Legacy of Greyladies (13 page)

They all fell silent, then Alex said, ‘I wonder what his wife’s first name is. I have trouble thinking of her as “Mrs Seaton” because that brings my mother to mind.’

‘I’ve applied for a copy of the marriage certificate,’ Edwin told them. ‘That should tell us. And the birth certificates, of course. We do know the father’s full name, at least, so it should be relatively easy to find. We might even have the copies by tomorrow. We’ll know all their names then.’

‘Good. And Mildred … I think the children have a right to inherit something from the estate,’ Alex said. ‘Don’t you?’

She looked triumphantly at Edwin. ‘I told you he’d say that. Yes, of course I do, Alex.’

Edwin cleared his throat to get their attention. ‘If they wanted, the children or their guardian could make a legal fuss and try to claim a sizeable share of your mother’s estate. I wouldn’t object to Mildred giving up part of her inheritance to them – the money wouldn’t matter at all to me – but a scandal could affect me adversely and I’d object to anything that caused one. I’m about to open my own practice, you see.’

‘Then we’ll give them a decent share before they even ask,’ Alex said at once. ‘An amount they can’t quibble about.’

‘First we have to find them.’

‘It shouldn’t be too hard. Someone will know where they’ve moved to. May I read the relevant papers?’Alex took the various documents from Edwin and started to go through them. There weren’t many.

The other two chatted quietly till he’d finished.

‘Any questions?’ Edwin asked.

‘Only how best to set about it. My father’s notes show that he’d checked out the marriage and births, and was satisfied that they were Ernest’s children. Why didn’t he do more to help them? They should have been brought up as members of our family.’

Then he let out a scornful laugh. ‘No. He wouldn’t have wanted it known that my brother had married beneath him. He believed in people marrying their own sort, in breeding their children as you would horses, from good sires and dams. He once said a runt like me should never have children.’

Edwin stared at him in shock. ‘He didn’t! Oh, that’s despicable.’

Alex shrugged.

‘It looks as though he did nothing whatsoever to get to know the children, even after you left home.’

‘After I was thrown out,’ Alex corrected. ‘Well, why should he? Father was stubborn to the core, wouldn’t expect to die for many years, probably had a plan to get me back after the war and make me toe the family line. I don’t think he realised how successful I’d become financially. There was nothing he could threaten me with that would have made me go back to working with him.’

There was another of those silences before Edwin spoke. ‘Are we agreed, then? I shall employ someone to find where the children are as soon as we have their full names.’ As the others both nodded, he frowned and added, ‘The trouble is, the man I used previously for such delicate investigations is fighting in France. I’ll have to find someone else.’

‘Shall I take that upon myself?’ Alex asked. ‘I’m used to investigating paintings or other
objets d’art
and I have some good connections.’

‘Thank you. That would be very helpful. It’s always best to use people you trust in such cases.’ He began to gather the papers together. ‘I’ll lock these away again. There’s no other useful information in them about the children, not even their or their mother’s names.’

Mildred looked at her cousin. ‘Well, now that’s over, do you want to stay for luncheon? We could eat early.’

‘No, thank you. I need to get back to London and I have to pick up Mrs Harbury first.’

‘I’ll get my clerk to send copies of what papers there are to you in London,’ Edwin said. ‘And now I really must go.’

‘So must I.’ Alex looked at his watch, pleased that it was only quarter past eleven. So much had happened that it ought to be later, he felt.

He was still trying to take it all in. From being a man with no close family except Mildred, he had now become an uncle. And he might find himself becoming some sort of guardian to the two children if their family was in difficult circumstances. He wouldn’t mind that.

How old would they be now? Going on for twelve, he’d guess. He hoped their mother was looking after them properly … and loving them. All children deserved love.
He hoped they were getting a decent schooling, too. In this modern world, education was far more important than at the end of the last century.

He walked out to his car, wondering whether this was fate being kind to him by giving him a family. Or was it being unkind by giving him more problems to sort out?

Who could tell? It was no use starting anything today, though. He had promised to take Olivia to London and once there, to attend Babs’s party. He was looking forward to it for he wanted very much to spend more time with Olivia.

But would she want to spend more time with him after today’s journey? Would she too see him as a runt, who wasn’t fit to serve his country?

When the telephone rang, Corin hesitated to pick it up, dreading a summons to return to duty at once.

But he couldn’t refuse to answer the phone or a summons. He unhooked the earpiece with one hand and leant forward to speak crisply into the mouthpiece, holding it steady with the other. ‘Latimer here.’

‘Good morning, Major. I hope you found your wife well,’ his commanding officer said.

‘Good morning, General. Yes, my wife is very well.’

With one hand Corin gestured to his wife to move away and give him some privacy.

She nodded and blew him a kiss, vanishing in the direction of the kitchen.

