The wisdom in her mother’s words makes undeniable sense and Victoria looks at her mother worriedly. ‘But he took her to the Craft ball!’
Her mother looks at her with narrowed eyes. ‘How do you know that?’
Victoria looks away. Gently, she lowers Suki to the ground.
Her mother sighs and throws an imperial mint on the floor. Immediately Suki catches it in her mouth and crunches it. ‘You’ve had him followed. You are playing a dangerous game, Victoria. What does she look like?’
‘A slut.’
Her mother looks steadily at her.
‘All right, she’s very beautiful and young,’ she spits out.
‘But dirt poor?’
‘Poorer than dirt.’
‘Oh dear. Perhaps you did the right thing then.’
‘What do I do now then?’
‘Nothing much. Persuade your father to talk to Blake and take the blame for paying the girl off. It will appear less sordid if such a thing is done by a father to protect his daughter’s interest. You must remain spotless. Go and see your father now. He is in the study. He never could resist a tear or two from you.’
Victoria stands and her mother says, ‘You do know that this will not be the last woman that will come into your life, don’t you?’
‘Yes.’
‘Are you sure you want this life?’
Victoria did not hesitate. ‘Yes.’
Her mother nodded sadly. ‘Remember this. I married beneath me. So will you. All women do.’
Victoria gasps.
‘Well, run along then, daahling,’ she simpers and picks up her lurid novel.
Thirty three
he first person Lana calls is Jack. He answers on the Tfifth ring when she is just about to give up.
‘What is it?’ he says, instantly alert.
‘Oh, Jack,’ she says.
‘Where are you?’
‘Going to Mum’s.’
‘I’ll meet you there.’
‘Jack, you don’t have to meet me there. I just wanted to hear your voice.’
‘What happened?’
‘Nothing.’ But her voice breaks.
‘Fuck nothing. What happened?’
‘I have to leave. I’m taking Mum back to Iran.’
‘What?’
‘Just for a year.’
‘I’m coming over.’
‘Please don’t, Jack. I was feeling weak, but I’m all right now. Funny, just hearing your voice did it. I know now what I have to do. I’l email you when I get settled. It’s a bit primitive over there, so it might take a bit of time, but you’ll be the first person I write to.’
‘Don’t you want to see me before you go?’
‘I’ll be gone by the time you get here. Someone else is making the arrangements. They don’t mess about. I kinda jumped from the frying pan into the fire, but I think it will be OK when I get to Iran.’
‘What about Blake?’
‘He is history. He must never know where I am.’
‘Has he hurt you?’
‘No. He’s still unconscious in hospital.’
‘You’re not going of your own free will, are you?’
‘No, but it is for the best and I’ve got to go now, Jack. I will write as soon as I can.’
‘Goodbye, Lana.’
‘Goodbye, darling Jack.’
Thirty four
t is a rich room in which Victoria finds her father. He is Isitting in a large armchair reading the newspapers. His favorite foxhound, Sergeant is curled up on a rug at his feet. At her entrance, Sergeant does no more than swivel his mournful eyes in her direction and wave the tip of his thirteen-year-old tail.
‘Daddy.’
He tilts his head so his washed out blue eyes can peer over his glasses. ‘Hello, pet,’ he welcomes genially.
‘Daddy, I’ve done something rather awful.’
Hugo Montgomery lowers his paper and narrows his eyes. It is amazing how different his eyes now appear.
‘Sit down,’ he orders.#p#分页标题#e#
Victoria walks over to the chair opposite him, her face troubled and unhappy.
‘Well?’ he prompts.
She looks down and twists a black pearl on her bracelet.
‘I found out that Blake was keeping a woman. A horrible woman from a council estate.’ She stood suddenly and moved a few feet away. ‘He was paying her.’
Her father wisely says nothing.
‘Anyway, I went to see her, Daddy, and it was awful.
Just awful. Ghastly woman. There she was in all the designer gear that he had bought her, and she was so arrogant about it too. She challenged me to take him away from her. I was so desperate I offered her money to leave him.’ Victoria looks him in the eye.
Her father’s face is expressionless. ‘Did she agree?’