The Complete Ravenscar Trilogy: The Ravenscar Dynasty, Heirs of Ravenscar, Being Elizabeth. Barbara Taylor Bradford

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СКАЧАТЬ and help to give the room exactly the right balance.’

      ‘I just pray that Stephen’s going to like it.’

      ‘I know he will,’ Lily reassured her best friend, and then asked curiously, ‘And when is he getting back from New York?’

      ‘In a week. He had to go to San Francisco unexpectedly, and that delayed him, but his business has gone well, and he’ll be sailing from New York in a few days. I can’t wait to see him, it’s been ages.’

      ‘I know what you mean,’ Lily murmured, and walked slowly across the room, went and sat down on a plump curving love seat upholstered in pale apple-green damask. As she settled back against the lilac and apple-green silk cushions, she said, with another glance around, ‘The flowers are lovely, Vic, you’ve managed to create a feeling of spring here today.’

      ‘Thank you, darling.’ Vicky took a seat in a chair next to Lily, and looking at her intently, she asked, ‘Have you told Ned?’

      Lily shook her head. ‘No, not yet. I only saw him once last week, after he came out of the hospital, and I felt it wasn’t quite the right time. But I am going to tell him, please don’t worry.’

      ‘Good. I’m glad. Now, you’ll be interested to hear that I’ve found a charming house quite near us in Kent. I think it’s lovely and not too big, and I was hoping you could come down to see it with me on Monday or Tuesday, before Stephen arrives in London.’

      ‘Oh, Vicky, darling, how wonderful! I’d love to,’ Lily cried, turning to her friend, beaming at her. ‘To tell you the truth, I’ve been thinking about moving from Belsize Park Gardens. Moving to a house I saw in South Audley Street, in Mayfair.’

      ‘I see. I hope you’re not taking on too much, in your condition, I mean.’

      Lily laughed. ‘I really feel wonderful. Very fit and healthy, and it’s only the awful morning sickness getting me down at the moment. Also, the house in Mayfair is not large—compact really, yet very adequate for me, the child and a small staff. I just hate the idea of Ned being stranded the way he was in Belsize Park when he was attacked. I need to be in the West End.’

      ‘I understand.’ Vicky fell silent for a few seconds, and then, leaning towards Lily, she asked in a quiet voice, ‘You do plan to keep the baby, don’t you?’

      ‘Oh yes, I could never give it up! Why, it’s part of me and Ned. I might tell him today, Vicky, then I might not. But please be assured that when I do I will explain that I want to be quite independent. I don’t want anything from him, as you know.’

      ‘That’s rather brave of you, Lily. I have something to tell you, by the way. It’s rather important. At least, I think so.’

      Lily looked at her alertly. ‘What is it? You seem suddenly very excited.’

      ‘I am. I’ve made a decision about something I’ve thought about for a while. I’m definitely going to do voluntary social work with my friend Fenella Fayne—’

      ‘The widow of Lord Jeremy Fayne?’

      ‘Exactly. She’s been a friend for years, and as I think I once told you she runs a women’s…shelter in the East End. I’ve always admired her work, and I want to do something useful with my life. There’s so much poverty and misery in London, greatest capital in the world though it might be. I simply can’t bear the discrepancy between the lives of the rich, and the desperate, miserable existence of the poor.’

      ‘I’m very happy you finally decided to make a move, you’ve been hankering after doing work like this for as long as I can remember.’ Lily gave her a warm loving smile, and reached out, took hold of her hand. ‘You’ve always wanted to make a contribution, and I think you’ll be wonderful at it. Fenella Fayne must be thrilled to have you.’

      Vicky began to laugh, looking embarrassed. ‘I haven’t actually told her yet, but she knows how interested I’ve been in her work, and for a long time. I plan to visit her next week, and volunteer my services.’

      ‘Stephen won’t mind, will he?’

      ‘I don’t think so, he understands that I’m…well, that I feel women should be able to make contributions if they wish to do so. He thinks I’m rather emancipated really, and he’s one of the few men I know who believes Mrs Pankhurst has the right idea…about women’s rights. Frankly, Lily, he’s proud that I am emancipated.’

      Lily nodded. ‘And you’re so right about the poverty in London. There are some terrible slums, such as Providence Place, and those ghastly tenements…they’re called rookeries, aren’t they?’

      ‘Yes. And the women who live there are beaten-down and desperate, poor, and frequently in ill health and often abused by their beer-swilling husbands. It makes my blood boil when I think about the wealth in England, and the selfishness of so many people who could help to make a few lives easier—’

      Vicky stopped and jumped up, went to the window, saw the carriage coming to a stop.

      ‘Oh, Lily darling, I think it’s my brother, with Ned, and, oh my heavens, Johnny Watkins. They’re earlier than I expected.’

      Amos Finnister settled himself at a corner table for four in the Mandarin Garden, the little Chinese restaurant which was his favourite in Limehouse. Six o’clock was early for him to eat his Sunday dinner, but Charlie had requested this time and so he had acquiesced.

      His thoughts settled on yesterday’s lunch with Neville Watkins and the other men. When he considered the information that had passed between them, the decisions made, he filled with a rush of genuine pleasure and satisfaction. Everything was coming together much faster and much better than he had anticipated it would.

      The medical records were in hand, the renowned doctor was studying them; Alfredo had produced valuable information about the Mining Division as well as the names of their allies within the company; and now, thanks to Charlie, he had two men whom he could use to tackle James Cliff, Jack Beaufield and Philip Dever. What the two actors were going to do was pose as gentlemen, as aristocrats, and they would reveal they had lethal information about the private lives of these three men. Information that would prove deadly to their lives and careers. Blackmail, in other words.

      Right on time as always, Charlie came hurrying into the restaurant. Amos glanced up, raised his hand in a wave.

      A moment later Charlie was sitting opposite him, a grin spreading across his handsome face.

      ‘Evening, Mr Finnister.’

      ‘Good evening, Charlie. Would you like a pot of this jasmine tea I’m having? It’s most refreshing.’

      ‘Indeed I would, sir. And thank you very much.’ Charlie sat back in the chair and glanced around the restaurant which was still relatively empty. ‘It appears we are the sole diners,’ he added.

      ‘Playing the toff this evening are we, Charlie?’ Amos asked with a wide smile. He was extremely fond of the young actor, and they had worked together on many projects, as Charlie was wont to call them. For ten years, at least.

      ‘I am the toff СКАЧАТЬ