In Distant Fields Read Free

please don’t take that money. It is meant for Kitty. You know what an interest Aunt Agatha takes in her – and that money is to help towards paying the fees at Miss Woffington’s. Please don’t take what is not meant for you, just this once.’
    Evelyn, who had been walking away in the direction of the dining room, stopped and swung back round. As soon as she saw the look in his eyes Violet retreated from him.
    â€˜I’ve done me money, Violet – do you understand me? Now tell that girl who pretends to be amaid to bring me my coffee – and then go up and sort out some fresh linen for me. I shall be leaving as soon as I am changed.’
    Violet watched him go through to the dining room and then she turned and put out a hand for the newel post of the narrow Regency staircase. Baccarat, that rakehell gambling game that destroyed so many, had Evelyn in its embrace, and it was a fiercer tie than any woman could ever be. She hurried through the green baize door to order Bridie to bring the coffee through.
    As she slowly climbed the stairs to her bedroom she thought she could once again hear her father’s voice warning her not to marry Evelyn Rolfe.
    â€˜They’re a bad lot, the Rolfes, Vi. They’ve bad blood, and nothing to be done about it. They might be an old family, they might be aristocratic, but they’re rotten on any level – gamblers and wastrels, all of them …’
    But of course Violet had known better. She had been swept off her feet by the dashing, handsome Evelyn, and no one could talk her out of him. She had paid the penalty for her obstinacy, and doubtless would spend the rest of her life doing so.
    â€˜Mamma?’ Kitty’s voice called from what seemed a great distance, but was actually only from the hall.
    Violet hurried back down.
    â€˜Ssh, Kitty. Your father is home.’ Violet nodded towards the dining room, where breakfast andthe Morning Post were always laid ready for Evelyn, no matter what.
    â€˜Oh …’
    â€˜You might well say “oh”, Kitty,’ Violet replied in a low voice. ‘And he has Aunt Agatha’s letter.’
    Kitty stared at Violet, who looked suddenly quite faint.
    â€˜Then I shall go and ask him for the letter back.’ Kitty looked momentarily indignant. ‘That letter is addressed to you and me, or at any rate to you, not to him.’
    But her mother drew her into her small study, and half closed the door behind them.
    â€˜Don’t go near your father, Kitty. Please. He is not – well, he is not himself. He will be leaving soon for Biddlethorpe Hall, so it is of no matter if we leave him to his own devices.’
    Kitty stared at her mother, who had begun to remove her diamond engagement ring.
    â€˜What are you doing, Mamma?’
    â€˜Take this to the shop on the corner, Kitty. He will give you a good price.’
    â€˜But, Mamma—’
    â€˜ Quickly . There simply is no time for argument. I will go in to him, as you go out.’
    â€˜You can’t pawn this, Mamma. This is your engagement ring. Papa will most certainly notice.’
    â€˜You can leave your father to me, Kitty,’ Violet insisted, steering her daughter out of the study. ‘I can handle your father – or at least I can try. Now do as I say. Go on with you, Kitty – go on.’
    Kitty put the ring in her skirt pocket andstarted to hurry across the hall, only to find herself confronting her father.
    â€˜Good morning, Papa,’ she said, curtsying, all filial submission, at the same time plucking at her coat, which she quickly pulled on while maintaining her dutiful expression.
    â€˜Where the hell is the coffee?’
    â€˜Bridie is just making it, Papa. Oh, look,’ Kitty quickly pointed out of the window. ‘Look, Papa, there’s the Earl of Caulfield’s Rolls-Royce. How smart it looks, wouldn’t you say?’
    Her father turned quickly and without a word