Part 57 (1/2)
He stepped away from her and laughed in tier face. ”And you don't think you're reliving Emma Harte's life. That's the joke of the century. Just look at you-why you sound exactly like her. And you think the way she did. You too believe that money and power make you invulnerable. Sadly, my dear, they don't.” He swung around and walked toward the door.
”Where are you going?” Paula called after him.
Jim stopped in his tracks and turned to face her. ”To London. There's not much point in my staying here for dinner-we'll only continue to fight. Frankly, I'm weary of it all.”
Paula ran after him, took his arm, gave him a pleading look, ”But there is no real reason for us to quarrel in this way, Jim,” she said in a shaken voice. ”We can work this out like civilized people, like adults who are mature and intelligent. I know we can.”
”It's really up to you, Paula,” Jim said, also speaking in a more reasonable voice. ”Think about everything I've said, and perhaps when I get back from Chamonix you'll have come to your senses.”
Chapter Forty-nine.
John Crawford, the family solicitor, had been listening to Paula for over an hour.
He had not interrupted her once, deeming it wiser to let her unburden herself before asking any relevant questions. Also he had discerned, in his astute and insightful way, that she had not discussed her disastrous marriage with anyone else before tonight. Certainly not at great length, and he decided that in a sense talking to him was a catharsis for her. He believed that by talking, opening up, she would feel better.
Paula finally paused for breath. He instantly detected a relaxation in the way she held her body, a sudden slackening of her rigid facial muscles, and relief was mirrored in her startling blue eyes. ”That's about it,” she said, smiling a bit uncertainly. ”I don't think I've missed anything.”
John nodded, continuing to observe her. He recognized she was in total control, calm enough to accept what he was about to say. He cleared his throat. ”I don't want to alarm you, and this is only a suggestion, but perhaps we ought to make the children wards of court.”
Although she was startled, Paula said steadily enough, ”Oh, John, surely that's far too drastic a step. It might even be begging for trouble. It's so inflammatory.”
John, who had long harbored a visceral dislike of Jim Fairley, clasped his hands together and brought them up to his face. He looked at her over them, his eyes reflective. ”It seems to me, from the things you've told me, that Jim virtually threatened to take those children out of the country, to Canada to be precise, if you don't do as he wants. Isn't-that so, Paula?”
”Yes,” she admitted.
”By making children wards of court one prevents their physical removal from their country of domicile by a disgruntled and angry parent involved in this kind of distressing emotional situation.”
”Yes, John, I know what it means. But Jim believes I will change my mind about getting a divorce. He's not going to suddenly swoop down, grab the children, and fly off to Toronto. He would certainly try to ascertain what I'm going to do first. Besides, he's in Chamonix.”
”And you, Paula, are going to the States in a couple of days. He knows that. He could easily try to pull something whilst you're absent. After all, Geneva is only a few hours away.”
”I'm sure he wouldn't-” She stopped abruptly, alertly searching the solicitor's face. ”From your expression you obviously think he might.”
”There is that possibility.” John stood up and walked across the drawing room, poured himself another dry martini from the jug on the bar cart, swung around and apologized: ”I'm sorry, I didn't ask you if you wanted another drink. Do you?”
”No, thanks anyway.”
Returning to his seat, John sat down, continued: ”I'm going to ask you a very blunt question, Paula, a crucial question, and I would like you to think most carefully before you answer.”
She nodded.
He said: ”Do you believe that Jim is mentally stable?” Without hesitation, Paula replied. ”Oh yes, John, I do. I realize he was in a nursing home an awfully long time after his nervous breakdown, but he's fully recovered now. He's behaving quite normally.” She smiled ruefully. ”If you can call his att.i.tude to me normal, that is. He's stubborn, pigheaded, really, but then he always has been. He blinds himself to the truth, to reality. He's convinced our problems are figments of my imagination, as I just told you. However, I'll say it again, I do not believe he is unstable. Upset at the moment, yes, but that's all.”
