The Orchid House (47 page)

‘Well, I know you are aware of how close the estate is to penury at present.’

‘Yes, I am.’ Olivia looked at him. ‘Have you come up with a way to raise some extra funds?

‘I rather think I have, yes,’ said Harry. ‘Of course it’s a long shot, but in the few weeks we had together, my father taught me to try and maximise the potential of both the estate and the people working on it. And we have one person in particular who seems to have a rare talent.’

‘And who might that be?’

‘Bill Stafford,’ he answered with a flourish. ‘I don’t know whether you have been down to the hothouse lately, but he really is doing the most marvellous things in there, cross-fertilising orchids to produce his own hybrids, some of which are quite beautiful. I reckon, if we gave Bill the right sort of help and encouragement, we could start selling the things!’

‘I must say, that is rather a good idea. Especially as it would mean so little investment. We might need a couple of extra hothouses at most,’ Olivia agreed.

‘And, of course, some unusual specimens. Bill’s passion – and his talent, might I add – seems to be with tropical flowers, like orchids, and I have suggested he concentrates on those. He insists he needs to learn more. So –’ Harry launched into the key part of his plan
,
hoping he had done enough to convince Olivia – ‘I have suggested he take a trip to the Far East as soon as possible. There, he can learn about the plants in their natural habitat, and how he could grow them here at Wharton Park. And, of course, bring home as many specimens as he chooses, to start him off.’

Olivia frowned. ‘Surely he won’t want to travel all the way back there? Especially with such dreadful memories of the Orient? Couldn’t we send him on a horticultural course? Perhaps they run something at the Botanical Gardens in Kew.’

‘As a matter of fact, it was Bill who suggested the idea. He wants to specialise, become an expert, and be the best at what he does. My feeling is that we should give him a chance,’ Harry urged, knowing how much hung on Olivia’s agreement and support. ‘After all, he did save my life.’

‘Well, if that is what you think is best, then yes, send him. Bill seems to spend most of his time in the hothouse anyway these days, leaving his father to tend the kitchen garden. Of course, I will no longer be able to help Jack,’ she added, ‘so, perhaps we should replace Bill on a full-time basis, take on an extra chap to do the more menial gardening tasks.’

‘Jolly good idea,’ agreed Harry. ‘The one stumbling block Bill can see with his plan is Elsie. She will doubtless be reluctant to let her husband go when he has only just come home.’

‘Absolutely,’ said Olivia.

‘That is where you come in, darling. I was hoping you could help persuade her that this is a big chance for Bill to make something of himself, and that she should support him in his endeavour.’

‘I will do my best, but she won’t be happy, Harry,’ Olivia countered.

‘Darling, Elsie worships the ground you walk on. One word from you and she will see sense, I am sure.’ He smiled down at her.

Olivia smiled back, blushing at the rare compliment. ‘I’ll see what I can do. What about Bill’s passage?’

‘I have already contacted Sebastian and he is happy to organise that for us.’

‘Well, darling,’ smiled Olivia, ‘you seem to have it all worked out.’

When Elsie first heard of the plan from Bill, she was furious.

‘What?! Leave me here again, all alone?’

Bill had sworn to Harry he would not mention the real reason he was travelling back to Bangkok.

‘I know, sweetheart, but I think I really do have a way with them orchids, and I want to learn more. His Lordship has told me if I manage to produce and sell some special ones in the future, he’ll see me right. And we could do with a few more shillings in this house now, couldn’t we?’

‘Not if it means you off on your travels again,’ she complained, looking at the clock on the wall. ‘Anyways, I’ve got to be off up to the house. We’ll talk about it later.’

Bill waited nervously for his wife’s return. Elsie arrived home with a resigned smile on her face.

‘It’s all right, you silly man, I’m going to let you go. Her Ladyship had a talk to me today and explained what a good opportunity it is for you.’

‘Oh, Else, thank you, sweetheart.’ Bill hugged her to him and kissed her forehead.

She looked at the genuine excitement in Bill’s eyes. And because she loved him so very much, was able to catch it. ‘As long as it’s not more than a couple of months, otherwise I might have to get myself a fancy man to keep me company!’

Bill held her close to him, thinking how lucky he was to have found his true love, right here on his doorstep. ‘I promise, sweetheart, I’ll be back in the blink of an eye.’

