Darkwater by Dorothy Eden Read Free Book Online Page A

sorry about that.’
    ‘Do you care for us?’
    ‘Not immoderately at this moment.’
    ‘Then we have no friends.’
    ‘Don’t be silly,’ said Fanny exasperatedly. ‘I’m your friend. So is Hannah. So is your Cousin Amelia and Aunt Louisa and Uncle Edgar.’ She spoke firmly, making her words persuasive. But Nolly was staring at her, disbelieving. Perhaps afraid to believe.
    ‘It’s true,’ said Fanny. ‘And now will you please do as I ask. Pass Ching Mei a sandwich.’
    The Chinese woman spoke suddenly in her high voice. Nolly pouted, then grudgingly did as Fanny had bidden her.
    ‘There’s going to be trouble with that one,’ Hannah whispered to Fanny. ‘You can’t have her only taking orders from the Chinese woman.’
    ‘From Ching Mei, Hannah. She has a name. And Nolly’s accustomed to obeying her. She’ll learn to obey us, too.’
    ‘There’ll be tantrums,’ said Hannah darkly. ‘Perhaps worse than yours used to be, Miss Fanny.’
    ‘One only needs to have understanding,’ Fanny said.
    For she knew—Nolly was herself. Uprooted, unhappy, resentful, bewildered, impelled to fight dragons she couldn’t see…The little girl pulled at her heart already.
    Her own rebellion was dead. Or perhaps it was merely taking a different form. From now on she was to be the champion of these two orphans, and do her best to make them happy in an unwelcoming household. That was to be her purpose in life. That, and perhaps the visit of Adam Marsh to the moors…
    ‘I don’t know what’s happened to you, Miss Fanny,’ Hannah muttered. ‘You’re talking like an old woman. And you’re flushed, as if you have a fever. Do you feel quite well?’
    ‘I’ve never felt so well,’ said Fanny, with truth.

5
    L ETTERS ARRIVED FOR EDGAR Davenport late that afternoon. One bore a foreign postmark, one came from London.
    Edgar recognised the handwriting on each. He opened the one with the Chinese postmark first. He believed in facing bad news quickly.’
    It was, as he had suspected, from Hamish Barlow, the attorney who had first written to him about Oliver’s death and the trust imposed in him regarding the two children. He fully expected it to contain a list of his brother’s debts. This was not the case. Although the debts undoubtedly existed, Mr Hamish Barlow was, surprisingly enough, going to acquaint Edgar personally with them.
    By the time you receive this letter I shall be on my way to England. I have a passage on the tea clipper, the Verity , which, all being well, expects to make the journey in something like twelve weeks. So you may think of expecting me about the end of August or early in September. I have various business affairs to attend to, but I will not deceive you that the journey is being made chiefly in regard to settling your brother’s estate. It has aspects which I would prefer to acquaint you with by word of mouth.
    Also, I made a promise to your brother and his charming wife, now so tragically gone from us, that I would satisfy myself as to the safe arrival of the children who should be with you on receipt of this.
    I sincerely trust they completed their journey without mishap. The Chinese woman, Ching Mei, is of the highest integrity, and intelligence.
    I am looking forward, my dear Mr Davenport, to making your acquaintance, and this I propose to do as speedily as possible after my arrival in London. I shall inform you when this event takes place.
    ‘H’mm,’ Edgar muttered, throwing the letter down.
    He opened the other one. It was from his stockbroker. It informed him that much to the writer’s regret it looked as if the Maxim Banking Company, an enterprise in which Edgar had invested a substantial sum of money, was, contrary to paying a dividend, likely to show a loss on the year’s trading. The writer recommended salvaging as much money as possible at once, as he foresaw panic among the shareholders.
    ‘I am sorry to say I predict your loss will be as much as seventy-five per