Читать книгу The Secret Love Letters - Dolores San Miguel - Страница 10

During Jaime’s absence, his older brother, Tony, had been setting up a business and asked Jaime to be involved. Tony had married Muriel Hay Robison in 1916 and they already had one child, Richard John, and on 22 August 1922, Elizabeth (Betty) was born. They lived at a home, Riccarton , in York Street, Mont Albert, a few houses down from St Abbs, and eventually moved to a flat at Bluff Mansions in Barkly Street, St.Kilda. It was here on 22 January, just prior to Jaime’s return, that a thief broke in while the family were at lunch, stealing jewellery worth £100.

Although Antonio’s estate had been left to his wife, Birdie, she was generous with money for her family, and gave Tony the funds to begin the business. She had hoped one of her sons would be involved in her late husband’s companies, but they all chose different fields. Antonio had created a dynasty of businesses, which his associates all benefited from. The Ajax Tyre and Denby Truck Agencies suited Jaime from the experience he’d had in America with General Motors. They represented a number of tyre and truck companies, and were involved in the importation of tyres and parts. In 1923 they set up the Melbourne Suburban Bus Company, which ran Denby buses from the city to Middle Brighton. Later that year Tony took his family on a trip to Europe, and visited the Ferrans in Alella. The bus company became a public company and on Monday 14 July 1924, they put a block advertisement in the Argus newspaper, offering 100,000 shares of one pound each, with a nominal capital of £100,000. The secretary was listed as Charles Fitzherbert-Howson, who married their sister, Francisca, at Our Redeemer’s Church in Surrey Hills on 15 August 1922.

Lionel San Miguel designed a two-housed estate, Montalegre , situated on the corner of Mont Albert and Balwyn Roads, Mont Albert, for his mother . St Abbs was sold on 8 August 1922 to Martin George Brown of Studley Avenue, Kew, for £1850. The family, apart from Tony and Francisca, moved into Montalegre shortly afterwards. Lionel had installed a secret panel in the drawing room, where Birdie kept her jewellery, personal papers, cash, and a replica pistol. One morning after hearing a noise she spotted a burglar climbing in through an open window. As he made his way into another room, Birdie closed the window and retrieved the pistol from the panel, and confronted the hapless thief. By this time her housekeeper had appeared and Birdie instructed her to telephone the police, who arrived promptly and arrested the intruder. The house was a beautifully designed Art Deco style, with Spanish-inspired arches, and a glorious large garden with a tennis court. The residence was admired by all who visited.

Many balls and parties were held at the new home in the large ballroom, and Jaime was always a popular figure amongst the pretty, single girls. He had seen Ally only once since his return, and although it was a painful experience, he had moved on with his life when she married Angus. At one of the family garden parties, on a sultry, summer day in 1924, Jaime was introduced to a strikingly beautiful chestnut-haired girl, Alma May Lumsden, known by her nickname of Connie. She had come to the party with a friend of Lionel’s, and when they struck up a conversation, she reminded Jaime that they had met once before. Connie was a friend of Ally’s. For a moment Jaime froze, just hearing Ally’s name still hurt, but Connie’s animated conversation and her exquisite looks soon had him under her spell.

Very soon Jaime and Connie were courting. Nights at the theatre, intimate dinners, and social tennis parties followed. Unlike Jaime, Connie didn’t play tennis — she detested sports, much to his disappointment. He’d already taken an interest in golf and had recently begun lessons. He had hoped Connie would join him on the links, but that was never to be. Still, when they waltzed to the sound of Marion Harris singing, ‘It Had to Be You’, on the Melola phonograph, which Jaime had purchased in 1923, any regrets with her interest in sport just faded away. He was now besotted with the emerald-eyed beauty, who coyly, always had her own way.

On Saturday 29 May 1926, Jaime married Alma May Lumsden at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church in Kew. He was twenty-seven years old and Connie was twenty-four. Initially, they moved into a residence at 246 Dandenong Road, St. Kilda, and life was very happy for the honeymooners. Jaime had felt quite smug, when he learnt that Ally knew he had married her old friend; despite his love for Connie, Ally still tugged at his heartstrings, and he had never forgiven her for the letter debacle.

Life changed on 5 May 1927 when Connie’s 49-year-old mother died. She was devastated. The favourite daughter of four sisters, Connie was her mother’s pride and joy, and completely spoilt. She fell into a deep depression, spending days in bed. Jaime would arrive home from work, exhausted, to find his wife sobbing and still in bed with nothing prepared for dinner. He was at his wits end as to how he could help her. Eventually, things returned to normal, but Connie’s happy nature had all but disappeared, and their lovemaking was extremely erratic.

The Argus,

Friday, 6 May 1927

LUMSDEN

On the 5th May, Isabelle, dearly loved wife of Alfred George Lumsden, dearly loved mother of Vera (Mrs Marnell), Myra (Mrs Tompkins), Connie (Mrs San Miguel), and Edna, died at her home in Glenferrie. Dearly loved.

