Far From Home (46 page)

Larkin was about to tap on the half-open door when it opened up fully and a younger man came out. He glanced first at Georgiana, then at Larkin, then back again at Georgiana. He nodded at her in greeting and mumbled, ‘Pleased to meet you, ma’am. I’m Jed. See you tonight, Larkin.’ After patting the children on their heads, he walked swiftly down the hill.

Georgiana hesitated. There was something amiss here. ‘Is this where Edward Newmarch lives?’ she asked Larkin, who was holding the door open for her.

‘Yes, ma’am.’ He spoke in a low voice. ‘He don’t know you’re here in the city. We didn’t tell him.’

‘We?’ Still she hesitated and tried to look through the doorway into the room. She saw the red glow of a stove and a rocking chair beside it, but couldn’t see more because of Larkin blocking her view. ‘Who are
we
?’

‘Me and Jed and Dolly. We wasn’t too sure if he’d want to see anybody from home.’

From home! Is that how Edward still thinks of England? Is that how I think of it?

‘Please come in, ma’am. Now that you’re here.’ He beckoned to her and with a slight reluctance she followed him inside.

The room was larger than she would have thought from outside. It held a sofa which was draped with a colourful woollen shawl, a rocking chair, two easy chairs with rich brocaded coverings, a circular polished table and four chairs. An open staircase led upstairs and at the far end of the room was an archway with a beaded curtain over it, leading, she supposed, to another room.

‘Would you like to sit fer a minute?’ Larkin said. ‘I’ll jest make sure it’s convenient.’

Bemused, Georgiana sat on the sofa and looked around. There were pictures and mirrors on the wall, shelves with books, but no ornaments or knick-knacks. Comfortable, but a man’s room, she decided, without a feminine touch. She glanced up at the mirrors. Just like Edward to have mirrors, she thought cynically. He was always vain.

Larkin signalled to her from behind the beads. ‘You’ve got a visitor, Eddie.’ He spoke to someone over his shoulder. ‘A lady. She’s bin asking ’bout you.’

‘I don’t know any ladies,’ a low gruff voice answered. ‘Not any more.’

Georgiana pushed aside the curtain. Though the room was dim, lit only by an oil lamp and a fire in the grate, she saw that it had been made into a bedroom. Facing her, a thin man was sitting in a chair with a blanket over his knees. It’s not him! she thought. Not in the least like him, and she was strangely relieved.

‘Who is it?’ The man’s voice was hoarse. ‘Do I know you?’ He lifted his head and peered at her.

‘I fear there has been a mistake, Mr Newsom,’ Georgiana apologized. ‘I’m so sorry to have bothered you. I’m looking for someone by the name of Edward Newmarch, who left England six or seven years ago.’

There was a hesitation, then he said, ‘Come closer.’ It was a polite bidding and Georgiana wavered. Was there something in that slightly imperious accent that could have belonged to the Edward she once knew?

She stepped forward and faced him. The man in front of her was gaunt and most decidedly ill. His eyes were large in his pale face, and his fingers, as he teased his dark beard, were white and bony.

‘I know you,’ he said huskily. ‘How do I know you?’

She took a shallow breath, then, ‘Is it – is it you, Edward?’

‘Georgiana?’ There was a puzzled frown on his forehead. ‘Georgiana Gregory? How in heaven’s name—?’

There was a slight sound behind them, a rattle of the beads as Larkin went out.

There was another chair in the room and Georgiana, unbidden, sat down. She suddenly felt quite weak, unexpectedly emotional and perilously close to tears.

‘Georgiana! I don’t believe it. Can’t believe it!’ Edward’s voice was croaky as if with shock. ‘How are you here? When did
you
come to America?’

She gave a short nervous laugh, glad to release the tension welling up inside her. ‘I arrived in New York in the spring of ’52. I wanted a new life. I thought that in America women would be equal to men.’

‘Ah! You were always a campaigner, I remember.’ His mouth lifted into a lazy smile and she was reminded that he could be charming. ‘And are they?’

‘Some,’ she said. ‘Though in the cities women still drag behind men and they don’t have a vote either. But there have been improvements,’ she admitted. ‘Women have qualified as doctors, and two sisters founded the New York Infirmary for women and children in ’54.’

‘Did they? You’re very well informed,’ he said. ‘Though I suppose it would be expected of you.’

‘I part-own a Philadelphia newspaper,’ she said. ‘I keep abreast of the news.’

He shook his head in astonishment. ‘You are an amazing woman, Georgiana! So, what does your husband do? Is he an American? You decided against marrying my brother Martin, did you?’

‘Edward!’ she exclaimed. ‘Have you never written or had any news at all since you came out here?’

