Heritage by Judy Nunn

Author:Judy Nunn [Nunn, Judy]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: C429, Extratorrents, Kat
Publisher: Random House Australia
Published: 2005-01-21T13:00:00+00:00

Having refused Maarten’s offer of port with his coffee, Lucky was relieved that the evening was finally drawing to its conclusion. He’d conquered the fruit flan, although he now felt bloated, and he’d steered the conversation away from Pietro’s love life to an interesting discussion about the American contractors. Maarten had agreed that Kaiser would have an immense impact upon the region.

But now, draining his glass, the Dutchman again reverted to the topic of Pietro.

‘I am glad that young Pietro is happy in his personal life,’ he said, ‘it will help keep anxiety at bay and avoid triggers which could lead to a seizure. But I worry that he is perhaps being slack with his medication. I will check my records, but I’m sure he’s due for another script.’ He was about to reach for the port decanter.

‘I’ll have a word with him, I promise.’ Lucky rose from the table, it was time to make his escape. Maarten was labouring the point, determined to get drunk and eke out the evening. ‘Now, if you’ll forgive me, I really must go.’

‘Yes, yes, of course.’ The Dutchman looked at the clock on the mantelpiece as he stood. ‘My goodness, I didn’t realise how late it was.’

As they stepped out onto the first-floor landing, they found Mrs Hodgeman’s son, Kevin, loitering uncertainly by the door. The housekeeper had retired, as she usually did when the doctor stayed up late, and it was invariably Kevin who cleared and washed the dishes.

The Dutchman nodded briskly. ‘You may clear the table.’

‘Goodnight, Kevin,’ Lucky said, and the gauche young man gave his bashful smile, a mixture of self-consciousness and pleasure.

The two men walked down the main staircase to the hall and shook hands at the front door.

‘Thank you, Maarten, for a most delightful evening.’

‘My pleasure indeed, we must do it again soon.’

‘And do thank Mrs Hodgeman for me. The food was magnificent.’

‘She’ll be delighted to hear it.’

As soon as the Dutchman had closed the door, Lucky took off at a sprint for Peggy’s house only several blocks away, where she lay dozing and dreaming and waiting for him.

Maarten Vanpoucke returned upstairs to the dining room.

Kevin was methodically placing the dessert plates and glasses onto the silver tray, wary of the delicate bone china and crystal, each movement painstakingly slow. He picked up the decanter.

‘Leave the port,’ Maarten said as he sat.

Kevin did, setting it down very carefully.

‘And the glass.’

Kevin’s eyes flickered between the two port glasses on the tray. Fortunately he could pick the one that was the doctor’s, as Lucky had not drunk any port. He replaced the glass on the table and left.

Maarten poured himself another port. He took off his spectacles and placed them on the table, rubbing eyes which felt weary, then he leaned back in his chair. There was such a lot to think about.

His mind returned to the woman in the photograph. Was Ruth still alive? It was quite probable. If so, he wondered where she was.

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