Read Online The House of Vandekar by Evelyn Anthony - Free Book Online Page B

Now let’s have lunch. I want you to come to Partridges with me this afternoon. They’ve got a set of chairs that would look wonderful at Ashton.’
    â€˜I can’t have it,’ Alice said. ‘It’s impossible.’
    â€˜Mrs Vandekar, I’m afraid that I don’t understand. What’s impossible about your having a baby?’ Dr Harris was polite, but his expression was unfriendly. What was she saying, this rich, spoilt young woman in perfect health? Impossible? He sensed what was coming.
    â€˜I can’t have a baby at this particular time,’ Alice said flatly. She could feel his hostility. ‘We’re moving, with major renovations to be made. I’m fully committed for the next six months. I’ve got to be free to carry out those commitments. For my husband’s sake, as much as anything.’ She was angry and frightened, so her attempt to sound pathetic failed.
    â€˜There’s no commitment higher than motherhood,’ he said. ‘If your life was in danger or there was a genuine risk to your health, I might listen to you, but you’re extremely healthy and strong and you should have a very easy pregnancy. All you need to do is be careful for the next few weeks. After that, you can get on and do up your house and lead an active life.’
    â€˜I don’t want it,’ she said. ‘I want you to help me.’
    He moved his chair back and got up. He was still very polite. ‘I’m sorry,’ he said. ‘I don’t give that kind of help. But please don’t hesitate to call on me if you’re worried about anything. And do try to look forward to it. I know so many women who’d give anything in the world to be in your place, Mrs Vandekar.’
    Alice stood up. ‘I wish they were,’ she said. ‘Thank you, Doctor. Good afternoon.’
    It was cold and wet outside – dull winter weather, depressing the spirits further still. I don’t want the baby, I’m not going to have it … why should I? I don’t want to be sick and fat and housebound. Oh God! She cried in the car on the way home.
    Be careful for the next few weeks or else. She saw Hugo’s hat and stick on the hall table. She didn’t want to face him. He knew nothing about it, and he was not going to know anything, in case …
    She ran upstairs. Where was Lily? She had to talk to someone. She went down the passage to the ironing room.
    Lily was pressing her evening dress. She looked up, saw Alice’s face and stopped. ‘What’s wrong? Aren’t you well, madam?’
    Alice leaned against the door. ‘You know damned well I’m not. Leave that, will you, and bring me a cup of tea.’
    Lily cleared the cup away. She had made Alice lie down and taken off her shoes. ‘You mustn’t upset yourself,’ she said. ‘It won’t do any good.’ The philosophy of endurance came naturally to her. Pregnancy, poverty, sickness – these were part of life for Lily and Lily’s family. You put up with it and did the best you could. And children were a blessing. Some children, at any rate. No good saying that to her lady; not while she was in this mood. ‘I’ll get you another cup,’ Lily said. ‘Then you have a rest before your bath. I’ve to finish your dress, remember.’
    â€˜To hell with the dress,’ Alice said. ‘And I don’t want tea. Lily, what am I going to do? That damned doctor wouldn’t help me.’
    â€˜Help you do what, madam?’
    â€˜Get rid of it.’ Alice pulled herself up. ‘That’s the last time I’ll go to him! If you’d heard him – there’s no higher commitment than motherhood!’
    â€˜That’s because men don’t have the babies,’ Lily remarked.
    Alice looked at her. ‘Lily, you don’t know anybody do you?’
    Lily went red. ‘No, madam, I don’t! What, have some