Songbird (7 page)

I
fluttered my eyelashes at him and clicked my tongue.  “I have many friends.”

“I
can’t catch you out, can I,” he smiled.

“I
suppose you go to the theatre with your wife?”

“Yes,
I do,” he said without hesitation.

“Have
you been married long?”  He looked down at the tablecloth and grinned, but
didn’t answer.  “May I ask how old you are, then?”  He still didn’t answer, but
kept on smiling.  I decided to go back to our former topics of conversation. 
“Do you like opera?”

“I go
very rarely,” he sighed.

“Why?”

He
sat back in his chair and pursed his lips.  “I’m not very keen on listening to
large ladies bellowing at the top of their voices.”

“Not
all opera singers are large,” I said indignantly.

“In
my experience they are.”

“Well,
perhaps you are choosing the wrong operas.”

“What
would you suggest?”

“Mozart,
Verdi, Rossini.”

“You
know your opera, Miss Pritchard.”

“I’m
a music teacher.”  I smiled enigmatically.

“Mrs
Holland has a wonderful piano in the parlour,” he said, leaning forward in his
chair.  “Why don’t you sing some of your favourite arias.  You might be able to
persuade me otherwise.”

I
wagged my finger at him.  “Oh no, you don’t.”

“Why
won’t you sing for me?”

“I
told you I charge one shilling and sixpence an hour for singing lessons.”

“Cheap
at the price,” he grinned, reaching into his pocket.

There
was a gentle knock and Mrs Holland appeared at the door.  “Sorry to interrupt
you, sir.  But it’s two o’clock.”

Karl
pulled his watch from his waistcoat pocket and looked at it in alarm. 
“Goodness me, where has the time gone.”  He rose to his feet.  “I’m very sorry,
my dear Isabelle, but I must go.”  He came round to my side of the table and
took my hand.  “Farewell until we meet again.”

I
watched him follow Mrs Holland out into the hallway and heard their muffled
voices as they discussed something I couldn’t hear.  I licked my dry lips and
took another gulp of wine.  The next time I met Karl, it wouldn’t be just for
luncheon. 

I
heard the front door close and Mrs Holland came back into the room.  I stood
slowly.

“Well,
what do you think, my dear?”

“He
seems a pleasant gentleman,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady.  “What did
he think of me?”

“He
thought you very charming and very interesting.  Did you enjoy your luncheon?”

“It
was excellent, Mrs Holland.  Thank you for taking such trouble.”

“Not
at all.  It was a pleasure.”

“I
suppose I ought to leave too.”

“There
is just one more thing to do and that is discuss your next visit.”

“My
next visit,” I whispered.

“I
want to show you something if you’d like to come with me.”

I
followed her out of the dining room and was surprised when she started up the
stairs.

“Where
are we going?”

“Just
follow me.”  At the top, she led me down the corridor, past the small bedroom
where she had examined me and to the room at the very end.  She opened the
door.  “In you go, my dear.”

Puzzled,
I did as I was told and found myself in a very pleasant room decorated in cream
and lilac, with rich lilac velvet curtains at the window.  It had a wardrobe,
dresser and dressing table as well as a washstand with a huge basin.  An
armchair was placed by the fire with a small table to one side of it.  A
beautifully patterned rug partially covered the varnished floorboards.  On the
double bed was spread an exquisite satin quilt.  The sheets and pillowcases
were of the same satin, but with a frill round the edges.  I swallowed with
difficulty.  I knew what Mrs Holland was showing me.

“I
understand,” I murmured.

“It
overlooks the garden,” smiled Mrs Holland, walking across to the window and
tenderly running her hands down the curtains.  She indicated the fireplace. 
“The fire will be lit, of course, since the weather is turning rather chilly.” 
I didn’t answer.  “Is it to your liking?”

“It’s
a beautiful room.”  I felt like choking.

“You
will come up here after your luncheon at a time that suits you.  All you must
remember is that the gentleman…”

“He
wants me to call him Karl.”

She
smiled.  “In that case, I shall call him Mr Karl.  Please remember that Mr Karl
must leave by four-thirty.  I suggest that you come up first to get changed.”

“Changed
into what?”

