Deceit of Angels

by Julia Bell

  “That you’re expecting a baby.”

  Anna spun round. “Expecting a baby! What makes you think that?”

  Irene gave a knowing smile and tapped her nose. “Fran said she found ginger biscuits in your room. And ginger is a good remedy for sickness.”

  “I like ginger biscuits,” said Anna scornfully.

  Irene shrugged. “OK, I admit it! I saw you coming out of the doctors and I knew it was antenatal day.”

  Anna groaned. “Oh, Irene, I need to keep it a secret.”

  “I won’t tell, miss. I won’t even mention it to my husband. But it’s going to get very awkward as you get bigger. Someone in Wedmore is going to notice and news travels fast round these parts.”

  Anna thought for a moment. “Then I’ll not go out unless it’s absolutely necessary. I shall stay in the Grange and never go further than the grounds.”

  “Well, the grounds are big enough for you to get plenty of fresh air and exercise,” said Irene pursing her lips. “But that kind of secret is bound to come out soon.”

  Shaking her head sadly, Irene took Anna’s empty coffee mug and they both made their way back down to the kitchen.

  The first wedding at the Grange turned out to be a great success. The day was beautiful, crisp and clear with a vivid blue sky. The bride looked stunning and the groom looked handsome. All in all it was a perfect day and when the guests departed and the staff were clearing up, Anna went to the library feeling satisfied.

  “Well done!” said Margaret from the doorway. “You should be very pleased with yourself.”

  “I really enjoyed it,” smiled Anna. “There’s no more now until March, but after that they come thick and fast.”

  Margaret came further into the room. “I’ve just had a call from Jason. He’s decided to take Hollie on a trip to Florida, to visit Disney World for two weeks.”

  “Sounds lovely.”

  “So, how about you phoning your family and asking them to visit?”

  Anna could hardly speak with surprise. “I would love to see them.”

  “Then it’s decided. It’s about time you saw your sons again.”

  Anna was suddenly filled with doubts. “Please don’t tell them about the baby. I want to tell them in my own time.” She bit her lip hoping that Margaret wouldn’t be offended, but all she received was a complacent nod.

  The second weekend that Jason and Hollie were away, Anna’s mother, sister and two sons arrived at the Grange.

  Her mother and sister were impressed with the Grange and Anna spent hours showing them round and telling them about her work. Enquiries about Jason made the situation a little uncomfortable, since obviously they wanted to meet the new man in her life after hearing so much about him from the boys. But Anna kept her secret and said that he was out of the country, which was the truth. Thankfully, no further questions were asked.

  The talk round the dinner table that first evening was convivial at first.

  “Why are you working here now?” asked Martyn, glancing round the impressive dining room, decorated in soft creams and beige. “Not that I begrudge you, it’s a beautiful place.”

  His mother smiled. “I’m helping Margaret sort out the weddings. She has lots to do what with the business seminars and such like.”

  Margaret grinned at the boys. “And while your mum is here you must come and visit any time you wish. You’ll always be welcome.”

  The twins nodded in appreciation. But then the conversation turned to their parents’ divorce.

  “How long do you think it’ll be?” said Chris. Martyn had already told her that of the two of them, Chris was taking the divorce a little harder.

  Anna grimaced. “I’ve been told it will be over by the summer.” She put her arm round her younger son and brushed the blond hair from his forehead forgetting that he was nearly nineteen. His expression told her how sad he felt and her heart ached. “I’m sorry to have to put you through this.”

  “But you still did!” laughed her mother sarcastically.

  “Mum!” said Elaine sharply. “We agreed it would be a pleasant visit and no bad feelings.”

  Her mother shrugged. “It needs to be said.”

  Anna turned on her. “Elaine is right. Please don’t spoil your visit. And besides, I did what I thought best.”

  Her mother grimaced. “I know you’re enjoying this new life of yours, Anna. And I can see why. But I think it’s better to persevere with a marriage. It’s for better or worse, you know.”

