The Pearl of Penang by Clare Flynn (best mobile ebook reader txt) 📕

Your mother got sick and that’s why she died. It’s terribly sad, but it does happen to people. Remember how I told you my daddy had died as well?’

‘Did he get sick, too?’

Evie swallowed, hating to lie to Jasmine, but she couldn’t possibly tell her what actually happened. Anyway he was sick – sick in the head to do something so stupid. She nodded. ‘It was a long time ago.’

‘Were you a little girl?’

‘Not as young as you. But still a girl.’

Jasmine’s arms went up around Evie’s neck and clung to her tightly. ‘I thought I didn’t want a new mummy.’ The big eyes narrowed and the rosebud mouth formed a pout. ‘But I changed my mind. Will you be my new mummy, Evie?’

Tears sprung to Evie’s eyes. ‘I’d like that very much indeed.’

‘And can I call you Mummy?’

’Nothing would make me happier.’

Satisfied, Jasmine dropped her arms and took her stepmother’s hand. ‘Come on, Mummy, before it gets dark.’

That afternoon proved to be another turning point in her relationship with Jasmine. Evie found herself looking forward to the child’s homecoming from school each day and she relished the chance to spend time with the little girl. Jasmine was clearly desperate for affection but there was still a slight caution, as if she was nervous that Evie, like Felicity, might suddenly disappear from her life. Evie wondered what Jasmine had meant when she’d told her that Felicity had been mean to her. If only there were someone she could ask. She was afraid to bring it up with Douglas. The obvious person would have been Arthur, but after what had happened between them, he’d be going out of his way to avoid seeing her alone and it wasn’t something she could ask him about in company.

Douglas returned to the house the following Sunday morning and told her he would be staying for one night and they would be spending the evening with the Leightons at the Eastern & Oriental hotel, where every Sunday evening the house orchestra performed a concert on the lawns. His manner was brusque, businesslike, as though he were addressing an employee, not the woman he had made love to with uncharacteristic tenderness only a week before.

‘Will there anyone else be going?’

‘No. Just the four of us. It’s my birthday. September 3rd.’

‘Oh my goodness. I’d no idea, Doug. I haven’t got you a gift.’

His voice was a snarl. ‘I don’t want a gift. I’m not a schoolboy.’

‘But if it’s your birthday.’

‘It doesn’t mean I want a gift.’

It was another punch in the stomach. She didn’t feel like a wife at all. The way he spoke to her was more suited to his assistants or his housekeeper. Curt. Snappy.

Arguing was pointless. ‘How old are you?’ she asked lamely.

He looked upwards and sighed. ‘Forty-three. And before you ask, I don’t want a cake with candles on it either.’

She took a sharp intake of breath. ‘I wouldn’t presume.’

‘Good,’ he said. ‘I’m going to play a round of golf. Be ready for seven. We’ll have dinner at the E&O before the concert.’ He started to walk out of the room, then looked back at her and added, ‘Wear that dress again. The one you wore for the dinner.’

Fuming, she sat down, her hands on her thighs to steady her shaking. Not a how-are-you?, not even a question about Jasmine – and certainly not a touch or a kiss. She was starting to think she was married to two different men.

Taking a deep breath, she told herself that at least he’d noticed the dress and must have liked her in it.

She went out into the garden to find Jasmine, who was busy telling stories to her dolls.

When they walked past the giant floral displays of birds of paradise and protea, into the elegant restaurant at the Eastern & Oriental, the Leightons were waiting at the table. Evie was nervous about being in their company for the first time since her afternoon on the beach with Arthur, hoping her face wouldn’t give away her tangled emotions. The prospect of being near to Arthur filled her with both dread and exhilaration. No matter how many times she had replayed their kiss in her head it still seemed like a dream – but a dream that set her heart racing and filled her with a desperate longing to experience it again.

But all personal concerns soon fled. Arthur rose from the table to greet them, his face furrowed. Even Veronica looked pale and edgy.

‘We declared war on Germany today.’ Arthur’s mouth was drawn into a tight line.

‘When?’ Douglas gave a little shake of the head. ‘We knew it was coming.’

‘Less than an hour ago. Eleven in the morning in London. The PM’s speech was on the wireless but there was so much static it was barely comprehensible.’ He reached into his jacket pocket and handed Douglas a sheet of paper. ‘Here’s the transcript.’

Douglas scanned it rapidly before handing it back to Arthur, who turned at once to Evie and offered it to her. The words ‘no such undertaking has been received, and that consequently this country is at war with Germany’ were stark. While it was true that the prospect of another war in Europe had seemed an inevitability for a long time, being far away in Malaya had made it feel remote and removed.

Arthur said, ‘I have to go back to the office after dinner. I can’t stay for the concert. Sorry.’

Evie was alarmed. ‘Surely the war won’t affect us out here, will it?’

Arthur’s expression was grim. ‘It affects the whole empire. Many people will want to go home to assist with the war effort. Plans have to be made. And…’ He glanced at Douglas. ’The whole situation is volatile. The Japanese–‘

‘The Japanese are too busy with China,’ Douglas interrupted. ‘They’ll never attack us here. They’d have to be insane. The jungle is our protection. Not to mention Fortress Singapore.’

Arthur shook his head. ‘I don’t want to argue with you, Doug. But I simply don’t agree.