Unexpected Blessings

by Barbara Taylor Bradford

  Julian Kallinski began to laugh, shaking his head. ‘What short memories you two have. And, Linnet, you also seem to have forgotten what your mother told us…the legend of the stormy petrel, that the name petrel is supposedly a diminutive of Peter. You see, when it’s feeding the bird appears to flit and hover around, just above the water, and its feet look as if they’re pattering on the surface of the sea. One gets a sense that it’s actually walking on water, in the way that St Peter did in the Bible story, hence its name Petrel, for Peter.’

  ‘Oh gosh, Jules, I think I do remember that now,’ Linnet murmured. ‘My mother did tell us about the stormy petrel. We were all very small, and we were staying at Heron’s Nest in Scarborough for the summer, and there were stormy petrels flying around. And, very vaguely, I do remember you saying, Gideon, that the Harte girls were Stormy Petrels…but it’s such a long time ago.’

  ‘Yes, you’re very ancient,’ Julian remarked, chuckling as he spoke.

  ‘We’re not ancient. It’s Tessa who’s the Ancient One, at least that’s what Lorne has always called her,’ India reminded them.

  Gideon smiled at India and remarked, ‘Tessa’s a stormy petrel too, and I’m paying you all a compliment…you see, I thought you were beautiful birds who could walk on water even when you were little girls. And I still think that.’

  ‘Thank you, Gid,’ India answered, smiling back at him. He had always been one of her favourites as a child, and he still was. He was there for her whenever she needed him, and devoted. ‘It’s a charming way of describing us,’ she went on. ‘From now on we’ll call ourselves the stormy petrels, and remind the world we can indeed walk on water.’

  ‘Tessa came through her ordeal very well, and Linnet, you were superb. What a good idea you had when you brought Jack in to help with the abduction. As for you, India, I think you’re quite remarkable the way you handled the situation with Dusty.’ Gideon sat back, reached for his glass of wine and took a long swallow.

  The four of them, best friends since childhood, were enjoying a drink before going out to dinner. It was something of a ritual, this weekly dinner, although sometimes there was one or other of them missing, because of business commitments or travels. But they endeavoured to get together even if they were not a full complement, because they cherished their lifelong relationships with each other.

  Linnet began to fan herself with one hand, and remarked, ‘It’s terribly hot in here, Jules, are you certain the air conditioning is working?’

  ‘I know it is, but, well, I’ll check it, darling,’ he murmured, and jumped up, went across to the unit, bent over and examined it and then straightened. ‘It’s okay,’ he told her, looking across at her, his dark blue gaze full of love. ‘Talking of Heron’s Nest, I wouldn’t mind being by the seaside in Scarborough right now. Oh, for a weekend on the beach, and the pleasure of a few salty sea breezes.’

  India, who had been looking off into the distance somewhat pensively, exclaimed, ‘Heron’s Nest! Gosh, that’s a good idea for Dusty, the perfect place for him to recuperate. What do you think? Would it be all right if I took him there?’

  ‘I’m sure it’s fine, but how will you manage?’ Linnet asked, then reminded her, ‘There’s no real help there these days, India. Only Mrs Hodges keeping an eye on it and keeping it dust-free.’

  ‘I’m a stormy petrel,’ India shot back. ‘I can walk on water, remember? So I’ll certainly be able to manage a house and a man who’s recuperative, wouldn’t you say?’

  Linnet laughed good-naturedly, as always enjoying India and her pithy comments.

  ‘How is Dusty?’ Gideon asked, sitting up straighter, focusing on his cousin.

  India sighed, bit her lip, and then her face suddenly clouded over. ‘It’s been worse than I expected, but he’s going to be all right. To be very honest it was a lot more serious than he or I realized at first. The wound I mean. The brachial artery is where the pectoral muscle goes up into the shoulder, and that artery was almost severed completely. It was really touch and go for a while during surgery. And there was an enormous loss of blood. He could easily have bled to death–’

  ‘It’s thanks to you that he didn’t!’ Linnet pointed out swiftly. ‘If you hadn’t acted immediately, and driven him to Harrogate District Hospital, he’d be dead by now.’

