Belle - Lesley Pearse [223]
Belle felt herself getting choked up with emotion and asked when the wedding was going to be.
‘Well, now you’re home we can arrange it as quick as we want,’ Mog said, as she poured Belle yet another cup of tea. She had already offered all kinds of food, but Belle wasn’t hungry. ‘I think I must’ve known deep down that you would be found because I have kind of stalled on it. But my happiness is complete now you are back where you belong.’
‘And what about Annie?’ Belle asked. ‘Noah told me what she was doing, and how you two just went your separate ways. Does she know I’m back?’
‘She knows you were found. I went to see her, but we didn’t know then how soon you were coming home.’
‘And?’
‘She was delighted to hear you were safe, but you know what she’s like. Won’t show any emotion, can’t praise anyone or offer any sympathy. I used to think that it was somehow my fault she was that way, but to be honest, Belle, I can’t be doing with it any more. If she wants to grow into an embittered old woman then that’s her funeral. I’m done with running around for her and making excuses for her. She knows where I am and where you’ll be. We’ll just have to see if she turns up.’
Belle had hoped that her being away for two years would have made her mother softer and more caring, but she supposed that was too much to anticipate.
‘But I want to know about you,’ Mog said, changing the subject. ‘Now, start at the beginning and tell me the whole story. No leaving bits out you think will upset me.’
*
An hour and a half and two more cups of tea and a ham sandwich later, Belle had finally reached the point in the whole sorry story where Etienne rescued her. Mog’s eyes had been as big as saucers for much of it, and she’d broken down in tears several times.
‘How can you still look as fresh and lovely?’ she asked.
‘I have had ten days in Paris to be fattened up again and for the bruises to fade, with the kindness of people like Noah, Etienne and Gabrielle to help me over it,’ she said. ‘And Philippe sent me over a beautiful silk blouse and some French perfume before I left.’
‘Have you been, you know, checked out?’ Mog asked very gently.
Belle smiled at Mog’s reticence to say ‘pox’. She looked and sounded like a little suburban housewife now; no one would ever guess she’d been a maid in a brothel for half her life.
‘Yes, while I was in the nursing home. There was no sign of any disease, but the doctor did warn me that it can be some time before symptoms show themselves. But then, I won’t be going down that road again!’
Mog blushed and Belle laughed at her. ‘We can’t pretend I’m still a little innocent,’ she said.
‘To me you’ll always be my little girl,’ Mog said, her lip quivering. ‘I can’t bear to think of what you’ve been through.’
‘It’s all over now. Telling you all about it was the last hurdle. I’ve got a good bit of money, and I’m going to open a hat shop. The first hat I make will be for your wedding.’
Jimmy peeped round the door. ‘If you want me to go away I will,’ he said.
‘Of course we don’t,’ Belle said. ‘Come on in and join us. Are there many left in the bar? It’s become a lot quieter.’
‘Most of them have staggered home now,’ Jimmy said. ‘Garth said he’s closing up any minute. Noah left some time ago. He said to tell you he had a letter to write.’
Belle grinned at that, and explained about Lisette to Mog and Jimmy. ‘I hope she will come to England, he’s really smitten with her. She deserves a better life, she is a good, kind woman, and very pretty too.’
She could see Jimmy wanted to know her whole story as well, but she knew she’d have to give him a censored version and that would take a day or two to plan. She was suddenly exhausted too, the travelling and all the excitement had drained her. ‘May I go to bed now?’ she asked. ‘I’d like to stay up and talk some more but I’m just too tired.’
‘Of course,’ Jimmy said. ‘Just to know you are safe upstairs is enough for Mog and me. We can talk tomorrow.’
Chapter Thirty-six
Sharp-eyed and brown-toothed Police Inspector Todd and his constable were just