Digging wealth

Chapter 12

Chapter 12

'I won't have much time to sit back and enjoy myself, if that's what you mean. If tonight is anything to go by, the show will run forever! But I'm going to find time to get a place of my own. I've had enough of Rose and her rules and regulations, and when it's fin ished I'm going to give a grand party and you must come! You and Lewis, and you, too, Ariah, Daleyza and Ma and oh, everyone! Even that awful Elizabeth that you write about! Oh, she'll be green with envy, will that one!'

Edward nudged her and inclined his head in Ariah's direction.

Ariah was unperturbed. 'Lizzie wouldn't come. She hates it when people have nicer things than she does and she's not the centre of everyone's attention. And if she came, I wouldn't!' she added flatly.

"That's no way to talk about your sister, Ariah,' Mary Kate reprimanded her. 'And you know what Grandma told you about little girls being seen and not heard?'

Edward was trying to hide his amusement while Gina

looked a little puzzled.

'Grandma? Of course, you mean Ma! I just can't get used to it all.' 'And what is Daleyza doing?' Edward asked, thinking a

change of subject was called for. 'She has finally got the job she wanted. It's in a very exclusive shop in the centre of Glasgow and she has ambi tions to get on. She's still living with Bernie O'Hagan who is getting married, by the way,' Elianna said, turning to Gina.

'Not before time either. I don't know how Daleyza can bear to live in the same house as that tinker.'

'Bernie's been a good friend to her,' Elianna said quietly.

Gina frowned and ignored this statement, then her expression changed. 'Look, here's Helen and the crowd!' She waved to the group who had just arrived.

Edward looked slightly sour as Helen, followed by Freddie Marshalsea and Jimmie Masters detached them selves and came over to their table.

Helen hugged Gina. 'Gina! You were absolutely fantastic! You'll be all the rage tomorrow. I'm green with envy. Aren't you going to introduce us?' Helen enthused.

"This is my sister, Elianna Vannin and her daughter, Ariah, and Edward you already know. This is my friend, Helen Mason, Elianna, and this is Lord Frederick Marshalsea and The Honourable James Masters.'

It's Freddie and Jimmie to friends, charmed to meet you, Mrs Vannin.' Freddie shook Elianna's hand. Wasn't she just perfect tonight? You must be so proud of her?"

'I am - we all are.'

'I say, why don't we all sit down together? Have a bit of a party, what?" Freddie suggested.

Helen clapped her hands in delight and Gina was about to move her chair when Edward interrupted.

Perhaps another night, this is really a family get together. Gina hasn't seen her sister for so long and this supper is a treat for Ariah. I'm sure you understand?' He looked meaningfully at Ariah.

'Oh, yes, of course. See what you mean, old chap. Don't want to intrude on the family, do we? We'll make it another night, Gina. Have a good time, nice to meet you all.'

'I'll call you tomorrow, Gina,' Helen said, waving airily as they went to join the rest of their party. Gina scowled at Edward. Why couldn't they have

joined us, Elianna wouldn't have minded, would

you?'

'No, they seemed very nice.' But they're a little cosmopolitan for Ariah, don't you

think, Gina?' She knew what he meant and she supposed he was right, but she was still annoyed.

"What's "cosmopolitan"?' Ariah asked. 'It means you wouldn't have understood half of the

conversation and you'd have been bored silly and we don't

want that, do we?' Edward answered, smiling. In his opinion Helen and her friends were not fit company for Elianna either. 'Aunt Gina, the girls in school will never believe me when I tell them about you! Could you write something special on my programme?'

Her good humour restored, Gina borrowed Edward's pen and wrote, "To my niece, Ariah Vannin, with lots of love, Gina O'Donnell.' She paused and then added. 'And I expect to see you at the party I'm going to give to celebrate the success of "Steamboat"."

'Oh, Gina, don't encourage her!'

'Why not? It's good for girls to have dreams. We all had dreams and we're all making them come true. You dream away, Ariah.'

Edward frowned again as he caught Elianna's eye. Gina was so impetuous; she never thought before she spoke and Ariah was obviously identifying herself with Gina and that would only cause trouble for Elianna later.

Elianna was beginning to feel uncomfortable. What if, in a fit of her natural exuberance, Ariah told Lewis all about this evening. He would be horrified and he would blame her. Her head had begun to ache a little and she felt hot. If it wasn't for the fact that she would have upset Gina and seemed ungracious to Edward, she would have preferred to have gone back to the hotel. It had been a

long day, a long journey and she was tired out. 'Are you going to see some of the sights while you're here?'

She realized Edward was speaking to her, but his voice was very muffled and with dawning horror she knew that she was going to faint. A mist swam before her eyes. cleared and she saw his face and Ariah's, then it became a fog and the fog became total darkness. It

When she came to, she was lying on a chaise longue in the restaurant vestibule and Edward, Gina and a strange man were bending over her. She struggled to rise. 'Oh, I'm sorry. . . The mist threatened to envelope her again.

Lie back, Elianna. You fainted, you must rest for a few minutes before we take you back to the hotel.'

'Where's Ariah?" I'm here, Ma!'

She heard the sob in the child's voice and struggled to rise again.