The Fortunes of Francesca Read online

  ‘A noble profession, sir,’ said Crisp. ‘Do you care to dine at once?’

  ‘Ten minutes, Crisp; we’re both famished.’

  The professor’s large hand propelled Finn across the hall and into a room overlooking the street. ‘Sit down; there’s time for us to have a drink. I’ve rather a nice dry sherry...’

  Finn sat and looked around him. The drawing room, he supposed, seeing the large high-ceilinged room, with its panelled walls and a highly polished floor partly covered by a thin silky carpet. It looked old, but he decided that it might be valuable. The furniture was a nice mixture of comfortable chairs and some beautiful antique pieces, and there was a bowl of tulips on the rent table under the window. There was a brisk fire in a rather splendid marble fireplace, in front of which Trimble the cat dozed.

  The sight of him somehow put Finn at his ease, and by the time they sat down to dine in an equally beautiful room he had quite lost his awe of the professor and made a hearty meal of game soup, lamb chops with a variety of vegetables, and an apple tart with cream.

  ‘Does Crisp do the cooking?’ he asked.

  ‘Yes, he’s excellent, isn’t he? Shall we have coffee in the drawing room? I have one or two ideas to discuss with you.’ When they were sitting once more by the fire the professor spoke.

  ‘Listen carefully, this is what we shall do...’

  CHAPTER SIX

  FRANNY WAS WORRIED, and puzzled, too. There had been no letter from St Giles’ reminding Auntie of her appointment, and when she’d told her uncle this, and asked if she might phone the hospital, he had told her coldly that he would do so himself. He wrote down the phone number and assured her that he would attend to the matter, before picking up his newspaper again.

  ‘And the local doctor,’ persisted Franny. ‘Auntie isn’t as well as she should be.’

  ‘You are being unnecessarily fussy, Francesca. I have told our doctor that your aunt is living here and given him some idea of her operation. He will call if he thinks it necessary.’

  Franny persisted. ‘But it is necessary. It is very important that for the next few months she is under a doctor’s care. Did you give him our doctor’s letter about Auntie?’

  Uncle William lowered the newspaper and glared at her. ‘I find your lack of trust in me quite beyond comprehension. Stop this silly interfering and go and make yourself useful to your aunt.’

  ‘I’m not fussing,’ said Franny. ‘And I’m already being useful, doing Rose’s work. Tell me, uncle, do you expect me to go on doing the housemaid’s work—unpaid, of course?’

  He answered harshly, ‘Yes, Francesca, I do, in return for the care and attention my sister is receiving. Did you think that you would be treated as a daughter of the house? New clothes, pocket money, a social life?’ He laughed nastily. ‘It will be my sister who suffers if you try and alter my plans.’

  She wasn’t puzzled any more, only her worry had increased.

  Going to the village to shop for the housekeeper, she used some of Aunty’s scanty money to phone Finn. There was no answer. She got her money back and tried the hospital. She had to wait for a reply, and then there was a delay while she was put through to the cardiac department. She waited again until a voice asked her what she wanted. At the same time she was cut off. She had no more money.

  It was wretched weather, a cold rain and a nasty wind, but she didn’t notice that as she walked back to the house with her shopping. She gulped back tears of frustration and tried to think what to do.

  Uncle William had made it very plain that, in return for giving them a home, he expected something, and since Auntie’s health was what mattered Franny had no choice but to take up the role she had been given—a job which seemed to cover almost everything from washing to making a fourth at bridge. She would have to dance to his tune for the moment, but she would write to the hospital and do her best to discover why Auntie had had no letter to attend the clinic. And somehow or other—she didn’t quite know how—she would go and see Uncle William’s doctor and explain about Auntie.

  The next morning she was up early. Mrs Beck, Aunt Editha had told her, was to have a few days off. ‘I’m sure you won’t mind getting breakfast for us, Francesca. Your uncle likes eggs and bacon and a few mushrooms, but I’ll have scrambled eggs. At half past eight.’

  Aunt had slept badly, so Franny brought her a cup of tea and the promise of a light breakfast and sped back to the kitchen. Cox was already there, expecting his own meal, grumbling to Jenny as she made the toast.