  India nodded, but remained silent, hardly able to countenance the idea of Dusty being dead. She loved him far too much to even contemplate such a catastrophe.

  Julian leaned forward and asked, ‘What’s your feeling about the stabbing, India? Any new thoughts on it?’

  She shook her head. ‘Not really. But my common sense tells me that he must have known that woman at some time or other. A stranger is not going to find his studio, burst in unannounced, go berserk at the sight of me, stab a portrait of me and then run away. For me to think the woman was unknown to Dusty would be pretty ridiculous, don’t you think?’

  ‘Yes, it would,’ Gideon agreed. He knew a lot about Russell Rhodes now. He had had two of his crack investigative reporters on the story for the past week. Not that he intended to run anything in any of their newspapers, or tell India much of what he knew. But in order to properly protect her, and the family, he had needed to put top journalists to work at once.

  Now he said, ‘Your practicality serves you well. Dusty did know her. I’m not going to lie to you, India, I did have to put reporters on the story, but I’m not running anything in any of our papers. Let’s hope the nationals don’t either.’

  India was sitting bolt upright on the sofa, staring at Gideon, and she exclaimed, ‘Who is she? What did you find out?’

  ‘Not as much as we’d like to know, you and I. She was his girlfriend for a while. A model and an actress. From what I gather she’s had problems with drugs and has been hospitalized somewhere and for quite some time now. Trying to get de-toxed.’

  ‘I see,’ India murmured, looking suddenly morose, a little forlorn.

  Picking up on her mood at once, Gideon added swiftly, ‘From what I’ve been told by my reporters, their relationship had been over for a very long time. But seemingly she’s been…well, a bit obsessed with him.’

  ‘What’s her name?’ India asked softly.

  ‘You don’t really want to know…oh well, I can see you do. It’s Melinda Caldwell.’

  ‘I can’t imagine why Dusty didn’t tell me about her!’

  ‘I think that’s understandable under the circumstances, darling,’ Julian interjected. ‘If she’s been bothersome to him he wouldn’t want you to know and become upset. Also, men tend not to talk about old lovers to new ones.’ Julian looked at Gideon for support, his eyes pleading. India was a favourite with them all.

  Gideon said, ‘Julian’s right, there was no real reason for Dusty to talk about other women long gone. Now was there?’

  ‘I suppose not,’ she muttered, brushing her hair away from her face, which was suddenly much paler.

  ‘Have you discussed anything with Dusty?’ Julian asked. ‘I suppose he’s well enough by now to talk to you.’

  ‘Actually, he’s not been in top form,’ India explained. ‘So I haven’t probed. I didn’t want to upset him unduly, and so I decided to wait until he’s better. Out of hospital.’

  ‘I see. When is he going to be able to go home?’ Julian continued.

  ‘Next week. Either Monday or Tuesday. Hence my thought about Heron’s Nest. If the heat keeps up it might be nice by the sea. On the other hand, I think perhaps it’s wiser to take him back to Willows Hall, where there’s a staff, and also it’s only ten minutes away from the hospital. In case of any emergency.’

  Linnet said, ‘I’m glad you made that decision. I think Heron’s Nest probably needs a thorough cleaning. None of us has been there for ages.’

  ‘We should go though,’ Gideon exclaimed, his eyes lighting up. ‘I think I’d like to take Evan there for a weekend. Actually, we might all go and spend a weekend there. It would be like old times.’

  ‘Why
not. And I’m sorry Evan’s not with us this evening,’ Linnet murmured, standing up. ‘But I suppose she felt obliged to take her parents to dinner. After all she hasn’t seen them for eight months.’

  ‘That’s right,’ Gideon replied. ‘She booked a table at Rules. Apparently her grandparents used to take her there when she came to London with them years ago.’

  ‘And where are we going?’ India asked.

  ‘I booked a table at The Ivy,’ Gideon told her. ‘Because I know how much you like it.’

  ‘Thanks, Gid,’ India said, and sighed as she, too, got to her feet. ‘It’s lovely to be with all of you. The last few days have been awful, worrying about Dusty, and when I think about last Saturday I go cold all over.’

