The Woman from Paris(129)
She thought of the shadow on the sand and her imagination did the rest, until the shadow had materialized into a beautiful temptress, snaking her way into her husband’s heart and turning it black.
27
On Friday morning Phaedra drove down to Hampshire with a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach. She was excited at the prospect of seeing David, but she was afraid of getting herself into deeper trouble. She hadn’t heard a word from Julius, which should have been a relief, but his silence made her uneasy. She sensed he was plotting some terrible revenge on her for rebuffing him and feared what he might do. She had found a family at last; the thought of losing it was unbearable.
She kept her eyes on the road as she motored past the church. She didn’t want to think of George. It was because of him that she was denied his son. She was ashamed of the little nugget of resentment that had begun to grow in her heart so soon after his death. He could not have foreseen this. He wasn’t entirely to blame. But still her heart turned hard when she thought of him now.
She motored through the iron gates and up the track to David’s house. The blood began to throb in her temples as she approached. Sunshine bathed the countryside in a bright, uplifting light, and yet she sensed a barrage of gray cloud edging in over the horizon to steal her light away.
She drew up outside David’s house, and Rufus bounded out, barking. David’s Land Rover was parked by the hedge, the windows down, the windscreen covered in dust, suggesting that he’d just driven back from the farm. She glanced at her watch. It was midday: she was right on time.
A second later he was striding through the door in faded jeans and a blue shirt, sleeves rolled up to the elbows. The sight of his wide smile was enough to loosen the knot in her stomach and quiet her thumping heart. He walked up to the car as she parked it next to his and switched off the engine. He threw open the door and almost pulled her out. She laughed as he enfolded her in his arms and gave her a big hug. “You smell good.”
“Your bluebells inspired me to buy a new scent,” she replied.
“I’m glad you came.”
“So am I.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll stand between you and Roberta like a loyal dog!”
She wrapped her arms around his middle and relaxed against him, sighing contentedly. It felt like home in his embrace, as if she had always been there. “I want to show you the folly,” he said, releasing her. “Mother’s finished it, with the help of Dr. Heyworth, whom she now calls William.” He raised an eyebrow suggestively.
Phaedra laughed. “It’s nice they’ve become friends.”
“I think Mum likes him a bit more than that.”
“She deserves to have someone in her life.”
“It’s a bit soon, isn’t it?”
“I’m sure she wouldn’t rush into anything. But don’t you think it’s nice that she has a suitor? Dr. Heyworth is a real gentleman.”
* * *
David drew up in front of the folly and turned off the engine. The little building gleamed in the sunshine. It no longer looked neglected. Antoinette had planted clematis to grow up one side in place of the ivy, and big terra-cotta pots of topiary balls stood on either side of the door. It looked inviting, and David and Phaedra wandered in curiously. “She’s put all the furniture back,” said Phaedra, sweeping her eyes over the armchairs, the tables, and the big Persian rug that almost covered the entire floor. “It looks like a home now.” David flopped down onto the sofa, stretching out his long legs. “Very comfortable.”
Phaedra sat in the armchair beside the fireplace. “Imagine, your grandfather built this for your grandmother in a bid to win her forgiveness, which she never gave him. It’s so sad.”
He looked at her awry. “And Mother and Dr. Heyworth have lovingly restored it. What do you make of that?”
She laughed. “Interesting.”
“It should be called Love’s Folly.”
“That’s a good double entendre. Love is madness.” She lowered her eyes, knowing he was gazing at her meaningfully.
“Don’t you have work to do, Lord Frampton?” she said, changing the subject.
“I have loads of work to do, but you’re a little distracting, Phaedra.”
She laughed and stood up. “Come on. Show me what you get up to while I’m in London.”
So they left the folly and drove up to the farm, where David exchanged the Land Rover for his red tractor. Phaedra sat behind him in the cab, and David turned on the engine. The tractor rattled noisily. Slowly but contentedly, David drove back to the fields.
* * *
That evening Tom, Joshua, and Roberta arrived for the weekend. Antoinette had managed to put her fears aside and welcomed them excitedly, taking little Amber in her arms and carrying her into the drawing room.