‘But I’m not pregnant!’ Caroline protested. ‘I can’t be.’
‘I watched my mother being pregnant and each time she looked just like you do; tired, listless and sick in the morning. How could you let this happen? I’ve told you over and over again that you mustn’t sleep with a man until you were married to him.’
‘I can have an abortion. I know several girls who had abortions.’ Then she grabbed her coat and handbag and a moment later she was gone.
The shock left Laura feeling both unwell and sick. Neither she nor any of her sisters had slept with their future husbands until their wedding night. Their mother had made it very clear that to do so was wrong. Things may be changing and surely it was the man’s responsibility to take precautions. Her greatest fear at the moment was that the rest of the family would look upon Caroline as a slut in future. She recalled when they all lived in Lochlee Castle a housemaid had become pregnant by one of the footmen and it led to the poor girl being put in a terrible institution for unmarried mothers by her family. As for having an abortion, that was murder and an even worse sin. There was only one solution: Richard Montgomery had to return to England and marry Caroline. She would write to Sir George Montgomery immediately and demand that his son return to England and make an honest woman of her daughter.
‘My dear Laura,’ Walter said with concern when she telephoned him to tell him what had happened. ‘Do you know this young man? Would he be a suitable husband for Caroline?’
‘If he was good enough for Margaret he’s good enough for Caroline. I’m going mad with worry and she didn’t come home last night,’ Laura added.
There was a pause before Walter said, ‘Are you sure it’s his baby she’s expecting? Is there another man in her life?’
‘Don’t! Don’t!’ Laura burst into tears. ‘I brought her up so carefully and now I feel I’ve let her down. How could she let this happen when she knew how terrible the consequences could be? Even if Richard marries her quickly it will get out that he was forced into it. I wish now we’d never come to London.’
‘In life one has to take the rough with the smooth, my dear. I’m rather tied up with things at the moment but let me know what’s happening, won’t you?’
When he’d hung up, Laura had never felt so alone in her life. What did he mean by being ‘tied up with things at the moment’? His sister was dead and his son by his first marriage was living with his grandparents and working for a big firm of accountants. Then Laura was struck by a shattering thought which sent her brain spinning. Had Walter got a new woman in his life? He’d always been attractive to women and Rowena had always made sure none of them got close to him because without his companionship she’d have been terribly lonely in Dalkeith.
A pang of jealousy surged through Laura’s heart, taking her by surprise. They’d been separated for years and now, perhaps too late, she realized how much she loved him.
Fourteen
New York, 1923
Richard read and re-read his father’s cable for the umpteenth time as he tried to take in what the future held for him. He was in love with Caroline but he’d been in love several times. Then he’d meet someone new and fall in love all over again. For one thing he didn’t feel ready to settle down at twenty-six. As for starting a family, the very thought of it filled him with horror. He’d been so careful too. Unfortunately there was no way he could deny it was his baby, much as he longed to. Caroline had been a virgin when they met and he knew he was the only man in her life.
Sighing deeply, he rose from his desk, walked over to the large window and gazed at the magnificent skyscrapers of Manhattan with sad eyes. His office was on the twenty-third floor and never before had he seen such a modern spectacle. He wanted to stay here for ever. London suddenly struck him as being old fashioned but how could he remain here when Caroline’s future was in Europe?
New York was a magical city teeming with energy, where anything seemed possible. The thought of returning to England to get married and await the birth of his child now seemed like a prison sentence – a neat little cell from which there was no hope of escape. In the cable his father sounded more sad than angry and that was the only solace Richard had to hang on to. His parents were full of regret rather than anger. He’d messed up his life and possibly his career if he couldn’t return to New York immediately after his wedding, but he had to do the honourable thing and he had to do it with grace and a show of enthusiasm. He was trapped in a ghastly situation of his own making and that was indeed the bitterest pill to swallow.
The voice on the telephone was unfamiliar. ‘Could I speak to Lady Laura Leighton-Harvey, please?’ a woman asked politely.