‘And your father?’

‘Not well, sir. The doctors don’t give him long to live, a few months perhaps.’

‘I’m sorry for that. Particularly sorry that I’ll have to take
you out of circulation for a while at such a crucial time. We have a special project to plan and need your excellent attention to detail. I’m afraid you’ll not be getting much leave while you’re working on it.’

‘Oh dear.’

‘Something wrong?’

‘There’s a man causing trouble in the village because of the German internees. He’s been threatening my wife and has brought others in. They’ve already damaged the house, broken windows … and they’re threatening to do more.’

‘Don’t you have soldiers based there?’

‘Yes. But they’re … not the lively sort and there are only four of them. It’s a big house, and frankly, I’m worried about the safety not only of my wife, but of the internees.’

There was a moment of silence. ‘I’ll make a note of the problems at Greyladies and get my adjutant to see what we can do to help. Now, let me tell you about this project …’

Corin knew that half-promise of help was the best he could expect from such a busy man. He listened intently, holding back a sigh. The project sounded interesting, but what a time to be pulled out of circulation!

When he put the phone down, he stood for a few moments getting his thoughts in order, then went to find his wife.

She took one look at his face and said, ‘I can see from your face that it isn’t good news.’

‘No. I don’t have to go back early at least, but when I do, I’m being seconded to a special project which is at the planning stage. I shan’t be able to get away much while working there, I’m afraid. I shall worry about your safety.’

‘I’ll be all right. I’m not alone here, after all.’

‘I’ve still got time to do something about it. I don’t know
what yet, but I shall find a way. Well, for a start, I’m going to make sure you have a gun loaded and ready, so that you can defend yourself. And you must promise to keep it handy. I know you don’t like guns, but sometimes, with some enemies, using one is the only way to stay alive.’

‘Very well, darling.’ She laid one hand on her belly. ‘There is more than my safety to think about now. I won’t allow anything to happen to my unborn child.’

By the time Alex turned up in his motor car, Olivia had altered the hem of one of her day dresses and was wearing it. Not her neatest sewing, but who would know? She’d started on the evening gown, simply to avoid wasting time, but that wasn’t as important because she wouldn’t need it till New Year’s Eve.

She felt she looked more like a modern woman now, and knew that was foolish and vain, but didn’t try to work out why it mattered so much.

After she opened the door to him, she couldn’t think what to say and stood staring like a fool. He stared back at her, not rushing into speech. His smile was warm and he didn’t seem impatient to move into the house.

‘Bring him in,’ Madame said from behind her. ‘You can stare at one another just as easily inside the house and we can all stay warm as you do it.’

Olivia felt herself flushing and saw his face grow rosier too. They both launched into speech at the same time.

‘How are you?’

‘Are you ready to leave?’

‘Have you—?’

Both stopped again and Madame looked from one to the other, shaking her head. ‘Come into the sitting room, m’sieur. Do you want something to eat before you leave? Or I can make sandwiches to take with you.’

Alex glanced from her to Olivia. ‘I know a pub about an hour’s drive away. We can get a decent luncheon there and warm up a little. I’ve got a nice thick travel blanket, so you shouldn’t get too cold in the car. If you don’t mind eating in a public house, that is.’

‘I don’t mind at all. Charles and I used to drive into the country sometimes and stop at pubs for luncheon. It can be very pleasant.’ Olivia pulled her scattered wits together. ‘I’ll get my things. I’ve got two suitcases, but this time they don’t weigh a ton.’

‘I’ll help you with them.’

‘Thank you.’

When they set off, Olivia leant her head back against the car seat and sighed. ‘So. You managed to sort out your problem quickly?’ She saw his expression change. ‘You look as though it was rather serious.’

‘Yes. Very serious, in fact.’ He hesitated.

‘I won’t pester you, but if you want to talk about it, I’m a very good listener and I can keep a confidence.’

There was such a long silence she thought she’d overstepped some invisible mark in their budding friendship. ‘I would value your opinion, actually,’ he then said.

He told her what they’d discovered from his father’s papers.

‘You had no idea your brother had got married?’

‘None whatsoever. I can understand why he would keep it secret, though. Our father would have hated such a marriage
and might even have tried to get it declared void.’

‘Even if your brother and this woman loved one another?’

‘Father believed in selecting a spouse primarily for business reasons. I don’t think he believed in romantic love at all. His only love was money. He’d have been furious if he’d known how foolish my mother would be with his hard-earned wealth after she inherited it.’

Alex sighed. ‘He predicted that I’d be back in Swindon begging his help before a year was up. He’d be very upset to think I succeeded in doing something other than carting. Or “delivering goods”, as he preferred to call it in the last few years, because he thought it sounded more modern and genteel.’

Olivia could hear the bitterness and pain in Alex’s voice. ‘You’d think he’d have been proud of your achievements. You and your brother can’t have had a happy family life, from the sounds of it.’