  ‘I can certainly understand why. It was the most bizarre thing I’ve ever heard of!’ Linnet exclaimed, shaking her head. ‘Incredible really.’

  ‘It was surreal,’ India announced. ‘I still can’t believe such a terrible thing happened.’

  ‘It did, but let’s forget it for tonight at least.’ Gideon took hold of India’s arm, and walked with her to the door. ‘I know the police now have the full picture, the right picture, and they won’t be bothering you again, thank God.’

  Things were better in the cab going through the park, The Mall and down The Strand to Rules Restaurant. For a few minutes, just before they had left the flat, Evan had decided her father was going to be grouchy and argumentative all evening. His expression was grim and discontented when they left; but suddenly he had grown lighter once the cab was on its way, and even made a bit of small talk.

  And her father’s mood improved once they were being welcomed at the restaurant by the head waiter and shown to a table. Rules was still one of Evan’s favourite restaurants in London; she frequented it often and the staff knew her well, so the greetings were warm and friendly, the table the best in the house.

  Evan ordered a bottle of Pouilly Fuissé, and they all had a glass of the dry white wine whilst they studied the menu. After much discussions about various dishes, those they had enjoyed most in the past, they ended up choosing the same–dressed crab to start, followed by grilled Dover sole and a mélange of summer vegetables.

  As the three of them waited for their food, they chatted briefly about the restaurant and the fond memories it evoked in them of Glynnis and Richard. Her father had been close to his parents, on excellent terms with them, so there was much affection in his voice when he recalled the evenings they had enjoyed here with them at Rules.

  Then both of her parents asked her probing questions about her job at Harte’s Emporium in Knightsbridge, and she regaled them with details about her daily routine, and amusing stories, was doing so with such enthusiasm and joy in her voice there was no mistaking how much she loved her job. If there had been any doubt in her parents’ minds about her sojourn in London being a happy experience so far, these doubts were now truly dispelled.

  It was over the crab salad that Evan suddenly remarked, ‘Dad, do you remember that you said you thought your mother had known Emma Harte during the Second World War, here in London?’

  ‘Yes, I do, Evan. I mentioned that to you just before you left for London in January.’

  ‘Is that all you know? That Grandma had been acquainted with Emma at that time?’

  ‘Why yes, it is,’ he answered swiftly, staring at her in puzzlement. ‘Why?’

  ‘Because the beautiful Glynnis Jenkins, as she was called then, the girl from the Rhondda Valley in Wales, was actually an employee at Harte’s, just as I am today. Glynnis, your mother, was Emma Harte’s private secretary, Dad, and very close to her lady boss.’

  ‘Heavens to Betsy!’ her father exclaimed, looking surprised. ‘I never realized that.’

  ‘Well, it’s true,’ Evan went on, ‘and your mother was quite a favourite with the whole family.’ When her father remained silent Evan turned and glanced at her mother, and saw to her astonishment that there was the strangest expression on her mother’s face. It was one she could not quite comprehend for a split second, and then she realized it was contempt in her mother’s eyes she was seeing. And she knew, intuitively, that her father had just deliberately lied to her, and her mother knew that he had.

  Clearing her throat, Evan changed the subject at once. ‘I hope you’ll come and have lunch with me at the store one day this week, the early part of the week if you can, Mom. And I’ll give you a full tour as well.’

  ‘Why, Evan honey, I’d love that. Of course I’ll come.’

  ‘Let’s do it on Tuesday, Mom, because I have to go to Leeds on Wednesday. We’re revamping some of the stores, and I’m in charge of the Leeds overhaul with India.’

  ‘Who’s India?’ Marietta asked.

  ‘She’s Linnet O’Neill’s other assistant, and her cousin. Lady India Standish is her full name, and she’s a great girl.’

  ‘I’m so happy you made some nice friends here,’ Marietta murmured, smiling at Evan. There was a moment’s hesitation and then she said slowly, ‘It’s an unusual name…India. I must admit, I’ve never heard it used as a first name before.’