45

Bangkok

1947

Bill sat in the back of the tuk-tuk, one hand hanging on to the wooden armrest, the other trying to steady his small suitcase as the tricycle careered through the Bangkok traffic. As they lurched round a corner into a narrower street, the tuk-tuk swerved and just missed a woman balancing two shallow baskets of rice, suspended like a gigantic set of scales on a wooden pole, slung across her shoulders.

He closed his eyes, praying this terrifying journey would come to an end soon and this Oriental Hotel would appear as if by magic. He had forgotten all too quickly the intense heat of the Far East; he was parched and soaked with sweat.

‘Elsie,’ he moaned, ‘why didn’t I listen to you?’

To think that, right now, he could be tinkering in his hothouse at Wharton Park, looking forward to his tea of liver and bacon, and later, Elsie’s warm, pliable body snuggled up beside him. Instead, he was in a country-wide hothouse, with a plate of the rice he had come to loathe as his most likely meal, and who knew where he would end up resting his head for the night? He took comfort from the fact that his passage home was already booked for two weeks’ time. In comparison to his four long years in Changi, a fortnight was nothing.

‘I swear, Lord Harry, you’ll be the death of me, you honestly will,’ Bill muttered, as the tuk-tuk pulled up alongside a shabby-looking building.

‘
Long-Lam Orienten, krup.
’ The driver pointed to it and Bill breathed a sigh of relief as he saw the small sign above the entrance confirming his destination.

Bill’s holdall was whisked from his hand by a diminutive porter, who led him into the airy hotel lobby and over to reception. A pretty young Thai girl was sitting behind the desk. Bill knew this was where Lidia had worked and he prayed he had struck gold instantly.

‘Hello, miss. Er … I’d like to book a room here for the next two weeks.’

‘Certainly, sir. It will be one hundred and twenty baht a night, not including breakfast,’ the girl answered in perfect English.

‘Right then,’ said Bill, not sure what the sum represented in sterling, but knowing Harry had sent him financially prepared.

‘Can you sign here, sir, and I have porter take you round to your room. It have a nice view overlooking the river,’ she added, smiling at him.

‘Thank you.’ Bill scribbled his name where she indicated, as she reached into a wooden pigeonhole behind her and drew out a large key. ‘You wouldn’t be Lidia, by any chance, would you?’

‘No, sorry, sir, she leave few months ago. I am replacement. My name is Ankhana.’ She handed him the key.

‘Would you know, miss, where Lidia is working now?’

‘Sorry, sir. She go before I arrive. I did not meet her. You can ask Madam Giselle, the hotel manager, but she not here now.’ Ankhana rang a small bell and the tiny porter appeared behind Bill. ‘Have a nice stay, sir.’

‘Thank you.’

Bill followed the porter to his room and, like Harry before him, was delighted by the view of the river from his window.

After a nap and a cat-lick at the basin, Bill set off to find the restaurant. On the shady veranda, he ordered a beer and a delicious hamburger, a delicacy he had discovered – courtesy of the GIs – in Singapore, whilst awaiting his passage home from Changi. Bill decided he could get used to being treated like a gentleman, with everyone fetching and carrying for you. Yet all he wanted was to find Lidia as soon as possible and get on with the terrible task of explaining everything. Then he could concentrate on searching out the orchids he wanted to ship back to England.

‘Two weeks, Lord Harry, that’s all you’re getting,’ he muttered into his beer. ‘Then I’m on that boat home to my Elsie.’

After lunch, Bill headed back to reception to see if the hotel manager was in her office.

‘Start with Giselle,’ Harry had said. ‘She knows everything and she may well have received word from Lidia since she sent her telegram to me.’

Giselle was indeed in her office and came out to greet Bill.

‘May I help you, sir?’

‘Yes, er … ma’am, I’m here on behalf of Lord Harry Crawford.’

‘
Mon dieu!
’ Giselle raised an eyebrow. ‘Our errant British pianist. Well, you had better follow me.’

She raised the wooden counter top to let Bill through, and led him into her office. ‘Please sit down, Mr –?’

‘Stafford, Ma’am, Bill Stafford.’

‘So,’ Giselle looked at him as she sat down behind her desk, ‘I must presume Lord Crawford will not be forsaking his birthright to marry our receptionist and work as a musician in our little bar?’

‘No, ma’am, he won’t.’

‘
Quelle surprise
,’ Giselle muttered. ‘Of course, I was aware he wouldn’t, but he was very convincing when he left. I thought,’ Giselle smiled sadly, ‘that perhaps, for once, love would triumph. But, of course, it cannot.’

