‘Yes. Dr. Levi is going to consult Dr. Bernstein.’
‘So I understand. I called to know if there is anything I can do for you.’
‘I won’t be going to Switzerland. Perhaps you could arrange for me to be able to cash cheques here?’
‘Certainly, Mrs. Rolfe. I will make the necessary arrangements... say five thousand a week?’
‘That will be more than ample.’
How easy it was to spend other people’s money, she thought. If the money had been his, he wouldn’t have thought in terms of five thousand dollars a week.
‘You didn’t find a letter for me then, Mrs. Rolfe?’
‘I would have called you if I had.’
‘Odd, isn’t it? Nurse Fairely said Mr. Rolfe was so persistent.’
‘Most odd.’
Go on talking, Helga thought, you’re not as smart as you think.
A long pause, then he said, ‘Well, please keep me informed. Good night, Mrs. Rolfe,’ and he hung up.
Helga looked at her watch. The time was 23.25. She wondered if she should take sleeping pills. Why not? Sleep shut away her loneliness. She went into the bathroom. Half an hour later, she was dreaming that Dick was lying beside her. It was an erotic, wonderful dream and when she woke to find the sun coming through the blinds, she felt relaxed and refreshed.
She was dressed when Hinkle brought her her coffee.
‘I’ll call the hospital,’ she said as Hinkle poured the coffee.
‘There is no change, Mrs. Rolfe,’ Dr. Bellamy’s assistant told her.
As she hung up, she looked at Hinkle and shook her head.
‘No change.’
‘Let us hope when the other doctor arrives...’
‘Yes.’
When he had gone, Helga went down to the lobby and asked the Hall porter who was the best real estate agent in town. He gave her a name and directions and taking her Mini, she drove to the agency.
William Mason, the estate agent, was a young, cheerful looking Englishman who gave her a warm welcome. He said he was sorry to read about Mr. Rolfe’s illness and he offered his best hopes for a speedy recovery.
‘I am told there is difficulty in renting a furnished villa, Mr. Mason,’ Helga said. ‘My major-domo has made inquiries and everything seems to be taken. I don’t know how long I will have to remain in Nassau, but I must have a furnished place. I can’t continue to stay at my hotel.’
‘I can well understand that, Mrs. Rolfe, but I regret I have nothing suitable for you. I can assure you, to save you wasting your time, that there is nothing the other agents could offer you either. The big villas have been snapped up.’
‘Haven’t you something small? Now my husband is in hospital, I don’t need anything large.’
‘Well, yes, I have something very small, but I don’t think it would be suitable for you, Mrs. Rolfe. It has only one bedroom. It is a gem of a place, but tiny.’
Her heart began to beat fast with excitement.
‘I would only want it for myself. My servant would come in daily.’
Mason beamed.
‘Well then, perhaps you would like to see it. It is expensive and very isolated, but it is really nice.’
‘Can I see it now?’
The tiny villa was exactly what Helga wanted. Completely isolated, with a quarter of a mile of private, screened beach, it had a big covered terrace which led into an enormous living and dining room, two bathrooms, an elaborately equipped kitchen, a big swimming pool with a covered Barbecue, a bar and up a steep flight of stairs a bedroom nearly as big as the living room. It was immaculately furnished throughout and it seemed to her everything was brand new.
‘But this is wonderful!’ she exclaimed. ‘This is just what I want.’
‘The rent is three thousand dollars a month. I have tried to get it reduced, but the owner won’t budge.’ Mason smiled at her. ‘In confidence, Mrs. Rolfe, this is a wealthy man’s love nest. As you can see nothing has been spared in the way of luxury. A woman comes in every day to clean. Unhappily there was a motor accident and the lady was killed. My client hasn’t been near the place since. This is the only reason why it is to rent.’
A love nest!
Helga smiled. What a love nest! Again the cards were falling her way.
‘I’ll take it for a month,’ she said. ‘When can I move in?’
‘As soon as the agreement is signed.’ Mason looked slightly startled at her quick decision. ‘Will you need the cleaning woman?’
‘No. I have my own servant. You mean I can move in tomorrow?’
‘Certainly, Mrs. Rolfe. It will be two thousand dollars paid in advance and the agreement signed, then it is yours.’
‘The telephone is connected?’
‘Yes, no problem.’
‘Then let us return to your office and I will sign.’
Driving back to the hotel, Helga’s mind was busy. First, she would have to handle Hinkle, then she would have to get hold of Dick. In spite of her impatience to have Dick on her own, she would have to wait (this goddamn waiting again!) until Dr. Bernstein had arrived and had seen Herman. She would have to wait until Hinkle left.
Back at the hotel, she found Hinkle sitting on the second terrace reading John Locke’s essays.
She sat beside him, putting her hand on his arm to prevent him from rising.
‘I’ve been thinking, Hinkle,’ she said. ‘It is unnecessary for both of us to remain here. I am worried about the villa. If Mr. Rolfe can return, I want the place ready for him. You know what the servants are like without your supervision. They do nothing. The gardeners also will be doing nothing. We have experienced this before when you came to Switzerland with Mr. Rolfe. I have to stay as much as I dislike it, but I want you to go back and make sure everything is immaculate when Mr. Rolfe returns.’
Hinkle’s eyes lit up.
‘But I can’t do that, madame,’ he said without much conviction. ‘Who will look after you? No, madame, I would worry about you.’
She forced a laugh.
‘Kind Hinkle! Surely you know me well enough by now to know I can look after myself. The hotel service is really very good. I know you hate sitting around like this. There are so many things to attend to at home. Wouldn’t it be a wonderful opportunity to have Mr. Rolfe’s study re-decorated? You have so often said how it needs a face lift and while he is in bed, you could have it done. So please leave tomorrow and make a start.’
Hinkle beamed.
‘Well, yes, madame, I have long wanted to refurbish Mr. Rolfe’s study. Yes, if you really think you could manage, it would be an opportunity.’
It was as easy as that.
Helga had little idea how she passed the rest of the day or the following morning. Her nerves were stretched to breaking point. It was only her steel control that kept her from screaming at the staff, at Hinkle, at Dr. Levi and Dr. Bernstein.
She held on because she was sure she had a retreat and in a day’s time she would have Dick with her.
Before leaving, Hinkle had said kind things to her. She forced herself to say nice things to him. She could see how relieved he was to go, but she didn’t envy him. Her life, she told herself, would begin when he had gone. From her living room window, she watched him get into the Rolls which she assured him she didn’t need. As he drove away, she heaved a sigh of relief: one less pair of eyes to watch her.
Dr. Levi brought Dr. Bernstein to see her in the evening. Dr. Bernstein was a short, excessively fat man. She disliked him on sight. He spoke with a heavy German accent and waved pudgy hands while he talked. In spite of his authority, his obvious confidence in himself, Helga, who was a good judge of men, realized after a few minutes that he was as baffled as Dr. Levi.