Читать книгу The Complete Ravenscar Trilogy: The Ravenscar Dynasty, Heirs of Ravenscar, Being Elizabeth - Barbara Taylor Bradford - Страница 45

TWENTY-EIGHT

Edward stood on the threshold of the conservatory in Neville’s Chelsea house, watching his brothers play with their cousins, Isabel and Anne.

The two little girls looked charming in their deep-blue woollen dresses, each with a large white satin bow on top of their heads. His brothers were as smartly turned out, in their knee breeches and jackets, black stockings and highly-polished black shoes.

Surrounded by all the plants, and with sunshine pouring in through the many windows, it was an idyllic scene and brought a smile to Edward’s face. George seemed to be holding forth about something animatedly, and certainly he had captured Isabel’s complete attention. Anne was talking earnestly to Richard, who was nodding his head and looking amused. He felt a little twist in his heart…they were so young, so vulnerable.

At the sound of footsteps in the hall, Edward swung around, and smiled at Neville as he approached.

He joined Ned in the doorway, put his hand on his cousin’s shoulder, and together they stood watching the children. After a moment, Neville said softly, ‘The future, Ned…they are the future of our two families, which are as one, and they must be protected at all cost.’

‘I agree, you’re quite correct,’ Ned answered quietly. ‘We must guard them at all times. The Grants will stop at nothing.’

‘Unfortunately, you’re right…I’m sorry I had to leave you to take the telephone call, and just as you were arriving.’ Neville glanced around. ‘I suppose Cecily and Meg have gone off somewhere with Nan.’

Ned nodded. ‘They’re in the drawing room.’

‘Right. Well, shall we meander along to the library and have a glass of champagne before lunch? Will and Johnny are already there, waiting for us.’

‘Why not?’

The two men walked down the entrance hall, but just before they reached the library Edward paused, took hold of Neville’s arm, so that he, too, stood still.

‘Yes, Ned, what is it?’ he asked.

‘I need a word with you. Privately.’

‘Then tell me now, whilst we are alone here. Are you worried about something?’

‘No, no, just curious. About the digitalis. We know Aubrey Masters died of an overdose, but I believe it was in the food…his vegetarian dinner, to be precise.’

‘Oh. Really.’

‘Yes. Let me tell you about a book called Fatal Flowers.’ Swiftly, Edward told Neville of his discovery the day before, and the conclusion he had come to almost at once about the use of foxglove in the vegetarian mix.

‘I see what you mean,’ Neville replied, nodding. ‘But you said you were curious…about what exactly?’

‘Did we have anything to do with Masters’s ingestion of digitalis?’

Neville did not respond. He simply stood there, tall, elegant and serene, staring at Ned, his light blue eyes calm, his face without any expression and steady.

Ned, leaning against a pillar, was equally steady. He waited.

After the longest moment, Neville answered. ‘I did promise you we would avenge the murders of our fathers and brothers. I never break a promise, Cousin.’

Ned nodded his understanding, his own face wiped clean of all emotion, his eyes locked to his cousin’s with intensity. And then he reached out, took hold of Neville’s hand and said in a low voice, ‘Fidelity unto eternity,’ repeating his family’s motto.

Cecily Deravenel was enjoying the luncheon party at her nephew’s home in Chelsea. A lovely, flowing house overlooking the Thames, it was beautifully furnished in perfect taste, made a charming setting for this Sunday lunch. And because they were family it was all the more pleasing to her. As for Will Hasling, she always thought of him as family, as another son, having known him for years, and certainly his devotion and loyalty to Edward had forever touched her heart. Yes, he was family, no question about that.

Her eyes roamed around the table, rested for a moment on her nephew, Johnny. Dearest Johnny, so fine of character, a man of integrity and honour, Ned’s champion. Her glance settled on Neville. How alike the two brothers were in appearance, and certainly they had the Watkins physical characteristics just as she did: dark hair, light eyes, the finest bone structure.

Neville was now the only senior male in the family, and it was on him that she must rely in many ways. Her brother Rick had managed her affairs but now that he was dead it would be his son who would advise her on these matters. Only last week she had told him Ned needed an allowance. He had agreed. She trusted Neville, she had no reason not to do so. He was, after all, her nephew, the richest magnate in England, a powerful man. That was the secret to him, of course, his power. Or rather the secret was his love of power. Only the other day she had pointed this out to Ned, and he had smiled and retorted, ‘Do you think I don’t know that?’

They had laughed together then, and the matter was closed. She knew what her son was all about, was well aware that he had great judgement and a wisdom beyond his years. With Neville by his side, Ned would succeed in taking over Deravenels, it was just a question of time. From what Ned had said recently perhaps it would be sooner than she had anticipated. There was nothing she could do except wait. She wanted their circumstances to change, wanted to know that her children were safe, out of the reaches of the treacherous Grants.