‘No. It was a very unhappy household. If Mildred’s mother hadn’t visited her in-laws regularly I’d have no happy memories. She was as kind to me as was allowed, taking me out to tea or inviting me round to play with Mildred occasionally.’

‘Not your brother?’

‘He was older, already out at work in my father’s business.’

She waited but Alex did not continue. ‘What are you going to do about these children, then?’ she prompted.

‘I intend to find them and make sure they want for nothing from now on. I’ll see that they receive a share of the inheritance and remedy any lack of education, if it’s not too late to do that. I don’t even know how old they are. But those things are only fair, don’t you think?’

‘Yes I do. But not many men would voluntarily give up their money.’

‘I’ve earned enough by my own efforts to be comfortable. I don’t need the inheritance nor do I wish to grab every halfpenny I can.’

‘You’re a very kind man, Alex Seaton. You were kind to Claude last night, too.’

She watched him flush and guessed he wasn’t used to compliments. She felt so comfortable with him, she hoped they would stay friends from now on. Charles would have liked him too, she was sure.

She found Alex’s shyness rather touching. She had no experience of a shy man. Charles had been a big man, confident and sunny-natured. He’d been so sure he’d survive the war.

Alex was very different, about the same height as she was, thin but dressed with quiet elegance.

She was sure Alex’s father had gone straight to hell for treating both his sons so badly! She must enlist Babs’s help in making Alex realise his own worth.

They stopped for an excellent luncheon, chatting like old friends about the changes the war had brought. It was late afternoon when they arrived in London, just starting to go dark.

Babs’s house was a four-storey building in an elegant Georgian terrace.

‘What a lovely street!’ Olivia exclaimed.

‘I always think so too. My house is rather different, a detached villa with a walled garden. Perhaps you and Babs could come to tea with me the day after the party, if you’re not too tired?’

‘I’d love to do that. I’ll have to check with Babs first, of course.’

‘I hope she’ll be free. It’d be better if you came to tea at the shop, because I’d like to show it to you. I have a small room upstairs where I entertain clients.’

‘I’d love to see your shop.’

‘And … I know you’re staying a few days, but I’d be happy to drive you home again. I shall have to return to Swindon anyway.’

She looked at him and was going to refuse, because she didn’t want to take advantage of his kindness. She had steadfastly refused invitations from other men in the past few months and though she liked Alex, she didn’t want to give him false hopes about his relationship with her.

But then she noticed that he was looking nervous and she guessed how much courage it had taken for him to ask her.

‘I’d like that,’ she said and saw him sag in relief.

By this time the front door was open. Babs hadn’t waited for them to knock and was standing beckoning to them impatiently.

Olivia let Alex open the car door for her and tried to walk sedately into the house.

But Babs spoilt this polite behaviour by giving her a big hug and then hugging Alex for good measure. He looked a bit startled by this and patted her back awkwardly.

‘Come in, come in! It’s all in terrible chaos because they’ve started getting ready for the party on New Year’s Eve – you are coming, aren’t you, Alex?’

‘Yes, of course I am. I’ve been looking forward to it. You always throw such splendid parties.’

‘Good. We’ll have so much fun and we’ll dance in the
new year.’ She flapped one hand at a hallstand. ‘Take off your coat and hat, Olivia. Alex, would you like a cup of tea before you leave?’

‘No, I can see you two want to be alone to chat, and I have a business to run. I’ll look forward to seeing you at the party.’

‘Eight o’clock sharp,’ Babs said. ‘We’re having cocktails. I’ve got some delicious recipes from an American friend.’

He gave a wry smile. ‘I’m not very good with alcohol, as you know. I don’t think I’d dare drink a cocktail.’

‘Ah, but I have recipes for one or two without alcohol in them. I did remember that about you, Alex, and I have another friend who can’t drink. Anyway, who can go on drinking all evening and still stand upright?’

After he’d taken his leave, Olivia said, ‘I don’t know much about cocktails and I don’t have a good head for wine, so I think I’ll drink the ones without alcohol as well. Charles liked a glass of beer, or a whisky, and laughed at me for preferring ginger beer.’

‘Well, at my party we’re all going to pretend the war doesn’t exist and we’re going to have fun. Dancing and laughter are obligatory, cocktails are optional.’

‘That’s good.’

‘I’ve got such plans for you and me, and—’

Olivia interrupted. ‘Alex has invited us to take tea with him on the first of January at his shop. I said we’d go if you were free. Is that all right? I’d rather you came too, because I don’t want to give him ideas about … about …’ She broke off, flushing.

‘He’s rather taken with you,’ Babs said softly.

‘Do I sound conceited if I say yes, I suppose he is? Only
it’s too soon. Charles has only been dead for a few months and I still feel married to him.’