She
patted her chin with her forefinger.  “For modesty’s sake, bring a nightdress
and a dressing gown.  And your toilet things.”  She gave a bright smile and
glanced around the room.  “You will have time to change and then he will follow
you.  But after Mr Karl has left, you must stay in bed.”

“Why
is that?”

“I
want you to rest, perhaps sleep for a while.  Then I shall wake you and bring
you hot water so you can wash.  And then we can have afternoon tea together,
before you leave to go your own way.  Now, are you happy with those
arrangements?”

I
nodded and then my nerves got the better of me and I started giggling.  “You
seem to have everything organised right down to the last detail.”

She
squeezed my hand.  “It must seem that way.  But there’s a lot of money at stake
here, not to mention the hopes and dreams of a lady who deserves to have those
dreams come true.”

As I
left the house, I thought of my dreams and hopes.  If in due course, when
my
dreams came true, I would probably look back on all this as being worth it. 
But at the moment, I had to concentrate on meeting Karl in two days’ time and a
quiver of trepidation surged through me.

CHAPTER SEVEN

T
he following day was Sunday and we went to
church, but that particular Sunday I felt very unsettled.  I cuddled Danny on
my knee until he finally fell asleep, his thumb in his mouth and looking so
sweet in his sailor suit that Nan had made for him.  My mind drifted and I
couldn’t concentrate on the sermon.

Was it wrong what I was doing?  Perhaps I should save my money and
pay my academy fees through my own means.  I could apply for the scholarship
next July and perhaps this time I might be successful, but then I sighed and
realised that by July I should be through this and I could enrol as a student
in my own right.  I glanced around at the other members of the congregation and
shuddered.  How appalled they would be if they knew what I intended doing.  So
would Nan and Gwilym.  God help me if they ever found out.

 Stephanie and her fiancé were sitting just in front of me and she
turned round and gave me a bright smile.  I would have a chat with her when we
were outside.  She was to marry in that same church and Nan had nearly finished
her dress and had already started on mine.  I was to wear a pale blue velvet
gown with a matching hat trimmed with blue ribbons and silk flowers.  I was
looking forward to following my friend up the aisle; I wanted her to be happy
so very much.

Gwilym came for luncheon and I watched in amazement as he stuffed
pieces of beef into his mouth.

“You
look as though you’ve not eaten for ages,” I laughed.

“The
food is awful at the hospital,” he said.  “I only get a decent meal when I come
here.”

I
fluffed his hair and he rebuffed me.  Afterwards, he sat on the floor and built
a bridge with Danny’s bricks and then chuckled as his nephew found great
pleasure in knocking it to the ground and then asking him to rebuild it.

I
slept badly that night and wasn’t very eager for the one lesson I had that
morning.  It was with Charity Reynard and it was one of the lessons I had had
to rearrange.  I spent the hour in a state of numbness and played the piano
without thinking, my mind distracted.  I let Charity croak away and didn’t
bother correcting or instructing her.

“Are
you unwell, Mrs Asquith?”

I
stopped playing.  “No, Charity.  Why do you ask?”

“It’s
just that I finished singing but you went on playing.”

“Did
I?  Oh dear, how silly of me.  Time for me to go, I think.”  I collected up my
music and then went into the hall for my hat and pelisse.  Charity had trailed
after me.  “I’ll see you next week, then,” I said to her, as the maid opened
the door for me.  I picked up the small valise I had left by the hat stand.

“But
don’t you want me to fetch Mama for your money?”

I
stared blankly at her.  “This lesson is for free.”  I left her with her mouth
open.

I
caught the omnibus in a daze and watched the houses and shops move past me as
though I was in a dream.  Only the clip-clop of the horses’ hooves impinged on
my thoughts.  I tried not to think of my husband.  I tried not to think of my
child or Nan.  I tried not to think of anything.

By
the time I reached the house in Gibson Place I might as well have been a woman
walking to the gallows.  My mind was paralysed with shock and as I knocked on
the door, I was shaking with fright.  Would Karl feel the same, I wondered. 
Somehow I didn’t think so.  He was a married man while I had been a widow for
nearly two years.  Not that he knew that.  But it had been a long time since I
had…Daniel’s darling face floated into my mind.  No, no, I cried inside my
head.  Go away husband of mine and rest in peace.  The maid opened the door.

