Unexpected Blessings (58 page)
Ignoring his last comment, she said, ‘I know all this, we keep repeating it. Please let’s not quarrel about what happened when we were in our early twenties. That’s long gone, and–’
‘I can’t stand not being with you. I can’t face that, Glynnis. I simply cannot.’ An ineffable sorrow struck his handsome face, and his blue eyes turned bleak.
‘Neither can I. But I will not permit you to ruin your career for me. You’re a young, very go-ahead MP…Your constituents love you, you’re highly popular and successful. There’s serious talk that you could be Prime Minister one day. You have an important life ahead, a big life to live. I won’t let you change your life, Robin. I will not have that on my conscience.’
‘Glynnis, honestly–’
She interrupted him. ‘I have an idea, a plan…’
‘Tell me.’
She did.
He listened, let her say everything that was on her mind, and when she had finally finished, he shook his head. ‘I don’t know…I don’t know if it could work…Anyway, that’s not what I want, darling, not what I want at all.’
‘Neither do I. It’s a compromise. But I haven’t been able to think of anything better. Not yet.’
He did not answer her.
She stood up, offered him her hand. ‘Come upstairs, Robin, let’s go and make love. Let’s seal our bargain with a kiss.’
It seemed to Glynnis that tonight their lovemaking was not only more passionate than usual, but that it had a certain frenzy about it. And she knew that this was because she was leaving at the end of the week. Since they were both extremely conscious of her imminent departure, they were desperate to be together, and they clutched at each other more fervently than ever, devoured each other with a sexual need that was voracious.
She clung to him tightly, her hands moving down his back, up into his thick dark hair and the nape of his neck as she murmured his name, her voice urgent with her desire and her need for him. And she moved with him rhythmically, her legs high around him, her head thrown back in pleasure, and when he convulsed, coming to a climax, so did she.
As if never to let him go she held him in her arms until the light in the room dimmed and all went black.
Much later, as they lay together, their urgent need for each other slaked for the present, Glynnis flung one arm over his body and lay her head on his chest. His hand moved into her hair, but they said nothing, just lay there together, lost in their own myriad thoughts.
She contemplated their conversation of a short while before, and she was aware she had averted disaster, stopped him in his tracks, had at least delayed the idea of him leaving his wife, getting a divorce.
Sudden tears slid down her cheeks, fell onto his chest, and he moved at once, sat up, filled with alarm.
‘Darling, what is it? What’s wrong?’ Worry ringed his face.
‘Nothing,’ she said, smiling at him through her tears.
‘Why are you crying then?’
‘I’m missing you already,’ she whispered.
‘But it’s just
au revoir.’
She was silent.
‘You
are
coming back to me, aren’t you?’ Robin asked in a low, concerned voice. ‘Promise me, Glynnis.’
‘I promise,’ she answered, wondering if she would have to break it.
P
ART
T
HREE
Angels Singing
Winter 2001
The world in solemn stillness lay
To hear the angels sing.
‘That Glorious Song of Old’:
E
DMUND
H
AMILTON
S
EARS
(1850)
I
t was Saturday, December the first, and in a short while Linnet O’Neill would go to the church in the village of Pennistone Royal, on the arm of her father Shane. And it was there she would marry her childhood sweetheart, Julian Kallinski. And with their nuptials the three clans of the Hartes, the O’Neills and the Kallinskis would finally be fully united in marriage.
Now, Linnet stood in the middle of her bedroom at Pennistone Royal, wearing her wedding gown. She thought it was the most wonderful creation, made of cream-coloured heavy Duchesse satin, cream-coloured Guipure lace, and thousands and thousands of tiny pearls and crystal beads.
Evan had designed the gown, and she stood staring at Linnet. Her head was on one side, and she was studying the gown intently, her eyes taking in every detail, looking for last-minute flaws, tiny things she might have missed earlier in the week, when the dress had finally arrived from the seamstresses. But she could find nothing amiss, and after a few more seconds of intensive scrutiny she finally announced: ‘There’s not a thing wrong! It’s just perfection on you, Linnet, even though I do say so myself. You look like a dream in it.’