‘Eddie,’ he corrected her. ‘My name’s Eddie now. The old Edward has been gone a long, long time. But no, in answer to your question, I have not.’ He looked away from her and rubbed his chest. ‘I didn’t think they would want to hear from such a man as I was.’ He examined his long thin fingers. ‘Though I have been tempted recently to write and make my peace, with my mother and May at least. And maybe even Martin. You didn’t want to marry him, then?’ he asked again.

‘No. I did not. He has married someone else.’

The beaded curtain rattled again and Larkin came in, awkwardly carrying a tray with a teapot and cups and saucers on it.

‘Ah! The cup that cheers. See how well trained my minions are,’ Edward joked. ‘Larkin knows that when times are difficult a cup of tea always soothes.’ He peered at the tray. ‘You forgot the lemon, dear fellow, and my guest may prefer milk with her tea. She’s English, you know!’

Larkin muttered something incomprehensible and returned in a moment with half a lemon on a saucer and a jug of milk.

‘Does Larkin work for you?’ Georgiana asked after he had gone out again.

‘No,’ he replied promptly. ‘He’s a good friend. As is Jed. I wouldn’t be alive but for them.’

‘And Dolly?’ she queried.

‘You’ve heard about Dolly? Yes, she does work for me. She runs my theatre saloon down by the waterfront and runs it very successfully. But she’s a friend too. Warm-hearted. Generous.’ He became pensive. ‘The three of them are the best friends any man could wish for.’

‘And who is Matt?’ she asked.

‘Matt!’ He stared at her. ‘How do you know about Matt?’

She told him about the advertisement and the letter received by the
New Orleans Gazette
.

‘So he made it home after all!’ His voice was choked. ‘Oh, I’m so glad. So very glad. I must tell Larkin and Jed. They’ll be relieved. They all came from the Mississippi Basin, you know.’ He gave a laugh which turned into a cough and he put a handkerchief to his mouth. ‘Swampsuckers, every one of them!’

He said it in such a light-hearted manner that though the term might have sounded derisory, she could tell he held them in great affection.

‘But back to you,’ he said gruffly and glanced at her left hand. ‘So you didn’t marry anyone? Still independent. No man good enough, eh?’

‘There is a man that I love,’ she said softly. ‘And who loves me. But marriage is out of the question.’

‘Married already, eh? Don’t go down that road, Georgiana. Take my advice. Forget him, find someone else.’

‘Like you did?’ she said grimly. ‘You left a trail of havoc behind you, Edward; even here in America, from what I’ve heard!’

He blinked, startled. ‘What? What have you heard?

‘I came looking for you. I went to New Orleans! I met Sofia Rodriguez. Her husband’s cousin, Carlos de Lassus, runs the newspaper.’

He gave a soft groan and shook his head. ‘I knew they’d find me eventually.’ He pressed his fingers to his eyes. ‘Oh, God! What a mess I’ve made of everything.’

‘They’re not looking for you now,’ she said gently. ‘You don’t have to worry about that.’

‘Really?’ Relief showed on his face. ‘Are you sure?’ When she nodded, he said, ‘So, go on. Why were you, of all people, looking for me?’

She poured more tea for them both, and took a sip from her cup before continuing. ‘May wrote to me. You remember May? Your wife?’ She couldn’t help but be acerbic. ‘She wants to marry again and she can’t because she doesn’t know whether you’re dead or alive!’

He gave a sudden exclamation and covered his mouth with his hand. ‘Couldn’t she just have divorced me?’ he muttered. ‘Proclaimed me dead? I might have been. Almost was, several times!’ Then he looked into space and appeared to deliberate. ‘Of course not.’ His voice was muted. ‘It wouldn’t do, would it? Her father wouldn’t allow it. They would worry over what people would think. As if it mattered!’ he added bitterly.

‘It matters to May,’ she said quietly. ‘And her father is dead. I think that is why she wants to make another life.’

‘I’m sorry,’ he apologized. ‘I was always thoughtless where other people were concerned. And – so you travelled across this vast country to find out whether I was still alive? I am amazed, Georgiana. You are a remarkable woman. But why? Are you still tied to May’s petticoat strings?’

She was piqued, annoyed with him. He hadn’t really changed. He was still blunt, arrogant and outspoken. ‘I owe it to the family.’ She was defensive. ‘They brought me up – at least, they were responsible for me when my parents died. After this, I owe them nothing. Except gratitude. My debt will be paid!’

He was silent. It was as if he was caught up in another train of thought. ‘Of course,’ he said at length. ‘You lived with your aunt, Clarissa Gregory. I’d forgotten about that.’

