Which meant that he would take Madeline to only the very best restaurants and entertainment establishments, regardless of cost, Lydie realised. I didnt mean Oliver hadertaken the money, Lydie endeavoured to explain, knowing that her brother had started his own business five years ago and that, her fathers firm doing well then, he had put up the money to set his son up in his own business. I meant why didnt Oliver say something to me?
If you cast your mind back, youll recall that Oliver and Madeline were on holiday in South America the last time you were home. Poor Oliver works so hard; he needed that months break.
His business is doing all right, is it? Lydie enquiredand received another of her mothers sour looks for her trouble.
As a matter of fact, hes decided toumcease trading.
Youre saying that hes gone bust too?
Must you be so vulgar? Was all that expensive education lavished on you completely for nothing? her mother grumbled. Though she did concede, All companies work on an overdraft basisOliver found it just too much of a struggle. When he and Madeline come back from their honeymoon, Oliver will go and work in the Ward-Watson business. She allowed herself the first smile Lydie had so far seen as she added, half to herself, I shouldnt be at all surprised if Oliver isnt made a director of the Ward-Watson conglomerate before hes much older.
All of which was very pleasing, but this wasnt getting them anywhere. There wont be any money coming back to Dad from Oliver, I take it?
Hell need all the money he can lay his hands on to support his wife. Madeline is used to the finer things in life, you know.
Wheres Dad now? Lydie asked, her heart aching for the proud man who had always worked so hard. Is he down at the works?
Little point. Your father has already sold the works to pay off some debtshes out of a job, and at his age nobodys going to employ him. Not that he would deign to work for anyone but himself.
Oh, heavens, Lydie mused helplessly, it sounded as though things were even worse than she had started to imagine. Is he out in the grounds somewhere?
What grounds? Any spare ground has been sold. Not that, since its arable land only, it made a lot. And, starting to build up a fine head of steam, Apart from the housewhich the bank wants a slice of, which means we have to leaveyour father has sold everything else that he can. Ive told him Im not moving! Her mother went vitriolically on in the same vein for another five minutes. Going on from talk of how they were on their beam-ends to state that if they had only a half of the amount the Ward-Watsons were forking out for their only daughters fairy-tale wedding, the bank would be satisfied.
Dad doesnt owe the bank very much, then? Lydie asked, but before she could start to feel in any small way relieved, her mother was giving her a snappy reply.
Theyre his one remaining creditorhes managed to scrape enough together to pay off everybody else, plus most of his overdraft. Buttodays Tuesday, and the bank say they have given him long enough. If they arent in receipt of fifty thousand pounds by the end of banking on Fridaythey move. And so do we! Can you imagine it? The disgrace? A fine thing its going to look in Olivers wedding announcement. Not Oliver Pearson of Beamhurst Court, but Oliver Pearson of No Fixed Abode. How shall we ever?
Her mother would have gone on, but Lydie interrupted. Fifty thousand doesnt sound such a fearfully large amount.
It does when you havent got it. Nor any way of finding it either. Apart from the house, were out of collateral. How can we borrow money with no way of repaying it? Nobodys going to loan us anything. Not that your father would ask in the circumstances. No, your father overextended himself, the bank wont wait any longerand now I have to pay!
Lydie thought hard. The pictures! she exclaimed after a moment. We could sell some of the family
Havent you been listening to a word Ive said? Havent I just finished telling you that everything, everything that isnt in trust for Oliver, has been sold? Theres nothing left to sell. Nothing, absolutely nothing!
Her mother looked closer to tears than Lydie had ever seen her, and suddenly her heart went out to her. For all her mother had never been the warmest mother in the world to her, Oliver being her pride and joy, Lydie loved her.
Lydie went impulsively over to her. Im sorry, she said gently, taking a seat next to her on the sofa. Im so very sorry. And, remembering her mother saying only a short while ago that it was time she paid something back for the expensive education she had received, What can I do? she asked. While the amount of her inheritance was small, and nowhere near enough, Lydie was thinking in terms of asking to have that money released now and not two years hence, when she would attain the age of twenty-five, but her mothers reply shook her into speechlessness.
You can go and see Jonah Marriott, she said clearly. Thats what you can do.