Linnet’s sister, Emsie, who was also in the bedroom, exclaimed, ‘Evan’s right, Linny. I’ve never seen you look like this. Not ever. Julian’s going to fall in love with you all over again.’
‘He’d better,’ Linnet said with a chuckle. ‘Thank you both for your compliments. And Evan, thanks for designing my gown. And the bridesmaids’ dresses, and for everything else you’ve created for the wedding. I don’t know what we’d have done without you.’
‘You’re welcome, it’s been my pleasure,’ Evan replied. Moving across the floor, she took hold of Linnet’s hand, and carefully led her over to the cheval mirror in the corner near the window. ‘There! Just look at yourself.’
Linnet stepped in front of the mirror and caught her breath. She’d never seen herself looking so…
fantastic.
It was the gown, of course. Evan had adapted the Tudor style to suit her, and how well it worked. Although Linnet was of medium height, the gown made her look taller, and very elegant. Yet there was a youthfulness to it, because of the cut, the tight bodice, the sheer romance of it.
The dress had a square medieval neckline that cleverly came right to the middle of her shoulders, so that they were shown to advantage. The sleeves started narrow but became very wide bells, almost like kimono sleeves, while the skirt was also bell-shaped and fell into a longish train at the back. The bodice above was extremely tight, moulded to Linnet’s slender figure, so that it gave her a very narrow waist.
The front of the skirt was cut away to reveal a panel made of the cream Guipure lace, and the same lace lined the inside of the bell-shaped sleeves. The final and most extraordinary touch was the embroidery. The front panel was covered in pearls and crystal beads, as was the Guipure lace lining the sleeves. Bands of tiny crystals and pearls outlined the square neckline, and the outer edges of the sleeves, and the billowing skirt made of the cream Duchesse satin had scatterings of tiny crystal beads all over it.
A single short strand of South Sea pearls encircled her long neck, and there were pearl clusters on her ears. The set was a gift from her parents. The only other piece of jewellery Linnet wore was her engagement ring.
Staring at herself, she shook her head. ‘Evan, it’s just the most gorgeous dress…’ Her voice trailed off; words failed her.
‘On you, yes, Linnet, because it suits you so well. I told you I was going to turn you into a young Tudor Queen for your wedding, and I have.’
Emsie, twirling around, asked, ‘How do
I
look then?’
Linnet smiled indulgently, and was glad she was actually able to say, in all sincerity, ‘Beautiful, Emsie,
beautiful.’
Usually Emsie looked somewhat bedraggled and untidy, was careless about her clothes. But this afternoon she did look lovely in the silvery grey-blue watered-taffeta gown all of the attendants were going to wear.
Touching her red-gold hair, Linnet now asked Evan, ‘Are you sure my hair’s all right, going back like this? Will the headdress sit well?’
‘It will, trust me,’ Evan replied. ‘But don’t put it on just yet, I’ll do that.
And don’t sit down.’
Linnet laughed. ‘Gosh no, I mustn’t get all rumpled.’ Glancing across at the eighteen-year-old Emsie, she sternly cautioned, ‘You’d better not sit down either, my girl.’
There was a sudden loud knock on the door. ‘Who is it?’ Linnet called.
‘Linnet dear, it’s Uncle Robin.’
‘Oh, don’t come in, I don’t want you to see me!’
‘I’m looking for Evan. I got a message from her.’
‘I’m here, Robin. I’m coming.’ Hurrying towards the door, Evan said to Linnet, as an afterthought, ‘You didn’t forget, did you? Something
old,
something
new,
something
borrowed,
something
blue.’
Linnet nodded. ‘I’ve got all that…Emsie remembered, actually.’
‘Good for you,’ Evan remarked, glancing at the younger girl and went gliding out into the corridor, looking exquisite in her silvery-grey taffeta.
Robin Ainsley was standing waiting near her bedroom door, and she hurried along the corridor, smiling affectionately.