He seemed suddenly tired and he took a deep breath and closed his eyes for a second.

‘You’re not well, Edward. I’m sorry, I can’t think of you as Eddie! Would you like me to come back another day?’

‘Yes.’ He gave a wan smile. ‘I would. I’m tired now. Tomorrow? I’ll send a cab for you if you’ll tell Larkin where you’re staying.’ His eyes were eager, worried almost, that she might not agree. ‘Please come back.’

‘I will,’ she began, when the beads rattled and the little girl who had been playing out in the yard suddenly burst in and flung herself onto Edward’s knees.

‘Papa! Papa! Please may I go and eat at Renzo’s house?’

‘Lorenzo’s? Sure, but mind your manners. Don’t forget please and thank you. Wait! Wait! First, come and say how de do to this nice English lady.’ He turned the child to face Georgiana. ‘She’s travelled a long way to come and see us. This is Miss Gregory. Miss Gregory, this is my daughter, Jewel.’

Georgiana gazed at the little girl and smiled as the child gave her a dainty curtsy, which seemed very odd, dressed as she was in her strange clothes.

‘Papa showed me how to curtsy, just like the ladies in England do,’ she lisped. ‘Is that how to do it?’ She looked at Georgiana with dark appealing eyes.

Georgiana stood up and bent her knee and her head in response. ‘That is exactly how to do it, Jewel. I must admit, I have almost forgotten myself.’

‘May I go now, Papa?’ the child said breathlessly, turning to Edward. ‘The pasta will be ready.’

He nodded and she shot out again, the curtain streaming behind her. He faced Georgiana, saw the question which was plainly written on her face, and stated mildly, ‘It’s quite a long story. Shall we leave it until tomorrow?’

‘I think perhaps we should!’ She gathered up her cape and reticule. ‘I’m glad to find you alive at least, Edward. But we should discuss May and what she could do under the circumstances. No matter that it will be distasteful to her, it seems that she must divorce you.’

A thin smile touched his lips. ‘Perhaps,’ he said softly.

‘By the way.’ Georgiana paused as she lifted the curtain to leave. ‘I have a message for you.’ She turned to look at him hunched in his chair. ‘From Sofia Rodriguez.’

‘Ah!’ he sighed and smiled. ‘The beautiful passionate Sofia. Is she still beautiful, Georgiana?’

‘She is indeed, very beautiful. She asked that if I found you, would I tell you – that she has a son.’ She raised her eyebrows in a quizzical manner. ‘Her husband always wanted a son apparently,’ she added. ‘She insisted that I must be sure to tell you!’

Georgiana was haunted all night by the image of Edward as he was now, gaunt and thin with ashen face and pale trembling hands, and the man he once was, handsome, arrogant, a ladies’ man, with a young mistress from the poorest streets of Hull. Even after he had married Cousin May he had refused to give her up, causing May much distress. He had then left them both and sailed for America.

He is different now, she admitted, as she lay awake in her bed. He’s chastened, perhaps. More modest and mellow than he once was. And much nicer, though he is still opinionated! The child! Chinese? But where was her mother? Jewel! An unusual name. Such a sweet child.

When she arrived mid-morning at Edward’s house, Jed opened the door and invited her in, telling her that Eddie was still in bed. ‘I’ll wait,’ she said. ‘I’m not in a hurry.’

‘No, ma’am. He said fer you to go right on in. Would you like some coffee?’

She thanked him and accepted and, after knocking on the door jamb of the room, parted the beaded curtain and went inside. Edward was propped up on several pillows. A jug of water and a glass were on a table by the side of the bed.

‘I’m so glad that you came back, Georgiana,’ he said. ‘I was worried that you might not.’

‘I said that I would,’ she replied. ‘Why would I not?’

‘Well, I’ve made promises throughout my life and not kept them,’ he said wearily. ‘Though not lately.’ He gave a wry grin. ‘I’ve changed. You wouldn’t believe how I’ve changed or what I’ve been through.’

He started to tell her about New Orleans and Robert Allen, and being kidnapped, but she interrupted him in mid-flow. ‘I know about Robert Allen,’ she said, ‘though I didn’t know about you being kidnapped until I met Sofia and she told me.’

He sighed. ‘I guessed that it was Rodriguez’ men who put me on that creaky old tub, though how they got to me so quickly, I’ll never know.’

They talked for an hour, piecing together both their stories. Jed brought in more coffee and said that Eddie shouldn’t talk so much. Georgiana sat in the living room so that he could rest for half an hour. Jed joined her and told her of how he and Larkin and the others had met Edward in the Mississippi swamps, and of their journey to California.