  ‘The place is at sixes and sevens since you came, miss,’ he told Franny. He cast an eye over the dish of bacon and eggs she was arranging on a tray.

  ‘The master likes his bacon very crisp—I doubt he’ll eat that...’

  ‘Then he can come and cook it for himself,’ said Franny. ‘I’ll have my breakfast here, if you don’t mind; it’ll save time.’

  She sent Jenny upstairs with a tray for Auntie, cooked more bacon for Cox, then sat down to drink her tea and eat a slice of toast. Since Mrs Beck wasn’t there, she suspected that she would be expected to cook lunch, as well as dinner that evening. If only she could get out of the house for an hour or so she could go to the village and discover where the doctor lived.

  Cox came back presently. ‘The master wouldn’t eat his bacon,’ he told her with gloomy triumph. ‘He wants you in the dining room, miss.’

  Franny finished her tea. Swathed in one of Mrs Beck’s aprons, her hair in an untidy pile on top of her head, and with no make-up on, she left the kitchen and went into the hall through the green baize door, just as the doorbell rang.

  It was probably the postman with something too large to go through the letter box. She opened the door.

  The professor, closely followed by Finn, walked past her into the hall.

  Franny closed the door and stood looking at them. She had gone very pale and hadn’t uttered a word. If it wasn’t a miracle, it was a very nice dream.

  It was Finn who spoke. ‘Hello, Franny. You look a bit under the weather...’

  The professor hadn’t spoken. He stood looking at Franny, reflecting that each time he saw her she hardly looked her best. Indeed, she looked fit to drop. He was aware of a fierce rage that she should look like that, but his voice was quiet when he did speak at last.

  ‘It took a little while to discover where you were. Can we go somewhere and talk?’

  She shook her head. ‘Uncle William will have heard the doorbell and will want to know who it is.’ She managed a smile. ‘I’m so glad you’ve come. I’m worried about Auntie...’

  ‘Why are you in an apron?’

  ‘The cook’s on holiday.’

  ‘You look like a servant,’ said Finn indignantly.

  ‘Well, I am. If I don’t help in the house, I...Auntie will suffer for it.’

  ‘I should like a word with your uncle. What is his name?’

  ‘Sir William Meredith. He’s just finishing breakfast.’

  ‘Then let us take his appetite away,’ said the professor, in such a savage voice that Franny took a step backwards.

  They were crossing the hall when the dining room door was thrust open and Uncle William came out. ‘Who is at the door?’ he bellowed. ‘Come here, Francesca.’

  He stopped short when he saw the professor and Finn.

  ‘Is this your brother? What is he doing here? He need not think that he can live off me, too.’

  ‘No fear of that,’ said Finn. ‘Uncle William, this is Professor van der Kettener.’

  Uncle William opened his mouth to speak, but he was given no chance.

  ‘I will do the talking, Sir William. I understand that you have deliberately withheld information concerning my patient, Mrs Blake. She is in my care and should be checked either by myself or her doctor. I’m informed that you underto
ok to give St Giles’ all the information needed when you took Mrs Blake into your care. Moreover, she has given up her home under the impression that you would make her welcome and care for her. Presumably you offered Francesca a home as well.’

  His voice was cold and the eyes he turned on Franny were icy. ‘From the look of her, you have used her as a kitchenmaid. I propose to take Mrs Blake back with me now, and, of course, Francesca will leave, too.’

  ‘You can’t do that,’ Uncle William blustered.

  ‘No? Tell me, have you contacted your doctor concerning Mrs Blake since she arrived here? Have you tried to contact the hospital?’

  ‘There has been no need. My sister is perfectly well...’

  ‘That’s a lie,’ said Franny. ‘I’ve asked you time and again to get the doctor or ring St Giles’. I would like,’ said Franny strongly, ‘to throw something at you—you’re a tyrant.’

  The professor’s mouth twitched. ‘Take Finn with you, Franny,’ he said mildly. ‘Get Auntie warmly wrapped up—don’t bother to dress her if she is still in bed—and pack your things. And—er—tidy yourself.’

  He turned to look at Sir William, who was gobbling with rage. ‘Perhaps we might go somewhere and have a talk?’ he said pleasantly. ‘This is quite a serious matter, you know.’