”Very well, I trust your judgment, and I also understand your reluctance to take steps that would inflame him. However, I think it would be advisable for you to talk to Daisy, alert her to the situation. If Jim should leave Chamonix unexpectedly, she must contact me at once.”
”No, not Mummy,” Paula exclaimed. ”I'd prefer not to worry her. Anyway, I've never confided in her; or anyone, to be truthful. Well, actually, I have spoken to Emily and my father a few times lately, and they know how bad the marriage is, and, in fact, Emily and Winston have urged me to get a divorce. The point is this . . . Emily and Winston are going off to Chamonix the day after tomorrow. They'll be there for the next two weeks. I'll speak to her before she leaves, explain everything, and ask her to ring you if anything untoward happens.”
John's face brightened. ”Good, good. Emily is levelheaded and smart. I feel more confident knowing she's going to be staying at the chalet. As your grandmother always said, there're no flies on Emily. So in view of that, and because you're against it, I'll drop the idea of having you make the twins wards of court.” He gave her a funny little smile. ”It's crossed my mind that you may think I'm paranoid, but I'm not. Still, I am prudent and fully aware that it's often wiser to take precautions to avert trouble.” He leaned forward intently. ”That's why I suggested the idea in the first place. Also, it struck me that you were worried about the children yourself, otherwise you wouldn't have brought them to London with you yesterday.”
”Yes, I was a bit concerned,” Paula agreed. ”1 was badly shaken up on Sat.u.r.day night after Jim left. On Sunday morning I decided I ought to have Lome and Tessa with me. They looked so small and defenseless, so vulnerable, John. They're only babies, and I do love them so much. I even thought of taking them to New York with me, but that would be uprooting them unnecessarily. Nora is quite happy to spend a few weeks in London, and at least the weather's better here than it is in Yorks.h.i.+re. They'll be fine, and Nora has Parker and Mrs. Ramsey as backup at the London flat.”
”Yes, they're both very reliable. Try not to worry, my dear. I'll keep an eye on things at Belgrave Square. Make sure Nora has my telephone numbers, though, and explain that she must ring me if Jim arrives on the scene.”
”I'll do that tonight.” Paula gazed past John, staring at the dark green damask draperies, her face suddenly thoughtful. She said a little haltingly, ”Jim can't take them away from me, can he, John?”
”Of course not. Don't even contemplate such a thing!” John patted her hand and, wis.h.i.+ng to rea.s.sure her, said, ”Jim can threaten all kinds of things, in an effort to make you do as he wishes, but threats are meaningless in the long run. Thankfully, we do have courts of law in this land and they are eminently fair, which is more than I can say about the judicial systems in a lot of other countries.”
”Yes,” she murmured, then let out a tiny sigh of weariness. ”He says I want it all, want everything my way.”
John laughed. 'That's like the kettle calling the pot black, Paula. Hasn't it occurred to you that Jim wants it his way?” Not waiting for an answer, the solicitor hurried on, ”He's being selfish, expecting you to toe his line, regardless of your own feelings, and despite the fact that you have a disastrous marriage. It's already playing havoc with you emotionally, and it will inevitably start affecting the children. The only thing to do with a marriage that has failed so miserably is to end it immediately, for everyone's sake. Stop the flow of blood, in a manner of speaking. I ought to know.”
Paula looked across at him. ”Poor John, you went through h.e.l.l too, didn't you?”
”To put it mildly, my dear,” he replied. ”However, those troubles are behind me, and Millicent and I are good friends these days, most amicable, really.”
”I do hope Jim and I can be friends eventually,” Paula said, as if musing aloud. ”I don't hate him, far from it. To be honest, John, I feel rather sad for him . . . because he just cannot face reality.” She lifted her shoulders in a light shrug. ”But, look, I came here to talk to you about a plan of action, and I want to say now that I wish to be scrupulously fair with him in every way. I want him to have total access to the twins, and of course there's no question about his staying on at the newspapers.” She scowled at the solicitor. ”I was stunned when he suggested I would take his job away.”
