Lovers and Liars Trilogy by Sally Beauman
‘Rowland, you are handsomer than ever,’ said Emily Lancaster, regarding him with affection and pouring him a very large bourbon indeed. Rowland, who was standing at the window of her drawing-room, did not respond. ‘Close the curtains, would you?’ Emily continued. ‘I don’t like to see the moon through glass; it’s unlucky…’
‘That’s only when it’s a new moon,’ Rowland replied. He watched the trees move in the darkness of the Park, then obeyed her instruction. Emily, who had been watching him thoughtfully, moved across to the sofa. ‘Now come sit down,’ she said. ‘You must be exhausted—that long flight. Lord only knows what time it is by your body clock. Are you sure you won’t let Frobisher get you something to eat? No? Rowland, my dear, I’m sure you must be suffering jet lag—even a man of your determination can’t face that down.’
Rowland made some polite disclaimer. He seated himself beside her on the sofa; Emily budging her pug with a smile. She inspected him closely, putting on one of her pairs of spectacles to do so; she gave a small frown.
‘Yes, you’ve definitely improved with age,’ she pronounced. ‘You have a dangerous look about you these days. An air of perturbation. I’ve always found perturbation attractive in a man. If I were forty years younger, Rowland, I’d fall madly in love with you, and we could have a very incautious affair.’
Rowland looked at Emily with affection; in the five years since he had last seen her, she had considerably aged. She could no longer hold herself as straight as she had once done, but her spirit, he sensed, was as indomitable as ever. He thought of the first time he had met her, when she came over to Oxford for Colin’s graduation. At sixty-five, she had been magnificent; and at eighty-five, wrapped in a shawl of heathery-coloured tweed, she was still magnificent. Rowland could see, though, the distortions time had made to her hands and spine; suspecting she might be in pain, he pitied her for the ravages of the last twenty years.
Liking her, and also knowing how astute she was, he tried to shake off his own exhaustion and despondency, to rally himself and respond.
‘If you were forty years younger, Emily,’ he said, ‘you’d be playing havoc with my heart. And I wouldn’t risk an affair: I’d propose.’
Emily smiled at this. ‘Smartest move you could make,’ she said. ‘I’m one of the few women I know who could cope with you. I’d sort you out in no time. I’d be more than a match for you. What you need, Rowland, is a woman who’s ten jumps ahead of you the entire time.’
‘Do I?’ Rowland said, giving her a glinting, green-eyed glance that made even Emily’s eighty-five-year-old heart beat appreciably faster. ‘Do I indeed?’
‘My dear, it is very good indeed to see you.’ Emily laughed. ‘I’d forgotten how well you flirted. Wicked man! This is a pleasure—an unexpected one, too…’
‘Yes, I had to leave London rather suddenly. It was a last minute thing.’
‘What did you say brought you to New York, my dear?’
‘Work,’ said Rowland, who had not previously explained his presence. ‘My paper’s negotiating various link-ups with the Times here. We’ve suddenly run into a few problems.’
‘How exciting. Oh dear.’
‘So I came over to—finalize things.’
‘Of course. But won’t everyone be away, my dear? It is Thanksgiving tomorrow after all.’
‘That shouldn’t present any difficulties.’
Emily raised her eyebrows, but taking pity on him, pressed him no more. She began to chat away about inconsequential things, while waiting for Rowland to reveal his true reason for being here in this apartment. Much as she liked him, and flattered though she was by his gallantry, Emily was not under the illusion that he was here to see her.
Rowland listened to her with half his mind. He was finding it almost impossible to sit still and be patient; it required all his self-discipline, and that discipline was usually considerable, to avoid questioning Emily at once. All he needed was a location or a telephone number, then he could be speaking to Lindsay within the hour. What he would then say, he had no idea, but he felt a frantic conviction that once he heard her voice, or preferably saw her, he would be blessed with eloquence; the right words, or actions, must inevitably come.
This address and telephone number he had been chasing ever since he had finally arrived at the Pierre some four hours before. He had first tried calling Lindsay from Heathrow airport, only to find her number engaged; he had tried calling from Kennedy as soon as he landed, and had been cut off three times.