‘It’s me speaking,’ Laura replied.
‘This is Lady Montgomery, Richard’s mother,’ she announced in a friendly manner. ‘You must be cursing the day my son was born and wishing your daughter had never met him, and who could blame you?’ she prattled on sympathetically.
‘It is a blow,’ Laura admitted. ‘Have you been in touch with your son?’
‘We have indeed and he’s booked his passage on the next ship to England, so he’ll be back in seven or eight days. He’s asked his father to arrange for them to marry by special license in a registry office and I wondered if you’d like to come to luncheon so we can discuss the arrangements?’
Laura felt like crying that Caroline was to be robbed of a beautiful white wedding in a church, surrounded by all the family, with Walter to give her away.
‘Under the circumstances I don’t think there are many arrangements to make, do you?’ Laura replied as she struggled to control her emotions.
‘I can understand how you feel,’ Honor Montgomery replied, ‘but I can assure you Richard is mad about Caroline. He told me he can’t wait to marry her and I know he’ll look after her. Now, when can you come to luncheon? The sooner the better as far as George and I are concerned.’
So that would be that. Mission accomplished, thought Laura as she gripped the phone tightly with a trembling hand. A contract signed, sealed and delivered with about as much warmth as completing the contract for her flat.
‘How about the day after tomorrow?’ Honour suggested.
‘Yes, that would be fine,’ Laura said evenly.
‘Splendid! Shall we say one o’clock? We’re in Green Street. Number thirty-two. We’re so looking forward to meeting you,’ gushed Honor. ‘See you then. Goodbye.’
When Laura put down the telephone she realized Honor Montgomery hadn’t shown any eagerness to meet Caroline.
Laura immediately telephoned Walter. It was a shock when the housekeeper at Dalkeith House announced that Mr Leighton-Harvey was away for a couple of days and could she take a message?
A sense of panic swept through Laura. ‘Do you know where he’s staying?’
‘I’m afraid not, Lady Laura, but if he contacts me shall I ask him to get in touch with you?’
‘Yes, please, and tell him it’s urgent.’
When Caroline returned from rehearsals Laura told her everything that Richard’s mother had said.
‘So Richard is coming back? What about his job? Will he have to return to America again? Oh, I do hope so. Then he and I can get a place of our own. I hate this flat.’
It felt to Laura as though another bit of her heart had broken. ‘I thought you liked it here. Anyway, I’ll find out tomorrow what Richard’s plans are,’ Laura added.
‘She’s nice to your face but she’s probably telling all her friends that I’m a complete trollop and worse still I’m on the stage and that automatically means I’m a low-life in their eyes. When is Dada coming to London?’
‘I’m not sure. He seems to be very busy,’ Laura added, a touch crisply.
‘I expect he’s busy sorting out Aunt Rowena’s stuff but I do miss him. It was so nice when he stayed with us.’ She sounded wistful, her face crumbling, then she burst into tears and flung her arms around her mother.
‘I’m so sorry, Muzzie. I’m always being ho
rrid to you and you’ve always been wonderful to me and given me everything,’ she sobbed. ‘And I’ve disappointed you now, haven’t I? I know I’m bringing disgrace on the family and I’m so sorry.’
Laura held her only child who she loved more than life itself close while a distraught Caroline clung on to her like a little girl. Laura was remembering how happy she’d been when Caroline was born. From that moment on everything she’d done, every decision she’d made had been whatever was best for Caroline. Maybe she should have stayed with Walter instead of letting his sister care for him, but she’d done what she’d done to make a living so that her daughter’s dreams of being the next Anna Pavlova could come true.
‘I love you so much, darling,’ she said softly, ‘and we will get through this. Your career needn’t suffer and I can help you when the baby arrives.’
Caroline looked straight into her mother’s eyes. ‘I love you too, Muzzie. I really do, and I’m sorry I lied to you when I was actually seeing Richard. Thank God he wants to marry me, and anyway, you’ll be the best granny ever.’
