Mail-order Bridegroom Part 36

"He's never said a word."

"Well, it's a sad story." Olivia gave a sigh.

"His wife left him for his best friend. She was awarded custody of their two sons. They were six and eight at the time. Harry hung in for some years but somehow his ex-wife managed to turn the boys against him. He had access, of course, but mostly when he wanted to see them she had the boys doing something else. She blocked his calls, made his visits a nightmare.

The younger boy started having tantrums. When the children started calling his former friend "Daddy" he decided he would have to try for a life of his own. He was 'someone in the city', whatever that might be. He didn't elaborate and I didn't ask. He left the boys well provided for, then he took off. There doesn't seem to be a place on earth he hasn't visited. Even Antarctica. He spent a lot of time in Kenya then he travelled on to Australia. He's attracted to the wide, open s.p.a.ces. "

"So poor old Harry is one of the walking wounded," Roslyn said with sympathy.

"He must have been heartbroken."

"He was. Still is. The bonds weren't broken entirely. The children became men. They wanted to repair the relationship. Harry sees them when he goes back to En- gland. One's in law, the other works for a merchant bank.

Neither is anxious to get married."

"It does happen to the children of broken homes."

Olivia gave her daughter a tender look."You've got something on your mind, haven't you?""Am I that transparent?" Roslyn smiled."I'm your mother, darling. I know all the signs.""My beautiful mother!" Roslyn lifted her mother's hand and kissed it."I don't know how you're going to take this, but Marsh has asked me to marry him."

"Roslyn!" Olivia's nostrils flared and a look of acute unease spread overher gentle face."I thought that might be your reaction." Roslyn let out a deep sigh."It's been a long, long attachment."Olivia frowned."As if I didn't know! It was quite terrifying the way you two were so crazy about each other. I expected at any moment Lady Faulkner would cast us out into the desert."

Roslyn smiled wanly.

"She just didn't have enough clout. Sir Charles would have said no. He wasn't a man to argue with."

"Nevertheless he was worried. You, particularly, were so young. It had to stop."

"Yes, indeed!" Roslyn said in a cynical voice."We all know about these old families. So very closely knit and soconservative. They don't favour the nouveau riche joining the family letalone the daughter of people who work for them."

"No matter how beautiful and well-educated," Olivia added sadly."You have to consider, Rosa, Marsh's family is important to him. He's tiedto them in every possible way. Mac.u.mba is only a small part of the Faulknerinterests now. They knew the benefits of diversity before a lot of theirfriends started to think about it. There's a huge property portfolio.There's Mossvale. The family has a major holding in Westfield Mines.There's a whole lot more, I'm sure. They're very private people."

"I'm not marrying Marsh for the money. It doesn't concern me."

"Then it should!" Olivia looked at her daughter almost sternly.

"You could be thrust into a whole lot of responsibilities, even a lifestyleyou mightn't want to handle. You won't be living quietly here at Mac.u.mba.Increasingly it will become a more public life. It would be easier, too, ifMarsh or even his father were self-made men. New Money. But they're the OldRich."

"Mumma, I hate these labels."

Olivia shook her glossy head.

"Unfortunately they exist. We know that better than anyone. The Old Rich have a well-developed herd instinct. They like to stick together. Theydon't favour outsiders. As soon as an announcement is made, the press willbe onto it in a flash."

"So none of us led a life of crime. What do we have to hide, Mumma?

We're perfectly respectable. "

"Maybe we won't be by the time they tell the whole story. You know it won't be easy, Rosa. You know."

"So you're saying, don't marry him?" Roslyn asked wryly.

"I'm saying my main concern is your happiness. You've had a hard enough timeof it."

"I thought you loved Marsh?"

"I do!" Olivia compressed her soft lips.

"He has never in. all these long years offered me the slightest hurt. He shielded us both from his mother's tongue. The girls, of course, followedtheir mother's lead..."

"I think they were afraid not to."

"Possibly. But can't you see, darling. Marsh has always lived like a feudalprince. What Marsh wants, he gets. He even has his own private kingdom.He's uncompromising when it comes to his possessions. I know how the two of you suffered when your affair was broken up. I know how you worked to put itall behind you. I know the determination and the pain. Marsh seemed to want a clean break, as well. He courted Kim Petersen for a time. She was LadyFaulkner's choice for her son's bride. Yet here you are! The two of youcan't seem to leave one another alone."

"That's pa.s.sion, Mumma."

"Then pa.s.sion is a d.a.m.nable thing!"

"It doesn't make for an easy life. I've tried to form other relationships,Mumma. They didn't work out. Marsh was always there standing in theshadows. No one could come near him let alone surpa.s.s him."

Olivia's white brow furrowed.

"But can he make you happy?"

