‘Poor lass.’ Thomasin passed a sympathetic smile to Erin. ‘I’d forgotten how awful it can be.’
And I’ve never known, thought Dusty. Erin, more sensitive to her sister-in-law’s feelings now, caught the stricken features and tried to change the subject by asking for more vegetables.
In the hall, Nick delivered a supportive kiss to his wife’s cheek and led her gently to the stairs. ‘Poor old Win, I thought you were over the worst of it.’
‘I am.’ She took her weight off his arm. ‘I just thought I’d better get you out of there before you fainted.’
Nick stopped and gave a bitter gasp. ‘D’you think anybody else noticed?’
‘That you almost sawed your plate in two? I shouldn’t be surprised. Come on,’ she urged him onwards up the staircase. ‘I might as well carry out the pretence. I’m not hungry anyway – especially for fatty pork.’
‘Me neither,’ said Nick. Arm in arm, they wandered up to the room in which they would be staying. ‘Leave it for the boardroom, she tells me, then in the next breath she’s offering him the Chairman’s job. It’ll be just my luck for her to leave him the lion’s share of the store in her will, when she gets round to doing it. How can she do this to me, Win?’ he appealed to her. ‘After all she put me through before giving me the directorship.’
‘Maybe she still thinks you’re too young to run the company,’ replied his wife as they left the landing.
He loosed his hold on her and she went to lie on the bed. ‘For Christ’s sake I’m almost twenty-nine – I’ll be thirty next year! Do you have to be an old fossil before you’re worth anything round here? And the nerve of asking him! What the hell does he know about commerce?’ He flung himself on the bed beside her.
‘Don’t swear, dear.’ Win went on to comfort. ‘He didn’t look that enthralled.’
Her husband wasn’t listening. ‘I don’t think Nan realises just how much I’ve been doing lately. I’ve been carrying both her and Francis. I thought… well, when Grandad died she lost all interest, I thought she might pass the Chair over to me. Francis is ready to pop his clogs.’ Win said he would just have to prove he was capable of doing it. ‘I’ve just said I have been doing it!’
‘Then you’ll just have to keep on doing it unless you want to lose your position altogether.’
‘Prove myself all over again.’ Nick closed his eyes in exasperation.
‘Or …’ Win closed hers too, suddenly feeling queasy.
‘Or what?’
‘Or get rid of your Uncle Dickie.’
He opened one eye and squinted at her. ‘Kill him, you mean?’
She giggled, ‘You daft idiot,’ and rolled over to curl her body into his side.
Nick chuckled with her, but wondered what they were talking about downstairs.
* * *
Despite Erin’s attempts to spare her sister-in-law, the talk remained on babies. ‘Your father used to say when anybody died there’d always be one born to replace them,’ said Thomasin. ‘Well, there’s three gone – Pat, Mrs H. and the Queen. So far we’ve only heard about Win’s baby, but there’ll be two more I don’t doubt.’
The maid, Barbara, was at her mistress’ elbow when the comment was uttered. As she leaned over to collect the plate, she confided, ‘I hear Miss Cecilia from next door’s expecting a happy event in June, ma’am.’
Thomasin rose up at the gross impertinence which at one time might have been overlooked. ‘Just do the job you’re paid to do and less of your tittle-tattle! We’ll have dessert.’ Everyone stopped speaking as the unfortunate maid scurried round with plates of meringue before being dismissed. ‘Have you ever heard the like!’ exclaimed Thomasin. ‘She’ll have to go.’
‘Grandma Fenton,’ mouthed Dick to his brother, who covered a smile.
Catching the interplay, their mother was bent on rebuke, when she touched on the full implication of their joke. Surely I’m never as bad as my mother was? To compensate, she dredged up a little risque humour. ‘Oh well, we only need one more baby then – has anyone else an announcement to make?’
Josie bit her lip in silent reproof, Elizabeth and Sophia looked coy, Amelia asked what her grandmother meant and the subject was changed.
Nick returned while the dessert was being consumed. ‘Excuse the long absence but I thought I’d best stay with her.’ He raised a declining hand at the offer of meringue, saying he couldn’t manage it. His grandmother laughed and said she had heard of men like him. He frowned. ‘Sorry?’
