Fenny came running in to say Jonah was awake. ‘He said he didn’t want anything, Mummy,’ she said, looking worried. ‘But I told him he had to eat, or he wouldn’t get better.’
‘Quite right, too,’ approved Frances.
‘I’ll go and see him in a minute,’ said Leonie, and gave Fenny a kiss. ‘Have you got your homework? I’ll come for you this afternoon, sweetheart.’
Something in the way her mother said goodbye told Leonie she was leaving her daughter alone with Jonah for a purpose, in the hope that sheer propinquity might bring them together again. Secretly Leonie shared the hope. In your dreams, dearie, she scoffed, and went upstairs to enquire after the invalid.
Jonah was standing by the window in his dressing gown. When he turned Leonie saw he’d washed as much of his face as he could and tidied his hair, neither of which did much to detract from the piratical effect of a day’s growth of stubble which toned well with his black eyes.
‘Good morning,’ she greeted him, determinedly cheerful. ‘How do you feel?’
‘Much better,’ he assured her, unsmiling. ‘I would have dressed, but my clothes are missing.’
‘You bled copiously over us both, so Mother washed everything last night. Your things are dry now,’ she added. ‘You can have them after breakfast.’
‘I’ll pass on breakfast, if you don’t mind—’
‘I do mind,’ she retorted. ‘Besides, I hear Fenny’s already issued instructions about eating.’
Jonah’s eyes softened. ‘True. But I’ve given your mother trouble enough already, so if you’ll just give me my clothes I’ll get off to Brockhill and have breakfast there. Alone,’ he added.
‘Mother isn’t here. And when she gets back from her shopping I, for one, don’t fancy greeting her with the news that you’ve absconded.’ Leonie looked him in the eye. ‘After all, it wouldn’t be the first time we’ve breakfasted together.’
Jonah’s jaw tightened. ‘I’ll accept some toast and coffee, if only to please your mother,’ he said with chill courtesy. ‘But I prefer to dress first.’
‘Whatever,’ she said carelessly. ‘I’ll fetch your clothes. I can even supply you with a razor.’
When Jonah finally joined her in the kitchen, minus stubble and attired in clean khaki trousers and white shirt, Leonie waved him to a chair and pushed a full toast rack towards him.
‘The marmalade’s home-made,’ she informed him.
Jonah surveyed the table then brought his eyes up very deliberately to meet hers. ‘No honey?’ he said silkily.
‘Afraid not,’ she returned, unruffled. ‘Would you like the morning paper?’ she added briskly, as she passed his cup.
‘Thank you. Just the property section will do.’
They sat with newspapers propped in front of them like shields. For all the world like an old married couple after a flaming row, thought Leonie glumly. Eventually Jonah put his paper down and asked for more coffee.
‘How do you intend to spend your time while you’re home?’ he asked politely.
‘Looking for the dog again today, I suppose. I thought I’d go out in the car, cover as much ground as possible.’
‘After my fiasco, I’d advise keeping your search to safe territory.’
‘I will.’ She scrutinised his face. ‘Tell me the truth, are you really feeling better, Jonah?’
He smiled fleetingly. ‘My appetite’s back, so I must be. Wonderful bread.’
‘Mother makes it herself.’ Leonie handed over the toast rack. ‘Have some more.’
‘Thank you.’ He eyed her plate. ‘You haven’t eaten much.’
‘I rarely eat much breakfast.’
‘You used to, once upon a time,’ he reminded her.
Their eyes met.
‘Not any more,’ she said quietly, and refilled her cup.
Jonah finished eating before he spoke again. ‘You know, Leo, I’ve been thinking over something you said last night.’
She eyed him narrowly. ‘What, exactly?’
‘That we could at least be friends.’
‘Oh. Right.’ She’d actually said that? Anyone would think she’d had the knock on the head, not Jonah. She didn’t want to be ‘friends’. She wanted what she’d had before. And thrown away.
‘You don’t sound enthusiastic,’ he commented.
Leonie looked at him levelly. ‘Is that what you want?’
‘It would certainly be more convenient.’
Convenient!
‘In what way?’ she asked coolly.