‘What do you mean she’s checked out?’ He had stared at the two young men behind the desk at the Pierre. ‘Checked out when? Checked out where?’
‘Ms Drummond checked out this morning,’ said the younger of the two, glancing at his confrère. The confrère smirked.
‘That’s right,’ he confirmed. ‘She collected her faxes, then checked out. Around ten.’
The mention of faxes produced visible and incomprehensible mirth. Rowland stared blankly at the two men. He felt as if he were still travelling: he was on the motorway to Oxford, on a fool’s errand to see Tom; he was on the motorway back, breaking the speed limit to catch his plane. He was in the limbo of the aircraft itself, and he felt in limbo now. The two men had denied all knowledge of Lindsay’s present whereabouts. Grimly, Rowland had booked himself in to the small cell that was the only room available there over Thanksgiving, and had started telephoning. Twenty calls later, he still had no information and no leads. As a last resort, he obtained Markov’s Manhattan number from a giggling Pixie, in London, and dialled it. He did not expect a kind reception, nor did he get one.
‘Looking for Lindsay?’ Markov trilled, in his most infuriating tone. ‘Too thrilling, my dear. I always wondered when you’d get round to it.’
‘Where is she?’ Rowland said, swallowing his pride. ‘I need to talk to her and I need to talk to her now.’
‘Can’t help, I’m afraid.’
‘Please,’ said Rowland.
‘Not a word I ever expected to hear on your lips,’ cried Markov, detectable triumph in his tones. ‘How are the mighty fallen, my dear.’
‘Fuck it, Markov—where is she?’
‘Sweetheart, I genuinely don’t know. Tucked up in a love-nest somewhere, I suspect. With the new inamorato. I can’t wait to meet him. He sounds too charming for words.’
‘Markov—have you ever been desperate?’
‘Of course, darling. Most of the time.’
‘Well, I’m desperate. No doubt that delights you. Help me out, here.’
Markov made a considering noise. ‘I’m seeing a little cabin in the woods,’ he said, in a maddening way. ‘Could it be out of state? Yes, I think so. A cosy little cabin, somewhere très discreet. An intimate little cabin, with log fires…’
‘Christ, Markov—’
‘Oh, all right.’ Markov gave way to the temptation to cause trouble, a temptation he could never bear to resist for very long. ‘I’m seeing the Oak Room at the Plaza, tomorrow evening at seven; they get back then. Thanksgiving drinks, darling. Jippy and I get to vet the inamorato. I gather…’ Markov lowered his voice. ‘I gather he has auburn hair, hyacinthine curls, diabolic eyebrows, an Apollonian body, and a way with women…’
‘What fool gave you that description?’ Rowland said, in a violent tone.
‘Can’t think, darling. Someone who knows him pretty well, I guess. Have to go now. Byeee.’
Replacing the phone, Rowland realized that even he, with a journalist’s persistence, could not call every hotel with cabins in America; besides, there was an easier way. He dialled Emily’s number at once; as a result, here he was—jet-lagged, exhausted, afflicted with a sense of whirling futile momentum, going nowhere exceedingly fast.
‘I’m sorry to miss Colin,’ he said, interrupting Emily and unable to bear prevarication any longer. ‘I hear he’s staying out of state somewhere with Lindsay.’
‘Ah,’ said Emily, bending to fondle her pug. ‘Yes indeed.’
&n
‘Well, now, I’m not really sure. Colin’s being a little secretive…’
‘He wasn’t secretive when I telephoned before,’ Rowland said, hearing the bitterness in his own voice and realizing that he was losing his capacity to dissemble. Lindsay, he thought, would not judge his untruths to be cool or flagrant now. He turned to look at Emily. ‘I gather marriage is on the cards.’
‘He is very much in love,’ Emily replied, in a quiet, firm tone.
‘And are his feelings returned?’
‘That I cannot answer. Lindsay would not confide in me. Though I would say…’ She paused and turned her blue gaze steadily upon Rowland. ‘I would say they were admirably suited to one another, wouldn’t you?’