  ‘It’s a Victorian name,’ Owen announced, before Evan could answer, and explained, ‘It came into popularity because of England’s involvement in India, and its influence over the country for hundreds of years. During those years, the years of the Raj, the English loved so many things which were of Indian origin, and of course there were a lot of British troops stationed there, cavalry regiments and such, all part of the Indian army. Anyway, I suppose one day someone had the bright idea of calling a child after the country, and India became a favourite name for girls in the eighteen hundreds when Queen Victoria was on the throne and Empress of India as well. And it’s still used today.’

  ‘Gee, Dad, I didn’t know you were so well versed in British history!’ Evan exclaimed, glad they were now off the subject of Emma Harte and his mother. If he was reluctant to admit that he’d always known his mother actually worked for Emma Harte, then he would surely not like to hear that his real father was Robin Ainsley, Emma’s favourite son. No way, José, she thought to herself, and looked up and nodded to the waiter to clear the plates away.

  The conversation progressed normally from then on; they talked about her sisters, Elayne and Angharad, and her mother spoke rather proudly about their adopted daughters, who were having successes with their work and in their personal lives. Both of them had new boyfriends, and Marietta explained that she was quite certain Angharad would settle down with her current beau, that the relationship looked very serious indeed.

  Evan listened, nodded and smiled, held herself very still and said very little, not wanting to become embroiled in a discussion about her love life and her future with Gideon Harte. And it seemed to her that her mother felt the same way, because within seconds Marietta had moved on, was talking about some of the day trips they planned to take whilst they were in London. And then her father launched himself on a long story about going to France to look for country antiques, and finally finished up asking her to join them on this jaunt.

  ‘I just can’t at the moment, Dad,’ Evan told him, once he had finished, and then she filled him in about her work schedule. Mostly she talked about getting the Leeds store up to par; he appeared to accept this explanation with good grace, and, in fact, she decided he was in a wholly different mood by the time they were selecting desserts. He was certainly in a much better frame of mind than when they had set out from her flat.

  He’s calmed down, she thought, eyeing him over the top of her menu, thinking suddenly how handsome he looked tonight in his grey linen jacket, pale blue shirt and darker blue tie. God, he’s the spitting image of Robin, at least the way Robin must have looked when he was the same age…fifty-seven. He’s got Robin’s elegance, his refinement. I wish I could tell him the truth. But she did not dare. At least not tonight. And maybe never.

  ‘Do you think she’s swimming in dangerous waters?’

  Linnet looked up at Julian;
a small sigh escaped before she settled back in his arms, leaning her head against his bare chest. ‘I don’t think so,’ she answered at last, after thinking about his question for a moment. ‘In any case, even if she were there’s not much any of us could do about it. India’s got a mind of her own, as you well know.’

  ‘Yes, that’s true, she does. But I’ve got to admit I’m a bit worried about her, darling. Russell Rhodes has quite a reputation.’

  Pulling away from him, struggling up in the bed, Linnet looked into his face intently. ‘Don’t worry so much,’ she murmured. ‘India told me weeks ago that the reputation is somewhat phoney and self-manufactured. You know, all for the benefit of the press, for the publicity it gets him. She told me that the rabble-rousing is merely a great deal of noise about nothing, just boisterousness. And he hardly drinks at all. Nurses a vodka all night, she explained to me.’

  Julian frowned. ‘Gideon seems to think he’s a bit of a womanizer, though.’

  ‘But India says there are no other women around, and haven’t been since she’s known him, which is some months now. Also, she told me he had confided that he’d been on his own for quite a while before he took up with her.’ When Julian was silent, Linnet continued, ‘Listen, an artist who paints with the precision he does has to have a steady hand every morning, and his paintings are glorious, you know that.’

  ‘They’re magnificent. But I was talking about his womanizing, not his drinking.’

  ‘I know. Gideon didn’t seem to have much information about that though, about women in his life. He only knew about this Melinda Caldwell,’ she reminded him.

  ‘He probably wouldn’t want to talk about other women in front of India anyway.’

  ‘Did Gideon confide something in you?’ Linnet probed, searching her fiancé’s face.

  Julian shook his head. ‘He didn’t. All he did say, when you and India went to the ladies’ room, was that the Harrogate police had seemingly buried the incident.’