Runaway Widow by Dilly Court

Author:Dilly Court [Court, Dilly]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2021-11-23T17:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fifteen

‘Claude. Thank goodness!’ Patricia enveloped him in a hug. ‘I’m so glad to see you.’

Claude de Marney’s waxed moustache quivered and his eyes widened in surprise. ‘What are you doing here, Patricia?’

‘We were on our way to Italy. I thought Mama was performing in Milan.’

‘We finished the season there and came on to Paris.’ Claude glanced over her shoulder. ‘That can’t be Nancy.’

Patricia laughed. ‘It’s two years or more since you were at Rockwood, Claude. Come and join us, Nancy.’

‘You were a little girl when I last saw you, Nancy, but I see you’re a young lady now,’ Claude said, smiling. ‘But this is so unexpected. Why were you on the way to Italy, Patricia? Is everything all right?’

‘Not exactly, but it’s a long story, Claude.’ Patricia shivered as a cool breeze rustled the leaves on the trees that lined the street. ‘The doorman wouldn’t allow us into the theatre. May we go inside and I’ll tell you everything?’

‘Of course. What am I thinking of keeping you two standing on a street corner?’ Claude surged forward. He marched past the doorman waving a silver-headed cane as he spoke in rapid French.

The doorman retreated and Patricia nodded to him as she walked past. It would not do to appear smug as she might need to enter the building at a time when Claude was not there to help her. Claude led her and Nancy through a maze of narrow corridors to an office, which was small and smelled strongly of French tobacco smoke, stage makeup and stale perfume. He motioned them to sit down on the two high-backed chairs and he perched on the edge of a desk, folding his arms.

‘Well now, this is a most pleasant surprise, but what made you travel all this way to find us, Patricia?’

‘You know that my husband died in an accident, I suppose?’

Claude nodded gravely. ‘Yes, your mama and I were very sad to hear the news. Unfortunately we could not get away without breaking your mama’s contract.’

‘I understand,’ Patricia said solemnly. ‘It was very sudden, and of course it was a terrible shock. He was buried abroad so there was no funeral at home.’

‘It must have been awful for you, Patsy. But you are well provided for, I’m sure.’

‘That’s the problem, Claude. Unfortunately Greystone had omitted to revise his will when we married. He left Greystone Park to his daughters and neither of them want anything to do with me. I only recently discovered that my late husband had made some bad investments, which had eaten away all his capital. My home in London was sold to repay some of his debts, and I found myself having to earn my own living.’

‘But surely you went home to Rockwood, Patricia? Rosalind would look after you, as she always did when you were younger.’

‘I know, but I want to be independent, Claude. I don’t want to rely on my family to keep me.’

‘I suppose you’ve taken legal advice?’

‘Yes, of course, and there’s really nothing I can do.

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