When Wishes Come True (57 page)

‘I would be very happy for you to take Amelia home. You have been so generous today, with warmth, friendship and understanding. But if Amelia …’ Evelyn smiled. ‘It seems I’m going to have to give in, or be the only one calling my daughter Amelia. If Milly isn’t home when Bessie gets in from work, she and two other neighbours will be concerned about her. But we have several hours yet, so I’ll worry about that nearer the time.’

‘I shall have to meet this Bessie sometime. If Milly is fond of her, then I must make sure I become her friend. When everything is settled, would you take me to meet her?’

‘Yes, of course.’ Evelyn turned her head as the door opened. ‘Oh, here’s Oscar, I’ll get my coat from Miss Williams’ office.’ She hesitated then said, ‘Mr Lister-Sinclair, would you ring me at Oscar’s whatever the outcome? I shall be a bag of nerves, wondering what is being said in this office.’

‘I shall ring you immediately my meeting with Philip is over, or even when he is still here, if that is what he wants. Have no fear, my dear, I feel certain that everything will turn out well for you. Now, go with Oscar and renew your friendship with Gwen. You both have lots to talk about.’ His smile was one of encouragement. ‘Oh, and most of my friends, young and old, call me Cyril. And I would like you to look upon me as a friend.’

Philip didn’t wait for an answer to his rap on the office door but threw it open and strode across the room wearing a beaming smile, his hand outstretched. ‘Hello, old boy, it’s quite a while since we met. I hope you and Matilda are well?’

Cyril waved him to the chair opposite. ‘We are both in good health, thank you. And I don’t need to ask you, for you look remarkably well. Would you like some refreshment – a cup of tea or something stronger?’

‘I had tea and a sandwich before I left the office, I couldn’t cope with another cup.’ Philip rubbed his hands together, smiling. ‘I can still remember where you keep your stock of the finest wines and malt whisky in the city though, so shall I do the honours?’

‘Yes, my boy, a whisky would go down very well.’ Cyril watched as Philip opened the doors of the high cabinet which did indeed boast a fine selection of drinks. He was fond of Philip, and like all the people who knew him, had wondered why he had never married. It wasn’t that the chances weren’t there, for he was chased by every eligible female in their circle of friends. ‘So, how is life treating you, my boy?’

‘Life is excellent at the moment, Cyril, and I’m very happy.’ Philip placed a glass in front of him, then sat down with his own glass in his hand. ‘I’m delighted to see you, as ever, but rather intrigued by your telephone call. There is nothing I enjoy more than something with a hint of mystery to it.’ He swirled the whisky round in the glass before taking a sip. ‘Was there a reason for your call, or were you genuinely interested in my health?’

‘There was a reason, Philip, and I think when you hear it you will be surprised.’ Cyril was going to take things slowly and choose his words with care. ‘I believe you know a woman called Evelyn Sinclair?’

Philip’s brows shot up. ‘Yes, I know her very well! We’re courting! In fact, we will be getting married very shortly. It isn’t general knowledge at the moment, except that my parents know of her though they have not met. Do you know Evelyn?’

Cyril sat back in his chair and drew a deep breath. ‘I want you to listen without interruption for a short while, if you will. Evelyn Sinclair is really Evelyn Lister-Sinclair. She is Charles’ widow.’ He saw the shock on Philip’s face and quickly went on, ‘This is not to say she doesn’t love you, nothing changes that, but there are things you should know. It is quite a long story, and I don’t come out of it very well, but I think everything should be brought out into the open now and then you and Evelyn can start with a clean slate. So please be patient, dear boy, and listen to what I have to say.’

For half an hour Philip sat quietly, his expression changing at intervals. Cyril told him everything, kept nothing back. Except one thing, which was a little lie that would hurt no one: he told Philip that Evelyn conceived a child on the last day of her husband’s leave before he was sent overseas. He was hard on himself, too, revealing how he had ordered Evelyn to leave the house in Princes Avenue, even though she was with child. The fact that she had a child brought Philip to the edge of his chair, but not once did he try to interrupt.

