Affairs of the Heart by Maggie Ford

Author:Maggie Ford
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Canelo Digital Publishing Ltd
Published: 2021-10-15T00:00:00+00:00

Nine

In the weeks coming up to the general election William went to four of Mosley’s meetings – another cause to keep him out late. After the first meeting Mary found herself telling him angrily to remember that he had a home. She could forgive him late working hours, but this going off to enjoy himself without a thought for her alone in the flat, Helen asleep, and nothing to do – it was like the days after Geoffrey had left her.

Whether Will made any mention of her anger to Henry or not, to her deep gratitude he called in on her the next three times, saying he guessed that she might need a bit of company. A bit of company! She could have thrown her arms about his neck. But that would have set something off, and complication was something she did not want.

That first time she was indeed edgy, visualising the rekindling of their old affair, but Henry conducted himself as properly as any old friend might. She looked forward to each visit, the sight of him at the door brightening up her dull day. He would take a moment or two to peek at his sleeping daughter, Mary standing quietly behind him, aware of the oddness in knowing that he was Helen’s father. Those days were so like a dream, she often forgot for long periods about his relationship to her daughter.

After closing the door softly on the sleeping child, he would come and sit in one of her big leather armchairs with a glass of brandy she’d begun to have ready for him.

“Do you mind if I smoke?” he had asked that first time. She’d shaken her head eagerly, remembering the days when the tang of Virginia tobacco smoke would linger well after he’d left, a fragrant reminder of the joy of their love-making.

After that he’d light up as a matter of course. They’d sit opposite each other, chatting, she about Helen, about her loneliness and feelings of isolation, he about the restaurant, sometimes of his uneventful married life with Grace. After her one trip abroad with him she’d lost all interest in holidays, content only to be with their son. She showed no interest in himself; he’d not had relations with her for so long that it had become a habit.

Mary’s heart would go out to him, not entirely selflessly, longing to give him the comfort he so craved but conscious also of the need she herself had for him still. It was as well to smother it, knowing that at the first semblance of encouragement he’d be in her arms. Then she’d have to face Will later, certain that he would detect by her face what had gone on. Of course he knew of Henry’s visits. She was entirely honest about that and he didn’t seem put out, rather he saw them as an open cheque to follow his own pursuits.

“It is about time he took you somewhere a little more exciting than that,” Henry remarked after she had told him about Will’s offer to take her with him to his political meetings.

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