Lydie stared at her, her green eyes huge. Jonah Marriott? she managed faintly. She had only ever seen him once, and that was some seven years ago, but she had never forgotten the tall, good looking man.
You remember him?
He came here one time. Didnt Dad lend him some money?
He did, Hilary Pearson replied sharply. And now its his turn to pay that money back.
He never repaid that money? Lydie asked, feeling just a touch disappointed. He had seemed to her sixteen-year-old eyes such an honourable manand she knew he had prospered greatly in the seven years that had elapsed.
Coincidentally, the money he borrowed from your father is the same amount we need to stay on in this house.
Fifty thousand pounds?
Exactly the same. I cant impress on you enough that if the bank dont have their money by Friday, come Monday theyll be making representation to have us evicted. Id go and see him myself, but when I mentioned it to your father he hit the roof and forbade me to do anything of the sort.
Lydie could not imagine her mild-mannered father hitting the roof, especially to the wife he adored. But he must be under a tremendous amount of strain at the moment. No doubt he himself had previously asked Jonah Marriott to make some kind of payment off that loan. There was no way her fathers pride would allow him to ask more than once. But to
Her thoughts faded when just then the drawing room door opened and her father walked into the room. At least the man was tall, like her father, white-haired, like her father, but Lydie was shocked by the haggard look of him.
Daddy! she whispered involuntarily, and went hurriedly over to him. There was a dejected kind of slump to his shoulders which she found heartbreaking, and as she looked into his worn, tired face, she could not bear it. She put her arms round him and hugged him.
What are you doing here? he asked, putting her aside and sending her mother a suspicious look.
Ithought Id give Donna a chance to see how shell cope without me, Lydie invented, quickly hiding her shocked feelings. Ill give her a ring later. If shes okay Ill stay on, if thats all right with you?
Of course its all right, he replied with assumed joviality. This is your h He turned away and Lydies heart ached afresh. She just knew he had been thinking that this was her home, but would not be for very much longer. Your mother been bringing you up to date with everything? he enquired, his tone casual, but pride there, ready to be up in arms if his wife had breathed a word of his troubles.
What are you doing here? he asked, putting her aside and sending her mother a suspicious look.
Ithought Id give Donna a chance to see how shell cope without me, Lydie invented, quickly hiding her shocked feelings. Ill give her a ring later. If shes okay Ill stay on, if thats all right with you?
Of course its all right, he replied with assumed joviality. This is your h He turned away and Lydies heart ached afresh. She just knew he had been thinking that this was her home, but would not be for very much longer. Your mother been bringing you up to date with everything? he enquired, his tone casual, but pride there, ready to be up in arms if his wife had breathed a word of his troubles.
This wedding of Olivers sounds a bit top-drawer. Are they going to have a marqueeyou didnt finish telling me, Mother?
Over the next half-hour Lydie observed at first hand the proud façade her father was putting up in front of her, and her heart went out to him. Looking at him, seeing the strain, the worry that seemed to be weighing him down, to go and see Jonah Marriott and ask him to repay the money he had borrowed from her father seven years ago did not seem such a hard task. Particularly as, if memory served, that money had only been loaned for a period of five years anyway.
Your rooms all ready for you. Her mother took the conversation away from the wedding. If you want to go and freshen up, she hinted.
Ive things to attend to in my study, Wilmot Pearson commented before Lydie had answered. Its good to see you, Lydie. Lets hope youll be able to stay.
No sooner had he gone from the room than her mother was back to the forbidden subject. Well? she questioned. Will you?
Lydie knew what she was asking, just as she knew that she did not want to go and see Jonah Marriott. Youre quite sure he hasnt paid that loan back? she hedged. Her mother gave her a vinegary look. Perhaps he cant afford to pay it back, Lydie commented. All firms work on an overdraft basis, you recently said so, she reminded her mother, but, still shaken by the haggard look of her father, wondered why she was prevaricating about going to see Jonah Marriott.
Her mother chose to ignore her comments, instead scorning, Of course he can afford to pay it backmany times over. His father made a packet when he sold his department stores. Ambrose Marriott might be one tough operator but I cant see him giving to one son and not the otherand the younger Marriott boy hasnt done a days work since the deal was done. Theyre all sitting on Easy Street, her mother said with a heartfelt sigh, and just look at us!
