A handful of dreams Page 4

  CHAPTER VI

  It was like living in a fairy tale. Cilia thought, when she went to bed that night. After drinks, they had had a delicious dinner and some neighbours had dropped in for the evening, to play bridge. As Cilia did not play, it gave her a good excuse to slip away and go to bed early, for she was desperately tired. And worried. When the neighbours, a couple, came in and Joanna had introduced her, the wife had said: ' So you're the sister, are you?' in a very odd sort of voice that had made Cilia's cheeks burn and Paul rush to her rescue. ' Yes, she's Joanna's kid sister. When I last saw her she was still at school.' The conversation had become general, but Cilia could not forget the emphasis on the words: ' the sister'. Had Joanna told all her friends? Did everyone believe that Cilia had played up to her aunt in order to get all the money? Cilia could not help feeling that the two neighbours had looked at her with curious and condemning eyes. Who could blame them? she asked herself, as she paced the room miserably, pausing every now and then by the window to draw back the curtain and look at the lovely silver line that was the reflection of the moon on the seaand the beauty of the palms silhouetted against the star-spangled sky. Indeed, who could blame them, she thought, for it must seem awfulthe young sister getting everything while the older one only got a yearly allow- 50

  ance. Cilia wondered how she could convince them all that she didn't want the money, she would have been far happier could she have given half to Joanna. Or even all of it, for that matter, she thought miserably. Finally she went to bed, and lay back against the pale pink pillows, looking round the beautiful room, wishing with all her heart that she had Aunt Lil to write to to tell her of the beauty of it all. Of course she could write to Wendy, but somehow she didn't think Wendy would be interested in the beautiful garden, the lovely house, the wonderful ocean, the mountain that was so stately and yet, in a way, so menacing, and the gracious life of having everything done for you, and done so well. Cilia smiled as she remembered the small flat she and Wendy had shared happily, the little annexe of a kitchen, the problem of throwing away the rubbish, the steep stairs they had to run up to reach the flat. This was so completely, so utterly different. She could hear the laughter coming along the verandahthe voices. All four of them had someone who cared. Now that Aunt Lil had gone ... Finally she slept, to awake to an amazing sight the sun pouring through the window, the sea turned into a mass of glorious gold. Henrietta brought her a cup of tea and asked what she would like for breakfast. ' An egg? Is it hard or soft?' Henrietta asked. Hard or soft? Oh, boiled, of course! Cilia thought, and smiled. ' Soft, please.' Henrietta gave a little bob and left her. Cilia bathed, then studied her small wardrobe of clothes 5i

  that looked lost in the huge cupboard. The dress she had worn the day before had vanished, hanging over Henrietta's arm, obviously to be washed and ironed. Cilia finally decided on a pale yellow dress and carefully brushed her hair, wondering why she bothered as she made up her face. Theo had so many beautiful women who all rushed at him, according to Wendy, that he was not likely to look ateven less to see, the girl he had called a sweet kid when she was six years old. How quiet the house was, she thought, as she ate her breakfast alone. Paul must have gone off to work and Joanna didn't get up until twelve o'clock. What a strange way to live. Cilia thought, yet in this hot humid air, her lethargic limbs had to be forced to move and she was already beginning to see why people appeared lazy. It was hard to feel or be energetic. Perhaps in time . . . But how long must she stay? She crossed her fingers; she must try to remember to ask Theo how long she had to stay. Somehow after last night and the neighbours' attitude, she rather -dreaded meeting any more of Joanna's friends. She was sitting on the verandah when the car camea long green car. She watched as a man got out, obviously the chauffeur, in white uniform. He hurried round the back of the house and in a few moments Henrietta came, giving her little bob. ' The car, it is here.' ' Mr Randall's?' Cilia asked. Henrietta smiled and bobbed again. ' Yes, mademoiselle, it is.' Cilia took the hat she had worn the day before and her handbag and went out into the hot sunny air. 52

  She drew a deep breath, for there was a strangely sweet smellshe wondered from what flower it came. The Creole opened the door and waited politely until she was settled. He drove carefully while Cilia looked round with what she realised were almost hungry eyes. Each thing she saw was more beautiful than anything she had ever seen before. There were small bungalows with tiny private coves in front of them, gardens filled with flowers, and always the palm trees, many bent almost double as they had been pushed in the heavy winds. It didn't take long before they were driving up a narrow avenue of tall trees whose branches met overhead so that the sunshine could only peep through the leaves, and then she saw Theo's house. She caught her breath with amazement. It was the sort of house that she had always had in one of her dreams. It had begun years ago at school when the class had been told to draw the house they would like to live in. Much as she loved the Cottage, she had not drawn that. Instead she had drawn a house that was like the letter E without the middle short line, a longer building with a shorter one at each end and in the centre a garden, filled with flowers. And Theo's house was exactly like that! What a coincidenceit seemed impos sible, yet it was true. As the car stopped, Theo came out to meet her. His pale blue shirt was open at the neck and matched the shorts he wore. He smiled. ' You survived?' he asked. As she got out of the car, she looked at him. "Justthanks to Paul.' 53