‘Oscar and Gwen Wentworth were best man and maid of honour at Charles’ marriage to Evelyn, which was held in a registry office because Charles only had a few days’ leave and there was no time for the big society wedding my wife and I had envisaged for our son. Gwen was a friend of Evelyn’s all those years ago, but lost touch with her just after the baby was born. Oscar has been trying to trace mother and child for a while now, without success. In fact today has been a day of coincidences and surprises. He was due to meet a man at the Department of Education this morning, in the hope he could pull a few strings and find the school Amelia attended. He was going down the front steps when Evelyn was coming up.’ Cyril sat back in his chair. ‘So there you have it, my boy, the full story.’

Philip sighed. ‘Why didn’t Evelyn tell me all this herself?’

‘She wanted to. She loves you very much and is now terrified in case you think badly of her and walk away. She said you would think her a coward for not telling you face to face, but I talked her out of it. I took eight years of that woman’s life by wrongfully accusing her of having another man’s baby. I had just heard that Charles had been killed in action and was beside myself with grief. I couldn’t believe she could possibly have been made pregnant by my son in that one day. I wasn’t thinking clearly, Philip, and unfortunately Evelyn isn’t given to showing any emotion. I thought her hard-hearted when she didn’t grieve for Charles as I grieved.’

‘I’m having a problem taking all this in, Cyril,’ Philip said. ‘I was hoping to marry Evelyn in the next month or so, even though I knew very little about her life. She wouldn’t even tell me where she lived. None of that bothered me, I fell in love with her the minute I set eyes on her. Her being your daughter-in-law and the widow of Charles, I can live with. In fact, I would be delighted to be a close member of your family, and I know my parents would be pleased. They don’t know anything about her really, not even her name. Evelyn asked me not to tell anyone until she’d sorted her affairs out. When I came here today I thought it was a friendly call, I certainly wasn’t prepared for what you’ve told me. And, as I say, I can live with most of it. But for her not to tell me she has an eight-year-old daughter … well, I find that very hard to take.’

‘Evelyn knows that, and it is her worst fear. She said your parents were keen for you to marry and give them grandchildren, and she knows they would be unhappy for you to take on an eight-year-old girl.’ Cyril couldn’t keep back what was in his heart and mind. ‘Even though Milly is the most beautiful child imaginable. I am completely captivated by her, and she is the image of Charles. Now, there may be a solution to this, but I haven’t mentioned it to Evelyn. She was very nervous when she left here, knowing you were coming. But I will test it on you, to see if you agree with what I have to say. I am going to ask Evelyn to let Milly come to live with Matilda and myself. We would dearly love to have her, she would bring happiness back into our lives. Evelyn could see her whenever she wished, while you could be her uncle. That would leave you free to lead the lives of newly-weds. To have your own children, your own family. How would that sit with you, Philip?’

‘Cyril, I love that woman so much I will marry her no matter what her circumstances are. I admit I would like to start a family of our own, but I wouldn’t make that part of the bargain. I would never take a mother away from her child.’

‘Even if mother and child agree, and it is best for both of them?’

‘Ah, I could live with that. But I can’t see Evelyn doing so.’

‘Then we must wait and ask her.’ Cyril didn’t want to mention the fact that there wasn’t the closeness between Evelyn and her daughter there usually was between mother and child. Nor was he going to mention the neighbour, Bessie, whom he would very much like to meet.

‘I am to ring Oscar’s when you leave, and he will bring Evelyn and Milly back here.’ Cyril was looking thoughtful as he tapped his fingers on the desk. ‘Do you have any business to attend to, or would you like to see Evelyn today and clear the air? Or perhaps you’d like some time to think things through?’

Philip seemed to come alive. ‘I don’t have any clients, you know it is always quiet the week between Christmas and New Year. Even if I had, I would cancel their appointments. I desperately want to see Evelyn, tell her that no matter what obstacles are in the way, I intend to marry her as quickly as possible. My parents will no doubt be concerned, but when they get to know her, they will understand why I love her so much. When you said you were distraught when Charles died, and saddened that Evelyn showed no emotion, I could understand both sides. You see, from what little she has told me, her parents showed her no love. It took me a while to break down the wall she had built around herself, but it was well worth the effort. She is the most loving woman I have ever met. And in time, Cyril, you will find that out for yourself.’

He got to his feet and began to pace the room. ‘I sound like a lovesick schoolboy, don’t I? Who would ever have thought that Philip Astbury, the philanderer who attended every party with a different woman on his arm, would become so besotted, so head-over-heels in love, that he was prepared to do anything for the love of a special woman?’

