‘Mycollection,’ he said under his breath. ‘She was my wife, and that means the collection was mine to distribute as I saw fit.’
Alexandra knew. She didn’t need to be told, didn’t need him to confirm it.
‘It’s gone, isn’t it?’ Elizabeth said. ‘Sold to fund your hedonistic lifestyle these past seven or so years?’
Alexandra had the immediate sensation that she was going to be sick.Gone. Everything of Mama’s is gone.
‘I would like you to leave,’ Alexandra said, surprised by the sound of her own voice. She looked at her aunt, who rose and came to stand beside her.
‘You’re asking your own father to leave?’ he spluttered. ‘Well, if I’m leaving, you’ll be coming with me. You’ve been spoiled here long enough. It’s time for you to marry and do your obligation for your family.’
‘No, Father, I won’t. I have no intention of coming with you today or any other day, for that matter, and I certainly won’t be marrying a man of your choosing. This is 1973, and women in London have a choice in such matters now.’
‘Nicholas, to what do we owe this pleasure? Such a sad turn of events in Greece.’
Her uncle glided into the room then, clearly attempting to defuse the situation, and Alexandra took her chance to leave the room. Her stomach heaved and she hurried up the stairs, hearing her aunt behind her but not stopping for fear she might be sick on the carpet.
She ran into the bathroom, heaving up the contents of her stomach into the toilet as her aunt stroked her hair back from her face and held it. Alexandra dropped down to her knees, waiting to make sure the moment had passed before slowly rising.
‘I’m sorry, Elizabeth, I don’t know what came over me.’
‘I can understand how your father’s demands could make you feel unwell,’ she said. ‘But if I’m not mistaken, you were sick the other day too?’
Alexandra nodded and washed her face, taking down a glass from the cabinet in the bathroom to fill with water. ‘My stomach has been rather delicate lately. I think it could be an overconsumption of champagne.’ In truth, she wasn’t certain why she was so unwell; her stomach was usually not so unreliable.
‘How about I ask the doctor to call and see you in the morning? Just as a precaution.’
‘Of course,’ she replied, before suddenly remembering the letter. ‘Elizabeth,’ she asked before her aunt turned. ‘Did anything arrive for me today?’
‘Other than your father?’ Her aunt asked with a conspiratorial grin. ‘Yes, there was. A letter, in fact.’
Alexandra’s heart skipped a beat. ‘Is it—’
‘On the table in the hallway,’ her aunt said. ‘I’m surprised you didn’t notice it on your way in.’
Alexandra barely heard her last words. She raced back down the stairs in such a hurry she almost ran into her father at the bottom as he was leaving the drawing room.
‘You’ve changed your mind already, my dear?’
She completely ignored him and snatched the letter from the hallstand, tearing into it and quickly reading the words as her heart fluttered.
I’m in. Oh, my goodness, I’m in!
‘They’ve offered me a place,’ she gasped, laughing as she reread the letter over again.
She’d temporarily forgotten that she wasn’t alone, but when she turned she saw that her uncle’s face had lit up.
‘Congratulations, Alexandra,’ he said. ‘You’ve worked so hard for this, I’m so proud of you.’
Her father looked between them. ‘Proud of what, exactly? Please don’t tell me you’re wasting your time applying to universities or such?’
She held her head high. ‘I’ve actually spent much of my time in London dedicated to music, the violin to be specific, and I’ve just been offered a place in an orchestra.’
‘And it’s not just any orchestra,’ her uncle announced. ‘She is to be one of the first women invited to join the London Luminary Ensemble.’
‘I shall return tomorrow,’ her father said curtly, ‘and we will discuss your marriage prospects and what I expect of you. There is a lot resting on your shoulders, Alexandra, and there is no time to fill your head with thoughts of running away with the orchestra.’
I’d hardly be running away, she thought, as she bit down on her bottom lip in an attempt to hide her excited smile.
