Harriet found the bunny slippers Annabel wanted, and took her downstairs to the vast magazine-illustration kitchen. She put the child into her special chair, had a look in the fridge and found a very tempting salad obviously meant for the babysitter, also several possibilities for the child’s lunch. ‘What would you like, darling? Pasta? Scrambled eggs?’
‘Banana, please,’ stated Annabel hoarsely.
Resisting the urge to feel the child’s forehead again, Harriet sliced a banana and took the dish over to the table with a small pot of yoghurt. ‘There. Can you feed yourself, darling, or shall I help you?’
‘You help.’ Annabel looked up at Harriet in appeal. ‘Can I sit on your lap? My chair’s hurting me.’
This was worrying news. ‘Of course. In fact, shall we have a little treat and take a tray into the snug, so you can watch one of your DVDs while you eat?’
Annabel brightened. ‘On your lap.’
Whatever worked, thought Harriet. With a cartoon film on the television to distract her patient, she managed to feed her half of the banana and a little of the yoghurt, but the process was very slow, and by the time she’d given Annabel a drink the little girl was ready to sleep again.
‘Medicine first,’ said Harriet firmly, ‘then you can have a nap.’
‘Down here with you!’
‘You bet.’
Annabel shed a few tears before the medicine was safely down, but Harriet settled down with her on the sofa, with book, tissues and water bottle in reach, and breathed a sigh of relief when the little body relaxed against her. She cradled the hot little head against her shoulder and smiled at the next inevitable demand.
‘Story, Auntie. Please,’ the child pleaded, her voice so hoarse Harriet felt a sharp stab of misgiving. This was surely more than a little cold.
‘Once upon a time,’ she began softly, ‘there were three little girls who lived in a lovely big house by the river …’ This was an ongoing saga every time she saw Annabel, and the fictional idyll of happy little girls was the only story the child ever wanted, but this time she fell asleep shortly after Harriet began. The fair head grew heavy, and Harriet abandoned any idea of reading as she held the child safe in a reassuring embrace, trusting in nature’s remedy of sleep.
It was the only peaceful interlude of the afternoon.
When Sophie hadn’t returned by four Harriet decided to ring the number Gervase had given her, but before she could get out her phone Annabel threw up and it took some time to get the child washed and in a fresh nightie and persuade her to drink some water.
‘Let’s ask Daddy and Mummy to come home, shall we?’
‘Want you to stay, Auntie,’ croaked Annabel.
‘Let’s get Mummy and Daddy home, then we’ll see, darling.’
When Harriet spoke to Gervase, he was remorseful. ‘Lord, I’m sorry, Harriet. We should have left long before now. I’ll round up Sophie right away. It’s a fair little walk, but we’ll be as quick as we can.’
Thinking of Sophie’s towering heels, Harriet took that with a pinch of salt, but to her surprise they arrived soon afterwards and Sophie came rushing into the snug, screeching when she felt Annabel’s forehead.
‘What were you thinking of?’ she accused Harriet. ‘Why on earth didn’t you ring us sooner?’
‘When you hadn’t come home by four, as promised, I was just about to do so when Annabel was sick again and I took time to clean her up. You need to call your doctor right now,’ said Harriet firmly.
Gervase took out his phone as he hurried in. ‘I’ll do that.’ Sophie tried to pick up Annabel but she clung to Harriet.
‘Want Auntie!’
‘Well, that’s nice, I must say—’ Sophie swallowed convulsively and clapped a hand to her mouth as she ran for the door. Gervase rolled his eyes.
‘A surfeit of Pimms on top of lobster. I stuck to beer, myself—’ He broke off and spoke into the phone, and Harriet sat down again with Annabel.
Gervase thanked someone profusely and closed the phone, raking a hand through his hair distractedly as he looked down at his unhappy little daughter. ‘The doctor on call will be here as soon as he can, thank God. Because I wasn’t driving for once, I indulged a bit too much to get Annabel to his surgery.’ His mouth twisted as he bent to stroke his daughter’s damp hair. ‘We shouldn’t have gone out and left her.’
‘Sophie said it was important for you to be there.’