Babs patted her hand. ‘But you might like Alex later?’

‘I don’t know him well. I … might like to get to know him better, though.’

‘Then I’ll come with you and play chaperone. You won’t know it, but very few people are invited to take tea at Alexander Seaton’s beautiful shop and they boast about the visit. It’s the most elegantly furnished place you ever saw.’

‘Oh, well, good. I’ll phone him to say we’d love to go to tea. Most people think he’s stand-offish, but in fact he’s rather shy.’

‘Very shy. I’ve known him a while and noticed that, but he’s all right with me now.’ She let out a gurgle of laughter. ‘Unless I say something outrageous, of course, then he doesn’t know what to say or do.’

‘You love teasing people.’

‘They don’t mind. I’m never nasty. So … what are you going to wear for the party, Olivia? If you have nothing suitable, we can go shopping in the morning.’

‘I have a suitable evening frock that I haven’t worn yet and it’s not too old-fashioned, or it won’t be once I’ve altered the hem.’

‘You must show it to me. Let’s go and unpack your things now. I want to talk to you about the Women’s Institute and I’ll get interrupted if we stay within sight of my housekeeper and people moving furniture about.’

She led the way up the stairs, moving with the bouncing energy of a young woman.

Olivia followed more slowly, feeling welcome, feeling as if Babs was an old and dear friend.

Why had she stayed at Donald’s house for so long? She should have pulled herself together sooner.

Only it took time to recover from losing a beloved husband. She smiled as it occurred to her that it was Donald’s irritating ways which had pulled her out of the ‘slough of despond’ and jolted her forward into a new life.

Where this path would lead, she didn’t know. It had to be somewhere different. You couldn’t recreate a life that had gone for ever and you shouldn’t even try.

She wondered how many people understood that. She’d seen some women virtually stop living after they were widowed. Charles wouldn’t want her to be like that. He’d say, ‘Go out and have fun, old girl, and think of me fondly sometimes.’

She blinked her eyes furiously. She could almost hear him saying it.

Babs was waiting for her patiently at the top of the stairs. ‘You were lost in thought.’

‘Sorry. I just … remembered something.’ She followed her hostess through a doorway. ‘Oh, what a lovely room!’

The bedroom was luxurious and spacious, like the house, but far more colourful than any bedroom Olivia had seen before. The counterpane was patchwork, in beautiful jewel colours and the curtains matched the main kingfisher blue. Olivia hesitated to put her suitcase on such a beautiful bedcover, but her hostess slung the other suitcase carelessly on the end of the bed. ‘Put your suitcase here and unpack quickly, then we’ll have a chat,’ she said. ‘I’ve got a proposition for you.’

Olivia unpacked, amused that her hostess made no
attempt to look away or give her any sort of privacy.

‘You need some more modern clothes,’ Babs said abruptly. ‘
And
underclothes. Yours are all far too sensible. You can alter some of your frocks, but you need new ones with much fuller skirts, really, and far shorter even than the one you’re wearing today.’

She stood up and swept a curtsey to show how wide her own skirt was. It must have been four or five yards round the hem. Then she beamed down at it. ‘Fashionable skirts are so much easier to move about in than those dratted hobble skirts. I didn’t wear the things after one try. I’m too plump and too clumsy.’

Her frankness about her own faults took away the last of Olivia’s shyness. They seemed to be getting to know one another more quickly than she’d have thought possible. She had a suspicion Babs did most things quickly, even making friends. ‘I agree. But I mean to study what women are actually wearing and see if I can alter some of my clothes as well as buying new ones. I hate waste.’

‘Um … did your husband leave you all right for money?’

‘Yes. Not lavishly provided for, but comfortable if I’m reasonably careful.’ She held up the green gown. ‘I thought I’d wear this for the party. What do you think? I still have to finish shortening it.’

‘I like it. That dark green looks good with your hair. You can start altering it while we chat, if you like. Do you have some sewing things with you?’

‘Does any woman not take a needle and thread with her when she stays away from home?’

‘Most people wouldn’t take their sewing materials with them on a trip to London. And these days some women
don’t dress-make at all. I don’t, actually. I’m not at all good at it and there are such excellent ready-made clothes these days. It’s not like it was in our mothers’ day.’

‘No, thank goodness. But I knew I’d have to alter this, so I brought everything I’d need.’

‘Well, you get started and we’ll talk about the Women’s Institute movement while you sew. I’m determined to involve you.’ She put one foot up on the bed, knee bent, and clasped her arms round it. ‘If you remember, I told you about the group of women who set one up in Wales in June. There are others looking into it, too.’

She pulled a wry face. ‘Would you believe it, though, the first national organising committee is composed of six men, with a lady secretary. Isn’t that ridiculous for dealing with a women-only organisation? That’ll have to change.’