Mrs
Holland was waiting for me in the hallway as usual and took my outdoor clothes
and valise from me.  I quickly patted my hair in place and looked down at my
dress.  I had chosen a burgundy gown that was cut in a simple style and
gathered to one side with a bow.

“I’ll
take your bag upstairs,” whispered Mrs Holland.  “Mr Karl is waiting for you in
the parlour.”

I
opened the door and saw him standing by the window, his brandy glass held far
too tightly, since his knuckles were white with the pressure.  He looked very
smart in a black morning jacket with a patterned silk waistcoat and white
shirt.  Only the older men wore cravats and Karl had adopted the more
fashionable style of wearing a loosely tied bow tie. His trousers were grey
striped and I wondered if he was a businessman from the city.

He
smiled, put down his glass and came towards me, taking my hand as he had done
two days before.  “Miss Pritchard.  You look as charming as ever.”

“Thank
you,” I murmured.

“I’ve
already poured you a sherry.”  He offered me the glass standing on the drinks’
cabinet and I took a taste of the sweet liquid.  “Mrs Holland says luncheon
will be ready in ten minutes.”

I
nodded.  “I enjoyed our last luncheon together.”

He
smiled and his lip trembled.  “Yes.  Yes, indeed.  It was a delightful meal. 
We talked the time away.”

“What
shall we talk about this afternoon?”

“Anything
you wish.”

“It
might be a little more awkward this time,” I said, trying to be practical.

“Let’s
try and make it as comfortable as possible.  No personal questions and no…”

“Mention
of my singing?” I said, finishing the sentence for him.

“Exactly.” 

A
strained silence fell between us and I glanced around the room.  “This house is
so lovely.  I wonder what Mrs Holland’s husband did for a living.”

“I’m
sure she won’t mind me telling you.  He was a Member of Parliament.”

“Was
he really?”

He
nodded and we started to relax with each other.  “He was a Liberal.  Served
under Gladstone.”

“Unfortunately,
I think they’ll be back.”

“Who?”

“The
Liberals and Mr Gladstone will be our prime minister again.” 

He
threw back his head and gave an unbridled laugh.  “You think the Conservatives
are going to be ousted?”

“Yes,
and that’s a shame.  I believe the Marquess of Salisbury is doing an excellent
job and if I had the vote, I certainly wouldn’t vote for Gladstone.  Not after
his dithering caused the slaughter of Gordon and his men at Khartoum.”  I
couldn’t hide my disgust.

“I
agree, Miss Pritchard.  Although I tend to support the Marquess of Salisbury as
he’s a good…” He stopped abruptly.

“Is a
good friend of yours?” I ventured with a wry smile.  He chuckled and I added
softly,  “I thought you were going to call me Isabelle.”

He
stared into the glass of brandy.  “Yes, I must call you Isabelle.  It’s such a
pretty name.”

Mrs
Holland called us for luncheon and I took his arm and we went into the dining
room.  It was obvious that the meal was going to be wasted on me as I had very
little appetite.  I pushed the food round my plate and when I did try and take
a mouthful, it stuck in my throat.  Karl made valiant attempts to keep the
conversation going, but I noticed he filled his wineglass four times.  Often I
would catch him studying me and his eyes appeared darker, as though he was
wrestling with his conscience.  I glanced at the clock feeling uneasy, knowing
I was delaying matters.  Should I give my apologies and leave the house as
quickly as possible?  Surely he would understand if I suddenly had second
thoughts.

The
clock chimed the half-hour and I took in a deep breath, deciding there was no
point in waiting any longer.  Besides, the sooner I went upstairs the sooner
this would all be over with.

“I
think I’ll go upstairs now,” I said, throwing my napkin on the table and trying
to sound casual. 

He
smiled nervously.  “Of course.  As you wish.”  He stood as I rose from my
chair. 

“Will
you give me…fifteen minutes?”

He
nodded.