‘Being infected by your wife’s delicate condition. You look really green.’
Everyone laughed. Nick allowed them to think this was the case, when inside he boiled with frustration. Josie, too, laughed from politeness, but wished that her mother-in-law would stop airing the subject so openly.
Sonny guessed his wife’s discomfort and, finishing his meringue, turned to Belle. ‘So, my dear, are you going to tell us all about these exploits of yours?’
Josie delayed the answer. ‘First I think it’s time Feen and Amelia were in bed.’ There had been enough unfitting topics already without the children being exposed to war. ‘Make sure Paddy’s still tucked up when you go.’
‘Mother, can’t I stay up, I am almost fifteen.’ Averse to being parted from Dickie, Feen sat tight.
Dusty saw the annoyance rise in a blush from her sister-in-law’s neck, and sought to cajole before violence was done. ‘You realise that it’s beauty sleep which keeps us all envious of that marvellous complexion, don’t you, Feen?’
Stupid woman, thought Feen. Don’t you realise that I’m going to take your husband away?
‘Feen doesn’t need beauty sleep.’ Dickie smiled gallantly at his niece and pushed his chair back. ‘All she requires is an escort – come on, you two, I’ll see you safely to bed.’ With a niece on either arm he left the gathering. Whilst Josie nibbled her lip and counted the moments to his return, Feen clung to her uncle’s side, wishing that the staircase could be a hundred miles long, but unfortunately she found herself on the landing in no time at all. Dickie bent to kiss Amelia who reared away in alarm. ‘I don’t kiss people nowadays!’ Her uncle laughed and turned to his other niece. ‘Well, I don’t want to insult anybody …’
‘I won’t be insulted!’ replied Feen eagerly and lifted her face to be kissed.
Dickie looked down at her, saw the sexuality that was invisible to her family and envied her her youth. He lowered his handsome head. She inhaled his warm breath, felt his lips on hers, he actually kissed me on the lips, tasted the wine he’d had with dinner … and then he was gone down the stairs, leaving her shiny-eyed and throbbing. She floated after her sister into the room they were to share, not hearing a word of Amelia’s grumbles. Only when the younger girl had tripped along to the bathroom did she return to life. Fumbling amongst the contents of her valise, she took out the voodoo doll and pierced its breast with yet another pin.
* * *
Dickie marched back into the room with the gay announcement that the girls were a-bed, allowing Josie to relax. He asked had he missed anything gory while he’d been playing the gallant.
‘I’ve been telling them about the awful conditions in the camps,’ said Belle. ‘And I was just about to inform everyone that I’m starting a fund for the refugees.’ She looked around the table. ‘I shall expect all of you to contribute.’
‘I’m afraid I shan’t be giving anything,’ said Thomasin bluntly.
Belle looked shocked. ‘After what I’ve just told you? Why?’
‘Because of what they’re doing to our lads,’ said Thomasin firmly.
‘But these are children I’m talking about!’
‘Yes! The Boers’ children! The Boers who’re torturing our men, burning them alive – aye you might scoff, young lady! You haven’t been here reading the press reports.’
‘Grandmother, how can you be so heartless.’
‘Look, Belle.’ Thomasin leaned on her elbows in the manner that she used for the boardroom.
‘When you traipsed off to South Africa I made no accusations about conspiring with the enemy so don’t you accuse me of not caring.’
‘Conspiring with the enemy?’ Belle had to chuckle.
‘Oh, you might laugh, but that’s how some see it,’ her grandmother told her. ‘A lot of people consider you to be unpatriotic and would like to see you and your friend Emily Hobhouse in gaol. Now, I admire you for wanting to help people, Belle, but from what I gather the life in those camps isn’t very different from the way they live normally.’
‘With respect, Nan, you don’t really know what you’re talking about…’
‘Belle, don’t be rude,’ warned Erin.
‘… you haven’t witnessed the overcrowding, the terrible rations.’
‘Maybe I haven’t,’ said Thomasin. ‘But I was speaking to someone who’s lived in South Africa and they told me that every summer the Boers camp out at the seaside – the entire family in one tent, so that puts paid to your theory of overcrowding for a start. As for the diet, aye, I’ve heard the rumours about the ground glass in the flour, well I say it’s propaganda – but then if you tell me you’ve witnessed it with your own eyes, I’m bound to believe you, Belle.’
