The Love Child

“Perhaps that’s why you care so much about him. You want him to love you. You always did. You admire him. Oh, yes, you do. He is the sort of man women admire. Strong, ruthless, virile ... completely a man, if you know what I mean. I can assure you that my quiet and loving Gregory is easier to live with. I myself have felt the attraction your father exerts over women. I am not indifferent to him. Oh, understand me, I have no designs on him. I would like to score over him, to snap my fingers at him. I like the fact that his daughter should come to me for help and that I should know what is happening while he remains in ignorance of it. I am talking a lot of nonsense.”

“No. You’re talking sense. I understand, and I think you realize my relationship with him better than anyone else ever has … more than I do myself. I could not bear him to know what has happened. He is the sort of man who would shrug his shoulders if he knew we had been lovers, but rant and rage against me if I were to have a child.

I could not bear him to know.”

“Then my plan might appeal to you.”

“Harriet, tell me.”

“It may not work. It is rather wild. It will need a great deal of careful planning … a certain intrigue.”

“And you love intrigue.”

“Working it out, yes. The carrying it out is going to make life very interesting in the next year.”

“You’re keeping me in suspense.”

“It is very simple. 7 will be the mother of the child, not you.”

“How could that possibly be!”

“I am not sure yet. I have to work it out. Gregory would be in on the secret of course.

It would be impossible if he were not. He will be the father.”

“Harriet, what are you saying!”

“Now don’t dismiss it. Don’t be one of those people who see defeat everywhere before they have explored the possibility of success. You will have to spend a lot of time with me. Why not? I will tell them that you are in need of a change of scene. You are not well. You are fading away. I will take you away with me for a few months.

Then we will go to France … to Italy … Benjie is going away to school. That helps. I shall miss him. So you and I will travel. It is just what we both need.

When we have left I will write to your mother and tell her that Gregory and I are in a state of bliss because we are going to have a child. I, who had thought my childbearing days were over! You must be my companion during those waiting months. In due course my/your child will be born and we shall return to England.”

“Harriet! What an idea!”

“I can see nothing wrong with it, if we play our cards well. And we shall, never fear. I have played a great many parts and I shall play this one with my usual skill.

You will do well, too.”

“And when we return to England?”

“The child will live at Eyot Abbas and you will be devoted to it. You will love it as your own and I shall laugh with your mother and tell her that I believe my little Gregory or Harriet, whichever it is, has given you a new interest in life. You will come and stay with me more and more and no one need ever know the truth unless you wish them to.”

I went to her and hugged her. “Oh, Harriet, you think of the most fantastic ideas!”

“They work-and so will this. The most difficult part, I believe, is now. You’ll have to go back to Eversleigh. Then we’ll start planning. I don’t want you there too long.

You have a household of prying servants. No one must guess your condition, no one.

No one knows as yet. Let us keep it that way. Don’t tell anyone.”

“I was wondering about Christabel. If I come to you…”

“Christabel should not come. The fewer people who are in a secret the safer it is.

Christabel will have to go.”

“She comes from a wretched home. She is always afraid that she will be sent back there.”

“I shall have to think about her. I am a little unsure of her. The way in which she came into the house is a little mysterious and she is not treated like a governess, is she? At the moment not a word to her. This is a secret … yours and mine. I shall start working on what we must do. In the meantime you will have to be on your guard. The servants must not guess. You have that hell-raising Jasper and his ninny of a wife and their chaste daughter. You must take special care. I shall not write anything of this to you. It is never safe to put things on paper. I shall in due course ask you to come and visit me. And I will prepare the way.”

Her eyes sparkled with anticipation.

“I feel so much better,” I said. “It is wonderful to know that you are here.”

“We’ll do it; I am so excited. I feel pregnant already. I am so looking forward to this child. And dearest Priscilla, you and I will play this to perfection. Remember this: you are not alone.”

I was caught up in the excitement of it. It was the best thing that had happened to me since Jocelyn’s death. I felt that he was watching over me and that he had given me this to help me over my sorrow.

Harriet and I talked constantly about our plan during that visit. Then I returned to Eversleigh.

Intrigue in Venice