‘I was able to do some useful networking, certainly. But hell, none of that mattered as much as Annabel. I wouldn’t have left her with anyone else but you, Harriet, Pilar included.’
‘Thank you. How did you get here so quickly? You must have run all the way.’
‘We got a lift from one of the other guests—which reminds me, I’ve left him kicking his heels in the drawing room.’ He looked up as Sophie returned, looking pale. ‘Feeling better?’
‘The lobster must have disagreed with me,’ she said, bridling at the look he gave her.
‘Or you had a drink too many! I did too, which was incredibly irresponsible of both of us when our child is ill.’
‘I knew she was all right with Harriet,’ said Sophie defensively.
Gervase looked down at the flushed, tearstained face of his daughter. ‘But she’s not all right, is she? We shouldn’t have gone.’
‘You said it was important that we did.’
‘Important for me, not for both of us. You could have stayed home for once.’
Sophie promptly burst into tears, which started Annabel sobbing again.
‘Don’t cry, darling,’ soothed Harriet. ‘Mummy’s got a headache and needs to make some tea.’ She looked pointedly at Sophie. ‘I’d like some, too.’
Sophie’s tears dried at the stern look her husband gave her. ‘Right,’ she said thickly, and patted her daughter’s head on the way out. ‘Mummy will bring you more juice.’
‘Perhaps you could top up our Good Samaritan’s drink at the same time,’ called her husband.
‘Could you take Annabel for a moment, Gervase?’ Harriet smiled. ‘I need a bathroom break.’
‘Oh, God, yes, give her to me.’ He stripped off his jacket and took his protesting daughter from Harriet. ‘There, there, sweetheart. Auntie won’t be long.’
As Harriet passed the drawing room on the way back from the bathroom Sophie came to the door, beckoning to Harriet. ‘Come and meet James Crawford, who kindly gave us a lift from the party. James, this is my sister, Harriet Wilde—but then, you know that already,’ Sophie added with her tinkling social laugh, then turned as the doorbell rang. ‘That must be the doctor. Do excuse me.’
James, elegant in a light linen suit, looked at Harriet in silence for a moment. ‘I’m obviously in the way here; I should go. But when you rang your sister was in such a panic I offered to drive them.’
‘Of course. Very good of you.’
Gervase hurried in. ‘Sorry to interrupt, Crawford, the doctor needs some information from Harriet.’
When Harriet ran into the snug Annabel struggled away from her mother’s embrace and held out her arms.
‘Don’t like the man, Auntie,’ she sobbed, and the doctor smiled ruefully.
‘My bedside manner isn’t working today. I gather you were looking after Annabel this afternoon, Miss Wilde. What have you given her?’
Sophie handed her unhappy child to Harriet. ‘I told you exactly when to give her the medicine. I hope you remembered.’
Harriet shot her a scathing look over the child’s head. ‘Of course I remembered. Annabel had half a banana and a little yoghurt at twelve-thirty, Doctor, after which I gave her a dose. She slept for a while but woke up coughing. She was restless and clingy all afternoon from them on, and very hot. She complained of tummy ache and said her back hurt. I gave her another dose at four, but shortly afterwards she vomited so I kept to sips of water from then on until her parents arrived home.’
Gervase hurried in to join them, looking every year of his age for once. �
�What’s wrong with her, Doctor?’
‘There’s a virus going round with all the symptoms your daughter’s presenting. Not much to be done except give her plenty of fluids and keep her as quiet as possible while nature takes its course, I’m afraid.’ The weary young man picked up his bag. ‘Must get on. Contact the practice tomorrow if you need more help.’
Sophie saw the doctor out and hurried back, eyeing Harriet hopefully. ‘Could you stay for a while?’
‘Only until Annabel goes to bed. Do you think I could have that tea now, Sophie?’
‘Oh, gosh, yes, of course. I’ll get it now.’
‘Are you sure about this, Harriet?’ Gervase looked concerned. ‘You’re working tomorrow.’
Harriet looked down at the flushed sleeping face on her breast. ‘I’ll stay until she settles. I really hate that word virus. We depend on antibiotics so much, but in this instance they’re useless.’
Sophie looked annoyed when she came back with a tea tray. ‘I took such trouble over the salad I made for you, Harriet, but you haven’t touched it.’
