Tears of the Moon - Di Morrissey [127]
He was silent for a moment. She had a point, but if he allowed her to stay, it was tacit acknowledgement of her rights as his wife. He had to think through his tactics. He turned and stormed out of the house, heading for the foreshore camp.
Amy wasted no time in dressing. She had already learned as much as she could from the nervous Rosminah, and her enquiries on the steamer had given her sketchy details of the Star of the Sea Pearl Company. When she was ready, she selected a parasol and sent Rosminah to fetch transport.
Olivia’s mind was racing from one plan to the next, mentally sorting through the tasks ahead of her. By concentrating on the immediate details of readjusting her entire life, she tried to stop thinking of the ultimate outcome of a new life without Tyndall.
The tap at the door caused her heart to stop. She didn’t want to talk to anyone. She dropped the last of the files and ledgers into a box and sighed,’ Come in.’
She swung around and stared in shock.
Both women frankly and silently assessed each other.
To Olivia, Amy looked out of place, overdressed, in her frilled white high-necked pin-tucked blouse, cinched waist and cream silk skirt swept up to one side in a ruched swathe. Lace-edged gloves matched the parasol and to set it off she wore a pert hat peaked at the back with a small feather and a glittery pin.
To Amy, Olivia looked unstylish and uninteresting. Olivia’s simple lilac dress, sashed at the waist without the benefit of laced corset, hair looped at the nape of her neck with a black velvet bow and no accessories, indicated to Amy a woman who didn’t care about keeping up appearances or wasn’t in touch with the mode of the day. However, she conceded a grudging admiration for Olivia’s natural beauty. Amy had to enhance her natural assets, Olivia did not.
‘Hello, I’m Mrs John Tyndall. You must be Olivia Hennessy.’
Olivia stiffened at the stressed ‘Mrs’. ‘Yes, I am Olivia Hennessy. Just what can I do for you?’ She wasn’t about to repeat Amy’s name.
Amy rested her parasol against the wall and began to pull a glove from her hand. She was perfectly relaxed. ‘I thought I should get to know my husband’s business. Could you explain matters to me? Seeing as I’m now part of it all.’ She gave a bright smile.
‘I beg your pardon?’
‘I’m Captain Tyndall’s wife. Whatever he has is also mine. I’d like to see some of the pearls.’
Olivia flushed and tried to hold her temper. ‘We don’t keep pearls just lying around. Nor are they just picked up by the handful from the bottom of the ocean,’ she snapped.
‘Really? This is a pearl business, isn’t it?’
‘It’s a pearl shell business. I’m sorry, I don’t have time to discuss this. There are plenty of other people who can explain it to you in simple terms. And, incidentally, I am fifty percent owner in the business. A working owner, I might add.’
‘Then I suppose that makes us partners, too.’ The smile hadn’t left Amy’s face.
Olivia dropped all pretence of civility. ‘There is no way you will be involved in this business while I’m a partner.’
‘I’ll see about that. But I do hope we can get along. Because I’m planning on staying here. With my husband.’ She picked up her parasol. ‘Good day to you, Mrs Hennessy.’
Olivia watched her sweep from the room. Then, quickly striding across the room, she slammed the door behind Amy with a crash. As her fury dissipated, she sank back into her chair feeling utterly defeated. She had now summed up Amy, which was no doubt the intention of the visit. She saw there was no way Amy was going to give up Tyndall or her position. Amy was avaricious and attracted to perceived wealth as much as to the man. Their relationship might well have been fleeting and orchestrated by Amy as Tyndall described, but it was obvious she had found a comfortable new status in life and would not give it up without a fight. And Olivia recognised that in a fight she was no match for Amy. Nor was Tyndall.
Olivia sent word for Ahmed to come and see her and she tensely explained her plans.
Ahmed had already heard about Amy