John stared into his gla.s.s for a moment, slowly lifted his eyes, which were grave and intent. ”I don't want to delude you into thinking were going to have an easy time with Jim, because we are not. I know we're going to have a fight on our hands. It's patently obvious, from what you've said, that he doesn't want to let you go, that he is prepared to put up with the worst kind of marital situation to remain your husband. Understandable, perhaps. You are the mother of his children, you are a desirable and accomplished young woman, with immense wealth and power. What man wouldn't want to hang on to you? Also-'
”But Jim isn't interested in my money or my power,” Paula cut in rapidly. ”Why, John, he resents my business, does nothing but complain about my career.”
”Don't be naive!”
Paula stared at him, her brows drawing together as she sat back, her expression changing to one of total disbelief. She opened her mouth, and then quickly closed it, wanting to hear what else John had to say.
”Of course he cares about your money and your power, Paula,” the solicitor remarked quietly. ”And he always has, in my opinion. Jim is not quite as altruistic as you seem to believe. As your solicitor I feel it is my duty to point this out to you, however unpalatable that might be to you. Jim has apparently been complaining very vociferously about your work, but he knew long before he married you that you were Emma's chief heir. He was also aware that you would not only inherit most of her wealth, but all of her tremendous responsibilities as well. He's merely using your career as an excuse to get at you, to hurt you, to punish you. At the same time, it enables him to paint a picture of himself as the long-suffering, neglected, and injured husband. In other words, he strikes a pose that will gain him sympathy. Please, my dear, do be aware of that for your own sake, and for your own peace of mind.”
”Perhaps you're right,” she conceded, knowing that John Crawford was a shrewd and brilliant lawyer and a man with great psychological insight into people. She leaned fonvard. ”If Jim is interested in money, as you imply”-she shook her head and laughed-”no, insist, then let us give him money. I'm prepared to make a large financial settlement on him. Suggest an amount, John, and let's set a date when we can have a meeting with Jim. He'll be back at the end of the month, as will I, and I would like to put things in motion.”
”I can't come up with an amount tonight, off the top of my head,” John explained. 'That wouldn't be fair to anyone. It requires careful thought.” He took a sip of his martini, put the gla.s.s down, and stood up. He walked over to the humidor on a side table, and took a cigar, not wanting her to see the cynical smile that had touched his mouth involuntarily. If my a.s.sessment of Jim is correct, and I'm sure it is, money will do the trick, John decided. Clipping off the end of the cigar, he strolled back to his chair, contemplating the settlement. It was a good card to have up his sleeve and would be a powerful negotiating weapon if Jim did prove to be intransigent.
Striking a match, John puffed hard on the cigar until if ignited, then told her: ”As far as a meeting is concerned, we can get together any time you wish-” He did not complete his sentence, but began to shake his head in a negative fas.h.i.+on.
”What's wrong?” Paula asked, clasping her hands together, experiencing a stab of apprehension.
”Nothing for you to look so concerned about, my dear. I think, however, that you're going to have your job cut out for you-getting Jim to meet with me, I mean. He's so dead set against the divorce, and obstinate by nature. Maybe it would be better if I simply dropped by for a drink one night when he's in town. On his way back to Yorks.h.i.+re after the Chamonix trip, perhaps?”
”Yes, that is a good idea,” Paula agreed. ”He did mutter something about seeing me in London in two weeks, before he left Pennistone Royal on Sat.u.r.day.” Paula pushed herself to the edge of her chair and her face filled with sincerity as she reminded him, ”Don't forget that I want to be fair with Jim about the children, and I am willing to be very generous when it comes to money. It's important to me that Jim is financially secure for the rest of his life.”
”I'll remember everything,” John a.s.sured her. ”And whilst you're in New York I'll work on the terms of the divorce and make them most acceptable to Jim, I promise.” He gave her a fond smile. ”Not many women would be as kind as you. He's very lucky.”