Lovers and Liars (14 page)

‘Cupboard love/ she said to him sternly, then - as Gini could have predicted - relented at once.

‘Oh, very well.’ She sighed. ‘One digestive biscuit - and that’s it.,

Gini smiled, and carried the tray back into the studio. Mary followed, Dog padding behind her. Pacified by the biscuit, Dog lowered himself with arthritic care onto the hearthrug, closed his eyes, and pretended to go to sleep.

Mary curled up on the sofa opposite Gini. She gave Dog a fond look. ‘Poor old thing. I shouldn’t weaken - he’s like me, getting old and fat.’

‘Plump/ Gini corrected her, passing the sandwiches across. ‘And that’s good. It suits you.’

.-‘Maybe. I’m not sure. You know, after Richard died, I said myself - right, now I’m going to give in to all my worst dencies. I’m going to go to bed late, stay in bed all morning,

novels, eat chocolates, stop tinting my hair, and get fat if I like it … ‘ Mary paused. ‘Oh, and stop entertaining endless gers, that too. Forget I was ever a diplomat’s daughter or a ornat’s wife. From now on, I said to myself, I shall never have

than four people to dinner, and they won’t get in the door ss they’re people I really like … ‘

see.’ Gini smiled. ‘So what went wrong?’

‘Training.’ Mary gave a comfortable sigh. ‘Habit. I found I n’t give it all up. And then it’s good to keep busy - and le were very kind. They kept asking me out, so I had to ask back … Still, ‘ she grinned, ‘I kept some of my resolutions. look at me. White hair. A whole stone heavier. A perfect t… ,

ini glanced across at her stepmother. The description was ect. True, Mary’s hair was now an uncompromising white, she was undeniably plumper, but to Gini’s eyes Mary had, had always had, the best and most lasting kind of beauty. skin was clear, her blue eyes astute, and her kindness could read in her face.

ot true,’ Gini said drily. ‘And I hope you know that.’

of you to say so.’ Mary reached unrepentantly for er sandwich. ‘I lack self-discipline. Always did. I saw Lise afternoon - I took her a box of those wonderful Belgian olates to cheer her up. And what happened? Lise nibbled

one, the way she does, and I scoffed five of them. Five! The me of it! And after a huge tea, at that.’

expect she forgave you.’ Gini poured herself some coffee. re was her opening, she thought - as easily as that. ‘Cheer upT She went on, in a casual tone. ‘Why was thaff

I ow, darling. Lise takes these dips occasionally. was feeling pretty low, I think. She just got back today from country place - they’d been down there over Christmas and Year, as you know, and apparently Lise had some bug. Flu

a vile cold, something like that. Actually, she seemed fine. By time I left, she’d perked up. I think the truth is, she worries t John much more than she’ll admit .

orries about JohnT

, you know, darling. Security. With all this current Middle rn business - threats to embassies and so on. She sees

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terrorists behind every bush. I’ve told her a thousand times, John’s perfectly safe. Everywhere he goes, he’s surrounded by these terrifying thugs … Well, maybe I shouldn’t call them that. But they are ex-Marines, most of them, average height six foot six, so they give a thuggish impression, though actually when you talk to them, they’re really very nice … ‘

Mary’s voice tailed away vaguely. One of Mary’s weaknesses as a witness, Gini thought, was her inherent good nature. Although no fool, Mary erred on the side of charity; in her book, most people

- until conclusively proved otherwise - were ‘nice’.

‘I’ve been reading about the Hawthornes/ Gini said, still in a casual tone. ‘Tonight - a huge feature on them at home. In Hello! magazine—2

‘Oh, I saw that!’ Mary’s face brightened. ‘Didn’t the children look sweet? So like John. I can remember him, you know, when he was their age. In fact, that was when I first met him - when my father was posted to Washington. Old SS rather courted Daddy for a bit - I forget why, but I expect he thought Daddy could be useful to him. Anyway, we went to stay at their country place, you remember, I told you, overlooking the Hudson. I was about twenty and terribly impressed … ‘ She hesitated. ‘No, not impressed, that’s the wrong word. Awed. It was so fearfully grand, quite terrifying. Millions of flunkeys and maids, and these tremendous formal feasts … I hadn’t been in America very long then, and back in England, well, there was still this grey post-war make-do sort of world. So I couldn’t quite believe people still lived like that. And SS was such a grandee, such a martinet.’

‘Did you like him?’

