Dangerous Inheritance (34 page)

‘You're telling me,' said Truss bitterly. ‘Anyway, that's the way things are.' He then went on to tell his father how matters stood between himself and Fleur, and of the way in which they had tried to induce Lalita to hold his tongue. To end up with, he said:

‘So you see I've simply got to stay on here. It's not as though he were blackmailing us with letters, or anything we could buy from him, and he'd make no promise that he would accept these monthly bribes from Fleur to keep quiet. His pay as a Colonel must be pretty good, so he may prefer to get his own back on Douglas and spill the beans next week. I can't possibly leave her here on her own with this thing hanging over her head and the possibility that life will be made hell for her till I can get back. I must be here to stand by her if the balloon does go up and get her out of Ceylon just as soon as I can.'

‘You're right, son,' Rex agreed. ‘That's what you must do. This is a lousy business, and we can only hope Lalita takes the bribe so that you'll get a breathing space to save poor Rajapakse's face. I'll put Uncle Simon wise later to the real reason why you're not coming with us. And at least I can say one thing. I'm glad that you and Fleur have not just been having a roll in the hay, but have really settled for one another. She's a lovely girl, and has far more individuality than most. I will be real glad to have her for a daughter-in-law.'

‘Thanks a lot, Dad,' Truss smiled. ‘You've always been a tower of strength to me. Fleur and I are both old enough now to know our own minds, and once we're through this trouble I'm sure we'll make each other happy.'

When they returned to the lounge Rex said to Simon, ‘Truss has been talking to me about last night. He feels that since Lalita showed such vindictiveness to all of us, and he hasn't got his jewels, he is more than ever likely to make trouble for Greyeyes; and that our old friend ought to have someone with him better able to get him immediate Diplomatic protection, if need be, than that Dutch policeman or old Max. I think Truss is right; so I've agreed that he shall stay behind.'

Simon's eyes flickered for a moment, then he said, ‘Wouldn't be going myself if I hadn't thought Douglas capable of calling in the heavy guns. Still, the more friends Greyeyes has on the spot the better. And Truss will be company for him.'

Fleur made no comment; but she guessed what really lay behind Rex's announcement, and shot a grateful glance at Truss.

It was not until the late afternoon that Lalita's Sergeant arrived in a small police bus to escort them to the airport. There, Lalita had the whole party stripped in separate rooms and searched once again. Then, having no legal grounds for detaining them further, he had to give a surly consent to the travellers' going out to the aircraft. The good-byes were said and a quarter of an hour later Rex and Simon were airborne on their flight across the Indian Ocean.

Truss and Fleur went to the garage to which her car had been towed in, and learned to their satisfaction that the repairs to it would be completed by the following morning. Then, as there was little of interest to see in the town, they made their way to the end of the peninsula on the neck of which it is situated, and climbed the height whereon, before its destruction by the Portuguese, had stood the great Tamil ‘Temple of a Thousand Columns'.

From there they had a splendid view of the two bays that constitute one of the finest harbours in the world. Therein, over a period of a hundred and fifty years, mighty British
fleets had ridden at anchor while maintaining the freedom of the Eastern seas. Now it was nearly empty, its tall cranes were rusting and its great naval arsenal of barracks, stores and workshops falling into decay.

That night they dined quietly in the hotel. Reluctantly they decided that it would be wiser for them not to risk sleeping together, as there was always the possibility that, in a fit of rage and spite, Lalita might have telephoned Douglas that morning; and if he arrived by car to find them actually together in bed that would turn an already bad enough situation into an intolerable one.

Their run next day was uneventful, and they reached Colombo a little before dinner-time. Truss was not expected back at the American Embassy and intended to stay at the Galle Face; but, instead of asking Fleur to drop him off there, he accompanied her to her home in case Lalita had already given them away. With considerable trepidation, they went into the house. Douglas was there and, greatly to their relief, gave them a cheerful welcome. Then they exchanged news.

