“Olivia doesn’t seem to be short of money, does she? I mean … she pays her bills to you?”
“On the dot. I wish there were more like her. I expect I’ve raised something where there isn’t anything. Forget what I said. It was just that it was on my mind. I always had a special soft spot for you and Miss Olivia. See if you can find out whether she’s anxious. She might know … If he’s asked for something … selling out bonds and shares and things. She ought to stand firm. I know a bit about finance myself and how easy it is to come a cropper.”
“I’ll see if I can probe a bit. But I don’t see how I can ask outright.”
“Of course not. Don’t let her know that I’ve put you up to it.”
“I won’t, Rosie. It’s good of you to be so concerned.”
“Money has to be handled with care. There’s some like me who started with none. We make it and have a special reverence for it. But there are others who have to get it somehow and they seem to think it’s just there for throwing away.”
“A pity they’re not all wise like you, Rosie.”
She winked. “I wouldn’t want too many rivals. But having laid my hands on a bit, I’m not letting it go. With men like Jeremy Brandon it’s ‘Easy come easy go.’ Perhaps it’s because he’s so different from me that I’m suspicious of him. He might win it all back one day. There’s good luck around as well as bad and somebody’s got to get it sometime.”
“So it’s the money. I was really rather afraid it might have been another woman.”
Rosie was silent and I looked at her sharply.
“Is there?” I asked.
She shrugged her shoulders. “I know nothing definite. There’s always talk. There is a woman … Flora Carnaby … rather a flashy sort. He’s been seen with her. Nothing serious, I imagine. She’s just there at one of the clubs, working there, I think.”
“Oh dear. Poor Olivia!”
“She wouldn’t have an inkling.”
“People might tell her. You know what they are. All her illusions would be shattered. One of the things which has made all this acceptable to me is Olivia’s belief in the goodness of life and him and everything.”
“She’ll go on believing in it all. It’s common enough, you know. I couldn’t tell you the number of model husbands I’ve come across in the course of my life.”
“It’s horrible. I want none of it. Wise women like you and my Cousin Mary keep out of it. They know what they are doing. They are dignified and independent. Oh dear, I do hope Olivia never finds out..."
“She won’t. I tell you it’s commonplace. She’s not the probing sort and Flora’s not the girl any sensible man would leave home for. Forget it. I’m sorry I told you. I’ve worried you. It was the money that I was concerned about … more than the girl.”
“I feel I want to look after Olivia, protect her.”
“Yes, I know. One feels like that with Olivia. But in the long run it often seems people like her are better able to look after themselves than the rest of us. They are protected by their innocence.”
“Rosie … if anything happens … will you tell me? Will you write to me?”
“Honour bright, I will do that. Now stop fretting. How did you like the hat?”
“Very much.”
“You looked a picture in it, I bet. I expect everyone was saying, ‘Who is the girl with the green eyes?’”
“I think most of them were concentrating on the smaller girl with the blue eyes. It was Livia’s day. There was no doubt of that.”
“That fellow who came with you. Now he was something.”
“You mean Jago Landower.”
“He’d got his eye on you.”
“Among others.”
“One of the rovers. Oh, I saw that. He’d need a firm hand.”
“I’ve no intention of supplying it.”
“Yes, I see he’s too much every woman’s man to be any one’s in particular.”
“You should know. You’re a connoisseur of the sex.”
“Men are like hats. Either they suit you or they don’t.”
“I can hardly believe that any of them would be flattered by the comparison.”
“Remember I have a great respect for hats,” said Rosie. She lifted her glass. “To you, dear Caroline and Olivia. All the very best that life can offer and that’s quite a lot.”
I raised my glass.
“And the very same to you, dear Rosie.”
That evening I found myself alone with Olivia and I said: “I suppose you are very rich, Olivia?”
“I suppose so,” she answered.
“This is a costly household. It is just the same as it was when your father was alive.”
“There are very few changes. I don’t have to worry about money.”
“Does anyone do the worrying for you then?”
“Jeremy, of course.”
“I see,” I said. “And he’s quite happy with the arrangements? I mean … it doesn’t worry him?”
“Not in the least. He understands about money.”
I thought, I know he has a great appreciation for it, but does he know that even a large fortune can be squandered in a short time?
She looked so trusting and contented, how could I arouse suspicions in her mind? Moreover it was only conjecture. How could I say, “Rosie has heard rumours that your husband is losing money at the gaming tables … money you brought to him”? Perhaps it was only a rumour. He could have been seen to lose a little and people would start fabricating all sorts of stories about him.
There was nothing I could do.
I said to her: “Olivia, you would write to me … if you needed to confide anything?”
“But of course.”
“Don’t forget I shall want to know all about my goddaughter.”
“You shall,” said Olivia dimpling.
“And … about you yourself,” I added.
She nodded. “And in return I want to hear about those amusing people you meet down there.”
“And don’t hesitate to write about anything … just anything. If something goes wrong …”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, you never know. You often used to keep things to yourself. I want you to tell me if anything worries you.”
“Nothing is going to worry me.”
“But if it should, you will?”
“Yes, I will.”
“And write and let me know everything that Livia does. First smile. First tooth.”
“Too late for the first smile.”
“All the rest then.”
“I promise. And do come again soon.”
“Yes, I will. And wouldn’t it be fun if you came to Cornwall?”
“Perhaps when Livia is older.”
So we talked and I consoled myself that Jeremy could not be losing a great amount of money, otherwise she must surely know.
Jago left at the same time as I did and the journey back passed speedily and pleasantly. Joe was waiting for me.
“Miss Tressidor ‘ave missed ‘ee something terrible, Miss Caroline,” he told me. “She have been as touchy as a bear with a sore head. You can guess what she’s been like.”
“I have never known a bear … let alone one with a sore head.”
“You’re a funny one, you are, Miss Caroline. Proper touchy, she’s been. All happy today though. I see Mr. Jago was on the train with you. He’s been away as long as you have.”
“Oh?” I said noncommittally.
I wondered how soon that information would be passed round.
“Reckon he’s been to Plymouth. Still a bit of to-ing and fro-ing with them Landowers. Mind you, it ain’t like it was afore they come into the money.”
I thought: I am indeed back, back to local speculation and gossip, back to a situation which I must keep in hand.
As we passed Landower I wondered whether Paul had noticed my going and how he had felt about it. Suppose I went back to London. Perhaps I could help Rosie sell her hats. I should think that would be an eventful career.