I’m pretty sure I know where it came from.’ She paused, thinking she couldn’t reveal too much in front of the man. ‘Thank you for your honesty.’

  ‘That isn’t all. There is a problem, I’m afraid.’

  ‘Oh?’

  He nodded and looked apologetic. ‘The shop fittings are installed but one of my decorators has broken his leg. I only have one working at the moment, so it will take twice as long. I know you wanted to open in two weeks’ time.’

  ‘Can’t you find a replacement?’

  ‘None of my regular casuals are free. There’s a big painting job on at the New Oriental, and everyone’s working there.’

  Louisa thought about it. ‘I can do some of the painting myself. I’m pretty good up a ladder.’

  ‘But, Madam, that would be somewhat unusual.’

  ‘I painted my sitting room here myself. Let me get changed and I’ll be along directly.’

  The builder looked uncertain. ‘If you are sure, Madam?’

  She smiled, but then remembered Conor. ‘Oh,’ she said. ‘I’ll have to bring the child with me. But I’ll think of something to keep him out of harm’s way.’

  ‘Maybe he could read while you work?’

  ‘Or better still, if I give him a paintbrush he might enjoy painting too. And if he gets bored I’ll give him some sheets of paper to draw on.’

  ‘We’re fitting the roll-down metal shutters at the front this week.’

  ‘That’s wonderful. Thank you.’

  Once he’d gone she counted the banknotes and found almost fifteen thousand rupees.

  A little later Louisa was dressed in overalls, while she had given Conor one of her shirts to wear. She rolled up his sleeves and surveyed his appearance.

  ‘There. What do you think?’

  ‘I like painting. My mother taught me.’

  ‘But you know we’re just painting the walls, don’t you?’

  ‘Yes. And we can tell Leo all about it.’

  She nodded but the mention of Leo only made her feel sad.

  After the builder had covered the floor with cheesecloth to protect the parquet tiles, and the ebony counters too, Louisa decanted some white paint from the bigger pot and passed a smaller one to Conor. Then she gave him a paintbrush and told him to paint the lower section of a wall, and she climbed a ladder and began painting the upper section.

  For about an hour all you could hear was the sound of brushes and the birds singing outside the open windows. Conor seemed happy to be working with her and when she began to sing, he joined in. Later he drew on the paper she had provided too and when it was time for lunch, she climbed down the ladder and told him they’d eat outside in the courtyard. She wiped his hands and her own and then pushed open the door. The wind had died down and sunlight flooded the overgrown courtyard. She cleared the leaves from a step and patted it.

  ‘Come and sit with me.’

  She placed the hamper on the ground and Conor opened it.

  ‘Lemonade,’ he said enthusiastically.

  ‘And fruit, and egg sandwiches. Camille prepared them for us so they should be good. There’s even a little pot of lentil salad.’

  With the sun warming her skin Louisa reflected on how good it felt to be sitting with Conor like this, especially now he had rediscovered his appetite and was eating normally. There had been no further nightmares either, so on the whole he was much more settled.

  ‘Yummy sandwiches,’ he said. ‘Please may I have another.’

  She gave him a squeeze. ‘You can have as many as you want.’

  Himal came out to find them and said he had managed to find a decorator after all to finish the painting. Louisa felt relieved. She had hoped the emporium would be finished by the end of the week as the following week the various exhibitors would be delivering their goods. The week after that, Louisa had a grand opening with canapés and drinks planned. Now it looked as if everything might be on time after all. It was all set to be wonderful, if only things hadn’t gone wrong with Leo. She wouldn’t be experiencing the awful hurt of losing something that had barely begun and that she had needed so much. She shook her head. There was no point dwelling on what might have been. There wasn’t any way she could agree with his suggestion that Conor should live with Irene.

  When they had finished eating, she gazed at Cono
r. ‘Perhaps we’ve done enough painting. How do you like the sound of a swim? After you’ve digested your lunch, of course.’

  He jumped up. ‘Yes!’

  But the problems at the emporium weren’t over, as Louisa found out when Himal knocked on the door the next day, following a stormy night that had kept them all awake. His face as he explained what had happened was grave.

  ‘A coconut palm has fallen on the roof, Madam. It must have blown over last night. We found it this morning. It’s damaged the cupola very badly.’

  ‘Oh no! What can you do about it?’

  ‘We have placed a temporary awning over the cupola as the glass is all gone. We probably need a structural engineer to come to give us a report on the state of the roof, in case there is any further damage.’

  ‘How soon can that happen?’

  ‘A few days. And the glass has made a terrible mess. It’ll all need to be cleared up before the cabinets can be used.’

  ‘What about my opening party?’ Louisa said forlornly.

  ‘You will need to delay it.’

  ‘But all the invitations have been sent out, and all the suppliers are keyed up to deliver their goods.’

  ‘I’m very sorry, Madam.’

  On Wednesday the sun was bright, but with a heavy heart she spent the morning sending out cancellation notices to all her invitees and letting the suppliers know the opening of Sapphire would be delayed. By the afternoon there had been no sign of rain and children would be playing ball all over the town after school, getting in the way of bullock carts and generally causing mayhem. When at three o’clock Conor begged to be allowed to cycle in the nearby streets on his own, Louisa agreed, but told him he must be back in time for tea at four. She gave him her old watch so he could keep an eye on the time and checked that he really knew how to use it. There were only a few vehicles about so it wasn’t a worry and everyone knew to watch out for children.

  Her sadness over Leo remained; she had felt so full of hope. Unable to steer her mind to happier thoughts, she gazed out of the window for a while, but eventually managed to pass an hour or so reading Hangman’s Holiday, a book of short stories by Dorothy L. Sayers, which William had brought over for Margo. Louisa liked short stories. You could read in short bursts and then get on with other things, whereas a novel could eat up entire days, and with Conor and a puppy around that wasn’t possible.