  ‘Take my sister if you want to. But Francesca is to stay here. She is my niece; you have no right to take her away.’

  ‘Oh, but I have. You see, we are to be married.’

  Franny, about to mount the stairs, gave a gasp and would have turned round, but Finn gave her a shove and hissed, ‘Be quiet, leave it to the professor.’

  She was propelled upstairs and into Auntie’s room. ‘He didn’t mean it?’ whispered Franny.

  Finn shrugged. ‘How should I know? Uncle William can’t do a thing if the professor says you are to be married. First I’ve heard of it.’

  There was no chance to say more. Auntie—surprised into tears—had to be told and reassured, got out of bed, wrapped in her dressing gown, her coat and a shawl or two and then sat in a chair while Franny packed her bags. That done, she left Finn with Auntie and went towards her own room, first going onto the landing to try and see what was happening.

  It was quiet in the hall below. She could hear the murmur of voices from her uncle’s study, and then her aunt came out of the dining room, calling for Cox. Franny went to her room then and packed in a haphazard fashion, afraid that if she wasn’t ready the professor would go without her. Then she spent a very necessary ten minutes doing her face and brushing her hair into a neat topknot before getting her coat and going back to Auntie’s room.

  The professor was there, with Aunt Editha, bending over Auntie, talking to her in a voice calculated to soothe the most timid of patients.

  He straightened up, saw Franny and smiled at her. ‘Ready? Good girl. Finn, bring the bags; I’ll carry Mrs Blake down to the car.’ He added smoothly, ‘I dare say you want to say goodbye to your aunt and uncle, Franny.’

  ‘Yes,’ said Franny. ‘I want to say goodbye and that I hope never to see them again.’

  ‘You ungrateful girl.’ Aunt Editha’s voice shook with rage. ‘After all that we’ve done for you. I’m glad you’re going. I want nothing more to do with you—either of you.’

  ‘Oh, good,’ said Franny, and went downstairs behind Finn. Cox was in the hall, trying to look as though he wasn’t dying of curiosity. He opened the door for the professor, and Finn went ahead to open the car door while Franny crossed the hall to the study.

  Her uncle was there, standing with his back to the fire, smoking a cigar.

  ‘Goodbye, uncle.’ She didn’t give him time to reply, but closed the door gently and went out to the car.

  ‘Get in front,’ said the professor. ‘Finn will sit with Auntie and support her.’

  ‘Wouldn’t it be better...?’ began Franny as he got in and drove away.

  ‘No. I want you to tell me exactly what happened, Franny.’

  If he had sounded in the least bit sympathetic or turned to smile at her, she would have burst into tears, letting loose the flood of unhappiness and worry she had fought over the last week or so. But he was looking ahead and his voice had been matter-of-fact.

  She swallowed resentment and told him exactly what had been happening. She managed to be as matter-of-fact as he had sounded and she didn’t look at him. When she had told him the whole sorry story, she thanked him politely for going to so much trouble in looking for them. ‘We can never repay you,’ she told him, ‘but we are truly grateful.’

  He grunted something and then said, ‘I’m going to stop at the next service station. We could all do with coffee. Then I’m taking Auntie straight to St Giles’. I want her thoroughly checked. She needs proper rest and an opportunity to get reorganised.’

  He had nothing more to say then, only asking Finn over his shoulder if Auntie was comfortable. And presently, when he pulled in at a service station, he made no bones about carrying Auntie through the entrance and setting her gently down outside the Ladies.

  ‘I’ll be here,’ he told Franny. ‘Finn will get the coffee and have it ready for us.’

  He put out a hand and touched Franny’s cheek with a gentle finger. His touch brought tears to her eyes, but she sniffed them back.

  ‘Don’t cry now, my dear! We’ll talk later and then you may cry all you want.’

  She sniffed again and nodded, staring up into his calm face. Then she put an arm around Auntie and led her away.

  Between them they walked Auntie to the café and sat her down at the table Finn had found. There was coffee and sandwiches. Finn, making great inroads into them, said cheerfully, ‘We left town at six o’clock—breakfast seems ages ago.’ He glanced at the professor. ‘I suppose you’ll tell Franny all about it later, sir?’