  Margaret felt she ought to intervene. “But sometimes it’s better to end a marriage that makes a woman unhappy and it’s worse for the children if she struggles trying to make it work.”

  Anna cast her a warm smile.

  “Dave’s not a bad husband,” insisted her mother. “He’s always been a good provider and she’s never done without. She didn’t need to work!”

  “Mum, I told you. He’s a womaniser,” whispered Elaine.

  Her mother gave an exaggerated sigh. “Well, it was different in my day. You just got on with it no matter what your husband was like. A woman was happy just to have a husband what with the war and everything.”

  Anna was glad when Margaret suggested driving the boys and Anna’s mother to see the farm and she was able to have a peaceful chat with Elaine. Since Elaine was a midwife and they had always been close, Anna decided to tell her about her pregnancy. They were walking round the garden when she made her confession.

  “I’m due at the beginning of September, but I haven’t told Mum or the boys yet.”

  “But you must tell her. She’ll love being a grandma again.”

  “Perhaps, but she’s not pleased about my divorce and I can’t imagine her being delighted about me having a child out of wedlock. It will be too much like the first time!”

  Elaine gave a gentle laugh. “Mum can be old fashioned that way.”

  “I wondered if you’d tell her, but a little later on?”

  Elaine squeezed her hand. “Of course. I can’t wait to meet this new man of yours.” A thought suddenly occurred to her. “I suppose you’re going to have to postpone your wedding if you’re pregnant?”

  Anna nodded not wanting to get into any conversation about Jason. “I’ll be going for a scan in April, so after that you can tell Mum.”

  “Are you going to ask the sex of the baby?” said Elaine, her eyes shining.

  “I’m not sure. Probably not.”

  “Oh well, keeps it a surprise I suppose.” She studied the Grange and gave a low whistle. “Mind you, if it’s a boy, he’s going to inherit one hell of a fortune when he grows up.”

  Anna smiled. “Perhaps.” She swallowed hard at the thought of how things should have been. “I’d like to have the baby here.”

  Elaine turned abruptly to face her. “No, Anna! You need to be in hospital.”

  “I’ll be well looked after, better than any hospital.”

  “You haven’t had a baby for a long time so your body is starting from scratch. It’ll be like having a first baby again and the doctor won’t know what’s going to happen.”

  Anna was adamant. “I know it will be OK.”

  Elaine shook her head. “You’re risking your baby’s life as well as your own! You’re a lot older now, there might be complications.”

  “Can you come down and deliver it?”

  Elaine smiled and linking her arm through Anna’s, they carried on walking.

  “I can’t I’m afraid. I’m not authorised to deliver babies down here. You’ll have your own midwife.”

  “Sister Davenport is very good, very competent.”

  “And the doctor?”

  “Doctor Orchard is wonderful. He’s a friend of the family.”

  “Then I suggest you talk to him and see what he suggests. But I reckon he’ll advise you to book into a hospital where there’s the facilities in case anything goes wrong.”

  “Nothing is going to go wrong.”

  “Well, let’s hope not!”

/>   After her family had left, Anna had to reflect that the visit hadn’t gone as she had thought. She had not realised that her mother would be so hostile to her divorce, or Elaine so against her having a home birth. On the subject of her giving birth at the Grange, she knew everything would be fine. But more than that, she had convinced herself that if she had the baby in Jason’s boyhood home, then Jason would turn out to be the father.

  “I think it definitely looks like a boy,” said Margaret, bringing the car to a halt at traffic lights.

  “How can you tell?” laughed Anna. “It could be just as much a girl.”

  “No, it’s the way he’s punching the air with his fist. Reminds me of Jason at school when he won an event on sport’s day. He used to do just that.”

  Anna smiled and looked down again at the scan picture. The trip to the hospital had gone very well and the radiographer had confirmed that she was expecting a healthy child with nothing to worry about. But she had declined his offer of knowing the child’s sex. That could wait until the birth.

  “I want the baby at the Grange,” she said quietly.