The house in Green Street was large and imposing, and as Laura rang the brass bell she realized that at least the Montgomeries were wealthy, so Caroline wasn’t marrying a pauper. She should have guessed that Lizzie had hoped Margaret was going to marry a rich man as well as an aristocrat.
Sir George and Lady Montgomery were waiting for her in their comfortable but grand drawing room on the first floor of the six-story house. Honor came forward immediately and clasped Laura’s hand.
‘Lady Laura, thank you so much for coming. I’m most terribly sorry Richard has caused this crisis. He says he really loves your daughter and he told me to tell you that he was planning to propose when he returned to England.’
Laura, tall and elegant in a navy blue dress and jacket and a matching hat with a large brim, smiled politely, not sure whether Honor Montgomery was sincere or not.
‘It is a bit of a disaster,’ she replied, ‘and Caroline is very shocked that she allowed this to happen.’
Sir George strode across the room to shake her hand. ‘If my son was younger I’d have horsewhipped him,’ he said in jovial tones. ‘I don’t know what’s the matter with young people these days. My father would probably have shot me if I’d got Honor pregnant before we were married. Now, can I offer you a glass of sherry before we have luncheon?’
‘Thank you.’ Sitting down on the sofa beside Honor, Laura realized they talked the same language, held the same views and were perfect future in-laws for Caroline.
‘I gather your daughter is a ballet dancer?’ Sir George said at that moment in rather scathing terms, which made Laura have second thoughts about their suitability. ‘I imagine she’ll give it up right away,’ he continued briskly.
‘Absolutely not,’ Laura retorted forcefully. ‘She’s the prima ballerina in The Fairy Queen which opens in a few days. It would be a terrible waste of her talent and Madame Espinosa who spent years training her would agree.’
There was a stony silence broken by Honor saying, ‘A little more sherry, Lady Laura?’
‘No, thank you,’ said Laura with a polite smile, feeling she had won the first round.
‘Do you want the marriage kept a secret for the time being?’ Sir George asked.
‘Not at all. Surely the more people who know the better? Of course, they’re going to realize what’s happened, but at least they will have been married for seven months before the baby is born.’
Sir George looked annoyed. ‘You do know that as soon as they’re married Richard has to go back to New York for a couple of months or maybe even longer? Wouldn’t it look better if Caroline returned to New York with Richard and they could get a lovely apartment and live there for a couple of years? None of us need to mention the baby until it’s quite big and no one need know your daughter is already pregnant. I’m suggesting this to spare your daughter’s reputation.’
Laura felt quite sick. Things were moving so fast, life-altering plans were being suggested and she felt she was losing control of the situation; something she swore would never happen again when the bailiffs arrived without warning to strip her of her home and all her possessions. If there was one thing that rattled her it was losing control of what was happening in her life. The thought of not being close to Caroline as her pregnancy progressed and not being around to help with the baby was like a knife through her heart.
‘Caroline is desperately keen to dance this leading role, and if she’s well enough to do it then I think she should,’ Laura said firmly.
There was another silence and Laura began to wonder if they wanted Richard to marry Caroline at all.
Honor rose from the sofa. ‘Let’s go down to luncheon,’ she announced. ‘How is your sister, Lizzie? I haven’t seen her for a while?’
‘She’s not very happy that your son prefers Caroline to her daughter Margaret.’
Honor gave a tinkling laugh. ‘Oh dear! Yes, he was in love with Margaret and quite a few other girls before her.’
‘Really?’ Laura said drily.
‘Where are you planning to hold the wedding reception?’ Sir George swiftly enquired as they trooped down the stairs to the dining room. ‘Claridges is excellent for that sort of thing.’
‘I haven’t made any plans yet but my sister Beattie has a big house in Belgravia. I think I might ask her if we can hold it there. Hotels are so impersonal, aren’t they?’
Later that day, Laura telephoned Walter wanting to tell him about Richard’s parents, only to be told by one of the servants that he was out.
‘Will you tell him that his wife called and can he ring me back when he gets in?’ she asked.
