Chapter 12 #2
Daisy heard no more, as Ernest bore in the tea tray and Geraldine bustled her and Martha away to sit down.
However, she was glad to see the two heads, ginger and black, remaining close together.
Belinda’s coeducational school had made her quite at ease with boys, unlike many girls her age, and Sakari’s daughter was one of her best friends, so dark skin was no impediment.
However, it didn’t seem remotely possible that a half-caste child could be a legitimate “heir of the body.” That was not the boy’s fault. Crowley was responsible for his claim. Daisy wondered whether he really was Benjamin’s stepfather.
The ramifications were so complex she soon stopped wondering, in favour of answering Geraldine’s polite enquiries about the rigours of the train journey and the health of the twins.
Geraldine was always meticulous about asking after the babies, though Daisy was pretty certain she really preferred older children, in spite of—or perhaps because of—having spent years as unpaid housemother to a horde of adolescent boys.
Mr. Crowley came over to have his teacup refilled, and stayed to talk to Daisy. “Let me get this straight,” he said with his charming smile, “you’re the daughter of our illustrious host’s predecessor?”
Ingratiating, Daisy thought. Was he a bit of a bounder, out to make something from his stepson’s possible good fortune?
Perhaps even something of a con man? However, presumably he’d satisfied Tommy Pearson that Ben really was a Dalrymple, though, like the others, without proof that his was the eldest line.
“That’s right. Lord Dalrymple is my cousin.” Daisy looked round the room. “One of my cousins, I should say.”
“Oughtn’t you to be Lady something, then?”
“No.” She didn’t bother to explain the ramifications of her honorary “honourable” title. “Benjamin is an orphan, I gather?”
“Yes. His father was Lucas Dalrymple, son of John Dalrymple, who came to Port-of-Spain from Jamaica when he was a child, it seems, with his father Josiah. John married Dolores—I brought their marriage cert so that part’s all legit.
That’s why I thought there’s half a chance…
” He glanced round the room, with a wry face, while Daisy tried to memorise the names so as to create Ben’s family branch.
“Quarter of a chance for the lad. Besides, I’ve always wanted to see the old country, though I didn’t expect to do it in such luxury! ”
“How did you come to be responsible for Ben?”
“Luke was a pal of mine. He volunteered for the West India Regiment and before he left I promised to look out for Susanna and the kids if he didn’t come back.”
“Kids?”
“Ben has two older sisters and a younger brother.”
“Luke Dalrymple was killed in the war, I assume.”
“The Palestine Campaign. Your brother, too, I heard?”
“In Flanders.” Ten years later, Gervaise seemed to belong to another world. “Hence the search for an heir. A legitimate heir,” Daisy added.
Crowley grinned. “Don’t worry, Susanna and Luke were properly married, I assure you.
In church. I was Luke’s best man. Susanna was a mulatto, a beauty.
Her father was a Frenchman. We’ve got all sorts at home.
I won’t say mixed marriages are common, but matches between white men and black women aren’t as uncommon as you may think. ”
“You married Susanna, after Luke died?”
“A couple of years later. She was going to have my baby. They both died.” After a sombre pause, he went on, “I don’t know why I’m boring you with all this.”
“You’re not boring me, I’m interested. I’m so sorry about Susanna and your child. How on earth have you managed with the children?”
“My brother’s wife’s sister, Carlotta, has been helping, taking care of them after school and so on, and I’ve paid her what I can. But now … Look here, if I tell you something, you won’t pass it on? It’s personal, nothing that will change Ben’s prospects.”
Why people insisted on confiding in Daisy she had no idea.
Alec blamed her deceptively guileless blue eyes, which she considered very unfair.
More likely it was because her insatiable curiosity, her besetting sin, made her interested in whatever people told her, and in turn her interest made them want to confide.
Was that circular reasoning, such as Alec had been known to reproach her for? She was still never quite certain.
“Tell me,” she invited. “I won’t gossip.”
“I want to marry Carlotta. I’m fond of Susanna’s brood, and we’ve done our best for them, but we want to settle down and have a family of our own. Carlotta won’t marry me if it means becoming mama to four kids from eleven to fifteen.”
“It’s quite a lot to take on,” Daisy said doubtfully.
“Carlotta thinks Anita, the eldest, is old enough to take responsibility for them all—with a hand from the family. But Anita won a scholarship to Bishop Anstey High School and she wants to get her School Certificate, even the Higher Cert. The rest are bright, too. I promised Luke … To cut a long story short, when I heard about the lawyer looking for a Dalrymple heir, I decided it was worth a gamble. I reckoned that if Ben turns out to be a lord, or an honourable or whatever, they’ll all be taken care of. ”
“I’m sure they would be, if…”
“If.” Crowley nodded ruefully. “I didn’t count on so much competition. I don’t like the odds. What happens if the lawyer man can’t find the proof he needs?”
“I can’t imagine.” Daisy looked up as Belinda came towards her, Ben trailing behind. “What is it, darling?”
“Mummy, Uncle Edgar wants to go and look at the butterflies right now because Ben’s been telling him about the giant butterflies in Trinidad, so may I go and fetch the twins and then afterwards is it all right if Ben and I go to the Dower House to see Derek?
Ben hasn’t met him yet. I wish Derek was staying here.
Do you think Aunt Violet would let him? We—”
“Slow down! You may do all that provided you get permission from Aunt Geraldine to leave the room and to invite Derek; and from Nurse Gilpin to take the twins; and from Grandmama Dalrymple as well as Aunt Violet to ask Derek to move up here. I take it you’ve already consulted Benjamin, not dragged him along in your wake? ”
“Oh yes, ma’am. If I may go with Miss Belinda, Uncle Frank?”
Crowley gave his permission.
“Bel, let me know when you’re going to the Dower House. I’ll go with you. I want to see your Aunt Violet. And I must say hello to Mother.” She hoped Belinda hadn’t noticed her priorities.
From what little she’d seen of him, Benjamin’s manner and manners appeared to be excellent, perhaps due to the influence of the male equivalent of Bishop Whatsit’s High School. All the same, if he was Edgar’s heir, a black viscount would be a real turnup for the books!
Crowley watched Bel and Ben cross the room to Geraldine, who was now engaged in laborious conversation with Mrs. Vincent Dalrymple.
Daisy thought Crowley looked part speculative, part calculating, and part satisfied.
She wasn’t sure how much of his story she believed.
Was he a plausible rogue, or a man in a difficult position trying to do his best for his wards?
Or a bit of both? Though his relationship with Benjamin seemed to be good, at best his motives were decidedly mixed.
She couldn’t make up her mind whether she liked him or not, far less whether she’d trust him an inch further than she could see him.