Chapter Thirty-Five
It becomes apparent within minutes of Lavinia arriving home from hospital that the house is no longer suitable for her.
Using a walking stick, and even then quite unsteady, she comes in with Margot on one arm and Stephen on the other, and immediately sinks into the nearest chair.
Margot looks at Stephen over the top of her aunt’s head and his eyes are kind.
She is so glad he’s here. He’s been a great support to her over the past few days, driving her to the hospital, waiting for her while she visits Lavinia, never trying to intrude on their relationship – although after three days of it, Lavinia insisted he come into her room for a chat.
‘Poor man,’ she scolded Margot, ‘having to sit out there with everyone else.’
Margot tried to protest that it was his choice, but Lavinia made it clear that Margot should have known her better and thus known that she would welcome the presence of this gentleman who is taking care of her niece.
They’d got along famously. So much so that Margot rarely spoke during these visits, content to watch them chat, happy to see Lavinia so alert, and grateful that Stephen is there.
It’s nice to have someone to help. Even if she does sometimes wonder why he’s spending so much time with her.
‘What about your business?’ she’s asked him more than once.
‘I have wonderful staff,’ he says.
He’s taken her to the shop so she can meet some of the staff.
It’s clear the business is successful – flourishing, even.
In contrast her own funds are dwindling, although she doesn’t want to discuss that with him.
He’s been so helpful that he may think she’s asking him for money, which she would never do.
Lavinia’s turn in hospital has meant Margot can’t even think about trying to get a job.
Which means she isn’t any closer to having an income.
She’s grateful for the fact that her aged aunt can have a fall, be taken to a public hospital and looked after, and Margot won’t have to worry about the bill.
The fact that Lavinia may need follow-up care has crossed her mind, but she can’t think about it.
Especially right now, because she’s being confronted with the fact that Lavinia’s bedroom is upstairs, and Lavinia can’t currently climb stairs very well.
It took Stephen practically carrying her to get her up the stairs from the street.
Margot can tell that Lavinia is having this realisation at the same time – because her aunt is gazing at the stairs that lead to their bedrooms on the first floor.
‘Oh,’ Lavinia says.
‘Yes,’ Margot responds.
Stephen frowns.
‘The stairs,’ Margot explains. ‘Our bedrooms are up there.’
Then she blushes, because she hadn’t meant to refer to her bedroom in front of this man who appears to be courting her. That’s so forward of her.
‘I see,’ Stephen says. ‘That … will be an issue.’ He looks around. ‘Is there another room down here that she could use? I could have the bed moved.’
‘I don’t want to sleep down here!’ Lavinia is indignant. ‘We eat down here. I will not sleep near the kitchen.’
Stephen looks amused, which is good, because it’s possible that Lavinia has offended him. For all they know, he sleeps near his kitchen.
‘I’m not sure we can make another arrangement in time for tonight,’ he says, his voice gentle. ‘Perhaps we should find you temporary accommodation with everything on one storey.’
‘I don’t think we can,’ Margot interjects. She can’t afford to pay for a hotel, or anything else.
‘I’ll take care of it,’ Stephen says. ‘If it sounds like the right solution. And while you’re away, Miss King, I can look into what changes could be made so you can live here comfortably.’
‘We couldn’t let you do that,’ Margot says.
‘Yes, we could!’ Lavinia insists.
Margot looks at her, slightly shocked that her aunt can so easily detach from the house.
Stephen smiles at Margot.
‘I don’t …’ she starts. ‘I can’t …’ Another pause. ‘We couldn’t possibly ask you to do that.’
‘You’re not asking me,’ he says. ‘I’m offering. And if it helps you both, it would be my pleasure.’
‘But it can’t be!’ Margot says.
He looks amused again. ‘Why not?’
‘You barely know us! Why would you help?’
He takes his time to reply. ‘Length of acquaintance rarely has anything to do with how strongly we feel about another person. A parent loves a child straightaway. Two strangers can meet and become instant …’ He smiles.
‘Friends. I don’t need to have known you for a long time to wish to make your life easier, Margot. ’
His gaze is so strong, assured. Unsettling, in a way, because no man has ever beheld Margot like this and she doesn’t feel she deserves it. Yet, as he seems to insist, that’s not for her to decide.
‘I think Mr Williams is quite a sensible chap,’ Lavinia says approvingly.
‘Stephen, please, Miss King,’ he says.
‘You may continue to call me Miss King,’ Lavinia says, and Stephen laughs.
‘I would not dream of doing otherwise. Now, may I use your telephone? I will make some enquiries.’
Margot shows him to the phone and he gives her hand a reassuring squeeze before she leaves him to it.
As he makes his calls, Margot fusses over Lavinia, who seems annoyed by it. Perhaps this is to be their dynamic for a while, and Margot can understand: it’s no fun being old and infirm.
‘Now,’ Stephen says as he returns, ‘I have a friend with a hotel at Cremorne who has a suite he can make available. Will that be acceptable?’
Lavinia nods – slightly imperiously, Margot thinks, but she’s prepared to forgive her.
‘Wonderful,’ Stephen says. ‘Shall we pack you some things?’
‘I’ll do that,’ Margot says quickly, and she goes upstairs to find some clothes and whatever else Lavinia needs.
Once Stephen has gone, taking Lavinia with him – he said Margot should rest and she wasn’t inclined to resist – Margot misses the bustle of having them both in the house, and is then seized by a worry.
Hopefully Lavinia will be able to climb the stairs again someday soon. Because if she can’t, they can’t stay here.
Margot can’t afford to put her in a home, so she will have to make another plan. It is not a prospect she relishes.