Indiscretions - Elizabeth Adler [45]
“Jenny came to see me a couple of years ago,” said Paris, so softly that it was as though she were speaking to herself. “It was winter and the weather was icy and crisp, and the sun shone. Jenny was wrapped in this amazing fur that she’d bought from Fende, a softly sheared mink, dyed to such an odd olive tint. She looked so Parisian in it, and for once we looked like mother and daughter.” She turned to look at her sisters. “It would make me happy to have that coat.”
“Done,” said Stan, glad to get out of this one without it costing too much; it would have been embarrassing to have to go back on his word. Picking up his briefcase, he opened the door. “So. If you need any advice, you know where to come.”
Paris doubted that they would.
Bill Kaufmann felt pleased with himself. It had been easier than he had thought, no tears, no recriminations-no fuss. “That’s everything taken care of, then,” he said, following Stan through the courtyard.
“Right, Bill,” said India, “everything’s taken care of.” She held out his jacket. “You forgot this.”
Bill slung the jacket over his shoulder and headed for the street.
“Thanks for everything, Bill. Drive carefully now, in that fast car,” called India.
Did her tone hold a touch of irony? Surely not. After all he’d done? No one could expect him to do more. Could they?
“Well, then, it’s good-bye, I suppose.” Stan shifted his cigar from his right hand to his left and offered his firm grip to each girl in turn. “Perhaps Mrs. Reubin and I’ll be over in Paris in the spring. She likes to get around—do a bit of shopping there, ya know? Listen, Bill, what’s that restaurant you raved about? Lasserre? How’d you rate that one, Paris? Good, huh? Well, you count on joining us for dinner there one evening. Something to look forward to, right? And that goes for you other girls as well, if you’re in town. Be quite a family reunion.” Clamping the big cigar back in his mouth he headed purposefully toward the gleaming, blue Rolls Camargue parked behind the Porsche.
Bill Kaufmann quickly kissed each girl on the cheek. “Anytime you’re back here,” he called, making for his car, “let me know. Myra’d love to have you stay … she was very fond of Jenny.”
He slid behind the wheel, waiting impatiently for Stan to turn the Rolls. Why the fuck didn’t he hurry up? Thank God, that was it, he could be off! He shifted from neutral into first, enjoying the growl of the engine as it responded to the pressure of his foot. At least it hadn’t come out that he was now Rory Grant’s agent and Stan was Rory’s lawyer … not that there was anything wrong with that. Bill lit another cigarette. It was just show biz!
He pressed the button to lower the window, leaning out ready to wave and smile, but the heavy wooden gate was already closed. Goddamn, they might have waited, after all he’d done for them. India flung herself onto the sofa, pounding the cushions angrily with her fists. “Bastards!” she screamed. “They’re nothing but a pair of bastards.”
“India!” cried Vennie, shocked.
“Can you think of a better name for those two? Do you have any idea of how much they must have made from Jenny all these years? It’s a lot more than you or I are left with, I can assure you. They were employed—paid—to look after her! God, it makes me sick just to think of it. As soon as things became a bit rough they just left her to it. Oh, no, Vennie, there’s no doubt about it—they are a pair of shits!”
“Well?” asked Paris. “What happens now? Do we sit here and rehash Jenny’s last few years and all her problems and blame her for losing all her money?”
“It wasn’t her fault,” cried Venetia defensively. “She earned all her money and she had every right to do what she wanted with it.”
“Did she, Vennie?” Paris’s voice was bitter. “Parents have a responsibility toward their children, you know. Even though she wanted us to make it on our own, I think she might have given us a thought before she made all those wild investments—especially as we had no fathers to help us.” Paris was close