‘Annabel got so upset if I tried to move I never managed to get to the bathroom, let alone eat anything,’ she explained.
‘Give her to me,’ said Gervase firmly. ‘I’ll have her while you drink your tea. Sophie, get your sister something to eat.’
‘Some of that tempting salad would be good, please,’ said Harriet, ‘but don’t bother bringing it in; I can come to the kitchen.’
‘You’re the one Annabel wants, obviously, so you’d better stay here,’ said Sophie, and flounced out of the room.
‘Sophie’s suffering from guilt pangs,’ sighed Gervase.
As well she might, thought Harriet. She downed a cup of tea, and smiled. ‘Gosh, I needed that. Now give her to me. You should get back to your guest.’
Gervase carefully handed the drowsy child over. ‘I think I’d better start thinking of a replacement for Pilar,’ he said quietly. ‘If the mother’s very ill she might not come back.’
Sophie gasped in horror as she came in. ‘Don’t say that, Gervase. Annabel will be lost without her. So shall I,’ she added mournfully, putting a small tray down beside Harriet.
‘Thank you, Sophie.’
‘I’ll see if Crawford would like another drink,’ said Gervase, and hurried from the room.
‘I know what you’re thinking, Harriet, but Gervase made some important contacts, so it was a very good thing we went to the party,’ Sophie said belligerently. ‘And, talking of parties, why were we left out of the one at River House?’
Harriet shrugged. ‘The invitations were from James Crawford, nothing to do with me, Sophie. Father was keen to go and I went purely to make sure nothing went wrong as far as the house and gardens were concerned. The party was such a success it got a lot of publicity in the press.’ She gave her sister a significant look. ‘And I now have money for the roof.’
Sophie climbed down instantly. ‘Does that mean Daddy won’t have to sell?’
‘It’s a start. Julia is bringing her people down for a shoot soon, and Charlotte Brewster has other things lined up after that, so for the time being the outlook is a bit brighter.’
‘Oh, thank God,’ sighed Sophie. ‘Is Daddy pleased?’
‘Delighted,’ Harriet assured her. ‘This looks delicious, Sophie, but I’d rather we got Annabel to bed before I eat anything.’
‘Fine. You go on up and I’ll join you once I’ve had a word with James Crawford.’ Sophie eyed her sister speculatively. ‘You never mentioned that you’d already met him, by the way.’
‘It was such a long time ago I’d forgotten,’ said Harriet casually, and carried the sleeping child from the room. ‘Be careful you don’t disturb Annabel when you come back up, because I need to leave …’
But Sophie was already hurrying across the hall to the drawing room. Harriet mounted the stairs slowly, careful not to disturb her little burden, but the moment she tried to put Annabel down in her pretty bed the child made pitiful little moans of protest. With a sigh Harriet sat down with her in a rocking chair and stroked the tangled curls until Annabel was finally quiet. The child made no protest when she was transferred to her bed at last but Harriet waited a few minutes longer, praying that Sophie would be quiet when she came in. Twenty minutes later there was no sign of her sister so Harriet took one last look at the flushed, sleeping little face and went downstairs to the drawing room, where Sophie was busy pumping James for all the details she could get about the party.
She flushed guiltily as Harriet arrived. ‘There you are! Is Annabel asleep now?’
‘Yes. But go carefully as you check on her.’
‘We will,’ said Gervase, smiling remorsefully at Harriet. He took his wife by the hand. ‘Excuse us for a moment, Crawford.’
The moment they were alone James led Harriet to a sofa. ‘For God’s sake sit down; you look exhausted.’
Which meant she was a wreck. Harriet sank back against the cushions gratefully. ‘It’s been a worrying day. Annabel is very unwell, poor scrap.’
James sat beside her. ‘Not my business, of course, but if the child was that ill why did your sister go out and leave her?’
Good question. ‘Sophie knew Annabel would be safe with me.’
He looked unconvinced. ‘I didn’t see your car outside.’
‘It wouldn’t start this morning,’ she said, yawning. ‘I came by taxi.’
‘In that case I’ll drive you home. Or are you staying the night?’