  There were two deck chairs on the lawn, under a huge red and white sunshade. ' Sit down,' he said. ' We're waiting for Anthony.' ' Where is he?' she asked. ' Gone for a ride with one of my men. He says you ride?' She nodded. ' I love it.' ' Good. My horses need exercising. We must arrange something. Look,' his voice changed as it so often did, losing the friendliness, becoming hard and demanding, ' Joanna rang me up and asked me not to let Paul know I was one of the trustees. Is this your idea?' ' Of course it isn't. Why should I mind? It was her idea.' ' It was? Then why? There must be a reason,' he snapped at Cilia, almost as if she was to blame. ' She says Paul is jealous of you.' Theo laughed, a strange, not-amused-at-all laugh. ' He has been from the day we met. He was jealous because I lived in the big house, because I travelled in my grandfather's Rolls-Royce, then because I sailed through exams and did well at sport. I worked hardit wasn't sheer luck. Paul's big weakness is that he expects things to happen to him, instead of his going out to look for it. I fail to see why he should mind me being a trustee. He never did get on with your aunt, as you know. I can remember her calling him cheekyone of the things she hated most.' ' Of course you were never cheeky,' Cilia said angrily. ' Why do you always pick on poor Paul? We're not all made the same.' ' I forgot you're another of his fans,' said Theo, 54 his voice scornful. ' He can do no wrong.' ' No, it isn't that.' Cilia was angry. ' It's just that you're so unfair to him. You take it for granted that whatever he does he shouldn't do, yet how are you to know his side of it?' ' Look, I asked you a simple question. Can I have a straightforward answer? I asked you why Joanna doesn't want Paul to know I'm one of the trustees.' ' I told youbecause he's jealous of you ... it isn't only your money, it's . . . it's . . .' Cilia hesitated, but she was so annoyed she went on. ' He's jealous because of Joanna.' ' Joanna?' Theo laughed, shaking his head. ' He must be out of his mind! I've known your sister for years. No, that's absurd. She must have some other idea in her clever little mind.' Yes, she has. Cilia was thinking. Joanna doesn't want to let Paul know that she's pleased you're one of the trustees, because she thinks she can get what she wants out of you. But can she? Cilia wondered, looking at the stem face of the man opposite her, gazing with that strange narrowing of his eyes as if he was able to see inside her mind. ' That reminds me. Cilia,' Theo went on. ' You were a fool to go for that climb with Paul. It's a dangerous walk, easy to slip or trip over something. You could have had a nasty fall.' ' Paul helped me.' 'Did he now?' There was that strange smile on Theo's face again. ' Has it never struck you that when you die everything could go to Joanna? That would suit
Paul nicely.' ' He did ask ...' Cilia began, and stopped. She 55

  jumped up to her feet and glared at Theo. ' Are you suggesting that Paul would ... would . . .' ' Murder you? Goodness, no.' Another of those strange smiles. Cilia thought. ' He wouldn't murder you. But there might be a tragic accident. You, sliding on the slippery rocksPaul risking his life to save you, but you might have toppled over the side of that fall and that would have been the end of you. Paul would do anything for Joanna.' Cilia could find no answer, for she could only agree with that last remark. She knew that Paul would do anything for Joanna, anything at all. Cilia shivered as she thought of the moment when she had looked down that narrow ravine at the churning water below. How easy for her to slip ... to fall. But she was sure Paul would never do it. Paul liked her, and she trusted him. "Was itpretty bad with Joanna?' Theo was asking. Again his voice had changed. This time it was sympathetic. ' I felt sorry for you when Anthony and I walked off. Unfortunately this was something you had to face. How did she react?' He frowned. ' Please sit down.' She had no choice so she sat down. ' Joanna was well, it was pretty unpleasant until... until Paul came.' ' He was on your side?' ' He said he believed me and that Aunt Lil had the right to do what she liked.' ' Joanna doesn't believe you?' 'I don't think so.' Cilia began to twist her fingers together. ' I had one very bad moment. Two neighbours came in to play bridge.. o' 56

  'John and Lucy Grove?' ' Yes. I'd forgotten their name, but I think it was that.' Well?' ' Well, it's hard to explain.' Cilia looked up at him. ' It was the way she said something like: " Oh, this is the sister." Maybe I imagined it, but it was just as if she was thinking, " That awful sister who stole poor Joanna's money." I really felt she was thinking that.' ' Unfortunately you're probably right,' Theo told her gravely. ' You know how people hear one thing and twist it. I'm afraid Lucy is that kind. She has nothing to do but chat, and chat she does. Look, Cilia, you know and I know and Paul knows arid Joanna knows very well that you're not the kind of girl to do such a thing. Anyone who really knows you must know that. As Peter said, if they're fool enough to believe you could do such a thing, they're not worth knowing.' ' But it hurts,' she sighed. ' I can imagine. I doubt if Aunt Lil realised it. I honestly think she did it because of her love for you and Joanna.' ' Oh yes, so do I,' agreed Cilia. ' She meant well, but. . .' ' Let's hope it'll all work out right. I suppose you told Joanna you would give her as much money as you were allowed to give?' ' Yes, I did. I said I could also give her presents. You couldn't object to that?' ' Of course not. So long as it's not diamonds and mink coats that can be sold,' Theo said, a smile slightly showing as he spoke. 57