‘What, old SST Mary wrinkled her nose thoughtfully. ‘No. I didn’t. And neither did my father, I can remember that. He thought he wasn’t to be trusted - but then everyone knew that. I thought he was a bully - much too used to getting his own way. And rather crude, in an odd way. I mean, he had perfect manners, when he wanted, and the kind of charm that turns on and off like a tap. But he thought everyone had his price. He thought he could buy anyone or anything. Unfortunately, he was usually right. But I didn’t like that.’

‘Interesting … And a martinet too?’

‘Darling - and how!’ Mary reached for the chocolate mousse. ‘The whole house was run by a stop-watch. Drinks at seven-thirty, dinner at eight, everyone in place, to the second, and woe betide anyone who was late. And those poor children! So regimented,

Yrivate classes in this, that and everything. They never had a d’s peace. And then, of course, they had to excel at absolutely

overything, they could never be second-best … Mmmm. This se is absolutely delicious. Are you sure you won’t have eT

Gini shook her head. She leaned forward to give a now soment Dog a stroke. Dog made appreciative whiffling noises. Gini htened. She knew that Mary, once launched on the past, d need only a small prompt.

‘,,,‘AD the childrenT she said. ‘Boys as well as girls? John tooT ‘Oh yes.’ Mary frowned. ‘Maybe, when his mother was still alive, managed to intervene - though I doubt it. But when I went

that time, she was quite recently dead. Maybe that made harsher with the children for some reason, I don’t know. But it d be very ugly. He’d cross-question them, in front of guests, put them down in this terrible biting way he had. The second Prescott, was absolutely terrified of him. He had a very bad

er then, and his father would make fun of him - and the boy, you could see he was utterly crushed. He’d stand scarlet in the face, physically shaking … It was really e. It made me feel sick.’

dn’t any of them stand up to him?’

‘Well, darling, they were so young - John was the eldest, of , but he was only about ten. There was one time … hesitated, then broke off.

Yes?’ Gini said.

Mary’s face became troubled. ‘I’ll tell you, darling, but you to promise, it’s between us. I’d never mention it to John, ct he thinks I’ve forgotten and if he knew I’d told anyhe’d be terribly upset.’

f f course. Between us …

Well,’ Mary leaned forward, and lowered her voice, ‘it was ite extraordinary, really. It was the third day of our visit and SS knew I rode. I think he wanted to show off a bit - he had e fine horses, very grand stables, that sort of thing. Anyway, went out for a ride, my father and 1, S. S. Hawthorne, and two boys, Prescott and John. I knew straight away that poor

Ott hated horses - he was afraid of them, you can always So I couldn’t understand - when we arrived at the stables, of the grooms brought out a pony for Prescott, a sweet little

very quiet, and just as he was helping the boy into the S. S. Hawthorne stopped him. He told him to change the

boy’s mount … ‘ Mary frowned. ‘I think Prescott knew what was happening. He went white as a sheet. John said something, the groom said something, but SS just started shouting and blustering the way he always did, and in the end, they gave in. They saddled up this other horse - it was far too big for a six-year-old boy, and it was even giving the stable-hands problems, jerking and kicking, and rolling its eyes … Anyway, to cut a long story short, poor Prescott had to ride it, and half a mile from the house, the horse threw him. He wasn’t hurt, but he was badly shaken. He was crying, and he had a cut on his face. John was with him by then. He’d dismounted, and he was helping his brother up - and then this extraordinary thing happened, well two extraordinary things, really. S. S. Hawthorne had dismounted as well. He strode across to the two boys, and I thought he was going to comfort Prescott, take him back to the house. But he didn’t. He just stood there, looking down at them, and then in this horrible voice, this really icy voice, he told Prescott to remount.’

‘A six-year-old boy?’

‘That’s right. I couldn’t believe my eyes. By this time Prescott’s horse was frothing and sweating. SS could scarcely hold it, it was almost ready to bolt. But he just stood there, looking down at Prescott, and he said: “Get back on the horse.”

‘And did he?’

Mary gave a sigh. ‘Darling, I don’t think he could have done. He was terrified, paralysed with fear. So he just stood there, I think he was trying to say something, but he couldn’t, no words would come out. And then John did this astonishing thing .

