The Woman from Paris(55)

“Ah, Phaedra!” Rosamunde exclaimed when she saw her.

“Are you okay?” Antoinette asked, pleased to see that she was smiling.

“Margaret’s feeling better,” Phaedra announced.

“How are you feeling?” Tom asked from the club fender.

“Fine, thank you. She’s a lovely woman.”

They all stared at her in astonishment. “Are you sure we’re talking about the same person?” asked David.

“Look, I don’t know her like you do, but she was very charming to me.” She went and sat down beside David on the sofa.

“They make a lot of fuss,” said Roberta. “Personally, I find she has a very soft center.”

“She’s just unhappy,” Phaedra continued. “Anyway, she’s coming down, so you can see for yourselves. She’s perfectly well.”

“I am relieved,” said Antoinette.

“I suggest we all go for a walk,” said Joshua. “Are you going to get Amber up?” he asked his wife, glancing at his watch.

“You can take her on your back,” said Roberta.

“Great, let’s escape before Grandma comes down,” said Tom, jumping to his feet.

“Really, darling, I think that’s a little unkind,” Antoinette reproached him, but she smiled as if his face was made of sunshine.

When Margaret appeared, she still looked pale, but her fighting spirit was restored. “Joshua, will you drive me home? I’m not feeling strong enough to walk.”

“Are you rested?” Antoinette asked.

“Phaedra has cheered me up enormously.” She turned to her newly found granddaughter and smiled warmly, which was a revelation to Antoinette.

“I’m so pleased,” Phaedra replied, feeling the eyes of the whole room upon her.

“I hope you will make this your home,” Margaret continued. “You are certainly very welcome at the dower house whenever you need a break from London.” Roberta felt a stab of jealousy; she and Margaret had always had a special relationship.

“Thank you so much. I’d love to see it,” Phaedra replied.

“Then you shall. David will bring you tomorrow morning, and I will show you photographs of George as a little boy. He was very dear. Now I’d like to go home. Joshua?”

“We’ll wait for you,” said Roberta.

“Don’t fret, my dear, I shan’t keep him.” And she left the room, calling for Basil.

When Joshua returned, the family set off up the farm track that led to the woods. The sky had clouded over, and it looked as if it might rain. A chilly wind blew through the trees where birds frolicked in the branches and squirrels chased their own tails. Bertie, Wooster, and Rufus ran free now that the shooting season was over, and the odd fat pheasant flew out of the undergrowth, his wings creaking like rusty hinges as he took to the skies.

Phaedra walked beside David. She liked him very much. He didn’t look like his father, but he had the same charisma that filled the space around him and made her feel invigorated. She was drawn to him, like a chilly traveler to a hotel fire. As with George, David made her feel safe.

After a while she recognized the landscape and knew that David’s house was near. “Are we going to bake a cake this afternoon?” she asked him.

“Isn’t that a bit like hard work?” he replied, grinning down at her.

“It’s not hard work for me, I love baking. All you have to do is taste the mixture. If you’re very good, you can lick the bowl.”

“And eat the cake.”

“We’ll share it with the rest of your family. I bet Tom likes chocolate cake.” She called back to Tom, who walked between Rosamunde and his mother. “Tom, do you like chocolate cake?”

“Does anyone not like chocolate cake?” he called back.

“I don’t,” said Roberta, who walked beside her husband with Amber strapped into a harness on his back.

“Then we’ll make you a lemon cupcake,” said Phaedra.

“Oh, don’t worry about me,” said Roberta.

“But you do like lemon cupcakes?” Phaedra asked.

“Yes, I do.”

“Do you think she looks like a woman who eats cake?” David hissed.

Phaedra ignored him. “Then we won’t leave you out, will we, David?”

“No, we won’t leave Roberta out,” David replied dutifully.

“You can share it with Amber,” Phaedra suggested. Roberta forced a smile.

“She’s trying to be nice,” said Joshua, lowering his voice. “Give her a break, darling.”

“I don’t want her cake!” Roberta huffed. Joshua shook his head wearily.

“Can I please lick the lemon mix bowl as well?” David asked Phaedra.