Rowland’s reaction confirmed everything Emily had suspected, and told her all she needed to know. She saw his handsome face darken and an arrogant expression mask his dismay. He gave her a cold, green-eyed glance, and took a swallow of bourbon.
‘I always find questions like that impossible to answer. They’re foolish. Only two people can judge—and that’s the two people concerned.’
‘Well, I think they’re made for each other,’ Emily said, a little sharply; then, seeing the unhappiness in his eyes, she modified her tone. ‘Consider,’ she went on, ‘they are both vulnerable; they are both innocents—and I do not mean that in a pejorative way. They both have an open, sunny, optimistic disposition, though Colin, of course, likes to dramatize his fears. They have a very similar sense of humour—which is very important indeed…’
She hesitated; Rowland, his face set, said nothing. Emily looked around her room, wondering whether to show him mercy or continue. She thought of her conversation here with Colin on the night she had first met Lindsay; love for her nephew, and protectiveness towards him, rose up in her heart. Continue, she decided, and began speaking again, ignoring the stony expression in Rowland’s eyes.
‘And then,’ she went on, ‘there are the long-term considerations. Lindsay is not in her first youth. She has one miserable marriage behind her. For twenty years, she has had to bring up a child alone. She has a resilience, and a determination I admire—and they would be of great benefit to Colin…’
‘They would be of benefit to anyone who married her.’
‘Indeed.’ Emily gave him a sharp glance. ‘But Colin has admirable qualities too, let us not forget that. With Colin, she could rely on unswerving loyalty and devotion…’
‘I’m sure she would repay that in kind.’
‘No doubt. My point is that with Colin she could be secure. He would be faithful, loving and considerate. He would make the very best of husbands…’ She paused, then added, in a delicate way, ‘Not all men are husband material, wouldn’t you say?’
‘I’d say appearances can be deceptive in that respect,’ Rowland answered, somewhat roughly.
Emily made no reply, but continued to look at him, her expression kindly but perplexed; she gave a sigh.
‘Well, well, I am very old now,’ she said, in a quiet way, ‘I look at these things differently from you, no doubt. I love Colin; his future happiness and well-being are very close to my heart.’ She paused. ‘I’m sure you will understand that, since you and Colin are such close friends, and have been for so many years.’
Rowland heard the undisguised note of warning in her voice; his eyes met hers.
‘I also wish Colin well,’ he began, in a stiff way. ‘I like Colin and I respect him. I hope you know that—’
‘Indeed I do. I also know what it is to experience a clash of loyalties. That is always painful, and especially so for an honourable man.’
Rowland coloured. ‘I don’t follow you,’ he said, looking away.
‘Oh, I think you do,’ Emily said. She paused, her gaze resting thoughtfully on his face; then she made one of those lightning shifts of attack that Rowland remembered of old.
‘You have thought of marrying, I imagine, Rowland?’
‘I have thought of it. Yes.’
‘And no doubt you would like children?’
‘Yes, I would hope—’ He stopped, suddenly seeing the unerring accuracy of her aim. He turned back to look at her. ‘I would like to have a family, children—yes. I have no family of my own. So I had hoped to have children one day.’
Emily gave a small inclination of her head. Rowland saw pity come into her eyes.
‘Colin also wants this,’ she said quietly. ‘In many ways, and despite the life he’s led, Colin is and always has been, a very domestic man. He loves his home and is never happier than when he is at home. With the right wife, and God willing, with children, there is no doubt in my mind that he would be completely fulfilled. Of course, in Colin’s case, there are additional reasons—I suppose one would have to call them dynastic reasons—why he should want children. He may deny it, but I know how deeply it matters to him, and to his father, that he should be able to pass Shute on to his son and heir.’
‘I know that. I know exactly how much that matters to him.’ Hope had come into Rowland’s eyes. ‘So I would have thought that—’
‘So would I.’ Emily cut him off with a small lift of her hand. Seeing her expression change, Rowland felt a second’s foreboding; he could see that she was perhaps tiring, but she clearly intended to say something more, and knew it would be unwelcome. She looked at him with gravity and compassion, then sighed.
