The India Fan (17 page)

I said coolly, can imagine why you should wish to do so.

l tell you later.

n the meantime, here we are.

He took my case.

can manage, you know,I said.

wouldn think of allowing you to carry it.

It seemed to me that he was taking a proprietorial attitude already.

I should have to be wary of him. He was the type of person who thought he only had to beckon to a girl and she would come running. He was Sir Fabian, rich and powerful, and his mother had made him feels they used to sayhe little Caesar.

I tried to take my case from him, but he resisted, smiling. We walked along the platform and there was Polly waiting for me.

She stared in amazement to see me with a man, and her amazement turned to dismay when she recognized him.

I ran to her and she embraced me. h, Polly,I cried, ow wonderful to see you.

ell, it not like a smack in the chops to me neither.

She was restrained because he was there.

t Sir Fabian, Polly. He kindly carried my bag.

He bowed to Polly. iss Delany and I met on the train.

id you now?said Polly, very faintly bellicose. She had never approved of the Framlings. I knew she was thinking, Who were they when they were out? Or on trains and carrying people bags. Up to no good, shouldn reckon. I knew her so well that I was aware of her thoughts.

ell, thank you, Sir Fabian,I said. t was good of you.

el get a cab and be home in a tick,said Polly.

shall see you home,he said. shall get the cab.

here is no need I began.

ut I insist.He spoke as though his word was law. It was faintly irritating. I felt an urge to snatch my case from him and tell him we did not need his help. But if I did that might betray something that I ought to hide.

I was aware of the imperious manner in which he hailed the cab and in a very short time we were on our way to the common.

I tried to chat to Polly as I should have done if he had not been there. I asked about Eff. Eff was flourishing. Doing very well. Might even take on No. 10 Maccleston if the old man living there moved out. Eff had always had her eyes open.

Neither of us mentioned the baby, but I knew Polly was longing to talk of her, as I was.

I was glad when the journey was over. He alighted and carried my bag to the door. Eff was waiting to open it. She cried out with pleasure when she saw me and then stepped back at the sight of Fabian.

He raised his hat and bowed.

his is Sir Fabian Framling, a neighbour of mine,I explained. saw him on the train and he has been very helpful.

I could see she was wondering whether he should be asked in for a cup of tea and a piece of the special sultana cake she had baked for the occasion; her only hesitation was because of his title and perhaps his undeniable presence.

I said quickly, t was kind of you, Sir Fabian. Thank you so much.With that I turned away, and he, with another bow, went back to the waiting cab.

We went inside.

ell, I never,said Polly. ou could have knocked me down with half a feather when I saw who he was.

She shook her head; she was bothered. I would tell her as soon as I had an opportunity that there was no need for alarm.

Eff said, know who youl be wanting to see. I have her here, but she having her nap, and I don want to disturb her, else therel be ructions, eh, Poll?

ou bet,said Polly.

ell, what about a nice cup of tea first. Ie got some muffins.

As we sat over tea and muffins I heard of the increasing prosperity of the business and how the baby grew more beautiful every day.

At length she was brought down by Eff and I held her in my arms while she gazed at me wonderingly, her little hands curled round my finger and what could have been a smile of contentment on her pinkish face. She had changed a good deal from the day when Lavinia and I had brought her here. She was getting on for nine months olduite a personage. I had always been distressed by unwanted babies, but this one, at least, thanks to Polly and Eff, was overwhelmed with love.

Fleur had vivid blue eyes and the almost black hair she had been born with had lightened considerably. It was dark brown with tawny lights in itnherited, no doubt, from Lavinia. She was clearly a contented baby, and that was something to be happy about.

Being with Fleur made me wonder about the other babies who had been born round about the same time. What had happened to Emmeline? Her child would have had a happy home, I was sure. And the poor little girl who had been raped? Surely her family would look after her child. And Agatha? She would know what to do. She was warmhearted and would never desert her child. Mostly I thought of Miriam, who would have to give up hers for the sake of not disturbing her marriage. That seemed the saddest case of all.

But I was delighted to see Fleur here. She would not miss her parents, because she could not have two more devoted people to care for her than Polly and Eff.

The bellows were seized on with joy. hat kitchen fire never did draw like it ought,said Eff.

The bonnet was immediately tried on and Fleur was very interested in the bootees.

ice for her afternoon nap,said Polly. he starting to toddle now. I reckon she thinks she done enough shooting round on her hands and knees.

on you think she a little angel?said Eff.

I said I did.

ff spoils her really,said Polly.

like that!retorted Eff. alk about the pot calling the kettle black!

It was all so comforting, so much what I had expected from them. Polly was still the anchor in my life.

She was uneasy though. I sensed that. When she came to my room that night, after Eff had retired, she talked very seriously to me.

She said, e been worried about you, Drusilla. I didn like to think of you in that foreign place. I didn know what was happening. Fleur she Lavinia. I know that now. At first I thought she was yours.

h, Polly!

ell, that why we took her in so prompt. I said to Eff, his is my girl and she in trouble. Wee going to help her all we know how and if that means having the baby here, well then wel have the baby here.

thought of you immediately. I remember how you and Eff always liked babies.

e do. But having one of your own is something that has to be thought about.

ou didn hesitate.

o As I told you, I thought it was yours.

oue always been wonderful to me, Polly always.

know now she that Lavinia. That saucy baggage. Just like her. Gets into trouble and gets someone else to sort it out for her.

ady Harriet took over a big part of my school bills. I was there to be with Lavinia.

know. That sort think they own the world and everyone in it. Now there that Fabian or whatever he calls himself.

veryone else calls him Fabian. It his name.

ir Fabian, if you please.

e inherited the title from his father. He been a sir ever since his father died.

illy way of going on Little children getting airs. No wonder they grow up thinking they are Lord God Almighty.

