A Pearl for Love (2 page)

‘
I
’
ve had a letter,
’
she said hurriedly.
‘
Here,
Mrs.
Neill, you
’
d better read it. Shall I make more coffee while you do?
’

‘
Please, dear.
’

Again there was silence in the kitchen while Catherine boiled up more coffee and
Mrs.
Neill put on her reading spectacles with the blue and silver frames, and slowly read every word.

‘
Well?
’
asked Catherine, when she had finished.

‘
Only you can decide,
’
the older woman told her.
‘
But you can say what you think,
’
urged Catherine. .

Mrs.
Neill faced her squarely.

‘
Perhaps you are more honest than I am. I wanted you here because you were Philip
’
s choice
—
all right, I admit it. But maybe you are the one to see most clearly that it wouldn
’
t be good for either of us if we kept you here too long.
’

She was silent for a while, and Catherine was breathing a soft sigh of relief.

‘
Yet
...’
Mrs.
Neill again looked at the letter.
‘
Don
’
t let yourself be used, my dear. If the Sheridans give you a home, then you must be grateful to them, but don
’
t go on paying all the time. Remember that you have a lot to give, too.
’

Catherine poured the coffee and sat down at the kitchen table again.

‘
Then you think I shouldn
’
t go?
’

‘
No, but I think you should see
Mr.
Sheridan, and talk to him a little. Sometimes one can learn a lot just by talking to people. Perhaps you could just go on a visit first of all, and come back here if
...
if you don
’
t like the set-up.
’

Catherine felt closer to Philip
’
s mother than she had ever done.

‘
I used to wonder if we
’
d really get on, you and I, after I married Philip. Now I know we would.
’
Mrs.
Neill nodded. She
’
d had to get used to Kate
’
s plain speaking, but she had always known how she stood with the girl.

Would the same frank honesty be appreciated by the
Sheridans? she wondered, with the hint of a smile. Apparently they had not seen Catherine since she was a schoolgirl, and
Mrs.
Neill again wondered if they realised that she had grown into a beauty. She knew that Philip had been entranced by Catherine
’
s beauty, and one of her greatest attractions lay in the fact that she seemed unaware of how lovely she actually was. Perhaps it would raise further problems the Sheridans had obviously not considered.

‘
I
’
ll write and say that we
’
ll be pleased to see Uncle James
...’
she broke off, smiling a little.
‘
At least, I used to call him Uncle James.
’

‘
Yes, do that. Ask him to have tea with us.
’

‘
All right, and
...
thank you.
’

‘
Let
’
s wash up,
’
said
Mrs.
Neill briskly.
‘
I don
’
t know where the morning has gone.
’

CHAPTER II

Catherine remembered James Sheridan as a tall, rather florid man, with neatly cut dark hair and a small moustache. Now he seemed shorter than she had imagined, his hair now almost white and the small moustache also white. His pale blue eyes looked tired, but his smile was warmly welcoming, when
Mrs.
Neill brought him into the sitting-room where Catherine was resting.

Already she knew that unless she felt, on meeting him again, that living with the Sheridans would be absolutely impossible, she would be going back with him to Newcastle. So after a quick, searching glance, Catherine ran forward to welcome him with a warm hug.

‘
It
’
s good to see you again, my dear,
’
he told her, rather huskily.
‘
You
’
re very like Alison.
’

Catherine nodded, but made no comment. The loss of her mother had gone very deep, and she still could not talk about it.

Mrs.
Neill had gone to fetch the tea tray from the kitchen, leaving them to talk, but Catherine drew her into the conversation immediately on her return. Now that she was leaving, she was also appreciating so much more their kindness to her, and over the past few days she had come to love the woman who might have been her mother-in-law. Sometimes she now had moments of panic when she felt she didn
’
t want to leave the shelter of the Neills
’
home, but common sense would tell her that this was just reaction to the tragedy of the past two months, and if she was ever to live a full rich life again, she must go and meet its challenge.

‘
It
’
s very kind of you and Aunt Lucille to have me,
’
she said with sincerity, and James Sheridan cleared his throat and waved his hand.

‘
Not at all. You
’
ll be most welcome at Balgower, Kate, believe me. Most welcome.
’

Mrs.
Neill glanced at Catherine as she leaned forward and offered
Mr.
Sheridan the cup of delicate China tea which he
’
d asked for.

‘
Mrs.
Sheridan did say in her letter that Catherine could either have a job in your business, or help with running your home,
’
she said, then smiled a little.
‘
Please don
’
t think I
’
m interfering, but
...
well, Catherine might have been my daughter.
’

‘
Of course. Feel free to set your mind at rest about anything.
‘
.

‘
I just feel that it might be better for her to be sure of some sort of future career, rather than home
-
making.
’

Mrs.
Sheridan nodded and turned to the girl.

‘
Has this been worrying you, my dear? Because it can be resolved quite easily. As you know, Sheridan and Rodgers is a big shop, as jewellers go, with good sales for clocks and watches, as well as jewellery, gold, silverware and precious ornaments.
And I thought you might be interested since your father was such a keen pearl fisherman.
’

‘
I am
,’
Catherine assured him.
‘
I got to know the marvellous shop in Perth which specialises in freshwater pearls so well when Daddy was alive. The pearls were made into beautiful brooches and other pieces of jewellery, and I
’
ve even been allowed to look at the famous Abe
rn
ethy pearl. I
...
I
’
ve never forgotten it. It was so lovely, and so perfect. One couldn
’
t describe it, really.
’

‘
I know. I
’
ve seen it, too,
’
said James Sheridan, rather ruefully.
‘
But I
’
m afraid we only have cultured pearls, and good quality simulated to entice you to Sheridan and Rodgers. Though I think you will find some of the new jewellery designs pleasing. My son, John
...
you remember John? ... is in charge of jewellery and diamonds, along with myself. Elizabeth looks after the better quality gem stones, necklaces and earrings and small gold charms. My late partner
’
s son, Michael Rodgers, prefers to be with clocks and watches, though everyone can take over from everyone else should the occasion arise.