On the Saturday, Douglas said, soon after Lalita had learned that his contract was valueless, he had gone to the Galle Face with a party of his men and made a thorough search of the Duke's apartments, but, of course, quite uselessly; and de Richleau had suffered no more than a certain amount of inconvenience. Douglas then asked Truss to stay to dinner but, as he was anxious to see the Duke, he declined and, after he had had a drink, a taxi was telephoned for to take him to the hotel.

There, he secured the room Simon had occupied, had a quick bath, and was just in time to surprise de Richleau by joining him for dinner. Over the meal he gave an account of the fascinating trip from which he had just got back and of Lalita's abortive search for the jewels at Trincomalee; but it was not until they had adjourned to the sitting room upstairs that he divulged the real reason for his unexpected return, together with all that had led up to it.

As Truss described how Lalita had caught him in bed with
Fleur, de Richleau began to chuckle, then laugh, until holding out his glass, he burbled, ‘For God's sake, boy, give me some more brandy, or I'll choke.'

Truss swiftly complied, but said a little stiffly, ‘There wasn't anything at all funny about it, Grandad.'

The Duke wiped the tears from his eyes. ‘There never is at the time. But to hear about it is better than a French farce; and later you'll laugh about it yourself. One comes to realise how ridiculous one must have looked.'

‘D'you mean …?'

‘Oh yes. My hair wasn't always white, you know.'

Truss smiled. ‘Then, anyhow, you can sympathise.'

‘I do; with your predicament. I only hope that Lalita gave you time to assure yourself that the beautiful Fleur is as admirable a bed companion as you found her when staying with me on Corfu.'

‘Eh!' Truss exclaimed, his eyes going round and his mouth dropping open.

‘My dear boy, you must not imagine that because I am now a very old man that I have altogether lost my powers of observation, and I'm happy to say that my hearing is still pretty good.'

‘Hell's bells! I hadn't an idea! Did Fleur's father and mother know about us?'

‘I don't think so; although your Uncle Richard, knowing Miss Fleur better than her mother does, may have had his suspicions. However, that is beside the point. If I had not assumed what you now confirm to have happened in Corfu I should be inclined to censure you severely. Douglas Rajapakse is a fine man and, as far as we know, a devoted husband. For you to have come between him and his wife would have been inexcusable, even if Fleur has become dissatisfied with the marriage that she insisted on making against the advice of her parents. But the fact that you have loved her since you were a boy, that for a short time two years ago she became your mistress, and that she had decided to leave Douglas in order to marry you, does justify your conduct. Her wish to save her husband's face does her credit; but it now looks as if Lalita's
malice may bring that to naught. This offer to him of money seems the only likely way of stalling him off, and we must do our utmost to protect Douglas; so if you need further funds you have only to let me know.'

‘Thanks, Grandad,' Truss said feelingly. ‘I'm mighty grateful to you, but I'm O.K. for money at the moment.'

With the aid of his malacca cane de Richleau got to his feet. Patting Truss on the shoulder, he said, ‘I must get to bed now. We will hope that things will turn out all right and that Douglas may be spared. So far my inheritance in Ceylon has brought me nothing but trouble. Neither Olenevka nor the jewels have ever really meant anything to me. I've dug my toes in about holding on to them only because I'm a pigheaded old man who won't allow a rogue to get the better of him. But age does not prevent one from making mistakes, and in this matter I fear I have been foolish.'

Throughout Wednesday, Thursday and Friday Truss and Fleur spent their time much as they had before they had set out on their trip to the ancient capital. But while they lazed on the beach they could no longer derive their former enjoyment from the hours they spent together. Always the fear lay on them that when Fleur returned home she might have to face a bitterly reproachful Douglas, utterly shattered by the knowledge that it was now being put about all over Colombo by Lalita that he had actually come upon her naked while playing the wanton in bed with her American lover.

So depressed were they by thinking hour after hour of this sombre possibility that at times they were tempted to go to Douglas and make a clean breast of everything. But as the seemingly interminable days dragged past they gradually became more confident that Lalita would, at least, hold his hand until the end of the week.

