matters. Work was supposed to make him forget the troubles in his private life, not the other way around. “I mean…of course I did. Some goods that fall in the river can be fished out again with no harm done. Drop a load of sugar overboard and it’s a different story.”
He bustled off to the quayside, hoping to leave all thoughts of Bethan behind him. But they pursued him with the same relentless purpose she had shown chasing that thief into Chinatown. Her voice lurked in the back of his mind, ready to skewer his conscience with a few blunt truths if he let his guard down for even an instant.
She pointed out that no harm had come from talking about his past. Apart from the fear of where it might lead, he actually felt a little better after airing those long-festering wounds from his youth. It also made him think differently about his relationship with Rosalia—or lack of one.
He could see now that just because the child was as well behaved as he’d been at her age did not mean she was happy. Providing her with the finest material goods was not enough. She also needed someone to foster the well-being of her vulnerable young heart.
The former came easily to Simon. The latter did not. He had no idea where to begin and he was haunted by the fear that he would fail her. In his uncertainty he’d reached out to Bethan, who had generously agreed to help him.
Now he began to wonder if that was such a good idea. Since arriving in Singapore, she had assumed roles in his life that he’d never intended. She was acting nothing like a mistress and far too much like a wife.
“Are you certain Papa won’t mind?” Rosalia clasped Bethan’s hand tightly as they drove towards the Vindicara godown.
“Don’t fret.” Bethan strove to put aside her own misgivings. Simon had meant what he said last night, hadn’t he, about wanting to get closer to his daughter? “It’ll be fine, you’ll see.”
When they reached the office, she was delighted to find Wilson Hall sitting at a desk writing figures in a large book.
“Bethan!” he cried, laying aside his work. “It’s good to see you. You look well. Singapore must agree with you.”
“And you.” She beamed with approval at the change in Wilson. During the past fortnight the awkward, bashful lad seemed to have found new confidence. “You look quite the man of business.”
Wilson’s lips spread in a sheepish grin. “I was so clumsy in the warehouse I was afraid Mr Grimshaw would sack me. But he let me try clerking instead and I like it. I’ve a lot to learn since I never had much schooling, but Mr Grimshaw says I’ve got a clever head for figures. The other lads like it here, too. Heaven this place is after the mines—so warm and sunny withplenty to eat. We’ve picked up a few words of some other languages. Mr Grimshaw hired a man to teach us—the munshi they call him. He’s the cleverest man I ever met. He thinks very highly of Mr Grimshaw.”
Two weeks ago, Bethan might have been surprised to hear such nice things about Simon. But since then she’d glimpsed the generous heart he hid beneath his grave, sometimes gruff exterior. If he let down his guard a little, she felt certain he could be a good father. “I’m so glad to hear you’re all getting on so well, Wilson. Is Mr Grimshaw around? Rosalia and I have come to pay him a visit if he’s not too busy.”
“He’s out on the quay. Shall I fetch him for you?”
“If you wouldn’t mind.” Bethan glanced down at Rosalia, who still looked anxious about being there.
A few moments later, Simon strode in, his limp barely noticeable. “Good day, ladies. This is a surprise. To what do I owe the honour of your visit?”
The child tightened her grip on Bethan’s hand and hung back as if she did not quite trust her father’s cheerful greeting.
“Rosalia misses watching the boats on the river.” Bethan cast Simon an encouraging look. “If you don’t mind, we’ll sit out on the veranda of your old
He bustled off to the quayside, hoping to leave all thoughts of Bethan behind him. But they pursued him with the same relentless purpose she had shown chasing that thief into Chinatown. Her voice lurked in the back of his mind, ready to skewer his conscience with a few blunt truths if he let his guard down for even an instant.
She pointed out that no harm had come from talking about his past. Apart from the fear of where it might lead, he actually felt a little better after airing those long-festering wounds from his youth. It also made him think differently about his relationship with Rosalia—or lack of one.
He could see now that just because the child was as well behaved as he’d been at her age did not mean she was happy. Providing her with the finest material goods was not enough. She also needed someone to foster the well-being of her vulnerable young heart.
The former came easily to Simon. The latter did not. He had no idea where to begin and he was haunted by the fear that he would fail her. In his uncertainty he’d reached out to Bethan, who had generously agreed to help him.
Now he began to wonder if that was such a good idea. Since arriving in Singapore, she had assumed roles in his life that he’d never intended. She was acting nothing like a mistress and far too much like a wife.
“Are you certain Papa won’t mind?” Rosalia clasped Bethan’s hand tightly as they drove towards the Vindicara godown.
“Don’t fret.” Bethan strove to put aside her own misgivings. Simon had meant what he said last night, hadn’t he, about wanting to get closer to his daughter? “It’ll be fine, you’ll see.”
When they reached the office, she was delighted to find Wilson Hall sitting at a desk writing figures in a large book.
“Bethan!” he cried, laying aside his work. “It’s good to see you. You look well. Singapore must agree with you.”
“And you.” She beamed with approval at the change in Wilson. During the past fortnight the awkward, bashful lad seemed to have found new confidence. “You look quite the man of business.”
Wilson’s lips spread in a sheepish grin. “I was so clumsy in the warehouse I was afraid Mr Grimshaw would sack me. But he let me try clerking instead and I like it. I’ve a lot to learn since I never had much schooling, but Mr Grimshaw says I’ve got a clever head for figures. The other lads like it here, too. Heaven this place is after the mines—so warm and sunny withplenty to eat. We’ve picked up a few words of some other languages. Mr Grimshaw hired a man to teach us—the munshi they call him. He’s the cleverest man I ever met. He thinks very highly of Mr Grimshaw.”
Two weeks ago, Bethan might have been surprised to hear such nice things about Simon. But since then she’d glimpsed the generous heart he hid beneath his grave, sometimes gruff exterior. If he let down his guard a little, she felt certain he could be a good father. “I’m so glad to hear you’re all getting on so well, Wilson. Is Mr Grimshaw around? Rosalia and I have come to pay him a visit if he’s not too busy.”
“He’s out on the quay. Shall I fetch him for you?”
“If you wouldn’t mind.” Bethan glanced down at Rosalia, who still looked anxious about being there.
A few moments later, Simon strode in, his limp barely noticeable. “Good day, ladies. This is a surprise. To what do I owe the honour of your visit?”
The child tightened her grip on Bethan’s hand and hung back as if she did not quite trust her father’s cheerful greeting.
“Rosalia misses watching the boats on the river.” Bethan cast Simon an encouraging look. “If you don’t mind, we’ll sit out on the veranda of your old
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