‘I shall be based at Pennington for the time being, and you’ll be home for a while.’ He paused, and Leonie held her breath. ‘Now everything’s out in the open I’d like to see more of Fenny while I’m involved at Brockhill. It would be easier all round if you and I were on speaking terms, Leo.’
Easier for whom? thought Leonie, shaken. If his sole object in visiting Friars Wood was to see Fenny, Jonah had his revenge in full. ‘Of course. Come as often as you like. I shan’t be here all the time, anyway,’ she added with sudden inspiration. ‘I’m going to stay with Jess for a day or two.’ Which would be news to Jess.
‘The call of the bright lights?’
‘Something like that.’ Leonie stood up. ‘Look, I can see you’re champing at the bit. I’ll tell Mother you ate breakfast, so by all means take off for Brockhill now, if you want.’
‘I do,’ he said promptly, getting to his feet. ‘Give my thanks to your mother. You’ve all been very kind.’
‘The least we could do in the circumstances,’ Leonie assured him, and walked with him to the door.
‘Let me know if the dog comes back, Leo,’ Jonah told her. ‘If he doesn’t maybe your parents will let me take Fenny out for the day while you’re in London. Distract her a little.’
‘I’m sure they’d be delighted. Fenny most of all.’ She opened the door and smiled brightly. ‘Take care, Jonah, don’t overdo it.’
He gave her a searching look. ‘Leo, before I go there’s something else. Now the secret’s out, I’d very much like to tell my parents the truth about Fenny.’ He smiled bleakly. ‘My mother tends to lecture me about her lack of grandchildren, so acquaintance with Fenny would be a great bonus for her. And for my father. They were both very fond of Rachel.’
‘Will they feel the same way when they discover she was Richard’s mistress?’ said Leonie bluntly, and had the satisfaction of seeing Jonah wince.
‘I shall explain the situation, naturally,’ he snapped.
‘Before you do you’d better consult Mother and Dad.’
‘I intend to. But you were my first concern, Leo.’
‘Thank you. But your parents ought to know, anyway.’ She bit her lip. ‘Jonah, were they very angry with me after—after I broke up with you?’
His smile was sardonic. ‘Not at all. They were angry with me, convinced I was to blame. My protestations met with total disbelief.’
‘No!’ Leonie stared at him in dismay. ‘Jonah, I’m so sorry. It never occurred to me that you’d get the blame. I always wished I could give some kind of explanation. They were very kind to me,’ she added sadly.
‘Then you can understand why I’d like to tell them what really happened.’
‘Of course. Would you like me to ask Mother and Dad, or would you prefer to bring it up with them yourself?’
‘The latter, if you don’t mind. And sooner, rather than later.’
Leonie nodded. ‘Come over for a drink after Dad gets home. You can see Fenny at the same time and assure her you’re still alive.’
Jonah smiled wryly. ‘I’m inflicting my presence on your family to an extraordinary extent lately.’
‘They won’t mind at all,’ she assured him. ‘They’re only too happy to welcome you here, Jonah.’
‘Do you agree with them, Leo?’
She nodded. ‘Of course. Now I know the truth.’
There was silence for a moment, then Jonah looked at his watch and whistled softly. ‘I must be of
f. I’ll find a list of messages a mile long. I’ll see you later, then. About seven?’
‘Fine. But don’t overdo it,’ she added. ‘And mind you eat some lunch.’
‘Yes, Nurse!’
Visited by a sudden fierce longing to ask Jonah to stay, Leonie watched him back the car along the terrace, then went indoors to clear away while she waited for her mother to get home. When Frances came in, laden with grocery bags, Leonie passed on Jonah’s thanks and asked for the car keys so she could go off to look for Marzi.
‘You never know, I might be lucky.’
Frances nodded glumly. ‘I hope so. I think I’ll ring the dog warden again.’
‘By the way,’ said Leonie, on her way to the door. ‘Jonah has a question to put to you and Dad, so I suggested he came round about seven for a drink.’
‘Does that mean—?’
‘No, it doesn’t. He wants me for a friend, now, not a wife.’
‘Oh, dear.’ Her mother’s face fell. ‘And what do you want, darling?’
‘I want him back,’ said Leonie with sudden passion. ‘But Jonah’s made it clear that Fenny’s the attraction in this household, not me.’
