The Fairbairn Fortunes

by Una-Mary Parker

  Laura was ecstatic, rushing back to Lizzie to give her the good news.

  ‘We’ll be moving in next week,’ Laura announced triumphantly, ‘and it’s divine, with two bedrooms, a drawing room and a dining room, plus a nice bathroom and a very good kitchen.’

  Lizzie smiled radiantly. ‘That sounds perfect and it’s very near to us! Oh, Laura, I’m so glad that you’ve found somewhere nice. I feared you’d move to one of the suburbs and we’d hardly ever see you.’ At that moment her worries that Caroline would get in between Margaret and Richard vanished from her mind.

  ‘My plan was always to find a suitable place for us in central London because Caroline has to be near the West End. There’s a bus stop just round the corner that goes straight to Piccadilly.’

  ‘What’s the address?’

  ‘Eleven, Emperors Gate,’ Laura said with pride. ‘I can’t wait to tell Caroline. It’s time she had a proper home and a room of her own.’

  ‘Will you take up dressmaking again?’ Lizzie asked.

  Laura shrugged. ‘It depends on a lot of things. If Caroline becomes very successful I’ll have my hands full because she’ll need to be chaperoned, especially if she tours.’

  ‘So really her career becomes in part your career? My God, I couldn’t do that. Will she pay you from what she earns? If I were going to dedicate my whole life to one of my children I’d expect to be paid.’ She spoke seriously.

  Laura shrugged again. ‘She’s my life, Lizzie. Ever since Walter and I separated Caroline has been my life.’

  Lizzie remained silent. That was the problem. Caroline took her for granted. She never acknowledged that sometimes her mother had stayed up all night finishing a garment for a customer who needed it by tomorrow. No one could say Laura hadn’t been a devoted mother but in doing her duty she had indulged Caroline into thinking the world must revolve around her and her alone.

  ‘Don’t act like you are jealous,’ Lizzie warned Margaret. ‘It might give Richard ideas.’

  ‘I hate her,’ Margaret declared bitterly. ‘Why did you let them come here in the first place? Aunt Beattie could have put them up.’

  Lizzie didn’t reply. Beattie had told her in confidence that she was expecting another baby, but it was early days and she didn’t want anyone to know yet.

  While Caroline was having meetings with her new agent, who had been recommended to her by Madame Espinosa, Laura went on a spending spree to get things for their new flat. It was already basically furnished but her aim was to get it looking perfect before Caroline saw it. Her pictures, crockery, cutlery and of course her sewing machine were being brought down by Carter Patterson, but in the past she’d never been able to afford the small luxuries that enhance a room. She went to Whiteleys, a big store in Bayswater, where she bought table lamps with pretty shades, attractive rugs to place on the existing carpet, soft cushions, a large mirror to hang above the mantle shelf and a nice desk. Most important to her, she then added to her list of shopping a large sofa that opened out into a bed. She wanted to be able to invite Diana, Georgie, Alice or Flora to stay; they could bring their husbands and have her room and she could sleep in the drawing room. As a final touch of elegance she also bought several vases that she planned to fill with flowers when she took Caroline to see her new home; the first proper home she’d had since she’d been a small child. Laura glowed with pleasure at the thought. To be able to provide everything that Caroline needed had been her aim all along.

  Ten

  Cranley Court, 1922

  Diana and Robert were sitting by the fire reading the newspapers after dinner when Diana exclaimed, ‘Goodness!’

  He gazed at her fondly. ‘What is it, darling?’ They were thankful to be on their own after a hectic Christmas and the New Year hosting Flora, Alice and Colin, and Georgie and Shane with their badly behaved children, Jock, Ian and Harriet. Relishing the peace and quiet that filled the house, they’d decided they would take Archie and Emily, who were grown-up now, for a skiing holiday over Christmas the following year.

  ‘Listen to this,’ Diana told her husband. ‘Outstandingly talented Caroline Harvey, the protégé of Madame Espinosa, will be taking the lead role in a new ballet, Rainbows, at the Sadler’s Wells Theatre, opening on March the third.’

  ‘Good for her,’ Robert remarked.

  ‘Do let’s take a trip down to London so we can be there. Also, Laura has been inviting us for ages to stay with her in her flat. I think she’s longing to return some hospitality.’