‘Hello, Robin, thanks for coming. How did you know I was now ensconced in the Blue Room?’
Bending towards her, he gave her a kiss on the cheek. ‘Hello, darling girl,’ he said, added, ‘Margaret told me you were moved earlier this week, in order to accommodate your parents. But the Blue Room’s much nicer than the Yellow Suite, don’t you think?’ His eyes roamed over her, and he said in a loving voice, ‘Oh Evan, how truly lovely you are today. The dress is superb. I do think you’ve done yourself proud with the design.’
‘Thank you.’ She gave him a knowing glance and asked, ‘I don’t look too pregnant, do I?’
‘Not really.’ His mouth suddenly began to twitch with silent laughter, and he added, ‘Only to those of us who know you well and know your condition.’
‘Oh God, how awful!’
‘Don’t say that, it’s my great-grandchild you’re carrying. However, quite seriously, my dear, your version of the Tudor style helps greatly. Actually, it’s rather deceptive; yes, very deceptive indeed.’
‘I hoped it would help,’ she answered, and couldn’t help laughing herself when she remarked, ‘What a bride I’m going to make in January. I’ll be very big then. Anyway, don’t let’s stand out here in the corridor. Come on in.’
Moving forward, Evan opened the door of the Blue Room and Robin followed her into the sitting room. Immediately, she hurried over to a chest of drawers, took something out of the top drawer and holding it tightly in her palm came back to Robin, who waited in the middle of the floor.
Evan stood only a few feet away, staring up at him.
‘That’s a rather appraising look you’re giving me.’ He regarded her thoughtfully, suddenly frowning. ‘Is there something on your mind, Evan?’
‘My look was one of admiration, not appraisal. I was thinking how handsome you look in your morning suit, Robin.’ She nodded to herself. ‘You know something else: you’ve looked so much better lately, especially since Dad’s arrival in Yorkshire in September. Don’t
you
think you look better?’
‘Yes I do. I feel very fit these days.’
‘Certainly you seem less frail,’ she added quietly.
‘Now Evan, earlier you left a message that you needed to speak to me about something before the wedding. About something very important,’ he said urgently, and his eyes went to the clock on the mantelpiece as he explained, ‘I’ll have to be going quite soon, you know. Your parents and I must arrive at the church well before the bridal party, because of the special seating for the family, and all that security Jack Figg’s put in place.’
Evan nodded. ‘This won’t take too long, but won’t you sit down, Robin?
I
can’t, because of my dress. I don’t want to crush it. But there’s no reason for you to stand.’
‘I’m perfectly all right, my dear,’ he reassured her.
Leaning against the desk in front of the window, Evan said slowly, ‘Listen, I’ve got something interesting to tell you.’
‘About what? Or should I say whom?’
‘I’ve unravelled the mystery of Glynnis. Or perhaps I should say I’ve solved the puzzle…I now know
exactly
why Glynnis sent me to London.’
‘You do?’ Robin Ainsley sounded taken aback and a silver brow shot up quizzically. His clear blue eyes focused on her keenly as he continued, ‘Why don’t you tell me…I would like to hear what’s on your mind, Evan dear.’
‘Okay, here goes,’ she responded. ‘Last year, when Gran told me to go to London to find Emma Harte, telling me that Emma was the key to my future, she had only one motive really.’
‘And what was that?’ he asked.
‘I’ll get to her motive in a second. Let’s first examine Glynnis’s method. When she told me to go to London to look for Emma she was absolutely certain I would do so. You might wonder why, so let me explain. I had always done everything she told me from my childhood; she knew she was the biggest influence on my life. Then again, she was well aware I was bored with my job in New York, that I wanted a change. A chance
to fly,
she called it. In other words, she didn’t doubt that I would go, especially since she had left me money. However, when she sent me here Glynnis
knew
Emma Harte was dead.’ Evan paused, stared hard at Robin, waited for a reaction.
His face revealed nothing; his expression was inscrutable, just like his mother’s had frequently been. There was a lot of Emma in Robin.