Lydie glanced at her parent, and while the last thing she wanted to do was to go and ask Jonah Marriott for the money he owed to her father, she knew that the time for prevaricating was over. She looked at her watch. Half past four. She had better get a move on. Do you have his number?
You cant discuss this with him over the telephone! her mother snorted. You need to be there, face to face. You need to impress on him how
I was going to ring his office for an appointment, Lydie interrupted. Hes hardly likely to see me without one. And if he guesses what its about hell probably say no anyway!
I dont want your father to catch you. Youd better make your call from your room, Hilary Pearson decided. And, not allowing her daughter to consider changing her mind, Ill come up with you.
Marriott Electronics, a pleasant voice answered when up in her old bedroom Lydie had dialled the number.
Mr Marriott please, Lydie said firmly, striving with all she had to keep her voice from shaking. Mr Jonah Marriott, she tacked on, just in case Jonah had taken other members of the Marriott clan into the business.
One moment, please, the telephonist answered, but even though Lydies stomach did a tiny somersault at the thought she might soon be speaking to the man she had seen only once but had never forgotten, she did not think she would be put through to him as easily as that.
Her stomach settled down when the next voice she heard was a calm and pleasant voice informing her, Mr Marriotts office.
Oh, hello, Lydie said in a rush. My names Lydie Pearson. I wonder if its possible for me to have a word with Mr Marriott?
Im afraid Mr Marriotts out of the office until Friday. Is there anything I can help you with? Pleasant, polite, but Lydie knew she was getting nowhere.
Oh, she murmured, then paused for a moment, very much aware of her mothers tense gaze on her. I wanted to see him rather urgently. Umperhaps I should ring him at home, she pondered out loud, knowing in advance that she had small chance the womanhis PA, most probablywould let her have his private number.
Actually, Mr Marriott is out of the country until late on Thursday evening.
Oh, grief, she wanted this over and done with. Ill ring again on Friday, Lydie said pleasantly, and rang off to be confronted by her mother, who wanted to hear syllable by syllable what had been said.
Were going to lose the house! Hilary Pearson cried. I know it! I know it! And Lydie, who had never before seen her mother in a state of panic, began more than ever to appreciate how very dire the situation wasand she started to get angrywith Jonah Marriott.
No, we wont, she said as calmly as she could. Ill go and see Jonah Marriott on Friday, and I wont leave his office until I have the money he owes Dad.
Lydie had no chance in the two days that followed to have second thoughts about going to see Jonah Marriott. With her father seeming to grow more drawn and careworn by the hour, not to mention her mothers endless insistence that Lydie was their only hope, Lydie knew that she had no choice but to go and see him.
Consequently, whenever the voice of reality would butt in to enquire what made her think anything she might say would make him promise to repay that moneyhe had let her father down; what difference did she think her appeal would make?her emotions, her love for her parents and the calamity they were facing, would override the logic of her head.
Which in turn, over the days leading up to Friday, caused Lydie to grow angry again with Jonah Marriott. That anger turning to fury with him when she thought of how her father had lent him that money in good faith, and how Jonah had so badly let him down.
Her fury dimmed somewhat, though, whenever she recalled her only meeting with the man. She had occasionally helped her father in his study during her school holidays, and had known that someone was coming to the house in the hope of borrowing some money. It had gone from her mind that day, though, until she had come home and found him sitting in the drawing room of their home. She had been sixteen, a thin, lanky, terribly shy sixteen-year-old.
Oh, Im s-sorry, she had stammered, blushing to the roots of her night-black hair. I didnt know anyone was in here! He hadnt answered, but had done her the courtesy of rising to his feet. She had blushed again, but had felt obliged to ask, Are you waiting for Daddy?
The man had superb blue eyes, quite a fantastic blue, she remembered thinking as hed looked directly at her and commented in that wonderful all-male voice, If your daddy is Mr Wilmot Pearson, then, yes, I am.
Her knees by that time were like so much jelly. But, at the same time, she could not help but think how ghastly it must be for him to have to come and ask to borrow some money, and, while she wanted to fly, she found she wanted more to make him feel better about it. Im Lydie, she stayed to tell him. Lydie Pearson.