Frances sighed. ‘Is there a woman in his life, do you think?’
‘Bound to be. But no way was I going to ask.’
Leonie went off to begin her search for the dog, but with no real hope of success. Her mood was dark as she drove. What a fool she’d been, she thought bitterly, not to respond wholeheartedly to Jonah in the night. Now it was too late she could see all too clearly that his sole intention had been to make up for his angry, retaliatory onslaught at Brockhill with the kisses and caresses she’d always found so irresistible in the past. And still did. He had never expected her to make love with him in her father’s house, with Fenny so close at hand. But like a fool she’d rejected him again, and now she was lucky he even wanted her friendship. Leonie peered into fields as she drove, her eyes steely with resolve. Jonah still responded to her physically, that was obvious. And friendship, even if it was only for Fenny’s sake, might just warm to other things. If nurtured carefully.
Leonie began the nurturing that very evening, when Jonah arrived. She greeted him sympathetically, asked how he was feeling, warned him not to mention the still absent dog, then took him into the study to join her parents, who were listening to Fenny doing her reading homework. Once Jonah had been provided with a glass of beer, and enquiries made about his well-being, he sat down to join the audience, to Fenny’s delight, and afterwards gave her affectionate praise for her prowess, and listened attentively to her account of her day in school.
‘I’ll take you up, Fen,’ Leonie offered, when her mother said it was bedtime.
‘Will you come and see me again, Jonah?’ asked Fenny as she included him in her round of kisses.
Jonah rubbed noses with her, making her giggle. ‘Of course I will, Princess. Goodnight.’
Tom Dysart asked Leonie to tear Kate away from her books to join them. ‘Do her good. I have friends who complain their children won’t work at all,’ he told Jonah, ‘but Kate’s too much the other way. Rachel was the same.’
When Leonie took Fenny along to say goodnight, she informed Kate she was wanted downstairs.
‘Why? What have I done?’ said Kate in alarm.
‘Nothing. Dad wants you in on a family discussion, that’s all.’
‘What’s a dis—discussion?’ asked Fenny, yawning.
‘People talking. Boring, really,’ said Leonie. ‘Come on, sweetheart. One story, then sleep.’
Kate was avidly curious when they went downstairs together. ‘Why is Jonah here if it’s a family thing? Wait a minute,’ she said, beaming suddenly. ‘Are you two getting back together?’
‘I should be so lucky!’ Leonie pulled a face. ‘No. It’s something quite different, so come on, everyone’s waiting.’
Because Kate had been only eleven when Fenny was born, Frances asked Jonah to bear with her while she gave brief details of Rachel’s sad love affair. Kate’s eyes were bright with tears when Frances had finished.
‘I knew Rachel was Fenny’s birth mother, of course, but I didn’t give much thought to her father, because you said he was dead,’ said Kate, sniffing. ‘Not that it matters, because Fenny’s always been ours anyway, hasn’t she?’
‘From the very first. But the thing is,’ added her father gently, ‘in actual fact she’s also related to Jonah and his family. Given the choice we’d have informed Jonah’s parents at the start, but we gave our sworn promise to Rachel, so that was that.’ Tom smiled wryly at Jonah. ‘Now Frances tells me you were in on the secret all along.’
Jonah nodded soberly. ‘But if Rachel had known what trouble it would cause she wouldn’t have wanted it kept from Leo.’
Leonie smiled at her mystified young sister. ‘I broke off our engagement because I thought Fenny was Jonah’s daughter.’
‘What? You’re not serious?’ Kate stared at her, aghast. ‘I may have been only a kid at the time but even I could see Jonah was madly in love with you—’ She broke off, blushing. ‘Sorry.’
‘Nothing to be sorry for,’ said Leonie, avoiding Jonah’s eyes.
‘No,’ he agreed. ‘You’re right, Kate. It was my uncle who was in love with Rachel.’
‘But he was married to the lady in the wheelchair,’ said Kate, frowning.
‘Yes,’ said Jonah gently. ‘My aunt, Helen.’
‘But because of my famous temper, the secret is out,’ said Leonie, and told Kate about going on the rampage to Brockhill when she’d found Jonah had offered to buy Friars Wood.
