The Hidden Wife by Joanna Rees

Author:Joanna Rees
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pan Macmillan

44

An Angel

Leaving Nancy in the hospital had to be one of the worst things she’d ever done, and Vita returned home feeling worried and depressed. The doctors could shed no light on when Nancy might be discharged, and Vita dreaded the thought of having to go there again to visit. She’d tried explaining to the staff that she would take Nancy home and care for her there, but they wouldn’t listen and sent Vita away, telling her they were in charge now.

She was so wrapped up in her thoughts that she’d almost forgotten about Marie, but when she climbed the stairs to the apartment, her heart contracted with longing as she instinctively waited for the sound of Mr Wild’s welcome.

Marie was in the kitchen, wearing a blue-and-white striped apron and lifting an earthenware pot out of the tiny oven. Something inside it had sizzled. It smelt delicious.

‘I hope you don’t mind,’ Marie said. ‘It is such a treat to do some home cooking.’

They hardly ever cooked at home, and Vita was astonished now at the scene of domestic competence in front of her. Marie must have been out shopping early to make all of this. There were even a few flowers in a glass on the table.

Grateful and weary, she sat on the chair and told Marie all about the horrible morning she’d had, and how desperate Nancy was. Marie served the chicken stew in the best bowls from the back of the cupboard and cut a chunk of rustic bread. But the contrast between where Nancy was and this was too much, and Vita felt shaky. Marie put her hand on her shoulder.

‘It’s no wonder you’re upset,’ she said. ‘Eat something and you’ll feel better.’

‘Nancy doesn’t think she did anything wrong,’ Vita said.

‘Then I’m afraid she really is in trouble,’ Marie said sympathetically, and Vita felt tears coming. Marie gave her a freshly laundered handkerchief and eventually, taking a deep breath, Vita started to eat. Soon the warming stew was making her feel much better.

‘I’m so sorry,’ Vita said, ‘I feel dreadful that you’ve had to witness all this.’

‘I’m glad I was here. Glad I could help,’ she replied.

‘You’ve been there twice now. You must be some kind of guardian angel.’

Marie smiled, but Vita couldn’t read her look. ‘Oh, I forgot. This came for you earlier,’ Marie said, pulling a telegram from her apron pocket, and Vita wondered if she’d already read it. ‘Madame Vertbois brought it up. She seems like a very kind woman.’

Vita could tell that Marie and Madame Vertbois were on good terms. It was unusual for the old woman to be so friendly, and Vita thought Marie must be a good person, if she’d passed Madame Vertbois’s judgemental scrutiny.

The telegram was from Irving King, insisting that he take her out for dinner tonight. Vita slid it across the table for Marie to read.

‘That’s wonderful. You should go,’ she said.

‘I can’t. It’s wrong. I can’t go, with everything that’s happened to Nancy. Besides, I’m too sad about Mr Wild.

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