Unexpected Blessings (52 page)
A smile brought a surge of happiness to her face, and her blue-grey eyes seemed light-filled and translucent at this moment. ‘Me too.’
‘Oh Evan, darling, I’m so sorry I was difficult these last few weeks. Forgive me?’
‘There’s nothing to forgive. I was being very difficult.’
‘But today you were courageous, telling your father about Robin.’
She made a face. ‘Telling the truth can be hard. But in the end it’s worth it, because it’s the right thing to do. How awful if someone in the family told my father about Robin before I did. Imagine how he would feel–
betrayed,
I’m certain of that.’
‘He didn’t bat an eyelash when you said
we
were pregnant and getting married in January. And you hoped he and your mother would come to the wedding, that it wouldn’t be the same without them present. You were so matter of fact, even I was startled for a second.’
‘I knew I had to get it out,
say it,
just tell them, in the most down-to-earth way. I didn’t want a lot of free-floating emotion getting in the way.’
‘He took it very well, Evan, I must say, and your mother was just over the moon about the baby. “My first grandchild” she kept saying, and in the end your father was smiling, too. And he didn’t ask one question. But
I
have one, darling.’
‘Yes, what is it?’
‘Why January? Why can’t we get married sooner?’
‘In a way, I’d like to, Gid, but we can’t upstage Linnet. We really can’t, and even if we had a quickie wedding at a registry office, or eloped, it would still upstage her marriage to Julian, don’t you think?’
‘Yes, you’re right. But you’re going to look…very pregnant when we tie the knot.’
Evan began to chuckle, nodding her head. ‘I am, yes, but I don’t care, and anyway, I want a small wedding. Just your family and mine.’
‘Mine’s quite large, and it’s yours as well, come to think of it.’
‘True. There’s another thing, Gid. People are a little nervous about travelling right now, wouldn’t you agree?’
‘I know what you’re getting at…your sisters might not want to fly the Atlantic with terrorists in the news, and perhaps in the air.’
‘Exactly.’
‘January it is then,’ Gideon agreed, and glanced at his watch. ‘I think I’d better go downstairs and see what’s happening. Are you coming?’
‘Yes, I think I’d better, I’d like to know what’s transpired between Robin and my father.’
The three of them were sitting in front of the fire in the Stone Hall. Her mother, her father and her grandfather. She had called Robin
grandfather
to make a dramatic point earlier, but now she wondered if he would mind if she called him that all the time, instead of Robin. She would ask him later, when they were alone.
Three pairs of eyes gazed at them as Gideon helped Evan to the big armchair, but it was her mother who asked, ‘That cast must be unwieldy to drag around, honey, isn’t it?’
‘It sure is, Mom. And tiring.’ Looking from Robin to her father, she then said apologetically, ‘I was rather blunt earlier, Dad, but I thought it was the only way to tell you about Robin and Glynnis.’
Owen hurried over to her, kissed the top of her head. ‘You did the right thing, Evan. It was only a question of time before I discovered the truth. Better coming from you, honey. Your mother and Robin agree. And I’m a grown man, not a kid. I can handle the truth, however unexpected and startling it is.’
‘I know that, Daddy.’
Aware of the time, Gideon said, ‘I’m afraid I do have to leave, Evan.’
‘Oh, but it’s such a long drive!’ she exclaimed. ‘You’re going to be tired.’
‘No, I won’t be, because I’m taking a helicopter from Yeadon Airport. I’ll be in London before you can blink, almost.’ Gideon kissed her on the cheek, telling her, ‘Don’t get up, sweetheart. I’ll call you later.’
‘All right, Gid,’ she answered, smiling up at him. Kissing her fingertips, she then pressed them against his mouth. ‘I love you.’
‘And I love you.’
He took his leave of the others and was gone, and Evan leaned back in the chair, enjoying the comfort of its roominess and the cushions, the warmth of the fire, the lambent light. It was very cosy here in spite of the vastness, the high-flung ceiling, and she was relaxed and suddenly happy sitting here with her parents and Robin…her family.
The three of them had cocktails and chatted amicably as she sipped a glass of orange juice, thinking about the baby and Gideon and the future they had together…Her overwhelming joy and happiness seemed unreal for a while.
Later Margaret came in and announced that supper was served in the breakfast room, and her father helped Evan up out of the chair; it was Robin who led them out of the Stone Hall, chatting to her mother about horses, of all things. She had never known her mother liked horses and horse-racing. She wondered why not. But then there was so much she didn’t know about her mother. And about her father. This afternoon it had come out that he had met Robin before, had been to this house…Why had he been so mysterious? Well, she knew the answer to that…
Evan was so bone-tired after dinner she asked her mother to help her upstairs, excusing herself to her father and Robin. Once she was undressed and in bed, Marietta sat down on the edge of the bed and took hold of her hand.
Clearing her throat, looking serious, her mother said, ‘I’m glad you told your father about Robin, and about the baby, Evan, but most especially about Robin. He needed to know.’
Frowning, Evan looked at her mother alertly, and said slowly, ‘You say that in the strangest way, Mom, almost as if
you
knew already.’
There was the merest hesitation on Marietta’s part before she answered, ‘I did, actually, although I never told your father.’
Evan’s eyes opened wider, and she drew closer to her mother. ‘Who told you? Why do I ask that: it must have been Gran, who else.’
‘That’s right. Your grandmother told me, but not in so many words.’