‘He said he might be quite late, ma’am.’
Laura was becoming seriously anxious. What on earth was he up to? Of one thing she was sure: he wasn’t drinking again. He’d told her he couldn’t even bear the smell of liquor. So what was keeping him so ‘busy’ since Rowena’s death?
It could only be one thing: he’d met another woman. A burning feeling of jealousy surged through her, leaving her in a panic. What a fool she’d been to turn him away when they’d gone bankrupt.
Sitting alone in her flat as it grew dark outside, she wondered what sort of woman had attracted him. A tall and slender version of herself? Much younger than she was and more beautiful? A war widow perhaps and very comfortably off, perhaps. Tears slid down her cheeks. What a mess she’d made of her life and what a mess Caroline was making of her life, she reflected.
The room was in darkness now and she was startled when the telephone in the hall rang. Stumbling out of the drawing room, she cleared her throat so the caller wouldn’t know she was crying.
‘Is that you, Laura?’ Walter sounded mystified. ‘Are you all right, my dear? I’m sorry I was out when you called. How is everything going? You sound very down.’
‘I had luncheon with the Montgomeries today.’ She proceeded to tell him what they’d suggested about Caroline and Richard living in New York for several years so that no one in this country would know exactly when the baby was born.
‘That’s a rotten notion,’ Walter exclaimed. ‘The truth always comes out sooner or later. Look, I’m very tied up at the moment but I’ll come down to see you and Caroline next week. I’ll book into a nearby hotel. I need to talk to you, Laura.’
Her heart seemed to stumble. ‘What about?’
‘The future,’ he said hurriedly. ‘I must go, my dear – someone has just arrived to see me.’
She heard him say to the maid in muffled voice, ‘Please show Mrs Hamilton into the drawing room.’
Then he spoke into the telephone again. ‘Sorry about that, Laura. Give my love to Caroline. Goodbye for now.’ There was a click and silence, which left Laura wondering who Mrs Hamilton was.
Stunned, she bid him goodbye. Walter was acting out of character and this time it wasn’t the drink. She had a terrible feeling that it wasn’t Caroline’s future he wanted to discuss but their own d
ivorce because he wanted to marry someone else – someone called ‘Mrs Hamilton’.
Caroline was torn between feelings of anxiety that she wouldn’t be able to dance as well as she normally did and that the choreographer would decide she wasn’t good enough to dance at all. Her stomach was still flat but she bought a boned corset with lacing at the back which could be pulled tighter and tighter so her pregnancy wouldn’t show. Richard would be back in New York by the time she started bulging so she’d have to find someone else to help her, but who? Muzzie would disapprove but who else could she trust? All she wanted was to get rave reviews, her picture in the newspapers and her contract extended. She longed for them to say she was better than Anna Pavlova. The desire to be a better ballerina energized her. Nothing was going to stop her succeeding. Not a baby. Not marriage. Absolutely nothing now would stop her from getting to the top of her profession.
Her fears lay in her family’s disapproval. Aunt Lizzie was already angry over her romance with Richard; now she was pregnant it would be a family disgrace. She also feared they’d think she was a terrible example to her female cousins. Would she for ever be the only member of the Fairbairn family to be saved ‘from ending up in the gutter’ by her mother writing to Richard’s parents and demanding he should make a respectable woman of her? How could it be so wrong to make love? Why would everyone look down on her if they knew? She’d become the black sheep of the family and Muzzie was bearing the brunt, she reflected, wishing she’d been kinder to her in the past. She wasn’t even sure why she felt so angry most of the time towards her mother, who had given her life to see she had everything she wanted. Or was it jealousy of all her rich cousins? She hoped she’d make a good mother when the baby arrived but what was she going to do with it? Perhaps Richard could afford for them to have a nanny. Then, before she could stop herself, she thought she could always give it to Muzzie to look after.
Laura was pleasantly surprised when Beattie arrived to see her the following day.
The Fairbairn Fortunes Page 17