  ' I thought I'd get a car . . .' Cilia looked at him anxiously. Should she have bought the car first? she wondered. ' One does need a car here,' she added hastily. He smiled. ' An excellent idea. You, Anthony and I will go into Victoria this afternoon and buy the car. It's something Joanna has wanted for a long time. It will make her very happy.' 'Hi, Uncle!' a young shrill voice called, and Anthony came racing across the lawn. ' He's super, absolutely super!' he said, and smiled at Cilia. ' Hullo,' he said. ' Hullo. Was he a nice horse?' ' It was smashing!' Anthony's young face was radiant with happiness. ' You haven't seen the dogs? They're super, too.' ' Look, Ant, we're going to have lunch in Victoria,' Theo put in. ' I said we'd go there this afternoon, but you're back sooner than I expected.' Anthony's face clouded. ' Suppose Mum comes?' ' I'll leave a message at the airport and here. It's only a few miles away. Cilia wants to buy a car. -I thought you might like to help her choose one.' Theo turned to Cilia. ' You can drive?' * Of course. I've got my own car in England. Aunt Lil gave it to me.' ' This'll be child's play after driving there. Only thing is there are a lot of cyclists,' he warned. ' I'll go and change,' Anthony said happily. ' I'll be quick.' ' Okay.' They watched him run across the lawn to the house, then Theo turned to Cilia, his face grave. ' I'm sorry for that kid. He's never known what a real home is, or a real parent for that matter. 58

  My sister Noreen should never have had a child. She and Mike are those kind of restless people who never settle down. That's why Anthony got himself expelled.' ' Expelled? From school?' ' Where else? Didn't it strike you that it was an odd time for him to be leaving school? The holidays aren't for another month or so. He admitted it to me, rather proudly. He did everything he could think of to get into trouble. In the end he succeeded and got expelled. They wrote to his parents and my sister gave them this address. Actually they should have been here by now.' ' They will come?' Cilia knew a sudden fear. ' Anthony loves his mother so much.' ' I know. It's a funny thing. Cilia, but so often where a mother shows no love for her children, they adore her. I know I did. My parents spent most of their time arguing and fighting, we kids just fitted in where we could. It sounds daft, I know, but I always hoped that one day she would love me . . . but they were both killed in a car accident, so she never did.' Puzzled. Cilia stared at him, for this was a side to his character she had never thought of. Now his face was sad as he talked as if he was thinking aloud. ' It's odd. but Anthony reminds me of myself. I was always doing outrageous things in the hope of getting attention. I never succeeded. Anthony is trying the same. He won't succeed either.' ' But all he wants is a home and some horses and dogs . . .' Cilia stopped. She had nearly said * Just like me ', but stopped because she didn't want Theo to sneer at her ' dreams '. 59

  ' I know. This is where I want your help,' Theo went on. ' My help?' Cilia began, and again stopped, re-membering that at Joanna's, Theo had said that. ' What can I do?' ' It's like this. I'll stay here as long as I can, bjit I've an important meeting in South America I must go to and I can't just leave Anthony on his own. I'd ask Joanna, but I know she hates kids.' ' She never did like them.' ' And you? You needn't tell me.' Theo was smiling at her. ' According to Anthony you're super. You really made that long flight pleasant for him.' ' He did for me. He's very bright. . .' ' Like his uncle!' Theo said with a laugh. ' I wondered if you'd move into my house while I'm away and look after the boy? You can go riding. I've got a good groom and staff.' ' I'm coming, I'm coming!' Anthony chanted as he raced towards them, his eyes shining happily. ' Will you?' Theo asked quietly. She looked at him. ' Need you ask?' she said.

  CHAPTER VII

  Theo proved to be an intensely interesting courier, Cilia thought, as she sat silently in the back of the long green car with Theo and Anthony while the chauffeur drove. 'The Seychelles,' Theo said, 'are a confettias the travel brochures call itof islands. We're a thousand miles off the East African coast. The islands were first colonised by the French and then in 1794 by the English. Actually, Ant, there are no indigenous people here. Know what that word means?' ' Of course I do. Indigenous means something that was born therelike plants that weren't brought in from another country.' Theo laughed. "Good for you! Same applies here. No one lived here, as far as we know, before the middle of the eighteenth century. When the French came they brought their slavesso did the British, I'm sorry to say. Then the Indian and Chinese traders came in and they all intermarried, and you'll see from the results that they're a real mix-up.' 'Aren't they called Creoles?' asked Anthony. ' When I knew Mum and Dad were coming here, I got a book from the library about it.' ' Yes. Good for you. Ant. You probably know more than I do about it,' Theo said, laughing Go on, Uncle.' Theo looked at Cilia. ' Not bored?' Far from it,' she said. 'I think it's all too 61