Convenience

Part 107

David said frankly, "My parents hadn't thought about me," his mouth was dry as he continued, "for my entire childhood, from the day I was born." He picked his glass. "I had a stream of nannies before Millie, until my grandfather really became my guardian."

Surprised, Beatrice pushed a wisp of hair off her brow, "Oh." She didn't know that.

Was he a product of a charming life or a rotten life. She was starting to believe that this man was a paradox. Sensitive and callous. She blinked in dismay. He looked every inch the successful man that he was, surely he grew in a supportive family. It was his confidence and his self-assurance, surely that took a tall, handsome, gorgeous specimen to poise and composure. David had power and success oozing out of his pores. She found herself licking her dry lips and covertly wiped her clammy hands on her lap. Despite her best intentions Beatrice knew she was attracted to him. She knew that, from the time they met, many, many years ago. She wouldn't have agreed to their marriage, if she wasn't attracted to him. She managed to deal with that, and over the last five years, she thought that attraction was over. She schooled her features before her feelings were noted. But red suffused her neck. David's eyes flashed at Beatrice. She ignored that. Instead, she silently acknowledged that she had feelings for him. And it was time to squash these feelings. Temporary reappearances, she thought.

Seconds ticked by. David decided to be clear and provided clarification, "Millie looked after me for ages, until my grandfather got custody of me."

She wasn't sure about that message in his eyes. Should she trust him? "I thought you always lived with your grandfather?" She looked across at David with an apology in her eyes, "I mean, I knew you weren't living with your parents, and you didn't like them." She watched for his reaction.

He chuckled. It was an automatic response. He said smoothly, "I know of other more apt words for my relationship with my parents!" He sounded stilted even if his words were standard. "Not what you would consider decent parents." He said drolly and frowned. He shrugged, "I was lucky." Beatrice's eyebrows rose at David's comment. He chuckled. "I meant, I was lucky to have Millie! And my grandfather!"

"And Millie took care of you?" Her eyes looked baffled as she processed his statements.

"Yes. She did carry on, but not so much, when I moved to Grandfather's house. Went to a local school. Grandfather rather than Millie went to parents meeting at school." He looked at Beatrice. Her eyes narrowed. David looked contented and somewhat sad. "Millie was amazing." He felt suddenly bereft. He added, his control wavering, "You would have liked her." He blinked to buy himself some control, doing his best to hide the quiver in his voice.

That had her blinking as she tried to make sense of his statements and his tone. Had she read too much into those statement? His words ricocheted. Perhaps he wanted her to meet Beatrice. Or maybe he tried to make her feel sorry for him. But his eyes didn't show that. He looked very sad.

He looked unhappy, really sad as he announced, "I miss her. Millie was an amazing woman." He exhaled quietly. "Strict!" Clarified, "But kind." He turned his face to look her in the eye.

Her statement cut through his silent reverie. "Yes."

"She was a lovely woman."

"She sounds like an amazing woman. A lovely woman." Her gaze tracked over his features. She made eye contact with him and she asked bluntly, "She didn't come to your grandfather's funeral?" Surely, someone who was that important should be at their wedding. But she didn't see any woman who might be Millie. It wasn't a big wedding. And she was pretty sure that she would have spoken to all of their guests. Even though she didn't know most of the people at her wedding. For a long time she went over and over in her mind, to see if she recognised anyone that fitted that description.

He murmured sadly just beneath his breath "No, she was in care home, at a reputable care home: good care, good facilities, good staff." He looked up at Beatrice.