  This sudden statement caused Margaret to grind the gears. “But I thought you were booked in at the hospital?”

  “I am but I’ve told Doctor Orchard and the midwife that I want a home delivery. The hospital is only a precaution in case anything goes wrong during my pregnancy.”

  Margaret stayed silent for a good thirty seconds. “I really don’t like that idea, Anna.”

  “Well, you’re not the only one. Doctor Orchard and Sister Davenport felt just the same.”

  “I don’t blame them. In fact, I can imagine Colin being very reluctant. It was his father who tried to deliver my first child and we all know how that went!”

  Anna was more positive. “Ah, but the sister finally agreed that I’m having a text book pregnancy and I’m very healthy. She had to admit that she couldn’t see any problems with having the baby at the Grange and she told Doctor Orchard that.”

  “So, Colin agreed?”

  “Not exactly. He said he’s not going to promise anything until two weeks before the baby is due. If everything is OK then, he’ll make his decision.” She thought for a moment. “And you mustn’t forget I’ve given birth to two babies in the past and I was fine with them.”

  “But I’m sure you didn’t have the twins at home.”

  Anna shook her head slowly. “No, I didn’t. But they could have been born at home, labour and birth were very much straightforward.”

  “You sound as though you’ve made up your mind.”

  Anna stroked the coin now hanging round her neck on a silver chain. “I really would like this baby at the Grange. But I want you to be happy about it.”

  Margaret gave a sad sigh. “My little Christina didn’t live long enough to draw her first breath.”

  Anna looked down at the photo again. “I realise that. But that was over fifty years ago and it’s different now. Doctors are better trained. And besides, it’ll only happen if my pregnancy gives no cause for concern. That’s Doctor Orchard’s very words.”

  Margaret smiled. “It would be nice to have a baby born at the Grange. And a boy!”

  “You’re obsessed with boys,” giggled Anna.

  Margaret hesitated for a moment before saying, “You’re still wearing your engagement ring.”

  “Can’t get it off. My fingers have swollen a little.”

  Margaret gave a half-smile. “Any more thoughts about telling Jason?” she said, after a minute of silence.

  Anna looked out of the window watching the people rush by on their various errands. She decided to answer a question with a question. “Does he ever mention me when he visits?”

  “Never. Although Hollie talks about you constantly.”

  Anna smiled. “I miss her so much.”

  “And Jason?”

  Anna glanced at Margaret. How could she admit that she missed him with a longing that drove her crazy? That she ached for the man she loved and yearned to feel him close, especially at night when she was alone in bed. How could she explain how much she had wanted to run into his arms every time he had visited and confess everything?

  “He still thinks I had an affair.”

  “But he never speaks of it. Perhaps he’s had second thoughts. Perhaps he’s realised that he misjudged you terribly. ”

  “Somehow, I don’t think so. If he’d changed his mind, then he would have said something to you.”

  “I might be his mother, but he doesn’t tell me everything.”

  They had reached the gates of the Grange and Anna smiled as they passed through. Spring had arrived, the bluebells and primroses carpeting the meadows and woodlands, the daffodils and tulips blooming either side of the drive and in the garden. All around her the world was bursting into life, the trees just starting to bud with cherry blossom. But then her smile faded at the thought that Jason had put her into the past along with Kiera. He thought her a faithless woman and he would never forgive her.

  “You’ve lost another one!” Graham studied his business partner with concerned eyes, this state of affairs couldn’t go on for too long.

  “I’m sorry, I did my best,” said Jason dryly.

  “I don’t think you did. You’ve not been right since Christmas. In fact, not since you and Anna separated.”

  “Anna has nothing to do with it! It’s more difficult to win contracts now. There’s more competition.”

  Graham knew he was making excuses. “That’s not the case!” He checked the computer. “We’ve lost three contracts in as many months. If this carries on, we’ll all be looking for new jobs.”

  “We’ve got the Singapore contract.”

