'Saul! Saul, over here … '
A tall, dark-haired woman was waving to them, and Lucy felt her heart jump and then almost stand still as she recognised in his mother her resemblance both to Saul and to her own father.
So this was Saul's mother … her aunt. Tanned and slim, she was elegantly dressed in walking shorts and a patterned top, her hair elegantly styled, her fingernails gleaming with polish. Against her Lucy felt untidy and drab, conscious of the fact that her hair was probably curling in the humidity and her nose shining. And then, as she was unexpectedly enveloped in a warm hug, she saw past the elegant façade to the woman beyond, and a tiny glimmer of hope began to grow inside her. Saul's mother didn't dislike or resent her.
She was released and held at arm's length, to be studied by twinkling grey eyes, very like Saul's.
'A true Martin by the looks of you, Lucy. That must have pleased your father.' A faint shadow crossed the grey eyes.
'For all that we didn't see eye to eye, I would have come to his funeral if Harry hadn't been so ill. I hated missing it. He was my brother, after all.
'What on earth are you going to call me?' Suddenly she was more practical, as she teased, 'I don't suppose many girls get their aunt as their mother-in-law. Perhaps you should just call me Sophy as Harry's girls do?'
'Save the chit chat for later, Ma,' Saul advised, coming between them to soften his words by kissing her on the cheeks. 'Lucy isn't used to our humidity yet, and she'll probably pass out on us if we leave her standing out here much longer.'
His mother was instantly apologetic. 'Lucy, forgive me, in all the excitement I forgot. Yes, you do look dreadfully pale you poor thing. Saul's told me about the baby … ' Her smile was warmly encouraging. 'I admit at first I was somewhat surprised-Saul isn't normally so unorthodox-but after all what could be nicer than getting a niece, a daughter-in-law and a grandchild all at once?'
Chatting away she led the way to her car, smoothing over Lucy's embarrassment and discomfort, making her feel as though she was indeed very welcome. It went a long way to offsetting the anxiety she had endured during the flight, and as she got into the car Lucy could almost feel the tension draining out of her.
Saul's mother drove with a competence Lucy envied when she studied the heavy traffic, explaining as she drove that their home was several miles away in a small new township near the coast.
The car's air-conditioning was blessedly cool after the heat of the airport.
'How's Harry?' Saul questioned his mother as they left the freeway and turned on to a more minor road.
'Better, but fretting to get back to work-you know what he's like. Dr Schlinder's told him he must rest and build up his strength before they can operate.'
She turned to Lucy and said soberly, 'Harry, my husband, has a problem with two heart valves. He will be having an operation to replace them but Matt Schlinder, our doctor, believes in getting his patients just as fit as he can before putting them in for surgery, and Harry doesn't have a lot of patience, I'm afraid. Saul being away has made things worse-Saul's just about the only person he trusts to handle his business affairs properly, which was why he had to come rushing back over here.
'There were problems on one of the construction sites, and it was heading for a real labour confrontation. Harry was worrying so much I was afraid he would have a relapse. I'm sorry I had to drag Saul away from you like that, virtually in the middle of the night.' She turned to her son and said affectionately, 'It was lucky you were able to get that early morning flight, Saul. I was really beginning to panic.'
Lucy glanced across at her husband. He was frowning slightly as he looked out of the window. She hadn't realised he had left the Manor so hurriedly-was that why he hadn't contacted her? Could he have been called away that same night that they had made love? Hope clutched tightly at her stomach and then faded away to make room for pain as she remembered that even if by some coincidence Saul had been called away that night he could always have telephoned her, or written to her. He could even have contacted her on his return … But no, if she hadn't gone up to the Manor and accidentally bumped into him, she doubted that she would ever have seen him again.
'Nearly there,' Saul's mother commented, mistaking her unhappy silence for tiredness.
'I've told the girls definitely no visitors tonight,' she added, smiling at Lucy. 'They're dying to meet you.' She looked past Lucy to grin at her son. 'Meryl says you've won her twenty dollars. Apparently she bet Christie that much twelve years ago, when you first went over to England, that you'd fallen for Lucy, and now she claims she was right. You'll find my stepdaughters are inclined to be rather outspoken,' she told Lucy. 'An American habit that I still find startling at times. They accuse me of being too British and "buttoned-up" and claim that I've brought Saul up the same way, which is why he's chosen to marry a British girl.'
They were driving through a new township now, and Lucy looked around with interest, wondering if this was the sort of place where she and Saul would eventually make their home.
As yet she had barely thought beyond the initial stages of their marriage, but now she had a bleak picture of the years ahead, empty of love and warmth, and she had to close her eyes against the tears prickling her eyelids.
'Nearly there.'
Sophy Bradford turned off the main road into one lined with grass verges and trees, with large houses set well back from it on both sides.
She turned into the drive of one of them, activating the automatic gates. Trees and shrubs hid the house from view, but, as they drove past well-tended flower beds and lawns, Lucy recognised the expensive gloss of wealth and good taste.
The house was long and low, its walls white, and embellished with delicate iron grilles and balconies.
'This place was built in the thirties by a wealthy bootlegger. We bought it five years ago when Harry first retired from the business. It's too large for us really, but neither of us likes cramped surroundings.' She stopped in front of the house and, as they got out of the car the main door was opened by a smiling Mexican maid.
'This is Elena,' Sophy told her, introducing the maid. 'She and her husband, Tomás, run the house for us. Come on in. Is my husband in his study?' she asked the maid as Lucy and Saul followed her inside.
'No, I'm here.'
Harry Bradford was not much taller than his wife, his skin tanned and seamed by years of exposure to the elements, his hair grey. He looked frail, Lucy thought as she stepped forward to be introduced to him, but as she recognised the integrity and astuteness in his eyes she realised why Saul was so fond of him. Instinctively she knew she was in the presence of a man who lived his life by a strict code of ethics. Here was a man who was probably a little old-fashioned in his attitude towards her sex, but who would always treat people with consideration and respect.
'So this is the girl who finally brought you down, eh, Saul? You're very welcome here, my dear,' he told Lucy. 'Very welcome indeed. I've been telling this young hell-raiser for years that it's high time he settled down.'
'We'll have dinner in an hour, Elena,' Sophy told the maid. 'Would you ask Tomás to take the bags to the guest suite?'
'You'll want to shower and change before we eat,' Sophy told Lucy. 'I'll show you to your room while these two catch up on business.'
∗ ∗ ∗
The guest suite was at the far end of the house overlooking beautifully tended lawns and flower beds.
'The pool area is over there to the right,' Sophy told Lucy, as she stood next to her in front of the french windows of an attractively furnished private sitting-room. 'And beyond it is the tennis court. Do you play?'
'Not much,' Lucy confessed. 'Although I was keen on it at school.'
'Well it's the latest craze around here. Anyone who's anyone belongs to one or other of the local clubs; most of my contemporaries have private coaching as well. Of course you won't be wanting to involve yourself in any sports at the moment, but later … after the baby arrives …
'The business takes Saul away quite a lot, visiting the various construction sites, and you'll find it helpful to have a circle of friends of your own. When you eventually find a house, I recommend you join the local country club. It takes a while to make the adjustment from the English way of life to the American-I know. But don't fall into the trap that I did, of isolating yourself completely from everyone. My first husband had to travel a great deal, and I was on my own with Saul when he did. I found I became very lonely. Of course I know you'll have your writing, but that is a very solitary occupation.'