Chapter Forty-Nine
CHAPTER
FORTY - NINE
As soon as Violet had seen Miss Wynter off to her new home, after many last-minute hitches and a farewell that left Violet perilously close to tears, she gathered up her own belongings to leave her godmother’s flat that had been her own home for many months now.
A couple of weeks previously, she had said goodbye to Felicity. David had come to collect her and take her back to Provence.
‘You must tell me about the wedding. I want every detail – especially about the clothes!’ Felicity had implored. ‘Write to me. You’ve got the address?’
‘I have,’ Violet assured her, ‘and the telephone number. In fact anything I’m likely to need.’
‘If you fancy a trip to la belle France,’ David said, ‘let me know. I’ll come and pick you up when I’m on my way home from an antiques buying trip.’
The two young women hugged each other. ‘We’ve shared so much,’ Felicity had said. ‘I don’t know what I would have done in London without you!’
‘Or me you!’ Violet found herself about to cry and sensed that Felicity felt the same. As her farewell to her mother a few minutes earlier had been far less emotional she hoped Lucinda wouldn’t notice and be offended.
‘Touching as this parting is,’ David said wryly, ‘we do have a ferry to catch and really must be on our way.’
Violet waved as the car made its stately progress down the quiet street. Lucinda waved too.
‘Come in for a drink,’ she said firmly when the car disappeared. Violet didn’t like to refuse, partly as she had discovered that in spite of everything, she now rather liked the elegant, spiky woman with whom she shared a house.
Lucinda poured them both large gins. She added tonic and a slice of lemon.
‘I’m not really cut out for motherhood,’ she declared, sitting back on the sofa. ‘But I’ve loved having Felicity with me. My only problem is, do you think she’s going to go back to Oliver?’
Violet shrugged. ‘Not as far as I know. I think it’s all very sad. He made some mistakes but he’s a good person.’
Lucinda took a large sip of her drink. ‘I think it’s rather sad too. Think what beautiful children they would have! But if you don’t think they’re going to make up their differences, I’ll continue with Hector. He’s not what just anyone would like,’ she conceded, ‘but I don’t mind being bossed about.’ She laughed. ‘Of course the trick is to let him think he’s bossing me when really, I will be in control.’
Violet had no trouble in believing her. ‘Of course he will have to be pleasant to Felicity when she visits,’ she said firmly. ‘Because that will happen. But perhaps he won’t feel’ – Violet picked her words carefully – ‘so strongly against Felicity if he doesn’t think she’s leading his son astray.’
‘Hmph,’ said Lucinda. ‘I don’t consider that she was the one at fault. But never mind. I still have to wind Hector in.’
Violet laughed, assuming that Lucinda meant this as a joke. It turned out that she didn’t.