  ‘Pity Georgie doesn’t think along those lines,’ he grumbled.

  Diana laughed. ‘That’s because they know we’d hate sleeping over a pub, amid the fumes of ale,’ she replied soothingly.

  ‘All right,’ he said amiably. ‘On one condition, though.’

  ‘What’s that?’

  He gave her a roguish smile. ‘The condition is that we go to a suite at the Ritz secretly the night before we go to Laura’s so that I can have my wicked way with you!’

  Diana leaned back in her chair, overcome with laughter. ‘You do that anyway! Remember in the woodshed in the forest? And in that cave on the side of the mountain?’

  Robert was laughing too. ‘Hush! The children might hear you.’

  Diana spoke softly. ‘Robert Kelso, you’re a very naughty boy but I do love you.’

  ‘I know,’ he said quietly. ‘Do you fancy an early night?’

  ‘You know I always fancy early nights,’ she whispered, gazing into his eyes.

  London, 1922

  As Caroline came out of the Barons Court rehearsal rooms in West Kensington he was waiting for her. He’d been waiting for her for the past week because rehearsals took place during the day when none of her family would be with her. Once Rainbows opened her mother would be chaperoning her every night and meeting in secret was going to be more difficult.

  ‘Hello, Richard,’ Caroline exclaimed as if she was surprised to see him. She noticed he was wearing a smart navy pinstripe suit with his trilby hat and he carried a rolled umbrella. She smiled with approval.

  ‘Hello, Caroline. How are you? How did it go today?’ he asked as his strong blue eyes swept over her from her slim ankles to her bright little face. ‘Would you like to go to Gunter’s for tea? We can get a cab and be there in ten minutes,’ he added with boyish enthusiasm.

  ‘What about being seen?’ she asked anxiously. She wasn’t sure whom she feared most if she and Richard were seen together: Margaret or her own mother?

  ‘It will be all right,’ he said recklessly. ‘We’ll sit at the back in a corner.’ At that moment a cab appeared and he hailed it with a wave of his hand.

  Caroline loved the masterful way he did everything with great confidence, as if he owned the world. She’d heard her mother and Aunt Lizzie agree he was a ‘great catch’ and she’d made up her mind that he would be her catch. He could afford to take her to all the best restaurants and he’d promised her that one day they would go to the Savoy for dinner and dancing to a famous band under the glitter of crystal chandeliers in the ballroom.

  Enthralled by the life Richard led, Caroline realized what she’d been missing, living in a small flat in Edinburgh and so poor they could never afford to go anywhere. Margaret had always lived in style and took it for granted; now it was her turn to smell the roses. All she needed to do was to make Richard fall deeply in love with her.

  Richard reached for her hand and squeezed it as the taxicab rattled along the busy streets of London, and she had never felt so happy. For the past two weeks they’d been so careful not to be seen together but now she didn’t care. Margaret had to realize that Richard was no longer her boyfriend, and as far as she was concerned, the sooner the better. Caroline had overheard Aunt Lizzie tell her mother that the romance had never gone further than kissing and her mother had replied, ‘Of course not,’ because a well-brought-up young lady would never permit it. It left Caroline wondering what she should do if Richard wanted more than a kiss? Girls had to be virgins
on their wedding night.

  When they arrived at Gunters she realized it was terrifically smart and the chance of seeing people he knew was high. High-ceilinged and spacious with a large window overlooking Park Lane, they were ushered to a table in a discreet corner. Caroline was in her element. She chose toasted teacakes, cucumber sandwiches and creamy meringues from the pink menu which matched the pink tablecloths, and her eyes sparkled as she looked at the fine white and gold china crockery. It was all a world away from the little café that she and the other dancers frequented.

  ‘You’re hungry,’ Richard remarked fondly as she ate the toasted teacake.

  ‘I’m always hungry,’ she admitted. ‘I work so hard for hours on end and then realize I’m starving.’

  Richard leaned forward. ‘Will you come out to dinner with me one evening? We could go to the Café Royal.’

  ‘My old-fashioned mother doesn’t allow me to go out on my own; it’s got to be in a group. She’s very strict.’

  ‘Even if the man is trustworthy?’ he persisted.

