but he suddenly announced that he had to go to Russia urgently. He dashed off the same day and was gone nearly a week. He said it was business, but the day after he got back there was an e-mail from Leonid, thanking him for being there to say goodbye to Varushka. Of course I wasn’t supposed to see it, and he doesn’t know that I did. But he’s never mentioned her—just told me a pack of lies.’
‘But, Mum, it doesn’t mean that he loved her. It was probably for Leonid’s sake.’
‘Yes, his sons are more important to him than anyone else,’ Janine agreed wryly. ‘More important than wives.’
‘Did he ever make it up to you for your birthday?’
‘He would claim that he did. I got a diamond necklace, but we didn’t go away. Taking a trip involves time and work, but necklaces are easy.’ She added ironically, ‘As I have reason to know.’
‘Hathor,’ Freya said, remembering that night in Edfu.
‘Yes, it makes you wonder if that’s how Horus bought her off.’ She gave a wry smile. ‘I’m sure Hathor always said the right thing to keep him happy. That’s what one learns to do.’
‘I’m not so sure. Some of us never learn to do that.’
‘You’ll learn with Jackson.’
‘Will I? I don’t think so. I guess I’m too clumsy.’
‘You just need practice. It’s lucky he’ll be there in Russia.’
‘Yes,’ Freya murmured. ‘He will, won’t he?’
CHAPTER TWELVE
LEONID HANDLED ALL the arrangements for their trip to Russia. First they would go to the little town of Rostov, for the christening. Then they would spend a few days in Moscow, celebrating.
The flight for Russia left from Nice Airport. Amos, Janine and Freya began the journey by staying overnight in Nice, where they were joined by Cassie and Marcel.
‘Since the baby was born in Moscow, why isn’t it being christened there?’ Marcel wanted to know as they all shared a drink in the evening.
‘Rostov was his mother’s home,’ Cassie said. ‘He just managed to tell her about the baby before she died, and he wants to christen it in the church where she’s buried.’
‘Fancy Leonid being sentimental!’ Marcel exclaimed.
‘Hush,’ Freya urged quietly. ‘Don’t let my mother hear you.’
‘Surely she’s not troubled by Varushka?’ Marcel said. ‘Not after all the other women our father’s had?’
It was Cassie who silenced him with a finger over her lips. She drew him away with an understanding smile for Freya, who mouthed Thank you.
She was relieved to see that Janine was contentedly drinking coffee. She wasn’t pleased about going to Rostov, but she hadn’t said so to Amos. To Freya’s eyes she had seemed to settle into calm resignation.
Jackson wasn’t there. He was coming from London and would arrive after everyone else. She wondered how they would meet. Would he try to avoid her? Could she blame him if he did?
Next day they travelled to Rostov, where Leonid and Perdita were waiting to welcome them with open arms. That evening there was a merry party in the hotel.
Except for Jackson, everyone was now there. The Falcon brothers missed no chance to get together as a family, and this was the first occasion since Freya’s aborted wedding. She recalled Jackson once saying that he felt especially close to Darius, the eldest. Of Amos’s five sons they were the only two who shared a mother as well as a father.
She liked Darius, and had been enchanted by Harriet, the wife he’d met on Herringdean, the island that had become his in payment of a debt. Everyone had expected him to sell up as soon as possible and return to his life as a business magnate. But with Harriet’s help he’d become enchanted by island life and now he was settled there for ever, with her and the child she had borne him.
Harriet saw her first and waved. Freya waved back and rushed to join her.
Both Harriet and Darius regarded Freya sympathetically.
‘How’s life treating you since the wedding?’ Harriet asked gently.
‘Everything’s fine,’ Freya said cheerfully.
‘Isn’t Amos making your life a misery, trying to tie you to Jackson? He’s the only son left.’
‘No chance. Jackson and I would never suit each other. We’re both too set in our ways.’
‘Set in your ways?’ Marcel echoed. ‘Him? You?’
‘Jackson doesn’t like being said no to. And I’m an awkward customer who likes saying no. Just think how miserable I’d make him.’
‘You mean you think he’s too like Amos?’ Harriet ventured.
‘I’ve heard people say that.’
‘I know he’s inherited Amos’s forcefulness,’ Harriet agreed. ‘But there’s a side of him that he doesn’t show too often. He’s drawn to people who need his protection.’
Freya nodded. She had reason to know that.
‘And not just people,’ Harriet added.
‘I don’t understand.’
‘At one time he used to do nature documentaries. I remember him coming to Herringdean to shoot a programme about our wildlife, and there was a baby seal who’d got stranded in an awkward place. Jackson became his guardian and protector. He said the seal’s mother would be looking for him, and he must be taken care of until she arrived. He settled down beside him and stayed there for two days and nights, waiting for the mother to come searching for her baby. He said he wasn’t going to let her find a dead body.
‘He refused to move away, even to eat. Darius and I used to take food to him, otherwise he’d have starved. And he wouldn’t let anyone film them in case the baby was upset, so we had to keep the crew away as well. I remember we stayed with him one night, and he was so gentle and loving with that little creature. In the end the mother arrived and Jackson carried her baby to her.
‘The boss was furious that he wouldn’t let the cameras get near him. Everyone thought Jackson would seize the wonderful publicity it would give him. But all he cared about was that helpless little creature. When it was all over the boss fired him and he had to find another job. That’s how he came to be working for Dan.’
‘He never told me,’ Freya breathed.
‘He doesn’t talk about that side of himself. I think he’s afraid it will make him sound like a softie.’
‘What’s wrong with being a softie?’ Freya demanded with a touch of indignation.
‘Nothing. I agree. I think he’s always been a bit embarrassed about having a sweet nature in case
