The Postcard Read Online Free PDF Page A

instead?’
    ‘You’ll soon get the hang of it,’ Phoebe insisted, hoping she liked the expensive gift. Then they made for the picture house, sitting at a table to watch the latest Charlie
Chaplin film and having tea and ices. Chaplin really was a fine actor and his face looked so sad that Caroline sat clutching Marthe, and Phoebe was suddenly overwhelmed with jealousy for their
closeness.
    As the party arrived back at Dalradnor, Phoebe stiffened at the sight of a large car outside the front door. It was not the one she’d ordered from the garage; she recognized it, though.
The two boys jumped out to examine the shiny black monstrosity and the chauffeur offered to run them down the lane when they’d finished looking. Caroline wanted to go with them, but Marthe
pushed her into the hall.
    ‘It’s time for you to have tea. We have a visitor.’
    Phoebe held back to compose herself, wondering why Sir Lionel had come again.
    Nan Ibell was bustling round them. ‘Tea’s laid out in the dining room. Go and wash your hands, young lady, and greet your guest.’
    Phoebe walked in, praying he’d be alone and, to his credit, he was. It was such a relief. Lionel had always shown sympathy towards her, and it was close to the anniversary of
Arthur’s death as well as being Caroline’s birthday. Why shouldn’t she seek some solace in the fact that he too would see that her child was growing more and more in looks like
her father?
    ‘Sir Lionel, it is good of you to call again. I’m sorry I missed you yesterday. As you can see, we’ve had a busy day in town, but do stay for the cutting of Caroline’s
cake. Caroline, here is Sir Lionel come to see you again. Isn’t that kind?’
    ‘Did you bring it?’ She bobbed a curtsy with her smile.
    ‘Bring what, young lady?’ He put on a face of mock surprise.
    ‘It’s my birthday today,’ she said proudly. ‘I’m seven now.’
    ‘So you are, and I thought I’d better bring something.’
    ‘Where, where is it?’ The minx was searching round the room for a box. ‘I got a watch. Aunty Phee gave me this . . . I chose it in a shop.’ She held out her wrist so it
could be admired.
    ‘Oh, that’s a fine watch. Now where did I put that penny whistle for you?’ He was teasing her, seeing her impatience. ‘Oh, it’s there in the basket, I think.’
He pointed round the back of the leather armchair by the window to a wicker basket. ‘Can you open it for me?’
    Caroline rushed to the basket and opened it with a screech. ‘Oh, look! Marthe, Aunt Phee, look, look, come and see.’ She lifted up a small furry creature, a sleepy little puppy just
a few months old. ‘For me, it’s for me?’
    Sir Lionel’s face was a picture of gratification as he nodded. ‘Now you have to care for him, take him on long walks and teach him how to behave. His name is Cullein, hero of the
clans. He’s a Cairn terrier so he won’t grow very big but he’ll be very fast. I think seven is old enough to know he’s not a toy but a real living thing. Don’t you
agree, Miss Faye?’
    ‘Phoebe, please,’ she muttered, knowing he was asking her approval after the event. The clever old man had won the child’s heart with such a thoughtful gift, so very
appropriate for an only child. He’d got it so right and she’d got it so wrong. Who wants a watch when you really want a bangle, when you can have a puppy as a friend and playmate? Why
hadn’t she thought of that herself?
    You don’t know your own daughter, that’s why you’re peripheral to her world here. You are just the aunt who pops in now and again and then disappears. Why are you bemoaning
your lot? You chose this for yourself. Now you must pay. Pin on your smile and get on with it. This is Caroline’s special day, not yours.
    They processed into the dining room by candlelight. There was a beautiful iced cake waiting, with seven candles on it. Caroline sat bemused, clinging onto her new friend for dear life.
    For Phoebe,