13

Nellie overheard the exchange between Gia and Eunice. Here it comes, she thought, knowing that Gia would explode when she learned what Nellie had done with the rent bill. A lovely girl, that Gia, but so hot-tempered. And so proud, unwilling to accept any financial aid, no matter how often it was offered. A most impractical attitude. And yet… if Gia had welcomed hand-outs, Nellie knew she would not be so anxious to offer them. Gia’s resistance to charity was like a red flag waving in Nellie’s face—it only made her more determined to find ways of helping her.

Preparing herself for the storm, Nellie stepped out onto the landing below Gia.

“I saw it.”

“What happened to it?”

“I paid it.”

Gia’s jaw dropped. “You what!”

Nellie twisted her hands in a show of anxiety. “Don’t think I was snooping, dearie. I simply went in to make sure that Eunice was taking proper care of you, and I saw it sitting on the bureau. I was paying a few of my own bills this morning and so I just paid yours, too.”

Gia hurried down the stairs, pounding her hand on the banister as she approached.

“Nellie, you had no right!”

Nellie stood her ground. “Rubbish! I can spend my money any way I please.”

“The least you could have done was ask me first!”

“True,” Nellie said, trying her best to look contrite, “but as you know, I’m an old woman and frightfully forgetful.”

The statement had the desired effect: Gia’s frown wavered, fighting against a smile, then she broke into a laugh. “You’re about as forgetful as a computer! “

“Ah, dearie,” Nellie said, drawing to Gia’s side and putting an arm around her waist, “I know I’ve taken you away from your work by asking you to stay with me, and that puts a strain on your finances. But I so love having you and Victoria here.”

And I need you here, she thought. I couldn’t bear to stay alone with only Eunice for company. I would surely go mad with grief and worry.

“Especially Victoria—I daresay she’s the only decent thing that nephew of mine has ever done in his entire life. She’s such a dear. I can’t quite believe Richard had anything to do with her.”

“Well, he doesn’t have much to do with her anymore. And if I have my way, he’ll never have anything to do with her again.”

Too much talk of her nephew Richard made Nellie uncomfortable. The man was a lout, a blot on the Westphalen name.

“Just as well. By the way, I never told you, but last year I had my will changed to leave Victoria most of my holdings when I go.”

“Nellie—!”

Nellie had expected objections and was ready for them: “She’s a Westphalen—the last of the Westphalens unless Richard remarries and fathers another child, which I gravely doubt—and I want her to have a part of the Westphalen fortune, curse and all.”

“Curse?”

How did that slip out? She hadn’t wanted to mention that. “Only joking, love.”

Gia seemed to have a sudden weak spell. She leaned against Nellie.

“Nellie, I don’t know what to say except I hope it’s a long, long time before we see any of it.”

“So do I! But until then, please don’t begrudge me the pleasure of helping out once in a while. I have so much money and so few pleasures left in life. You and Victoria are two of them. Anything I can do to lighten your load—”

“I’m not a charity case, Nellie.”

“I heartily agree. You’re family”—she directed a stern expression at Gia—”even if you did go back to your maiden name. And as your aunt by marriage I claim the right to help out once in a while. Now that’s the last I want to hear of it!”

So saying, she kissed Gia on the cheek and marched back into her bedroom. As soon as the door closed behind her, however, she felt her brave front crack. She stumbled across the room and sank onto the bed. She found it so much easier to bear the pain of Grace’s disappearance in the company of others—pretending to be composed and in control actually made her feel so. But when there was no one around to playact for, she fell apart.

Oh, Grace, Grace, Grace. Where can you be? And how long can I live without you?

Her sister had been Nellie’s best friend ever since they had fled to America during the war. Her purse-lipped smile, her tittering laugh, the pleasure she took in their daily sherry before dinner, even her infuriating obsession with the regularity of her bowels, Nellie missed them all.

Despite all her foibles and uppity ways, she’s a dear soul and I need her back.

The thought of living on without Grace suddenly overwhelmed Nellie and she began to cry. Quiet sobs that no one else would hear. She couldn’t let any of them—especially dear little Victoria—see her cry.