I
left the room and climbed the stairs.  Following the corridor, I made for the
room at the end and opened the door.  The curtains had been drawn and two gas
lamps burnt brightly in their brackets, one on the wall next to the dressing
table and one near the door.  A fire blazed in the hearth and the bed had been
turned down.  My valise had been placed on a chair.  I opened it and took out
my toilet accessories and then nightwear.  My boots clattered as I pulled them
off and dropped them on the rug.  I unfastened my dress and slipped it off,
hanging it on a hanger in the wardrobe.  Then I slipped out of my petticoats
and other undergarments and lay them over the chair.  I quickly pulled the
nightdress over my head and wrapped my dressing gown round me.  Then I sat down
at the dressing table and stared at myself in the mirror.  A pensive face
stared back.

Why
had Karl chosen me, I wondered.  People had called me pretty, but I had never
thought myself as attractive.  And yet he had considered me suitable to bear
his child.  I wondered what the other candidates had been like.  Perhaps there
hadn’t been any other candidates!  I was so lost in my thoughts that the time
had passed and I jumped at the gentle knock on the door.  I called ‘come in’
hardly recognising the sound of my own voice.  The door opened and Karl stepped
into the room.

He
seemed surprised that I was sitting at the dressing table.  “Am I too soon? 
Would you like a few more minutes?”

I
shook my head and then I noticed the glass of brandy in his hand.  “You’ll fall
over if you drink any more of that,” I said, watching him take a seat in the
large armchair by the fire.

“My
wife says…” He stopped short and his eyes opened wide in horror.  “Perhaps I
have had too much.”  He placed his glass on the small table by his chair.

I
looked at my reflection once more.  “I’m not sure what to do about my hair,” I
said, more to myself than the man sitting in the armchair.  I turned to look at
him.

“You
must do what you think best,” he murmured, watching me.

I
quickly pulled out the pins and once released, my hair tumbled over my
shoulders.  I glanced at Karl and saw him pick up his brandy glass again, his
hands shaking slightly.  He was far more nervous than I had anticipated.  I
took the brush and dragged it through my brunette locks, trying to flatten the
unruly curls. 

I
finished and lay the brush gently on the table.  “Would you mind if I got into
bed?” I asked, trying to keep my tone as calm as possible.  Perhaps if I
relaxed, it would help him to feel more comfortable.

He
shook his head and stood, gulping back the last of his drink and then he turned
his back as I slipped out of my dressing gown.  I climbed into bed and pulled
the quilt up to my chest, propping myself up on the pillows.  I quickly looked
down at my nightgown. It was short sleeved and made from fine linen, the bodice
decorated with a small amount of Chantilly lace.  It had been a birthday
present from Nan and it was the prettiest one I had.

Karl
stood in the middle of the room for a few seconds and then stepped over to the
lamp by the dressing table and turned it off.  He did the same with the one by
the door.  There was only the firelight now.  I watched the flames, trying to
avert my eyes from the man steadily undressing.  He took off his jacket and
hung it over the back of the chair and then he unbuttoned his waistcoat and
slipped it off, laying it also over the chair.

“May
I sit on the bed,” he asked politely.  I felt surprised that he had asked and
nodded.  He sat down and unfastened his shoes, placing them tidily to one side
and then he undid his tie.  I wondered if he usually had a valet to help him
dress, but then I couldn’t remember if a businessman had a valet or not. 
“We’re back to being awkward again, aren’t we?” he said huskily.

I
smiled.  “Well, we’re bound to feel awkward.  I don’t think this kind of
arrangement is made often.”

He
started unbuttoning his shirt, keeping his back to me.  “Do you think this is
wrong?”

“Well,
you’re doing it for your wife.”

“And
you?  What are you doing it for?” 

He
pulled off his shirt and I noticed that his shoulders were broad and muscular. 
Perhaps he wasn’t a businessman.  What could his profession be? 

“That’s
a secret,” I said.

His
trousers and underwear came off in one swift movement and then he was naked. 
He pulled back the covers and slipped in beside me.  He lay on his back
studying the ceiling.

“You
won’t tell me what you want the money for and you won’t sing for me.”

I
couldn’t help grinning.  “You have your secrets and I have mine.”

“Is
Isabelle Pritchard your real name?”

I
rolled over towards him.  It was an intimate thing to do but I had acted instinctively. 
“Is Karl your real name!”

My
easy manner seemed to give him courage and he turned to face me.  “I think
there’s more to you than meets the eye,” he said.

I
smiled.  “I was thinking the same thing about you.”