‘I should think all your friends will be very happy for you, Philip, for you are very well liked and have never spoken ill of any of your women friends.’ Cyril was so happy he thought his heart would burst. This was one day in his life he would never forget. To see again the woman his son had married, and the granddaughter who was the fruit of that short marriage. Then to find out that Philip, the son of one of his best friends, was in love and wanted to marry Evelyn – well, it was like a storybook ending, where everyone lived happily ever after. But was he being over-optimistic?

Philip stopped his pacing and stood in front of Cyril’s desk. ‘Do you have a spare office where Evelyn and I could talk in private?’

‘There is an office on the next floor which is furnished and comfortable, you are very welcome to use that. While I ring Oscar to ask him to bring Evelyn and her daughter, I suggest you help yourself to another whisky to steady your nerves.’

When Oscar answered the phone, he was asked to bring Evelyn and Milly back to the office. Cyril suggested that as soon as they arrived, Evelyn should be directed to the office on the top floor while Milly be brought into his office. ‘It’s been quite a memorable day, my boy, don’t you agree? It is a long time since I have felt so happy and light-hearted. A great weight has been lifted from my shoulders.’

Oscar chuckled. ‘It has certainly been a day of surprises. Gwen’s eyes have been as round as saucers since Evelyn arrived. I know a little of what is happening but not all. I have been keeping Milly amused and out of the way. What a treasure the girl is! She is clever, without a doubt, but what I find most endearing is her sense of fun. When she laughs, it’s catching. You can’t help laughing with her. If she were mine, I would love her to bits.’

‘I can’t wait for Matilda to see her. And, as you know I love her dearly, you will not think I am making fun of her when I say the bottle of smelling salts will definitely be needed.’

‘The door facing you at the top of the stairs is the one you need,’ Oscar told Evelyn when they entered the lobby. ‘You can’t miss it.’

She was shaking visibly. ‘I know it’s silly of me, but I’m scared.’

‘I’m quite sure there is nothing to be afraid of, my dear, so take a deep breath and run up those stairs as though you haven’t a care in the world … which I’m sure you haven’t.’ He held on to Milly’s hand and together they watched Evelyn mount the stairs.

‘Why is Mother scared, Uncle Oscar? There’s no bogeyman up there, is there?’

‘Now, you don’t believe in bogeymen, do you? You’re a clever girl, and if you are clever, you will know there is no such thing. Come along and ask your granddad if I’m not telling the truth.’

Milly pulled her hand free. Giggling, she said, ‘I’ll race you to Granddad!’ With that she took off like a shot, flung the office door open and ran across the floor to the desk.

Cyril looked up when the door burst open, to see Milly running towards him, her face aglow and her childish laughter filling the room. ‘Well, I never, what have we here?’

‘I bet Uncle Oscar I could beat him to get to you first.’ She turned to Oscar, who was leaning on the back of a chair pretending to be out of breath. ‘I won!’

‘Ah, but did you win fairly?’ Cyril asked. ‘That is what you should ask yourself. Did you give Oscar a start because he is older than you and is carrying more weight?’

Milly’s brow furrowed. ‘I never thought of that, Granddad, because I’ve only ever raced the girls in school. But you are right, it wasn’t fair, and I’m sorry, Uncle Oscar. So shall we call it evens?’

He dropped into a chair, chuckling. ‘You weren’t behind the door when they were giving brains out, my dear. I must remember never to play cards with you.’

Now this remark was of interest to Milly. ‘Oh, I can play cards, I’m getting very good at it. I win more games than Jack does.’

‘And might we ask who Jack is?’ Cyril asked, eager to know as much as possible about his granddaughter’s life. ‘And where do you play cards?’

‘Jack is my best friend, he lives in the house opposite ours. He is one year older than me so he is nine. Because he’s older than me, wouldn’t you think he’d win more games than me, Granddad?’

‘Perhaps he likes you and lets you win?’

‘Oh, he does like me, but he doesn’t let me win. In fact, I have to keep my eye on him because if he gets the chance, he cheats.’

The two men exchanged glances. How refreshing it was to listen to a child who was too innocent to tell an untruth. ‘Your grandmother is very fond of playing cards, Milly, so you would get along very well with her. Perhaps the games she plays are more grown-up than the ones you play, but she would love to teach you so you could play with her.’