In April of 1929, Birdie San Miguel, aged sixty-five years, along with two of her daughters, Ines and Patricia, set sail on the Oronsay headed for Europe. They would spend over seven months abroad, a large number spent in Barcelona and Seville. On 23 May, the ship docked at Southampton and the trio began their holiday. Harrison, San Miguel & Mauri Bros. and Thomson had both continued to gain huge profits, and as Birdie had a large number of shares in the companies, she received a very healthy income, which continued for many years to come.

The Register News-Pictorial (Adelaide, S.A.) Tuesday, 31 December 1929

Elizabeth Leigh’s Pages For Women

SPAIN NOW MODERNISED

After twenty years absence from Spain, where she once lived, Mrs A San Miguel of Mont Albert recently visited Barcelona and Seville. She returned today by the Ormonde, accompanied by her daughters, Mrs Pat Henwood and Miss Ines San Miguel.

‘The progress of Spain has been wonderful,’ said Mrs San Miguel. ‘In Seville, old houses have given place to beautiful modern hotels like the Alfonso the Thirteenth, where all the smart people go for tea between five and six o’clock, and dance afterwards. Wherever you travel now in Spain you find someone who can speak both French and English. The accommodation is excellent, cheaper than in England, and is cheap as in the rest of Europe. Americans travel there in hundreds. Everything is modernised. The Spanish dance all the modern dances beautifully. If you want to see the old Moorish dances you have to go to special cafes, where they are now a feature. Education is spreading among the poor of Spain. Girls and young women have more freedom than they ever had. Yes, many of them today choose their own husbands.’

The Great Depression began with the Wall Street Crash on 29 October 1929, and rapidly spread worldwide. As in other nations, Australia suffered years of high unemployment, low profits, deflation, and lost opportunities for economic growth. One of the casualties was the Ajax Tyre and Denby Motor Truck Agencies, including the Melbourne Suburban Bus Company. It affected Tony San Miguel very badly, causing him to have a complete nervous breakdown, and he was hospitalised for a number of weeks. He had lost everything he’d invested. Although Jaime also lost a portion, he hadn’t been a major player in the company, and immediately began looking for alternative employment.

In early December, Jaime was given some wonderful news: he and Connie were expecting a baby, so now he would have a family to take care of. He obtained a job at the Dunlop Rubber Company, covering the sales of Solid and Pneumatic Tyres, including areas of their general lines to the mechanical section. Jaime was a natural salesman and loved his new job.

On Friday 15 August 1930, Leon Jaime San Miguel was born, a beautiful, healthy baby boy. The couple were ecstatic, although throughout the pregnancy, Connie had been aloof and distant. Lovemaking had ceased altogether and six months after the birth, Jaime still hadn’t shared intimacy with his wife. He took his frustrations out by playing competitive tennis. He won a large number of trophies, and his golf games became more frequent. Having no interest in his hobbies, Connie would whinge and complain on his arrival home, hurting his feelings when she failed to congratulate him on winning a game. Heated arguments became a regular occurrence, and Connie’s depression again reared its ugly head. Despite all their problems, Jaime purchased a large property at 18 Stodart Street, Camberwell. The generous home with tennis court also included a self-contained flat above the garage. Not long after they moved in, Connie requested separate bedrooms.

Jaime kept his marriage problems from his family. His youngest sister, Patricia had married Leslie Felix Henwood in 1926, and already had two children, Brett and Judy. Just before the birth of Leon, Lionel wed his fiancé, Myra Bullivant, while Ines remained a spinster. The one person Jaime did confide in was his old friend from Xavier College, John Cooke. John listened patiently to his good friend, but could not sympathise completely.

‘Jaime,’ he said shortly. ‘You married Connie on the rebound from Ally and you both had nothing in common. But you have a son now, so you must be patient with her.’

Jaime tried, how very hard he tried, however, nothing he could say or do seemed to make Connie happy; indeed, not even their baby son could allay her misery.

Jaime threw himself into his work, and soon became Dunlop’s top salesman. His salary increased with the money he was earning from his commission. Saturday afternoons he would spend on the golf course, often with brother Lionel, another keen player. Jaime adored his little boy and played with him often, but life with Connie was becoming unbearable. Shortly after moving into Stodart Street, he began attending Sunday morning mass at St Joseph’s in Malvern. Connie had not converted to marry Jaime, and therefore their marriage was performed in a side altar at Sacred Heart.

One autumn Sunday he noticed a very pretty, vivacious girl chatting to a friend of his who belonged to the Malvern Younger Set, a social club for young residents of Malvern. He made his way over to his friend, hoping to gain an introduction.

‘Good morning Gerald, are we still on for that tennis match?’ Jaime reached out to shake his friend’s hand, adding, ‘I hope I’m not intruding,’ as he shot the young woman a beaming smile.

‘Not at all my good man. Let me introduce you. Fay Johnston, meet my tennis opponent and good friend, Jaime San Miguel.’

Jaime extended his hand towards Fay, and their blue eyes met and held each other’s gaze. With a knowing smile, Gerald excused himself and left them chatting.

The following Sunday Jaime encountered Fay again, and this time they spoke for an hour. Arrangements were made to meet for lunch in the city on Wednesday. Jaime felt a trace of guilt as he climbed into his A-Model Ford car to drive home to Stodart Street.