"If we put aside his family, Mumma, we're two of a kind."

Olivia continued to brood.

"Not just his family, Rosa. A wide circle of friends. Your news is

dazzling, darling, but I can't say I'm happy about it. Some will try very

hard to break it up."

"Would they dare with Marsh?"

"They'll go behind his back. You know how it works. You've been the target of so much unkindness," Olivia reflected with some foreboding.

"So have you! Why didn't we go, Mumma, while we had the chance?"

"You're strong, Rosa. You're a fighter. I never was. So I did nothing."

"And afterwards you came to care for Sir Charles?"

"Ah, don't!" Olivia made an agitated little movement.

"We can be honest with each other, Mumma."

"I loved your father, Roslyn."

"I know you did. I'm talking about later, Mumma. I

understand. Our lives were caught up with the Faulkners. You were young, beautiful. There was too much proximity. The Faulkners didn't have a happy marriage. Everyone thinksSir Charles was a great man. I say he should have set you free!"

There was sadness and old despair in Olivia's eyes. "The decision was mine,Rosa. I wanted to remain. I told myself I needed the job. And I did. But in a way it was self-deception. Sir Charles offered me a job out of thegoodness of his heart. It was a genuine act of kindness. I mourned yourfather. I still do, I will never lose his memory. I will never lose the memory of Charles. There was nothing dishonorable between us. You must believe that."

"I do, Mumma."

' "We cared for each other, but we were separated by a great chasm."

"Sir Charles was married, Mumma. Marsh isn't."

"No, but he's practically supporting the whole d.a.m.n lot of them. I'm tellingyou, Rosa, if the family can figure a way to stop this marriage, they will!"

"Then they're in for a few shocks," Roslyn said determinedly.

"I know there'll be stormy days ahead, but Marsh has asked me to marry himand I've told him yes."

"Then if that's your decision you have my total support." Olivia's beautiful eyes suddenly filled with tears. "You're a hundred times brighter andstronger than I am."

This lack of self-confidence in her mother affected Roslyn deeply.

"I.

wish I'd met that stepmother of yours. I'd have given her a piece of mymind. "

Knowing her daughter Olivia could see precisely how.

"She would never have crushed you the way she crushed me. You have your father in you. Lots of grit."

"It's an easy matter for an adult to crush a child, Mumma," Roslyn pointed out gently.

"I suppose!" Olivia's mind turned inwards.

"She used to play games.

She was sweet to me in front of my father and so unkind and critical in his

absence. My father thought I was the one who wasn't trying.That's what separated us in the end. He took her part against me.People do play games, darling. Especially women. You'll have to be on your guard. "

"Why do you think I was sitting upright in bed? I was trying to figure outthe best way to go.""Well, you won't have much time. The family arrives next week. As Christmas comes closer we can expect lots of visitors. The Petersens among others.When are you going to make an announcement? I don't even know if you'reengaged."

"I told Mar^h I wanted a little time. I want to gauge their reaction to mybeing back.""Are you sure that's wise? Why not present them with a fait accompli?""No." Roslyn shook her head."I want them to reveal themselves first.""Count on them to do that," said Olivia."And count on an uproar when you make your announcement."

"Well, I am expecting a few adverse comments," Roslyn drawled.

"So what's going to happen to me? I don't imagine Marsh will want his mother-in-law around the place?"

"Why ever not?" Roslyn looked startled.Olivia had to laugh."Not the three of us, darling. I just can't see it. A young couple, newly married. You'll want to be on your own."

"But I want you here, Mumma," Roslyn said in dismay."This is a huge house! If we wanted to, we needn't meet up for months.""Oh, darling," Olivia shook her head."I'm finished as a housekeeper.Am I right? ""Absolutely!" Roslyn sprang up from a lying position to kiss her mother's cheek.

"You've worked for the Faulkners long enough. I want you to be able to enjoyyourself. I want you to be financially secure.""Ho, ho!" Olivia said warily."No 'ho, ho," about it! Marsh wants to settle my own money on me. I'm ent.i.tled to it as his wife. What's mine is yours. You've always wanted totake an overseas trip with Ruth. Now you can do it. You can do anything youlike. "

"Oh, lord!" Olivia moaned."I'm a quiet person. This is going to change everything.""Yes it is, Mumma. We'll have to convert overnight to grand ladies."She laughed aloud, an infectious sound that made her mother laugh, as well."Personally I don't believe we have to do much converting.Maybe a new wardrobe. ""Promise me I wasn't part of it, Rosa?" Olivia asked in a low voice."What do you mean Mumma? Looking after you wasn't part of a package deal.

It's a side benefit. I've always loved Marsh. I always will.Consider it something neither of us can do anything about. ""It can happen like that. So when exactly do I cease my duties?"