‘I haven’t witnessed it.’ Belle was impatient. ‘And there’s propaganda on both sides. I’m not concerned with that, nor am I concerned about the politics of this blessed war, what I am opposed to is children dying. That I have witnessed and I can tell you, Nan, you wouldn’t want to see it. The camps are rife with disease – measles, dysentery …’
‘Aye, because the Boers are a filthy lot.’
‘I shall swear in a minute!’
‘Oh come on,’ Sonny pretended to rise. ‘We’ll all have to go out if Belle starts swearing.’
‘It is not amusing! Some of the poor little devils are living skeletons! If Grandfather were here he’d have something to say on that score; he experienced starvation. I think it’s disgraceful to see you all at this table, stuffing yourselves silly, making facetious remarks about it being like a seaside camping holiday!’
‘So this is what I’ve been missing for twenty-six years,’ smiled Dickie.
‘Oh shut up, you!’
‘Hey, is that any way to speak to your only contributor?’
‘Don’t tell me ye managed to get money out o’ him?’ said an amazed Erin. ‘It’s like milking a hedgehog.’
‘Yes, and it was a most generous contribution as a matter of fact,’ informed Belle, ‘At least one member of this family has some morals,’ and could not understand why most of those present broke into laughter. But at least her unintended humour had averted a serious argument and the meal was allowed to continue under a different topic of conversation. After dinner, Thomasin and the other women withdrew, leaving Dick, Sonny, Francis and Nick to smoke and chat. There was little garrulity from the young man, who was far too incensed over the Chairmanship to indulge in small talk with his enemy. Francis, also, said little, feeling almost too tired to open his mouth. He was beginning to abandon hope of catching Thomasin’s firstborn alone, when Dick excused himself to visit the lavatory. Saying that he must be on his way, Francis bade adieu to Nick and Sonny and followed his prey into the hall.
‘Richard, if you’d spare me a moment.’ Dick paused in his ascent of the stairs and asked what he could do for Francis. ‘Will you come back down, I don’t want to have to shout.’ When Dick had complied, he said, ‘How much will you take to drop the idea of joining the company and go back to America?’
Dickie laughed. ‘That’s blunt I must say.’
‘Don’t waste time.’ Francis wasn’t smiling. ‘I don’t want your mother to hear this.’
‘I’m not surprised! Trying to get rid of her beloved son when she’s trying her damnedest to keep me here. Can I ask why?’
‘In brief, I don’t like you.’
This had little effect on Dickie, who said casually, ‘I know that.’
‘You probably won’t wish to hear my reasons, but I shall tell you all the same: it’s because I know how much you’ve hurt your mother in the past and I believe that if you stay here you’ll hurt her again. I want her last years to be happy ones. Also, I want Nick to have what’s rightfully his.’
Dick was still smiling but it was a nasty expression. ‘Ah, come on now be truthful, Fran. It’s yourself you’re looking after. Now Dad’s dead ye expected to get your feet under the table.’
‘How dare you suggest that!’ Francis gripped the handle of his cane.
‘I don’t know what you’re getting so aeriated about, ye don’t even belong to this family – why should you care?’
‘Might I inform you that during your long years of deception I have been regarded as a member of this family. I helped build that business into what it is. I’m concerned about who’s controlling it but I care a great deal more about your mother and I won’t let you hurt her.’
‘You silly old buzzard.’ Dickie sneered. ‘I didn’t come here to hurt her. I came ’cause I wanted to see how she was – how they all are.’
‘But you never intended to stay.’
Dick grew angry. What gave this old codger the right to imply that he didn’t know how to treat his own mother? ‘How in hell d’you know what I intended?’
‘I read you very well, Richard.’ Francis’ sherry-coloured eyes blazed. ‘I can see that you have not one shred of regard for the business but you might take what Thomasin offers just to spite Nicholas.’
‘Why in God’s name would I want to do that’’ sighed Dickie.