  “Thank goodness for that! But it won’t keep everyone occupied. The last thing we want is to start laying people off.”

  Jason was sitting in Graham’s office. The trip he had just come back from had been an unmitigated disaster. He had not clinched the deal and worse than that, their main competitor had won it instead. He glanced through the glass partition separating Graham from the main office. The employees of Harrington Rhodes Shipping Agents were going about their business as usual. He knew most of them by name and his heart sank at the thought of them losing their livelihoods. They depended on him and he was letting them down.

  “I’m going for another in a few weeks.”

  Graham shook his head. “It’s only a small one.” He studied his partner carefully. “You don’t seem to be motivated any more. It’s as though you’ve completely lost interest in the business.”

  “That’s not true!” Jason leaned back in his chair rubbing his forehead, trying to ease his splitting head. But deep down he knew Graham was right. He had lost his ambition, his drive to achieve.

  Zahra, Graham’s secretary came in with some aspirin and Jason took them from her gratefully, swallowing them with a glass of water Graham had poured for him.

  Graham let out a breath. “Well, at the moment everything’s just steady. Harrington Rhodes is still doing OK. But we can’t afford to lose any more contracts.”

  “I know, you don’t have to tell me that,” Jason sighed.

  Graham stared down at the document on his desk.

  “We’ve had an offer. From Matthew Gilbert in San Francisco. A very good offer actually, to buy us out. Of course, we would stay on as directors, but we would be fairly rich men…”

  “You want to sell the business?” Jason sat forward in his seat.

  Graham shrugged. “It is a good offer. It will certainly solve our current financial problems.”

  Jason narrowed his eyes at him. “Matthew Gilbert? Isn’t that an advertising firm run by Deborah’s father?”

  Graham nodded. “A huge advertising company. Its turnover is billions per year.”

  “Why are they interested in a shipping agency?”

  “I’ll remember to ask next time they call. But it’s something to think about.”

  “No, it’s not! Sell our company! We
started this business from almost nothing and we’ve done well.”

  “Up to now!”

  Jason stood, wanting to go home. “No, Graham. We’ll bounce back. I promise you that. It won’t be necessary to sell us out, especially not to the father of Deborah Gilbert-Hines.”

  But he didn’t go home. Instead he stopped at a wine bar just near the city centre. He craved some peace and quiet, a moment to himself. Going back to Bishop Sutton didn’t hold the attraction it once had and besides, if he waited a little longer, Natalie would have left. He couldn’t face her sombreness, not today, and certainly not after Graham’s proposals.

  Jason made himself comfortable at the end of the bar and absorbed himself in his newspaper, trying to forget the terrible day he had had. Ten minutes went by before a light touch on his arm brought his attention back.

  “Would you like to buy me a drink?” He looked up to see a woman with large, almond eyes smiling at him. “A gin and tonic would be nice.” Jason frowned slightly, the woman looked familiar. “Have you forgotten me? It’s Thalia!”

  Jason smiled back, folded his newspaper and ordered the required drink. “Now, fancy meeting you here after all these years.”

  “I’ve been trying to get your attention for the last five minutes,” she laughed. “But you seemed to be in a world of your own.”

  They talked for the next forty minutes. Jason and Thalia had met at university when he was in his final year. They had been an item for only three months since Thalia was of a restless nature and couldn’t seem to settle with one man for too long. And it seemed she hadn’t changed. With two brief marriages behind her, she still had that haunted look of a woman on an endless quest for happiness. But Jason was starting to enjoy her company. As they reminisced over old times, he suddenly realised that she was flirting with him and he was enjoying that too. He had missed the male-female teasing and she was distracting him from his problems, easing the pain. And for that, he was very thankful.

  By the end of an hour she was leaning against him, her hand on his shoulder. He knew that she was sitting too close, he could smell her perfume and the softness of her body filled him with desire. He desperately wanted to forget the last four months, wanted to fill his mind with new images instead of the constant ache he had for a certain blonde who was now hundreds of miles away and perhaps, with someone new.