Page 123 of The Last Night in London
Precious smiled weakly. “I’m definitely not all right, but I’m not ill.”
Eva sat down on the edge of the bed, pushing the dull, damp hair off of Precious’s forehead. “I don’t understand.”
Precious closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “I’m not ill,” she repeated. “I’m going to have a baby.”
CHAPTER 36
LONDON
MAY 2019
At the hospital, Colin and I were joined in the elevator by a woman with a poker-straight spine who held her large handbag in front of her like a battering ram. Her profile reminded me of the carvings on Stone Mountain, except the granite might have been softer.
“Mrs. Ponsonby?” Colin asked as the elevator door opened onto Precious’s floor and we all stepped out.
The woman turned to us, and I was surprised to see that she was much younger than I’d thought someone named Hyacinth Ponsonby should have been—in her late fifties or early sixties—and smaller, too. Petite, even. It seemed her reputation added height and breadth to her frame. She wore a pleated plaid skirt, a buttoned-up cardigan, pearls, and loafers, exactly as I would have pictured. I grinned without meaning to.
She turned to Colin with bright blue eyes behind sensible glasses and smiled. “Is that you, Colin Eliot? I don’t believe I’ve seen you since last Christmas, yet it seems like yesterday that you were competing in the local gymkhana with my Jessica. You fell off your horse quite a bit, didn’t you? Do you still ride?”
“Sadly, no. I’m afraid I’d break something. Hyacinth Ponsonby,may I introduce my friend, Madison Warner? She’s the one who’s been interviewing Precious for the article.”
Hyacinth shook my hand firmly. “It’s a pleasure. I’ve heard so much about you from my dear friend Penelope,” she said with a knowing look. I almost expected her to waggle her eyebrows, but instead her face became serious. “I am so sorry to hear about Miss Dubose. Is there any news?”
Colin shook his head. “She’s awake and speaking but not completely herself, according to my mother. Have you come to see her?”
“Actually, I’ve just come from the maternity wing, where Jessica delivered my new grandson, Henry. I thought I should bring my homemade scones to the nurses there because they were so helpful and kind.” She beamed as if she’d just invented grandmotherhood. “And while I was here, I wanted to bring your mother some new information I’ve just unearthed.”
“Wonderful,” Colin said. “I believe my parents are in the waiting room.”
“I can’t wait to tell them that I’ve found Graham!” She began walking briskly down the corridor. Colin and I exchanged a glance as we followed in her wake toward the visiting room. Despite her short legs, we found ourselves nearly jogging to keep up.
Penelope stood and greeted Hyacinth while James, who’d been staring out the window, turned toward us. I’d been in midgreeting, but I immediately closed my mouth. I stopped hearing what everyone was saying. I knew I was staring at James, but I couldn’t seem to stop.
I thought back to when I’d first met him, how something about his face reminded me of someone who wasn’t Colin. That something else had kept tugging on my memory, and I still couldn’t place it. Not quite.
“Maddie?” I turned toward Penelope, realizing she’d been speaking to me.
“I’m so sorry—what did you say?”
“I was saying that Precious is asleep again, but the nurse has promised to let us know the minute she awakens. Did you bring the dolphin?”
“Yes, I’ve got it.”
“Splendid. And I have the photograph of Graham you were asking about. The one of him in his uniform. Precious did bring it to the hospital—she was holding it when they brought her in.” She picked up her purse and pulled out a small sandwich baggie. “One of the nurses was kind enough to keep it safe until we arrived.”
Reluctantly, I turned my back on James. “Thanks.” I carefully removed the photo from the bag, then held it in the palm of my hand.
“Well, Colin, I daresay it’s your doppelgänger.” Hyacinth Ponsonby put her hand on my arm to lower it so she could see better. “The resemblance is really quite remarkable.”
“I still don’t see it.” Colin frowned. “He’d be my...”
“Great-uncle,” Hyacinth finished. “Your paternal grandmother’s brother. I’ve gone over your family tree and records enough times that I feel as if I’m part of the family!” She laughed—“tittered” would be more accurate—and turned her attention back to the photograph. “I’m always amazed by family genetics. But what a fine-looking man. And in uniform, too. I can see why your Precious would have been enamored with him. And why she has such a fondness for Colin.”
“Oh, no, Precious and Graham... ,” Penelope began, then stopped, considering Hyacinth’s words.
I did, too, as I turned the photograph over and looked at the writing on the back.Sweet dreams, darling.I met Colin’s gaze and knew he was remembering Precious saying those exact words. But many people said that—including my own mother. And Eva had lived with Precious, had probably copied many of her little sayings, enough to feel comfortable writing one on the back of a photograph. When I’d roomed with Arabella, it had taken me less than a month to begin using words like “loo” and “brolly” and putting milk in my cup before I poured my coffee. And yet...
As if reading my mind, Colin reached for my backpack and pulled out the bundle of Sophia’s letters. A small note, separated from the others, sat on top. It was the single letter we had from Eva, the correspondence she’d sent to Sophia in 1939 after she’d left her pursebehind at a dinner party. I remembered the first time I’d seen the handwriting, how I’d thought it looked like a child had been practicing her penmanship.