‘And now,’ said Jonah, ‘I’ve come to ask permission to tell my parents.’
‘Of course you must,’ said Tom without hesitation. ‘She’s their niece, after all.’
Frances nodded in agreement. ‘Poor Rachel. Thank God she never knew the trouble she caused. She was just desperate to avoid hurting Richard’s wife.’
Tom Dysart, plainly feeling they’d had enough of emotive subjects for the time being, overruled Jonah’s protests and insisted he stay to dinner.
During the meal Frances had a brainwave. ‘After you’ve done some explaining, Jonah, do you think your parents would care to come to lunch on Sunday to meet Fenny?’
‘I’m sure they’d be delighted,’ he said promptly. ‘But it’s not the sort of thing to discuss over the phone. I’d better drive up to London tomorrow to see them.’
‘Are you fit enough to drive?’ asked Leonie quickly.
Jonah smiled ruefully, and touched a hand to his nose. ‘Possibly not. If you’re going to see Jess, perhaps you’d care to join forces and travel up by train with me, Leo.’
She flushed, shrugging as she met her mother’s quizzical eyes. ‘I thought a flying visit might be nice since I’m home for a while.’
‘Good idea, darling,’ said Frances.
‘Don’t stay too long,’ said Kate, rather forlornly. ‘Otherwise Fenny’ll be upset.’
Leo smiled at her sister reassuringly. ‘Just one night and straight back, I promise.’
‘If you must travel tomorrow, Jonah,’ said her father, ‘it might be a good thing to have Leo along for company under the circumstances.’
‘I don’t feel up to much in the work line for a day or two,’ said Jonah frankly. ‘So I’ll utilise the time off by telling the parents about Fenny and giving a report on Brockhill to my father. He’s supposed to be retired, but he likes me to keep him up to speed. Both my parents are interested in the Brockhill property, of course, because they know the area from their visits to Friars Wood when—when Leo and I were engaged.’
‘Talking of which, how do they feel about Leo?’ asked Frances bluntly, as she handed him the fruit bowl. ‘I should keep off the cheese, though, Jonah, if your headache’s still plaguing you.’
‘Jonah’s parents blame him for our break-up, not me,’ said Leonie ruefully.
‘You can put them right at the weekend, then, darling,’ said her
father, and turned to their bruised, haggard guest. ‘You look very tired, Jonah. Let me run you home. Leo can drive your car back tomorrow. Or, better still, stay the night again.’
But Jonah was adamant that he was fit enough to drive such a short distance, and had no intention of trespassing on their hospitality any further. ‘And I’ll pick you up tomorrow to drive to the station, Leo,’ he said firmly. ‘Just let me know which train you want to catch.’
Landed with a trip to London she hadn’t the slightest desire for, other than the pleasure of seeing Jess, Leo smiled brightly, told Jonah she’d ring him in the morning, but made no attempt to talk to him in private before he went.
‘Perhaps you’d better inform Jess you’re coming, then,’ said Frances, amused, when Tom was watching the news. ‘When did you get that idea, Leo?’
‘The minute Jonah suggested that friendly terms between us would be more convenient when he came round to see Fenny.’ Leonie’s eyes flashed. ‘So I told him I was off to see Jess. Fool that I am,’ she added in disgust.
‘Never mind,’ said Kate, as she helped clear away. ‘Make good use of the train journey together.’
Leonie eyed her challengingly. ‘So you think I want Jonah back, do you?’
‘Of course you do.’ Kate wagged an admonishing finger. ‘But you jilted him, remember. It’s up to you to make the first move this time round.’
‘Out of the mouths of babes—’ began Leonie, but Kate shook her head.
‘You’ve been too long in foreign parts, Leo. The word ‘babe’ means something a bit different these days.’
Leonie raised her hands in laughing surrender, then went off to ring Jess, and by a miracle found her at home.
‘Stay as long as you like. I’ll warn Emily,’ said Jess, yawning. ‘Sorry. I’ve only just got home. I’ll try to make it earlier tomorrow, in honour of your visit. Is there some special reason? Not that you need one, of course,’ she added, chuckling.
‘I’ll explain tomorrow,’ Leonie promised.
A Vengeful Reunion Page 10