Cecily smiled as her eyes settled on Anne, Neville’s youngest daughter. She was an exquisite child, delicate in her beauty, intelligent, like quicksilver. How adoring Anne was of Richard; she trailed after him like a devoted puppy dog. Richard did not seem to mind her attention, was responsive to her and very protective.

Anne was seated opposite Cecily, and as if she had read her aunt’s thoughts, she announced in her light, clear voice, ‘Richard and I are going to be married, Aunt Cecily.’

Everyone at the table looked at Anne in surprise, and with some amusement. There was a trickle of warm laughter from the adults.

Richard said, ‘But not for a long time, Mama. Not until we’re grown up.’

‘But of course, Dick, we do understand that,’ Cecily murmured, smiling at her youngest child.

Ned said, ‘Well done, my boy. It’s a good idea to stake your claim on a lady early. Just promise me one thing.’

‘What is that?’ Richard asked solemnly, his grey-blue eyes so serious.

‘Promise that I can be your best man.’

Richard beamed at his hero and nodded enthusiastically.

Not to be left out, George now asserted, in a very grand voice for a little boy, ‘And I am going to marry Isabel.’

Isabel gazed at him, turned bright pink, said nothing. But she looked pleased if also somewhat startled.

‘My goodness, all these sudden announcements,’ Cecily responded, staring at George, then smiling at Isabel.

Isabel smiled back, continued to gaze at George through loving eyes, euphoria flooding her face. She looked at her mother shyly.

Neville remarked in a light amused tone, ‘All these announcements indeed, Cecily! And yet no one has asked my permission.’

Ned threw back his head and roared with laughter. ‘Nor my mother’s, nor mine,’ he spluttered, his spontaneous laughter infecting the rest of the table.

Richard looked slightly embarrassed, and threw an appealing glance at Edward.

His brother responded at once. ‘When you’re grown up, Dickie, you can ask Uncle Neville for Anne’s hand in marriage. As for me, I give you my permission now.’

‘What about me?’ George demanded, never one to be outdone. ‘Do you give me your permission, Ned? After all, I’m older than Richard, and Isabel is older than Anne.’

Yes, and she’s the heiress to a vast fortune, Ned thought, if Nan doesn’t give him a son. ‘Of course you have my permission,’ Ned responded at last, smiling at George. But he could not help thinking that his brother was showing some very dubious characteristics, avariciousness being one of them. He bears watching, Ned thought. He might spell trouble when he grows up.

The music washed over him in waves, lulling his senses; slowly he felt the tension easing out of his shoulders and finally he relaxed in the seat. What a blessed relief this was…letting go, escaping into this world of thrilling sounds…the music was like an enchantment, taking him to another world.

Edward was with Lily at the Bechstein Concert Hall in Wigmore Street, attending the Sunday night concert. He loved music as much as she did, and tonight was special. The featured piece was Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 in C Minor, a concerto which was a favourite of theirs.

The second movement was coming to a close now, the crescendo engulfing him; he allowed himself to be engulfed, submerged himself in it gratefully. So many of the troubling thoughts running through his head fell away as he gave himself up to the music entirely.

Suddenly it was over. Everyone was on their feet, clapping and cheering. Lily leaned into him and whispered, ‘Wasn’t it thrilling, darling?’

‘Stupendous,’ he answered. ‘Thank you for bringing me.’

Smiling at him with total adoration, she whispered, ‘Who else but you? Now tell me that.’ He just laughed. Protectively, he escorted her out of the concert hall and into the street where the carriage she had hired for the evening was waiting for them.

In order to shake off Johnny and Will, his bodyguards, wanting to be alone with Lily tonight, earlier in the day he had explained to his mother exactly where he was going, adding, ‘And my friend has hired a carriage. I’ll be perfectly safe, Mother.’ After a moment’s thought she had agreed with him, had excused herself and left the room. She returned a moment later, and had handed him ten guineas. ‘But Mother—’ he had begun, and she had waved his words away, explaining that he must now have an allowance every week, that it had been arranged with Neville. ‘Take Mrs Overton to dinner after the concert, and be the gentleman you are, Ned.’

And so they were going to the Savoy Hotel for supper, and he was excited that for once he could take Lily somewhere elegant and pay for it himself.

Once they were settled in the carriage, he told her about lunch at Neville’s that day, and she laughed delightedly when he recounted the story of Anne’s announcement that she and Richard were going to marry. In fact, they laughed all the way to the Savoy Hotel in the Strand, chuckling over the antics of the children.