  ‘Yes, all in good time. You’ll want to talk to your sister, too. When we’ve settled Auntie comfortably, we’ll go home and have a meal, then you had better go back to your studies, Finn.’

  ‘OK sir.’ He added awkwardly, ‘You’ve been no end of a help. Thank you for that. I can never repay you, only by working hard and succeeding.’

  He had gone very red, but Franny gave him a warm smile and the professor put out a large hand. ‘Shake on our success, Finn. I could never have succeeded without you.’

  They didn’t sit there for long. Auntie was perfectly happy, but the sudden excitement had made her drowsy. Back in the car once more, they drove on, hardly speaking, although the silence was a contented one. As they neared St Giles’ the professor picked up his phone and requested a stretcher to be waiting for them. And, sure enough, when he drew to a gentle stop before one casualty entrance, there was his registrar and a nurse beside the porters.

  He must be very important, thought Franny, and wondered what was to happen next.

  She waited with Finn while Auntie was laid on the stretcher, and wished her goodbye for the moment.

  ‘I’ll be in to see you very soon,’ said Franny, not knowing how that could be brought about. Perhaps she could stay with Finn for a day or two while she looked for a job.

  The professor left his patient for a moment. ‘Finn, get a taxi and both of you go to Wimpole Street. I’ll be with you as soon as I can. Crisp is expecting you.’ He slipped some notes into Finn’s hand. ‘Make yourselves comfortable.’

  In the taxi, Franny asked. ‘Where are we going? And who is Crisp?’

  ‘The professor’s man. He’s got a flat over his rooms at Wimpole Street. I went there last night and had dinner with him while he cooked up this plan to get you away from Uncle William. Was it bad, Franny?’

  ‘Yes. And, you see, we hadn’t any money. I’ll tell you about it later. I’ve told the professor.’ She peered out of the window. ‘Are we nearly there? It looks nice...’

  Crisp
welcomed them in a fatherly fashion when they arrived. ‘Miss Bowen would like to freshen up? The cloakroom is just here.’ He opened a door at the back of the hall and she retired thankfully, delighted to see that there was everything there that a woman could possibly need—make-up, brushes, combs, toilet water—a choice of bottles, too—a pile of towels, soaps, even several toothbrushes in their cellophane packs arranged beside a choice of toothpastes.

  A kind of cosmetic heaven, thought Franny, taking the pins out of her hair.

  Ten minutes later she joined Finn in the drawing room. She still looked far from her best, but even Finn, as unobservant as most brothers, noticed that she looked more like herself.

  The professor, joining them some half an hour later, was of the same opinion as Finn although he didn’t say so. Franny was too thin, too pale and too tired, but there was the light of battle in the eyes she turned on him. He guessed that she had thought up several arguments as to her future and Auntie’s. She was so independent, and as prickly as a hedgehog if she suspected that she was receiving favours.

  ‘May we talk?’ she asked him.

  ‘Certainly. But may we have a meal first? Finn is starving, and so am I, and I dare say you are, too.’

  She went red. ‘I beg your pardon. I didn’t mean to be rude. It’s just that there’s such a lot to sort out. And we’ve caused you sufficient bother already. I’ll go back with Finn.’

  ‘No, you won’t,’ said Finn forcefully, and the professor laughed.

  ‘Let us have lunch and I’ll tell you about Auntie.’

  Crisp had performed miracles in his kitchen. There was soup—delicious and home-made—followed by a mouthwatering steak and kidney pie, creamed potatoes and several vegetables, and lastly queen of puddings, washed down by lager for the men and red wine for Franny. They had their coffee at the table while the professor told them about Auntie.

  ‘I’d like to keep her at St Giles’ for a week.’ He saw Franny’s startled look. ‘No, she isn’t ill, only run-down through lack of proper exercise and the right food. She will go to physiotherapy each day and have gentle exercises. All that sitting around in one room did her no good at all. She told me that you had tried to have her room changed to one on the ground floor, but that your uncle wouldn’t agree. Nor would he agree to a doctor, would he? A petty tyrant to his family.’