‘For some obscure, childish reason of your own. Now,’ Francis reached inside his jacket. ‘How much?’
‘Shove it up your arse,’ replied Dickie. ‘I’m not having anybody telling me what to do. I’ll go back when I’m good and ready. In the meantime if I feel like it I might just take up Mam’s offer.’ Without excusing himself he turned his back and went upstairs.
The old man tried to control his palpitations before seeking out his hostess and begging his leave. ‘I can’t keep the hours I used to do in my youth, Thomasin.’ He clutched her hand and kissed it. ‘If I’m not in bed by ten I’ll fall asleep on one of your sofas and you’ll never wake me.’
Thomasin dragged herself painfully to the hall where John helped the old man on with his coat, then went to open the front door. Francis still held her hand and looked her in the eye. ‘D’you think he’ll accept the offer?’
‘Who – oh, Dickie. I hope so.’
‘You realise that Nicholas expects to get that Chairmanship when you relinquish it.’
She nodded. ‘Poor Nick … I’m going to disappoint him yet again. But I have to have some carrot to keep Dickie here, Fran.’
‘I know he’s in some sort of business in America, Thomasin, but where is his experience in retail? Isn’t it a bit rash to put him in charge? Just remember how long it’s taken us to build that business up. Nick knows the company inside out. You really are being unfair on him.’ At Thomasin’s shrug, he gave up the argument. ‘Well … I trust you know what you’re doing.’ His words lacked conviction. ‘Goodnight, dear.’
When the door closed on Francis, instead of going back in to join the others, Thomasin went into Pat’s study, lowering herself into his chair. ‘I don’t know what I’m doing at all, that’s the trouble, Pat. I feel more confused now than I did at Feen’s age. I don’t want to disappoint Nick after all he’s done for the business, but I’ll do anything to keep Dickie here.’
She sat there thinking of Pat, wondering for the millionth time if the consequences would have been different had she made more effort to stop his drinking earlier. Then – what the hell am I feeling guilty about? she asked him forcefully. You brought it on yourself, no one asked you to drink so much, did they? Look at the times you embarrassed me. You wouldn’t mix with my friends, you just wanted to go your own stubborn way and expected me to conform – I don’t know why I’m even talking to you! I won’t feel guilty, you awkward old bugger, I damnwell
won’t!
The door opened. Belle looked surprised to see her grandmother and after apologising made as if to go.
‘No, come in, love.’ Thomasin crooked a hand to draw her back.
The young woman entered the room and, closing the door, stared around at her grandfather’s belongings. ‘I just wanted to … feel close to him.’ She hugged her arms round herself, looking rather perplexed.
‘And do you?’
‘Yes – isn’t it strange?’ breathed her grand-daughter in wonder. ‘I feel as if Gramps is in this room.’
Belle stared at the old woman who sat in her grandfather’s chair. She and Thomasin had never shared the bond enjoyed by the other grandchildren, though in these past few years things had improved tremendously between them. Now, though, there was a new feeling. It was as if this wasn’t Nan sitting in that chair, but Grandfather. Belle had a sudden desire to sit on the chair arm beside her. On doing so, she felt Patrick’s presence even more strongly.
The move surprised Thomasin, as did her own impulse, which was to link fingers with those of her grand-daughter. In the space of two minutes, an intimacy had sprung up between them. Both were rather moved by it and did not speak for a while.
Thomasin employed humour to mask her intense emotion. ‘I thought you might’ve come here to make a confession – you know, what I was saying earlier about there having to be three births.’
‘Nan, what a thing to say to your unmarried grand-daughter!’ Belle smacked her hand reprovingly.
Thomasin put on a knowing face. ‘Why is it that every member of this family thinks I’m daft?’
Belle laughed lightly … then looked into her grandmother’s canny smile and realised that Thomasin knew all about the intimacy between herself and Brian. The revelation drew a gasp. Then she sobered and asked worriedly, ‘Gramps didn’t know, did he?’
‘Not from me, he didn’t.’ Thomasin’s smile grew sad. ‘We didn’t seem to get very much time to talk … at least I didn’t. I doubt he knew, though. I think you would’ve heard something from him if he had.’
Dickie (Feeney Family Sagas Book 4) Page 24