‘
Apart from that, we only have Miss Pryce, who has been with us for over thirty years, and who works with Elizabeth, or
...’
James smiled a little,
‘...
perhaps I ought to put that the other way round
!
At one time we also had two more young men, but greater overheads and higher salaries have forced us to cut down a little, so that when Tom
Dearham went off to be manager in a smaller firm, I just couldn
’
t replace him. So
...’
he smiled again
...
‘
you
’
ll be most welcome, Kate. I can
’
t imagine that David Lyall
’
s daughter will require much training in jewellery, either. He was always very keen on all forms of gemmology, and became a Fellow of the Gemmological Association for the love of it.
’

‘
Yes, he did,
’
Catherine nodded.
‘
I remember watching Daddy when he tested a stone for refractive index, and how he used to know the specific gravity of every stone and its comparative hardness to the diamond. I could practically recite a few of those facts myself
!
’

‘
Then you must keep up the good work,
’
James assured her.
‘
John and Michael took their F.G.A. examinations a few years ago, and Elizabeth passed hers last year. It shouldn
’
t take you long to study everything you need, and we
’
ll help you all we can.
’
He turned to
Mrs.
Neill.

‘
Does that make you feel any happier?
’

Mrs.
Neill hesitated, feeling that she could hardly discuss financial arrangements. That would be going much too far in her desire to see Catherine well settled and protected. She had no reason to suppose that the girl might be exploited. In fact, they should all be grateful for this opportunity which had arisen.
Mrs.
Sheridan was going to attend to the lease of her fiat, and the storage of furniture she wished to keep, while selling off any extra. Catherine would have a small nest egg, enough to make her feel secure
should an emergency arise.

‘
I can see that Catherine will be in good hands,
Mr.
Sheridan,
‘
Mrs.
Neill smiled.
‘
I
’
m very relieved.
‘

‘
She has also a fairly long drive ahead of her,
’
he said, glancing at his watch.
‘
Are you well enough to travel, my dear?
’

‘
The doctor says it will be quite all right by car,
’
Catherine assured him.
‘
I
’
m only taking a small amount of luggage, though I hope I can send for the rest of my things when I
’
m settled.
’

‘
I shall keep them for as long as you like,
’
Mrs.
Neill assured her, and Catherine felt the sudden rush of tears pricking her throat.

‘
I can collect them when I come to see about your flat,
’
James Sheridan suggested.
‘
You
’
ve sorted our personal things, Catherine
?’

‘
Yes.
’
She turned to
Mrs.
Neill.
‘
I
’
ll come back and see you soon.
’

‘
Keep in touch,
’
Mrs.
Neill urged her, as they parted.
‘
If you aren
’
t happy
...’

‘
I know. I said goodbye to
Mr.
Neill this morning, but my love to him
...
and you.
’

Soon she was speeding south in the large comfortable car, and crossing the lovely Forth Bridge.

‘
We
’
ll rest in Edinburgh for a cup of tea,
’
Mr.
Sheridan decided.
‘
Easy stages will be best.
’

It was dark and rather late by the time they drove into Newcastle-upon-Tyne, a city which was strange to Catherine, but even in the dark she was conscious that it was large and interesting, and that the outskirts where Uncle James lived were fresh and lovely.

‘
You
’
ll have to get to know Northumberland,
’
he told her, as they drove along quiet roads lined with gently swaying trees which looked ghostly and rather mysterious in the bright moonlight.
‘
It
’
s a beautiful county, with a great deal of historic interest. John and Elizabeth will be happy to take you sightseeing, I
’
m sure.
’

John and Elizabeth! Catherine felt her heart suddenly quaking a little. She was sure that Uncle James and Aunt Lucille would be happy to have her live with them, but it was only now that she was beginning to realise that she would be in close contact with young people of her own age. Suppose they didn
’
t like her. Suppose they resented her presence in the house.

It was too late to have regrets, however, as the car turned in a gravelled drive between lovely wrought
-
iron gates, and Balgower, a large imposing house of red brick, with huge bay windows, came into view.

‘
Here we are,
’
said Uncle James cheerfully.
‘
Welcome home, Catherine. Come in, my dear, and say hello to Aunt Lucille and the family.
’

There was only Aunt Lucille at home. After
Mrs.
Neill
’
s rather reserved nature, and her quiet but kindly attitude towards her, Catherine found Lucille Sheridan effusive in her welcome. Yet surely that was in her favour. She rushed forward to envelop
t
he girl in a warm hug, her body softly plump, reminding Catherine of a small shapely pigeon.

‘
Catherine! My dear, you
’
re grown up. And how like your mother
...
Oh!
’

Catherine
’
s smile was a trifle unsteady.

‘
It
’
s all right, Aunt Lucille. I
...
I
’
ve come to terms with what happened. Don
’
t hesitate to talk about Mother ... or Philip.
’

‘
You poor child
!’
Lucille
’
s voice was full of sympathy, and she led Catherine into a large spacious lounge, richly carpeted, with deep sofas and armchairs, and long velvet curtains pulled across the windows.

‘
What a lovely room,
’
Catherine said sincerely, and knew she had pleased Lucille, who beamed on her, and turned to James, who said he would go straight upstairs to wash and change.

‘
I
’
ll take Catherine up to her room. Would you like to have a hot drink up in bed, my dear, or would you prefer to come downstairs again for a short while? John and Elizabeth should be in soon, but you can meet them both tomorrow, if you
’
d prefer that.
’