o you think he does?

lear as daylight.

hat not always very clear.

ow youe being clever and I want to talk serious-like. It about Fleur.

h, Polly, hasn Lavinia sent you any money?

t not money wee after. What I wanted to say was that Fleur well, she is one of them Framlings when all said and done. She all right now. Wouldn know the difference between Buckingham Palace and the rookeries as long as wee there to look after her and give her a kiss and a cuddle she all right. But when she grows up a bit, is this place going to be good enough for her?

t will be good enough if you and Eff are there. She loves you both. Look how contented she is when youe there.

h, she a loving little thing. No bones about that. But therel come a time when shel have to be told who she is and something done about her education and all that.

et leave it at that, Polly. When I get a chance Il talk to Lavinia.

nd there you.

hat about me?

hat are you going to do?

hat do you mean, Polly?

ou know what I mean. Rector not well, is he? How long can he go on working? I reckon this Colin Brady will take over. Do you like him?

ou are not trying to do a little matchmaking, are you, Polly?

eople have to be serious about these things. I like to see you settled, I would. You be happy with some little ones. Oh, I know. Ie seen you with Fleur. There some who are natural mothers and you are one of them.

ou are going too fast, Polly.

ell, you like him, don you, this Colin Brady?

es.

nd he a good man.

daresay he is.

ou don want to let some people pick up when they think they will and like as not drop you when they get a little tired.

o whom are you referring?

hat Sir Fabian.

h, there is no question of his picking me up. He just happened to be on the train.

ome people have a way of making things happen when they want them to.

I thought of what he had said about prodding, and he had certainly contrived the meeting. I felt rather pleased and excited that he had bothered to do so. It ought to have irritated me, but it didn.

Gradually she wormed the story of Lavinia betrayal and downfall from me.

hat one had trouble coming to her if ever anyone had. Perhaps this will be a lesson to her. Could be though I doubt it. She got mischief written all over her, that one. Shel be in trouble again sooner or later. And to think that Sir Fabian is our Fleur uncle and doesn know it!

f course, he doesn know there is a Fleur.

it of a shock to him if he did. I not surprised that Lavinia went to all them lengths to keep her little secret. Ie always been sorry for girls in trouble, but I can say I getting out my sackcloth and ashes for her.

And so we talked, and it was as comforting to me as it used to be in the old days when we sat in the room at the rectory with the churchyard on one side and the village green on the other.

Polly and I had our trips p West I bought some clothes and some gloves for Polly and a scarf for Eff. I had my allowance, which came from the money my mother had left. It was not very much, but at least I was not penniless. I told Polly I was going to send her half of what I had to help with Fleur, but she was indignant. oul do no such thing! If you attempt to do that Il send it right back pronto and Eff and me ll be most put out.

She told me how they loved having the baby. It was important particularly to Eff. Eff loved the business, but she often said she missed something. She had put up with Him for years and she would have forgiven him all his little ways if he had given her a baby. But it seemed he wasn any good even at that. Polly, too, had been disappointed in that respect.

ut now wee got Fleur,she said, nd if that Lavinia ever wanted her back she wouldn get her. I fight to the death for Fleur so would Eff and Eff always wins always has and always will. Father used to say that.

I often thought of Lavinia and wondered what she was doing and if she ever gave a thought to the child. I doubted it. She had recklessly conceived the child for her own gratification and as casually cast her off without seeming to realize how fortunate she had been to find people to take the burden from her shoulders.

During that week, I would wheel the baby out on the common. I used to sit on a seat and think of everything that had happened over the last two years. Often in my mind I went back to the little town, choosing my pastry and bringing it out on a plate to sit under the sunshade and wait for Charles to bring the coffee. I could recall with vividness the day the so-called Comte had strolled up to us. I could see Lavinia smiling provocatively at the handsome intruder in her secretive manner. I remembered so well that inner satisfaction of hers. I should have guessed that the Comte was false and all he wanted was a brief love affair.

While I was dreaming thus and Fleur was dozing in her pram, I was suddenly aware that someone had sat down on the seat beside me. I turned and with a mingling of exhilaration and consternation I saw that it was Fabian.

ir Fabian I stammered.

h please,he said, ot so formal. I simply Fabian to my friends.

hat what are you doing here?

ejoicing in this happy turn of fortune. How are you faring? You look well. Such a rosy colour in your cheeks. Is that due to the London air or to reunion with your devoted nurse?

I did not answer and he went on, hat a pretty child! Whose is it?

he has been adopted by Polly.

he is an unusual woman, your Polly. The bonnet suits her.He looked at me rather roguishly. t was a good choice.

es, it was.

nd the little socks.

he is really too old for those, so it wasn such a good choice. She crawls and totters and needs shoes for that.

ou should have thought of that. How enterprising those two are! They have their own houses and they take it upon themselves to adopt a child. Most unusual! Tell me, have they acquired Number 10 Maccleston yet?

o, but it will come. Are you on business down here?

He looked at me with a half-amused smile. see you suspect me of playing truant. I happened to be in the neighbourhood and when I came across the common I remembered you were staying here. Luckily I saw you. I was surprised. First the baby carriage disconcerted me. I thought it must be some young mother and then I realized that no one could look quite as you did and I rejoiced. When are you returning? I believe you said you would stay for a week. Friday would be a week exactly.

es. I expect it will be then.

hope you are having a rewarding week.

xtremely so.

Fleur had awakened and, after regarding us gravely for a few moments, decided that she had been ignored long enough and started to whimper. I took her out of her pram and she was immediately smiling. I bounced her up and down a little, which she obviously enjoyed. She showed great interest in Fabian and, stretching out towards him, took hold of one of the buttons on his coat. She looked up at him, staring intently into his face.

s that an expression of disapproval?he asked.