breakthrough. ‘It’s only a weekend away.’
‘Not the weekend. That will be . . .’ she paused and reached for Robert’s hand. ‘That was a nice thought. I meant that I’m not happy about Greywood. About running away,’ she added to remind Robert of her reason.
Ruby quickly returned with a pile of papers and Robert shuffled through them. ‘You need a secretary for all these, Rube. Let’s hope it’s just because you’re new at the school.’ He skimmed the letters. ‘These are for you to take care of, Erin. You need to send a copy of Ruby’s birth certificate and her vaccination record. I’ll handle the one with the large cheque.’ Robert grinned, already committed to the huge expense of private education.
‘I thought you’d already paid the fees.’
‘I have. This is for the Vienna trip in August. The school’s had it planned for a few months but because Ruby’s new, we have to get all the forms back quickly in order for her to go.’ Robert knew that if Ruby was going to make the most of life at Greywood, she would be expected to take part in everything on offer.
‘ Vienna? ’ The word was gossamer-thin. Erin’s eyes narrowed in disbelief.
Ruby hopped from one foot to the other, barely able to contain her excitement. ‘We’re going to the Vienna Conservatory to learn stuff from their teachers and I’ll get to play the piano at the Opera House. We’re going to watch loads of stuff too and there’ll be a disco and—’
‘Vienna? That’s in Austria.’ Erin’s voice, although barely audible, interrupted her excited daughter.
‘I’ll get to go on a plane, Mum. At last!’
Erin sat perfectly still, her rigid self-control allowing nothing apart from slight shock, which was natural, to show. Only a tremor in her jaw offered any indication of her feelings.
‘It’ll do Ruby no end of good and give us the chance to get away for a few days ourselves.’ Robert placed a hand on her leg but she flinched. ‘Christ, I thought you’d be pleased, not turn into a corpse.’
He stood and cleared the plates, baffled by Erin’s recent behaviour. It was completely out of character. A week for their daughter in a cultural hot-house, knowing Erin as he did, should have sent her cart-wheeling around the kitchen. One of the things Robert admired most about his wife was the way she had always put her daughter first and respected her needs.
He clattered plates into the dishwasher, making a point of being heavy-handed.
‘It’s not that I’m not pleased . . .’ Erin trailed off, an expression of agony on her face. ‘It’s just . . .’ she bowed her head, ‘. . . it’s just that she can’t go.’
‘Nonsense,’ Robert replied, deciding not to have any of this. Ruby was going on the school trip to Vienna if he had to escort her himself. ‘At her age, Ruby does have a say in matters, you know. You don’t own the girl.’ He noticed Erin’s skin twitch, her eyes glass over. He carried on. ‘And don’t forget to fill in those other forms and return the certificates to the head teacher’s secretary. It’s important.’
Robert dried his hands, the temporary distraction of doing the dishes having cooled him somewhat. If Erin had misgivings about the Vienna trip, he would have to understand and cajole her into what he believed was right for Ruby. He reckoned the weekend in Somerset would help. He just wasn’t sure when to mention Louisa.
EIGHT
The M3 was a breeze and the A303 to Martock was similarly quiet. Robert, who transformed into a beast when stuck in traffic, was in an excellent mood, despite the strange news he’d received from Tanya that morning. Erin’s hair rippled in the wind, her rigid smile a battle against the rush of air. Robert had considered putting the top up but both Erin and Ruby were happy to be whipped about. Just getting out of London seemed to be lifting everyone’s spirits.
‘Before you ask, Rube, about another forty minutes.’ Robert grinned in the
‘Not the weekend. That will be . . .’ she paused and reached for Robert’s hand. ‘That was a nice thought. I meant that I’m not happy about Greywood. About running away,’ she added to remind Robert of her reason.
Ruby quickly returned with a pile of papers and Robert shuffled through them. ‘You need a secretary for all these, Rube. Let’s hope it’s just because you’re new at the school.’ He skimmed the letters. ‘These are for you to take care of, Erin. You need to send a copy of Ruby’s birth certificate and her vaccination record. I’ll handle the one with the large cheque.’ Robert grinned, already committed to the huge expense of private education.
‘I thought you’d already paid the fees.’
‘I have. This is for the Vienna trip in August. The school’s had it planned for a few months but because Ruby’s new, we have to get all the forms back quickly in order for her to go.’ Robert knew that if Ruby was going to make the most of life at Greywood, she would be expected to take part in everything on offer.
‘ Vienna? ’ The word was gossamer-thin. Erin’s eyes narrowed in disbelief.
Ruby hopped from one foot to the other, barely able to contain her excitement. ‘We’re going to the Vienna Conservatory to learn stuff from their teachers and I’ll get to play the piano at the Opera House. We’re going to watch loads of stuff too and there’ll be a disco and—’
‘Vienna? That’s in Austria.’ Erin’s voice, although barely audible, interrupted her excited daughter.
‘I’ll get to go on a plane, Mum. At last!’
Erin sat perfectly still, her rigid self-control allowing nothing apart from slight shock, which was natural, to show. Only a tremor in her jaw offered any indication of her feelings.
‘It’ll do Ruby no end of good and give us the chance to get away for a few days ourselves.’ Robert placed a hand on her leg but she flinched. ‘Christ, I thought you’d be pleased, not turn into a corpse.’
He stood and cleared the plates, baffled by Erin’s recent behaviour. It was completely out of character. A week for their daughter in a cultural hot-house, knowing Erin as he did, should have sent her cart-wheeling around the kitchen. One of the things Robert admired most about his wife was the way she had always put her daughter first and respected her needs.
He clattered plates into the dishwasher, making a point of being heavy-handed.
‘It’s not that I’m not pleased . . .’ Erin trailed off, an expression of agony on her face. ‘It’s just . . .’ she bowed her head, ‘. . . it’s just that she can’t go.’
‘Nonsense,’ Robert replied, deciding not to have any of this. Ruby was going on the school trip to Vienna if he had to escort her himself. ‘At her age, Ruby does have a say in matters, you know. You don’t own the girl.’ He noticed Erin’s skin twitch, her eyes glass over. He carried on. ‘And don’t forget to fill in those other forms and return the certificates to the head teacher’s secretary. It’s important.’
Robert dried his hands, the temporary distraction of doing the dishes having cooled him somewhat. If Erin had misgivings about the Vienna trip, he would have to understand and cajole her into what he believed was right for Ruby. He reckoned the weekend in Somerset would help. He just wasn’t sure when to mention Louisa.
EIGHT
The M3 was a breeze and the A303 to Martock was similarly quiet. Robert, who transformed into a beast when stuck in traffic, was in an excellent mood, despite the strange news he’d received from Tanya that morning. Erin’s hair rippled in the wind, her rigid smile a battle against the rush of air. Robert had considered putting the top up but both Erin and Ruby were happy to be whipped about. Just getting out of London seemed to be lifting everyone’s spirits.
‘Before you ask, Rube, about another forty minutes.’ Robert grinned in the
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