‘You are an intelligent man, Rowland. No, sit down; there’s something I want to tell you before you go. This question of children, of heirs. You should know—I discussed that very issue with Colin, here in this room, on the night he introduced me to Lindsay. I reminded him of Shute and the length of time his family has lived there. I reminded him of the entail…’ She paused. ‘I didn’t use the word sacrifice to him then, but I will use it to you now.’ She paused.
‘To contemplate marriage to a woman who might, unhappily, be unable to bear a child, is perhaps the greatest sacrifice Colin could make. Yet he intends to marry her, and he made the decision without the smallest hesitation—I think you should know that, Rowland. Other men, in similar situations, might have acted differently…’ She allowed her gaze to rest quietly on Rowland’s face. ‘I would not blame them for that. But I will say that, in these circumstances, Colin’s love for Lindsay should not be underestimated. He showed courage—and I have never admired him more than I did then.’
The statement was gently made, but it cut Rowland. He rose and turned away. ‘I’ve never doubted Colin’s moral courage,’ he said.
‘But you do doubt him in other ways? You think he is unsteady, perhaps? Impetuous? No doubt you would feel concern on Lindsay’s behalf, if that was your view…’
‘I do feel concern,’ Rowland began, turning. ‘I feel—’
‘My dear, I can see exactly what you feel. I am not blind and I am not deaf.’ Emily gave a deep sigh. ‘Rowland, what you feel is obvious in your speech, in your expressions, in every gesture you make. You have my sympathy, but I would counsel you to think very carefully and very honestly before you take any action you might subsequently regret. Colin looks upon you as a brother. I would not want you to delude yourself that he is not in earnest here, however tempting that might be. He is utterly in earnest. And if I may give my opinion, I think that from Lindsay’s point of view and his own, he has made a hard, but a very wise choice.’
‘I love her,’ Rowland said, in a low voice. ‘Emily, for God’s sake—’ He turned away, and Emily, who had never seen his composure even threatened, in all the years she had known him, watched it break.
Saying nothing, she waited for him to regain his control. She leaned back against the cushions, feeling suddenly that all her energy was gone. The strength of Rowland’s reaction disturbed her; now her eighty-five-year-old mind felt fearful, and every one of her eighty-five-year-old bones seemed to ache.
She had suspected this conversation might be necessary as soon as Rowland telephoned and announced his arrival in Ne
‘Rowland,’ she began. ‘Rowland, I’m so very sorry. Listen to me—’
‘No, I’m sorry.’ Rowland, his back to her, fought to steady his voice. ‘You were right earlier. I’m desperately tired. I should take myself off…’
‘I wish you wouldn’t. At least stay and finish your drink.’ She gave him an anxious look, then, as he slowly turned, held out her hand to him. ‘If you go now, I’ll feel I’ve offended you.’
‘You certainly haven’t done that.’
He hesitated, then, with a gentleness that surprised her, took her hand, with its bent and misshapen fingers, and held it in his own. Emily saw that he could still scarcely speak for emotion; she drew him down beside her, and looking at his drawn face, felt another flurry of remorse and doubts. Those who could not see beyond Rowland’s appearance, she thought, were very foolish. Rowland McGuire was a considerable man, to whom Colin, and Colin’s family, owed a debt. Who was she to judge whether he was, in her own glib phrase, husband material?
Marriage was a serious subject; love was a serious subject; the bearing of children was a more serious subject still: these issues determined the course of entire lives—what right did she have to meddle here? She was partisan, and had in any case been too long retired from the fray; she had forgotten the agonies of love, and had no doubt underestimated them, for she was preoccupied too often now with the more pressing concern of mortality and imminent death.
‘Ah, Rowland, Rowland,’ she said, laying her hand on his arm. ‘I never married. I never had children. I’m old. I hadn’t understood how strongly you felt. I shouldn’t have spoken as I did.’
‘No. I’m glad that you did.’ He looked across the room. ‘I can see now—I suppose I always could—Colin can offer her so much. Not just material things; I don’t only mean that. Colin is generous at heart. And you’re right, they are alike, in many respects. When they first met, I could see then…It’s just that—well, I had thought—I had sensed—’