‘I can’t. I’m seeing a client first thing.’ She frowned. ‘Look, James, it’s very kind of you, but I can’t let you make a double journey like that.’
‘I won’t have to. There’s a bed always ready for me at the Old Rectory.’ James got to his feet as Gervase came back into the room. ‘How’s your little girl?’
‘Sleeping, thank God. Harriet, could you pop upstairs? Sophie wants a word.’
‘Of course.’ Harriet smiled politely at James. ‘If you’re gone before I come back down I’ll say goodbye now.’
‘I’m in no hurry,’ he assured her.
‘Good man,’ said Gervase, shrewd eyes looking from one to the other. ‘Since you’re driving, Crawford, how about some coffee?’
In Annabel’s room, Sophie touched a finger to her lips and led her sister outside onto the landing. ‘Please stay the night, Harriet. I’m going to need some help with Annabel, and you’re so good with her.’
‘Sorry; I must get back. I’ve got a meeting with a client first thing in the morning.’
‘Your job is more important than helping look after your niece?’ demanded Sophie with her usual drama.
‘A mere party today was more important to you than staying home with your daughter,’ Harriet pointed out. ‘Look, Sophie, I love Annabel dearly, but my job is the way I earn my living. I have to go home.’
‘Oh, very well, but you’ll be lucky to get a taxi to take you that far at this time on a Sunday!’ said Sophie petulantly, unaware that her statement made her sister’s mind up.
‘James Crawford has kindly offered to drive me back,’ Harriet told her.
Sophie’s eyes widened. ‘All that way and back again tonight?’
‘No. He’ll stay overnight at his sister’s house in Wood End.’
‘In that case I’d better let you go,’ said Sophie reluctantly, and then touched Harriet’s hand. ‘I am grateful, really. Thank you for looking after Annabel.’
‘I won’t say I enjoyed it because she was so poorly, but I’m always happy to spend time with her. She’s a darling. I’ll give you a ring tomorrow to see how she is.’
Harriet took a few minutes in the bathroom to wash her face, had a last peep at her sleeping niece, and then followed her sister downstairs to the drawing room. She smiled brightly at James. ‘Sorry to keep you waiting. I’ll just collect my belongings.’
Without missing a beat, James turned to Sophie to express his good wishes for her daughter’s recovery, shook Gervase’s
hand, and took charge of Harriet’s tote bag.
‘So what changed your mind?’ he asked as they set off.
‘Sophie wanted me to stay the night.’
‘A ride home with me was the lesser of two evils?’
She shook her head. ‘Not at all—I’m very grateful to you, James.’
‘You surprised me by announcing you were ready to leave.’
‘You didn’t look surprised.’
‘I’ve learned to hide my feelings over the years.’
‘So have I,’ she said bitterly.
‘I could tell that the day I came to your office. You must have been shattered to find I was the man who wanted to hire your house, but you never turned a hair.’
‘That wasn’t the worst part of the deal,’ she assured him. ‘When you got up to make a speech at your party, for one horrible moment I thought you were going to tell the world you’d hired River House as a way of humiliating my family.’
He shot an appalled stare at her. ‘Good God! Surely you knew me better than that, Harriet?’
‘The man I once knew, yes, but I hardly recognised the James I knew in the man you’ve become.’
‘Obviously, if you actually thought I’d subject you to such public humiliation. And quite apart from that, only a fool would ruin the party before it had even started. I may be many things but I’m no fool. At least not any more,’ he said, in a tone that tied her stomach in knots. ‘For your information, Miss Wilde, the well-being of my workforce is a damned sight more important to me than any half-cocked ideas about revenge.’
The rest of the journey passed in silence so tense after that Harriet could have cried with joy when James turned up the drive to the Lodge.
‘Thank you so much for driving me home,’ she said, and slid out of the car before he could help her.
‘Not at all,’ he said distantly, and handed her the tote bag. ‘I hope your niece gets better quickly.’
‘So do I.’ Harriet’s hand shook as she unlocked the door. Unable to look up to meet the eyes she knew would be coldly hostile, she muttered goodbye and would have dived inside like a sinner seeking sanctuary but James took her hand.
A Wicked Persuasion Page 10