On Friday after lunch Fleur drew the thousand rupees from her bank; then on Saturday morning, silently praying that Mirabelle would not ring up before Douglas had gone to his office, she hovered near the telephone. After two false alarms, which proved to be friends calling her, at half past ten Mirabelle rang up. She said:

‘You will come, please, to the Khan Clock Tower. I will meet you there at three o'clock this afternoon.'

Fleur agreed and well before time she was at the appointed place. A few minutes later Mirabelle appeared, walking with extraordinary grace and looking as though she were a Princess who had stepped out of a Persian miniature. With a smile, she asked:

‘You have the money?'

On receiving a nod from Fleur she went on, ‘I chose this place, Mrs. Rajapakse, because at this end of the city no-one is likely to recognise you, and tell afterwards that we are seen together. Please walk with me as far as the canal. There is a shop there that make good ices. We enjoy one while we sit quite alone and have a little talk.'

The canal lay only a hundred and fifty yards away. Outside the shop they took a table in the shade and when they had given their order, Mirabelle said:

‘For the time being Lalita decide not to talk while you pay up; so give me the money.'

Fleur had the notes in an envelope in her bag. With considerable relief she took it out. As she slid it across the table Mirabelle thanked her, then went on:

‘Now you permit I tell you a little about myself. I am an orphan and married, as they say, from the cradle, very young, as is often the case here in Ceylon. When I am twenty-one my husband run away. Not because he like me no more but because he lose all his money through bad speculation and fear to be sent to prison. Where he goes I have no idea. Perhaps he is alive, perhaps not. I still do not know. What shall I do? I have no money, no close relative who will keep me, and I cannot marry again. For job in office I have no training. To go as a servant or shop girl thank you very much not at all. I could become good whore but such a life is harder than many suppose. Also it is very uncertain.

‘Ukwatte d'Azavedo I already know. He says, “Become my mistress.” Well, why not? Old man's darling is easy life. I agree and go to live with him as his housekeeper. Then Lalita. A woman like myself needs more of sex than an old man can give
her. I take him too as lover and we have good times together. Eight years are gone since my husband disappear so now I can marry again. We plan that when old Ukwatte dies and Lalita inherits fortune we get married. Now, perhaps yes, perhaps no. I can no longer regard as certain.

‘Lalita no longer has fortune. He make many enemies, and if present Government be one day thrown out he is finish. On other hand if it goes on for a long time he perhaps become rich through it. But either way perhaps he decide one day to finish with me. It now happens that I have good chance to make fortune for myself. But to do so I must betray him. I ask now your advice. Shall I let things go on and risk future with Lalita, or make break with him and give help to his enemies?'

Having been made this unexpected confidence, Fleur hardly knew what to reply. She had no cause whatever to speak in Lalita's favour and possibly save him from disaster, but she felt that she ought to give an honest answer; so after a moment's thought she said:

‘It depends on how much you love him. If you do and you think that even if he doesn't marry you he means to stick to you, I should have thought you would want to remain his mistress.'

Mirabelle shrugged her slim shoulders. ‘As Colonel of the Security Service he has many opportunities to make woman give themselves to him. Of that he makes no secret to me. And for myself I would just as soon live with another man. This is not question of love but how I act best for my future, and I now come to point. It is you who can secure it for me. If you will agree….'

‘I!' exclaimed Fleur. ‘But there is nothing I can do.' Then fearful that she was about to be subjected to another blackmail, she added hurriedly, ‘I've already agreed to pay Lalita a thousand rupees a month. I couldn't possibly find more to pay you a sort of pension too.'

‘Pension,' Mirabelle repeated with a low laugh. ‘That is nice word but not very descriptive in this case. Now I shall tell you something. I was educated in a convent school, and there I learn French. Enough, anyhow, to understand what you say to your American boy friend when you are in bed with him. You
say you mean to leave Rajapakse, go to America and soon afterwards you stop payments to Lalita. This you cannot deny.'

Fleur went a little pale. ‘Yes,' she admitted in a whisper. ‘I … I did say that.'

‘Very well. I have not yet tell Lalita. But if I am to remain with him I must. Directly he learn you mean to double-cross he will blow your husband up. I give you chance to save him but you must pay my price.'