Heads turned as the two of them walked through the hotel lobby. They made a stunning couple, he so tall and handsome, she the most beautiful of women and elegantly dressed in a chic outfit of dark royal blue. After they had been seated in the dining room overlooking the Thames, Ned ordered a whisky for himself and lemonade for Lily.

When they had settled down, Ned asked, ‘How are you feeling, darling Lily?’

‘Healthy, Ned, thank you. Please don’t worry so much about the baby. It’s the morning sickness which is truly the worst, but otherwise I’m well. Really and truly.’

He smiled at her, touching her cheek with a fingertip. ‘And that’s how you look—absolutely well.’

As he savoured his whisky and soda, Edward told her about the tiaras his mother owned, and that she was going to send them to the jewellers to have them appraised and then sold. ‘She insists on doing this, Lily, in order to finance the purchase of a house for me. In Mayfair. I understand she’s already seen one in Berkeley Square, and thinks it’s ideal for me. She wants me to have my own household.’

Lily nodded, smiling and was about to tell him she had seen one for herself nearby in South Audley Street, which she was contemplating buying. But she knew it would be inappropriate. The last thing she wanted was for him to think she was trying to cling, because of the baby she was expecting.

Ned said, ‘You looked as if you were about to tell me something, Lily, but changed your mind. What was it?’

‘Nothing,’ she lied, and went on, ‘Shall we look at the menu, I am a little hungry.’

He nodded and signalled to the waiter who was by their side in a split second. He gave them the menus, recommended various items and departed.

Lily said, ‘I think I will have Dover sole: it’s light.’

‘So will I. And what would you like first?’

‘Nothing really—well, perhaps a cup of bouillon soup. I find if I eat anything heavy at night I suffer from indigestion these days.’

He smiled, leaned into her, and whispered, ‘You poor thing…I can’t wait to see our child, hold her.’

‘Oh you’ve decided on the sex, have you? A girl, eh?’

‘Well, you know how much I love women,’ he answered before he could stop himself; he could have bitten off his tongue and looked suddenly chagrined, shook his head, seemed somehow helpless.

Lily simply laughed, being a wise woman.

Edward said, ‘What shall we call the baby? Lily?’

‘I’d like to call her after you, so I prefer Edwina.’

‘Edwina Lily, how about that?’

‘And Edward, if it’s a boy, is that all right with you, Ned?’

‘Anything you want, my darling. I do adore you, you know.’

The waiter returned and took their order, and they sat back, happy at being together in this elegant restaurant, enjoying each other and sharing the evening, at ease in their relationship.

It was after their first course that Lily suddenly announced in a quiet, rather subdued voice, ‘Ned, I want to ask you something. It’s really important for me to discuss it with you, and I must have an answer from you tonight.’

Alarmed, he looked at her swiftly, and exclaimed, ‘What is it, Lily? Is there something wrong? What on earth’s the matter?’

‘I’m not sure how to begin, because it’s a morbid subject but I have been troubled…’ She took a deep breath. ‘Let me start again. As you know, I was an only child, and my parents are dead. I have no other family, only a few good friends, most particularly Vicky. And because I’m alone in this world I’ve worried about something quite a lot lately. Women do die in childbirth, you know. It’s not unheard of, and I worry that I could die. And then what would happen to the baby? Our baby. So I want to know your thoughts on this, Ned. I couldn’t bear it if the child were put up for adoption.’

Startled by her words, he was also appalled at the thought of Lily dying and their child being put up for adoption, lost to him forever. He didn’t have to think twice before answering her immediately. ‘You’re not going to die, I promise you that. You’re a healthy young woman, and you take good care of yourself. You’ll both be fine. But if something ghastly did happen and you…died in childbirth, and the baby lived, you know I wouldn’t permit our child to be adopted. Never, Lily. Never. Please trust me on that. I promise you I would take the child, bring it up.’

‘You’d do that alone? How would you handle it? What about other women? You’ll get married one day. A wife might not be overjoyed at the thought of your illegitimate little girl or boy. Am I not right?’

‘Yes, perhaps you are. But I believe my mother would happily raise the child, with the help of a nanny. And of course I would see the child all the time. Does that satisfy you?’

‘Yes, it does! And it was the answer I was hoping you would give, Ned. You see, I know women, know how easily the child of another woman could get in the way in a relationship.’ Lily gave him a huge smile, and squeezed his arm. ‘If anything goes wrong, then your mother can take over…I’m so happy you suggested it.’

He took her hand in his, squeezed it. ‘Lily, let’s not talk about your dying…I can’t stand that thought, I really can’t. Let’s be happy tonight, happy that we’re together.’