  ‘But …’ She paused, not wanting to offend him. ‘You are Margaret’s boyfriend.’ Her mouth suddenly drooped at the corners and it looked as if she was about to burst into tears. ‘We’re just friends, aren’t we?’

  He looked appalled. ‘But I don’t feel about Margaret in the same way as I do about you.’

  ‘Does she know that?’

  ‘I think she realized,’ he said quietly.

  Over the years, Caroline had learned not to push people too hard, so she dabbed her mouth with the pink napkin and gave a sad little subdued sniff. Richard reached out and placed his hand over hers.

  ‘It’s you I care about,’ he said softly as he looked into her eyes.

  That evening, when she got home later than usual, she found her mother in an agitated state.

  ‘Where have you been?’ she asked. ‘One of the other dancers phoned to speak to you. Apparently rehearsals finished this afternoon? What have you been doing for the past two hours?’ Laura asked anxiously.

  ‘This is not my prison, you know,’ Caroline retorted, throwing her bag on to the sofa, ‘though it feels like it.’

  ‘I was worried about you. You don’t know your way around London and it can be a dangerous place to go wandering around alone.’

  ‘I wasn’t alone!’ her daughter snapped back furiously.

  Laura looked at her calmly, fully aware that Caroline was hiding something. ‘So who were you with?’

  Caroline’s pale face flushed scarlet. ‘It was Richard Montgomery, if you really want to know.’

  There was silence. ‘Did you bump into him?’ Laura asked politely.

  ‘He’s in love with me. He’s been waiting for me every day and today he took me to tea at Gunters,’ she boasted. ‘Then he paid a taxicab to bring me home.’

  Laura looked apprehensive. ‘Gunters, of all places,’ she murmured. ‘He must have taken you there on purpose. Lizzie and Margaret will probably have heard by now and they’re going to be absolutely furious with us.’

  ‘Why angry with you? It’s me they’re going to want to kill,’ she added triumphantly. ‘It serves Margaret right for being such a cow to me ever since we were children. She always looked down on me for not living in a proper house with servants, and for not having a proper father around and pots of money. I remember vowing to get the better of her when I was small and now I’ve succeeded.’ She turned to look at her mother. ‘Muzzie, he’s a great catch! Everyone says so. He’s good looking, well-educated and his family are really rich. Just think what it would mean if he married me. I’d be as rich as Aunt Beattie and Uncle Andrew.’ She lay back in the armchair, relishing her daydreams.

  Laura’s mouth tightened. Lizzie was going to be furious if Caroline had stolen Richard from Margaret.

  ‘Oh, Laura! It really is a beautiful flat,’ Diana exclaimed as she looked around the drawing room admiringly. ‘You’ve furnished it so elegantly, too.’

  They’d arrived early in the morning having told Laura they’d taken the overnight train from Edinburgh, telling her they could only stay one night before going on to Paris.

  This was the first time in twelve years that Laura had been in a position where she could entertain, and she felt both nervous and excited.

  ‘Emperors Gate is so central,’ Robert remarked approvingly as he looked on the cul-de-sac of early Victorian houses, ‘and you’re only a ten-minute walk from Kensington Gardens.’

  ‘Yes, I’m very glad we came here. It just felt right and I’ll probably stay here for ever.’

  ‘Does Caroline love it too? She must be happy to have her own room? How is she getting on?’

  As Laura made some coffee she regaled them with the details of the new ballet Caroline was about to star in and how tired she was after rehearsals. ‘Everyone thinks she’s living such a glamorous life but in reality it’s terribly hard work,’ Laura replied.

  ‘She will be able to join us all for dinner tonight?’ Robert asked. ‘I’ve booked a table at the Café Royal for eight o’clock.’

  Laura beamed. ‘My dear, only a broken leg would stop her coming. She’s been looking forward to it all week and so have I for that matter. Walter promised to take me to the Café Royal one day but it never happened.’ A shadow passed over her face, remembering how happy she’d been when they’d met, and how he had swept her off her feet with his charm and sense of humour. Drink had destroyed his life and, in turn, he’d destroyed hers.

  As if he sensed she was thinking about the past, Robert said gently, ‘Laura, you’re a marvel! I’m so glad you were able to get this flat and know you’ve got enough money in the bank to last you a lifetime. No one deserves it more.’

