Page 131 of The Quiet Wife
“And what?”
“I am afraid of you. The children are afraid of you. I do not want to live in fear of what you might do to me or to the children next time you lose your temper. Not anymore.” Her voice quivered.
He ducked his head and fixed his gaze on the floor again, so she continued.
“I would like to live separately, but I’ve no wish to have our names dragged through the society papers so, if I had a house in London,” she shrugged. “I want the children with me, but they will want to see you too because they love you. I just need… my own home. I can see no reason why this cannot be conducted in a civilised manner. To the outside world, we just have several homes that all have staff, are well run, and we use all of them. No-one need know who lives where.”
He looked thoughtful, stroking his beard.
“I am willing to consider this. However, I must insist that we leave any discussion of a separation until after the purchase of Bibby is complete.”
Frances held onto her composure as her heart pounded. For a moment, she had thought he was listening. She was wrong. She knew exactly what he was trying to do. If she waited as he suggested,she would lose the hold she had over him and she would never be free. She had come too far to back down now.
“No. I want to see a solicitor and have this agreement in writing, and I want it to be legally binding.” She didn’t even know if that was possible.
“If I do, will I have your word that nothing of this will reach Bibby?”
“You have my word.”
“As you wish. I will summon my solicitor.”
“No, I shall instruct a solicitor of my own,” she insisted, hoping William would help her in that matter.
“Are youabsolutelysure about this? I’m about to become a very,verywealthy man.” He tensed, and a muscle ticked along his jaw.
“You are already a wealthy man. I find I don’t care about that. As long as I have enough for a comfortable life, I shall be happy.”
He sat back and sniffed. “Well, if you are moving in with Whistler, it’s probably a good thing you don’t want much.”
And there he was. The Frederick she knew. He couldn’t be nice for more than a moment. There was always a snide comment.
“I will speak to my solicitor and have an agreement drawn up that you will accept.” She stood up, signalling the end of their meeting.
“If you insist.”
“I do, and I am not ‘moving in’ with Mr Whistler, as you so crudely phrase it.” She lifted her chin, anger coursing through her. “For a moment there, I really thought you were listening to me, but you are not, are you? You will always be the same. Well, listen to this, Frederick Leyland. I have an appointment to see the Chair of the Board at Bibby at three o’clock tomorrow afternoon.I have letters written ready to send to the newspapers and the scandal sheets, and Lizzie and Edith are just awaiting my instruction to spread the rumours we spoke of.” She had done nothing of the sort, but she took satisfaction from the shock on his face.
“So, unless you give me what I want, in writing, in a way that is binding by the end of today, I promise you, your world will come crumbling around you. Do we understand each other?”
CHAPTER 45
London - Kensington
On the first of January, Frederick became the majority shareholder of Bibby Shipping. Frances read the reports in the newspaper about his success while sitting in the parlour of the Prince’s Gate house.
She was pleased for him. At last, he had what he wanted. A mistress that he could truly love. Looking back, Bibby had been his only real love his entire life.
The Queen’s Gate house was now sold, so there was nowhere to retreat to. Here at the Prince’s Gate house, Jemie simply surrounded her. Everywhere she went, everything she did, he was there. He lingered in the paintings in the hall, in the dining room, in the portrait of her that now hung in the drawing room. But more than that, it was the echoes of his voice, his laughter. His kindness, tenderness, and his love. Memories of him were everywhere. When she curled up in her bed, the bed she’d shared with him, she could feel him.
She had sent word to him from Liverpool telling him about what she had done, what she had achieved, but there had been no reply. That hurt even more than his absence in the house.
She laid the newspaper down and finished her tea. She was due to go shopping with Edith later in the morning. She was planning the furnishings for her new home, and there wasn’t an artist in sight. It was all her own ideas. Frederick had agreed to purchase a charming property for her in Chelsea and she was determined that this would be a place she could truly enjoy.
She got up and straightened her skirt, just as the door opened and the footman showed in Jemie.
She stared at him, shocked. It was all she could do. She took in every inch of him and opened her mouth to speak. Nothing came out.
“Oh, Frances.” He strode across the room, and she met him halfway. They wrapped their arms around each other and held on. He buried his face in her neck, and she felt him tremble.