‘I’m not following you.’
‘I realize that. Give me a moment, I’ll be right back.’ As she spoke Marietta was heading for the door, and she went out without saying another word.
Evan had barely had time to ponder on her mother’s sudden confidences when Marietta came back to the bedroom, closing the door behind her quietly. She was carrying a package, and, returning to the bedside, she sat down and put the package in Evan’s lap.
Looking down at the brown paper parcel, Evan then glanced up at Marietta and asked, ‘What’s this?’
‘Letters from Emma Harte to Glynnis, written over the years. Glynnis kept them all, and one of the last things your grandmother asked me to do was to retrieve them from her apartment. She told me I had to give them to you, not to your father, and
only
to you. She made me promise not to break faith with her, and of course I did.’
‘You read them, though.’ It came out sounding like a statement rather than a question, and Evan’s brows lifted.
‘Most of them, yes. The package wasn’t sealed like this. I wrapped them up. I knew, deep within myself, that she wouldn’t mind…We had a special relationship, and your grandmother loved me, trusted me.’
‘I’ve always known that, Mom. So, you read the letters and discovered that Dad was Robin’s son.’
Marietta sighed. ‘Yes…and other things. But she did insist I give them to you, and so here they are…’
Evan leaned back against the pillows. ‘She wanted me to know everything, didn’t she? But why?’
‘I have always believed that the truth sets you free…and I think that was her reason…she wanted you to know the truth about her, about her life long ago, and your father’s heritage.’ Bending towards Evan, her mother lovingly and tenderly kissed her on the cheek. ‘They’re yours now, honey…to read whenever you feel like it. But remember, they’re not for anyone else’s eyes…
just yours.’
‘I understand, Mom, and thank you for bringing them to me. But are you sure Dad doesn’t know anything about them, that he hasn’t peeked whilst you’ve been here?’
‘Oh no, I’ve kept them in my bank-deposit box,’ Marietta reassured her.
Evan couldn’t help laughing. ‘Mom, you constantly surprise me!’
Once she was alone, Evan couldn’t resist looking inside the parcel tonight, even though she was tired. After untying the string, she found a large cardboard box filled with letters. She pulled one out at random, and began to read; and slowly, for the next two hours, she continued to read the letters from Emma to her grandmother…reading and digesting until she could hardly keep her eyes open. And what she read startled and amazed her, sometimes made the tears well up.
Eventually she had no choice but to put them away, turn out the light and go to sleep. But it was not a restful sleep for her and her dreams were filled with Emma and Glynnis and everything that happened over fifty years ago…
P
ART
T
WO
Emma and Glynnis
Summer 1950
Love is a breach in the walls, a broken gate,
Where that comes in that shall not go again;
Love sells the proud heart’s citadel to Fate.
‘Love’: R
UPERT
B
ROOKE
(1913)
A
rush of warm memories flooded Emma when she saw the postmark on the letter. WALES. Instantly she knew who it was from, because she also recognized the handwriting. She opened it eagerly, filled with anticipation, and read it swiftly.
May 27th, 1950
Dear Mrs Harte,
I’m here in the Rhondda visiting my family in the Valleys. It’s been wonderful seeing everyone, and now I’m planning to come up to London for a visit. I do hope you’ll have time to have lunch with me, or a cup of tea. I will be staying at the Hyde Park Hotel and I expect to be there towards the end of next week.
Love from Glynnis.
Without hesitation, smiling, Emma slipped the letter back into its envelope, reached for a piece of her personal stationery and wrote back.
June 1st, 1950
Dearest Glynnis,
What a lovely surprise to hear from you. I’m thrilled to know you’re on our shores, and it will be so nice to see you after all these years. Actually, I can’t wait. Please phone me as soon as you arrive in London, and we’ll arrange to have lunch.
With much affection, E.H.
After folding the letter in half, Emma put it in an envelope, addressed it and added a postage stamp. She propped the envelope against the lamp, stared at it for a moment, another smile spreading across her face. To see Glynnis again would be such a treat; she’d missed her former secretary…missed her beauty, her glamour, her lovely charm and grace, her pretty, lilting Welsh voice. Emma couldn’t help wondering how Glynnis looked these days. She hadn’t sent any photographs lately.
Pushing back her chair, Emma rose, walked across to the large window which faced the moorland, stood looking out. It was such a glorious day today, sunny and warm, and the sky was as blue as speedwells.
It was the first day of June. And if the weather was anything to go by, they would be in for a lovely summer. She hoped so. It had been quite rainy last year, and she’d felt as though she was living in the middle of a rain forest.
Emma was planning to spend as much time in Yorkshire as she could this year, although she was aware she had to go to the Villa Faviola in the south of France. It was a necessity.
Even though the war had been now over for the last five years, the villa still needed much work. Wartime neglect and its occupation by Nazi officers for quite a long period of time had created a great deal of damage. Some of it she had attended to last year, but there were a number of areas which still required her attention and much work.
Perhaps she could go over there in August or September; Blackie had promised to make the trip with her, and she knew full well that she needed the benefit of his good eyes, his expertise and skill. She often teased him, said he was still a bricklayer at heart, just as he had been when she had first met him over forty-five years ago. He always laughed with her, enjoyed her teasing; like her he remembered, with much nostalgia, their early days together: in those days they were both impoverished and eyeing their prospects in the world, wondering how to improve their lot in life.