  ‘At the most terrible cost, though. Catriona would still be alive if it hadn’t been for Mama’s will.’

  ‘No, she wouldn’t, dearest,’ Diana said firmly. ‘She died because she was so attached to Mama she couldn’t live without her. You could see how terribly she was pining for Mama. I don’t mean it disrespectfully but she reminded me of Lottie, who was Papa’s favourite Labrador. Don’t you remember? The vet had to put her down when Papa died. She was sick with misery and kept howling and refused to eat.’

  ‘Yes, and I suppose you’re right,’ Laura said thoughtfully. Then she smiled. ‘At least Caroline is not going to be like that when I die. She’ll be off as soon as her career demands it and that’s what I want for her.’

  That evening, as they dined at the Café Royal, Caroline was on her best behaviour, sweet and animated, and so thrilled that Uncle Robert had invited her to the Café Royal, too.

  ‘Oh, by the way, Muzzie,’ she suddenly said when there was a lull in the conversation, ‘my best friend in the company, Irene Stafford, is having a birthday party at her house in Earl’s Court tomorrow night, and before you object,’ she paused to give Diana an amused, knowing look, ‘all the ballerinas have been invited and it’s our last chance to have some fun before Rainbows opens, so I’ll be out. But don’t worry; she says her mother will get me a taxi so I can come home safely. Satisfied?’ She was laughing charmingly, and it was a difficult moment as Laura’s face hardened at the way Caroline was mocking her careful parenting.

  ‘Of course you can go,’ she said coolly.

  ‘Your mother is right not to let you go out alone at night. There are parts of London where I wouldn’t like to walk on my own, especially in the West End,’ Diana pointed out as she flashed Laura a look of support.

  Caroline’s expression became sulky. ‘I can look after myself.’

  ‘They all say that,’ Robert declared, ‘until they’ve had their handbag stolen or something much worse.’

  ‘That’s very kind of Irene’s mother to say she’ll get you a taxi,’ Laura said calmly. When they were alone she’d tick Caroline off for the underhand way she’d asked for permission to go to a party, knowing her mother would agree to avoid a scene.

  The next morning Diana and Robert bid Laura goodbye, s
aying how much they’d enjoyed their stay. It was only when they were alone in the taxi as it sped in the direction of Piccadilly that Diana said, ‘I feel awfully guilty for pretending to Laura we were going to Paris.’

  Robert chuckled. ‘Well we are. Tomorrow.’

  She looked at him. ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘We’re staying at the Ritz again tonight in their best suite. But I know how you hate lying, so we’re going to Paris tomorrow, where I’ve booked another suite at the George VI hotel.’

  Diana looked excited but at the same time agitated. ‘But …?’ she began.

  ‘Don’t worry.’ He patted her hand. ‘I’ve got our passports; the children know and so does everyone back at home. Apart from making you an honest woman as far as Laura is concerned, I thought you needed a bit of fun. You’ve had a very tough year with both your mother and Catriona dying.’

  Diana’s face was flushed with emotion. ‘I’m the luckiest woman in the world to be married to you,’ she said breathlessly. ‘I’d no idea … does Laura know we’re going on to Paris?’

  ‘Yes. She was very amused.’

  ‘I do hope she’s not lonely in London, what with us leaving today and Caroline going to a party this evening.’

  ‘I don’t suppose so. At least she’s got Lizzie and Beattie only a short distance away,’ Robert assured her. ‘I’ve booked a table in the Ritz’s restaurant for eight o’clock this evening and I thought we might have a look at a new exhibition in the Royal Academy this afternoon.’

  Diana closed her eyes for a moment as the taxi rattled past Green Park. ‘I hope this isn’t a wonderful dream that I’ll wake up from in a minute.’

  Robert squeezed her hand. ‘If it is I’m having the same dream,’ he whispered.

  Rehearsals were over for the day and all the dancers had congregated in one of the larger dressing rooms, where they could do their make-up and change out of their leotards and pink tights into pretty dresses, stockings and evening shoes with Louis heels. Shrill voices were asking each other what they were doing because this was their last evening of being free to go to parties. Soon they’d be performing until ten o’clock, by which time all they’d want to do was crawl exhausted into bed.