‘He intervenedT

‘More than that. He moved, so he was standing right in front of his father, with Prescott cowering behind him, and he just looked at his father with this white set face, and then he said: “He’s not getting back on that horse. I won’t let him. It’s not safe … ” I’m not sure quite what happened next, it was very very fast, but his father started to say something, and made some move - to push John aside, something like that. And John hit him. He hit him really hard. He was tall for his age, and he just sort of reached up with his riding-crop and hit his father, across the face.’

There was a small silence. Mary gave a shiver. ‘Aged tenT Gini said.

‘Aged ten. It was quite extraordinary. So very deliberate. it wasn’t as if John had lost his temper - nothing like that. He was absolutely calm, a bit pale maybe - but his expression was

almost blank. And he hit SS hard - there was this red weal It across his cheek … ‘

_’So what did S. S. Hawthorne do? Hit him back?’

-‘No-Not at all. He just stood there, looking down at John, not g a word, and then he started to laugh - really laugh. There this huge eruption of laughter. He threw his head back, his le body shook, and you could see … He wasn’t angry, or arTassed or shocked. He was delighted. Exultant. Then he

his arms around John in a huge bear-hug, lifted him off ground, kissed his cheeks .

d that was it?’

at was it. Drama over. Prescott was reprieved, John never a word, Daddy and I rode back to the house. Daddy was ly, terribly angry. In fact, he cut short our visit. We left afternoon. But S. S. Hawthorne didn’t give a damn. He just

sted about how one of his children had stood up to him for How at least one of his sons was a true man and not a op. It was ghastly - in front of all the children, all the e-guests. It went on right through lunch.’

ary’s gaze met Gini’s. Her kind face had set, and her eyes anxious, as if something were troubling her. She sighed, shook her head. ‘So, there you are. A little vignette.’ She

de an attempt at a smile. ‘The home life of the Hawthomes. plains a lot about John, I think, that incident. It shows you brave he was, even then. And sometimes, now, when I look … ‘ She allowed the sentence to trail away.

‘YesT Gini prompted, but for some reason Mary chose not to drawn.

Oh nothing,’ she said, more briskly. ‘Just that John isn’t an person to know, thatfs all, not even when you’ve been nds with him as long as I have. He… still, never mind t. You didn’t come here to reminisce about the Hawthornes. ust be boring you to death.’

ary had risen. From a cigarette box she took the one cigarette permitted herself per day, and lit it. Something was still ubling her, Gini could tell, and she watched Mary almost

sically push the thought away. She gave herself a little shake, turned back to Gini with a smile.

nyway, I’d love you to meet John properly. And Lise, of rse. It’s so maddening. Every time I try and get you two ther, vou’re out of town, or he’s out of town. I donft suppose I

re free this Saturday, are youT

‘This Saturday? Yes, I am.’

‘Well, why don’t you come over then? It’s Lise’s birthday.’ Mary smiled. ‘I thought I’d have a party, a sort of irdxture of duty and fun. There’s a lot of rather boring people I owe invitations to, so the actual dinner will probably be a bit grim. You know what diplomats are like. Protocol and placements. But John and Lise will be there … ‘She hesitated, then her face brightened. ‘I know, Why don’t you join us for drinks afterwards? Much more fun. All the bores will have left by then.’

‘Will the Hawthomes stay onT

‘Of course.’ Mary laughed. ‘John always stays late. Hits form at midnight. Like me—

She broke off. The front-door bell had just rung. Mary gave an exclamation of annoyance.

‘What on earth? It’s way past ten - who the devil could that beT From the hearthrug, Dog lifted his huge head. He turned his gaze towards the door. He raised his hackles and gave a faint growl. The bell rang again. Mary glanced toward Gini.

‘How absurd. You know I despise myself for this, but since Richard died, I get nervous sometimes, being alone at night in such a big house. Too stupid - but Dog’s perfectly useless. All bark and no bite …

‘I’ll go.’

Gini crossed the room, and went into the hall, Mary hovering behind her in the open studio doorway. She felt a second’s angry concern for her stepmother. Why had it never occurred to her that Mary could be nervous? Then she noticed that, typically, Mary’s front door was unprotected. It had a flimsy lock and an old, inefficient bolt; no chain, no spy-hole. Making a mental note to get that changed, she opened the door and looked out into the night.

There was an odd sound, a faint crackle, like radio static. It was raining, and the street was iII-lit. She peered out into the darkness, trying to accustom her eyes to the thin light. She made out the dark gleam of a car, then a shadow moved at the foot of the steps. Light suddenly caught pale hair, the sleeve of a man’s dark overcoat, then the man swung around.