The Orchid House by Lucinda Riley Read Free Book Online Page B

jail.’
    Julia’s brow furrowed. ‘That’s in Singapore, isn’t it?’
    ‘Yes,’ Kit replied. ‘A lot of British soldiers who were fighting in Malaya at the time ended up in there for a while as guests of the Japs. Do you know if your grandfather was a prisoner of war?’
    ‘Grandfather Bill talked a lot about the “East”, but mostly of the beautiful flowers that grew there,’ Julia smiled. ‘He never mentioned Changi.’
    ‘I don’t suppose he would talk of it to a young child, but it certainly seems a possibility this diary is his, given what you’ve just said,’ said Kit. ‘And I can’t imagine it being anyone else’s, seeing as your grandfather lived in the cottage for the whole of his life.’
    ‘May I?’ Julia reached out her hand and Kit gave her the diary. She opened the first page and saw that the leather had protected the thin paper from too much ageing, and the writing on it was quite legible. And it was a beautiful hand that had written these words, the writing elegant, scripted in black ink.
    ‘Do you recognise that as your grandfather’s writing?’ Kit asked.
    ‘To be honest, I can’t ever remember seeing anything he wrote. It was my mother who used to record his notes on the many different types of orchids he grew in the hothouses,’ said Julia. ‘Perhaps my father would know his writing. Or, of course, my grandmother, who’s in her eighties, but still hale and hearty, from what I’ve heard. The question is, if it is his,’ Julia pondered, ‘why on earth did he hide it?’
    ‘Having read a little about the experiences of POWs at the hands of the Japanese, they had a pretty grim time of it. Perhaps your grandfather hid it, not wanting to upset your grandmother. When your family has read it, maybe I could borrow it? A first-hand account of a piece of history is always fascinating.’
    ‘Yes, I suppose it is,’ said Julia, feeling guilty she knew so little of Grandfather Bill’s past.
    Kit stood up. ‘And … I was going to ask you a favour.’ He wandered over to the shallow bookshelf that stood on one side of the fireplace and pulled out a book. ‘This, I believe, is mine.’
    He was holding The Children’s Own Wonder Book , which Julia had bought for one pound at the Wharton Park sale.
    ‘It can hardly be yours! It’s dated 1926.’
    ‘Yup, amazing what plastic surgery can do these days.’ Kit grinned in return. ‘But, seriously, it’s actually my grandfather’s book. So would you call it a fair exchange for the diary?’
    ‘Of course.’
    ‘Thanks. Look, Julia,’ Kit seemed suddenly awkward, ‘I’m starving and I was wondering if maybe we could go and get –’ He was interrupted by his mobile. ‘Excuse me, I’d better take it.’ He put the phone to his ear. ‘Hello? Hi, Annie …’ He listened then shook his head. ‘I can’t hear you, the signal’s dreadful here. What? No good, can’t hear. I’ll leave now and see you there. Thanks, bye.’
    ‘Sorry, Julia, I’ve got to go.’ Kit stood and walked towards the door, then turned back to her. ‘Let me know what happens with the diary, won’t you?’
    ‘Of course I will, and thanks, Kit, for taking the time to bring this over.’
    ‘No trouble. By the way, I checked on the hothouses; they’re still standing, although God knows what kind of state they’re in, judging by the mess in the kitchen garden. Come and see them soon if you’d like to, before the new owner takes up residence. Bye, Julia.’ He gave her a weary smile and shut the door.

5
    Late afternoon saw Julia in the most unlikely of locations – the supermarket in the nearby town of Holt. After Kit had left, she had wandered aimlessly around the cottage, tried to rest, then finally decided that she was hungry. And not just lightly peckish, but starving, for the first time in weeks. Sitting in the car park, she proceeded to munch her way through a packet of sandwiches, two sausage rolls and a chocolate bar, presuming her appetite