The Pearl of Penang Clare Flynn (comprehension books .TXT) 📖

it happened. Veronica was about to do it again. To Mary Helston. Mary was with an RAF officer and they seemed awfully happy talking to each other. Then Veronica came along and… well… you can imagine.’

He closed his eyes for a moment. ‘Yes. You can spare me the details.’ He gave her one of his sad-eyed smiles. ‘Thank you, Evie.’ He touched her arm and a shiver of electricity ran through her.

‘I’d better see if Mary’s RAF officer has found her again.’

‘Maybe I’ll see you later?’ Then he was gone.

Evie was relieved to see Frank and Mary standing together in the shade of a tree talking intently. There was no mistaking it, the officer was keen on her and, as far as Evie could tell, Mary seemed to like his company too. Rather than butt in on their conversation, she went to join Douglas.

As she was walking across the lawn, a commotion began behind her. Evie looked round and saw Veronica running over the grass towards her, pushing people out of her way as she went. Indignant voices and spilled drinks marked her rapid progress over the club grounds. When she was in front of Evie, she pulled up, pointing her finger.

‘You did it on purpose. You poured a drink over me. You’re jealous because you’re like a great big whale and your husband can’t stand the sight of you.’ She stood right in front of Evie, her face contorted, her eyes bloodshot, with dirty smudges of mascara underneath them. ‘You’re trying to steal my husband. Well, you can’t have him. So get lost. Go back to England. No one wants you here. Not even your husband. Once you’ve popped that baby out he’ll be going straight back to his little housekeeper.’ Angry tears rolled down Veronica’s face.

Evie stared at her in abject horror. How did she know about Doug’s affair with his housekeeper? Had she been wrong to trust Arthur?

Doug appeared at Evie’s side. This provoked more anger from Veronica.

She spun round to face him. ‘Yes. I know all about your sordid little affair. I stopped by Arthur’s office and overheard you telling him. So don’t even try to deny it, Doug.’

All around them, people were watching in silent disbelief. This kind of display never happened at the august Penang Club. If the crowd had expected an upset that afternoon it would have been from the Camerons, but the two of them, like everyone else were staring in astonishment at Veronica, Doug and Evie.

Arthur Leighton pushed through the crowd and took his wife’s arm and drew her away. ‘Show’s over, people. Veronica isn’t feeling well,’ he said, and led her away to their car.

For a moment there was a horrified silence, before the band, which had been playing quiet waltzes, struck up a lively dance tune and people drifted back into their groupings.

Douglas looked at Evie. ‘I think it’s time we went home too. I’ll go and fetch Jasmine.’

‘She isn’t going to be pleased. She’s watching the conjuror.’ Evie looked in the direction of the large group of children.

‘That’s too bad, because we’re going.’ He turned on his heel and went off to collect his daughter.

Evie waited, uncertain what to do next. Mrs Rogers appeared at her elbow. ‘That woman’s got a screw loose. I’ve always thought so. I don’t know how her husband puts up with her. She’s a walking nightmare.’

Evie looked at her. ‘Honestly, Dorothy, I didn’t do it deliberately. I tripped and my hand slipped.’

‘Well, you jolly well should have done it deliberately. She got what she was asking for, the trollop. I’m sure it must have been the hand of God guiding you.’ Addressing the nearest people in a loud voice, she said, ‘I saw exactly what happened and I’m afraid Mrs Leighton doesn’t emerge from this well.’ Her voice was full of authority and a few people smiled at Evie in sympathy.

‘I’m afraid I’ve probably upset Doug now,’ Evie said quietly to Mrs Rogers.

‘Not if he has any sense. Everyone knows the woman has had it coming to her for a long time.’

23

They drove home in silence, Doug’s face set hard. Evie knew it was because of what Veronica had said about her trying to steal Arthur, rather than the references to his own infidelity. She decided to say nothing. Why should she? She had nothing to explain as it wasn’t true.

The following morning, Evie was sitting in the garden, thumbing through the Straits Times after Douglas had set off for Batu Lembah. An uncharacteristically sulky Jasmine had gone to school, still full of resentment at their early departure from the party. Doug had also been in ill sorts and had chosen to spend the night in the guest room. There had been no discussion of what had happened at the Penang Club and Evie decided it was best to let matters lie until they had each had a few days to let it pass.

Evie looked up as Arthur Leighton came towards her across the terrace.

‘You’ve missed Doug, I’m afraid,’ she said. Trying to keep the acidity from her voice she added, ‘How’s Veronica?’

‘It’s you I came to see, not Doug. I want to apologise for what happened yesterday.’

‘It’s not up to you to apologise. It wasn’t your fault.’

‘I’m afraid it was.’

‘What on earth do you mean?’

He pulled up a chair and sat, his head in his hands. ‘I can’t go on like this, Evie.’

‘Like what?’

‘Staying with her, when every day that goes by, I loathe her more. No worse than that. I loathe myself for getting into this situation. I’m ashamed of myself. Ashamed that I put my career before everything else when I agreed to marry her. Because she helped my career along I stood by while she spun increasingly out of control.’ He looked up at Evie, his face a picture of misery. ‘I should have stood up for myself and refused to marry her.’

‘You had little choice about that. And you were helping her. If she’d had her baby,