‘He was –
is
–in love, ma’am. But he knows now it’s impossible for him to up-sticks, so to speak, and come here. His father died recently, you see, and he must take on the estate and all the responsibilities that come with it.’

‘You do not have to explain, Mr Stafford. I understand completely. And I must presume you are not here to explain his change of plan to me, but to the woman he promised to return to,
oui
?’

‘Yes, ma’am.’ Bill coloured under her watchful gaze, feeling oddly responsible for Harry’s actions.

‘You know she is no longer working here?’

‘Yes, his Lordship told me. Do you know where she is?’

‘As I informed Lord Crawford in my telegram, Lidia simply vanished one morning about three months ago. I have not seen or heard of her since.’

‘Was she sick, ma’am? His Lordship is beside himself with worry.’

‘I do not believe so. She did not look sick to me the last time I saw her. Although there was a sadness about her …’ Giselle shook her head. ‘I think we both understand why that was. She was a most beautiful girl; bright, eager to learn and an asset to this hotel. I was sorry to lose her.’

‘Why do you think she left, ma’am?’

‘Who knows? One has one’s suspicions, but –’ Giselle sighed – ‘I can only assume it was for personal reasons. It was out of character for Lidia. She was always very reliable. And, I thought, happy here.’

‘Would she have gone to her family?’ Bill suggested. ‘His Lordship said he’d visited them on an island once with Miss Lidia, a day’s train ride from Bangkok.’

‘No, I know for certain she is not there. When she disappeared, I too was concerned. I wrote to her uncle on Koh Chang to ask if Lidia was with them. He replied saying they had not seen her, but he would write to Lidia’s mother to ask if all was well. Unfortunately,’ Giselle tilted her head, ‘this uncle seemed unaware that Lidia’s mother moved to Japan a few months ago. Lidia stayed behind to continue working here but, of course, she may have gone to join her mother now.’

‘Japan?’ Bill’s heart sank. ‘Having been a POW in the war, excuse me for saying so, ma’am, but I don’t think I could stomach looking for her there.’

‘Of course. Besides, it is many, many miles away, Mr Stafford.’ Giselle leant across her desk. ‘I do not know for certain what has happened to Lidia, but I will tell you that if my instinct is correct, Lidia will not have fled to her family. No, that is the last place she will have run to. My belief is she is out there,’ Giselle waved her hand towards the window, ‘in the great mass of humanity that is this city.’

‘Oh dear, ma’am.’ Bill hung his head, the task before him seeming insurmountable. ‘Where do I start? Did she have friends here at the hotel she might have confided in?’

‘I am not aware of a particular friendship. Lidia was a very private person,’ Giselle replied. ‘If she had a … personal problem, I doubt she would share it. She would hide away, like a wounded animal.’

Bill studied his calloused hands, feeling out of his depth. ‘Ma’am, I can’t go home without finding her, I’ve sworn to his Lordship I will. Besides …’

‘Besides what, Mr Stafford?’

Bill took a deep breath. ‘If I don’t find her, and reassure his Lordship Miss Lidia’s all right, like, he may decide to come out to look for her himself. He loves her so very much … you don’t know what torment that man’s put himself through because he knows he must do his duty. I swear he’d be here if he could be. And then, between you and me, ma’am, where would we all be back at Wharton Park? Me and my wife, Elsie, along with our parents and a hundred and fifty other souls, plus their wives and kids, depend on the estate for our livelihood. If his Lordship disappeared, there’d be chaos, sure as eggs is eggs. So you see, ma’am,’ Bill struggled to be eloquent, ‘I’m not just here for him, but for me and mine, and the others that need his Lordship at home.’

‘Yes, I understand how torn Lord Crawford must be. Remember, I witnessed the love between them, and it is a tragedy for both that it can never be.
C’est la vie
, Mr Stafford,’ Giselle sighed. ‘I will do what I can to help you.’ She tapped her pen on the desk as she thought. ‘Perhaps you should visit the hospitals, just in case. I have a list somewhere.’ She opened a drawer in her desk and looked through it.

‘I don’t even know her second name.’

‘I can give you that, at least. Here,’ Giselle produced a sheet of paper, ‘a list of every hospital in Bangkok. We had it typed out for relatives of POWs in Burma. This war, so much pain. And see how it still continues?’