The Pearl of Penang by Clare Flynn (best books to read for students txt) 📗

The man’s a genius.’ She raised an eyebrow. ‘Aren’t I right, Dorothy?’ Mrs Rogers was slightly behind her. ‘I’m telling our hostess about the skills of Mr Ramanathan.’

Ignoring Veronica, Dorothy Rogers moved forward to greet Evie and introduce herself. Mrs Rogers gave her a warm smile. Evie was determined not to let Veronica Leighton get under her skin any more. Her decision to leave Douglas and Penang bolstered her confidence. Yes, despite her nerves, she was going to enjoy herself this evening. It was a pity neither Susan Hyde-Underwood nor Mary Helston were here, but she would make sure to be as charming as possible to Dorothy Rogers, whom she sensed was less than enamoured of Veronica.

Mrs Rogers managed the unusual feat of appearing both approachable and formidable – the kind of woman who commanded respect, didn’t suffer fools, but was perennially cheerful. In her late fifties, she had a matronly figure of the sort Evie’s father used to describe as well-upholstered. Her eyes twinkled with what looked like wry amusement – probably at Veronica’s expense. Evie liked her at once.

‘Do you and Mr Rogers live here in George Town?’

‘I wish we did. No, we’re down in KL.’

‘KL?’

Veronica’s laugh trilled. ‘Really, Evie! Kuala Lumpur.’ She nudged Mrs Rogers conspiratorially. ‘Evie’s been here for weeks but you’d never know it.’ As an afterthought, she added, ‘Dear girl that she is,’ and beamed at Evie like a proud parent. ‘I’ve tried to take her under my wing, but she will insist on doing things her own way.’

Bristling, Evie tried not to let her feelings show. ‘What’s KL like, Mrs Rogers?’

‘Do call me Dorothy.’ The woman gave her a friendly smile. ‘I love it. Not as nice as Penang though. I loved living here in George Town after the war years. Clifford worked his way up the ladder with Guthrie’s and we brought up five children in Malaya. I’m glad all that constant moving from estate to estate is behind us. Our next move will be back to England when he retires.’ She glanced towards her husband who was deep in conversation with Arthur Leighton. ‘In the meantime, Clifford still does a lot of travelling including to London once a year to meet with the board and deliver his annual report.’ She squeezed Evie’s arm. ‘And I go with him, which is such fun as three of our children are living back there. All married. I do love to see the grandchildren.’

Evidently bored by the turn the conversation had taken, Veronica moved to join the men who were gathered in a group. She linked arms with Douglas and Reggie Hyde-Underwood and in a teasing tone said, ‘So, Dougie, when are you and Evie going to follow in Reggie’s footsteps and pop out a son and heir to the Barrington fortune?’

Evie wanted to slap her. Douglas had a face like thunder and Reggie chuckled in embarrassment.

‘Really, Veronica, you are a card. Have you no shame!’ Dorothy Rogers tried to make light of the moment. ‘Poor Doug doesn’t want to be quizzed like that! They’ve only been married five minutes.’

Evie glanced at Arthur and saw he was frowning, cringing even. Veronica appeared unperturbed.

Past caring what Veronica thought of her, Evie said, ‘I could ask the same of you and Arthur, Veronica.’

They were saved from hearing Veronica’s response by the announcement from Aunty Mimi that dinner was served. The party moved into the dining room. Veronica threw Evie a look that would have frozen boiling water.

Evie had arranged the seating, placing herself between Arthur Leighton and Clifford Rogers, opposite Reggie, who was between the two other women. Douglas sat at the head of the table, with Clifford on one side of him and Veronica on the other. Evie hadn’t consulted her husband about the seating plan but had assumed he would want to talk to the Guthrie’s boss. Placing Veronica on his other side was a deliberate ploy. She knew Douglas would have preferred one of the other men, but it was now likely the conversation would be between Douglas, Reggie and Clifford, cutting Veronica off and leaving Evie free to talk to Arthur and Dorothy Rogers at the other end of the table. She felt slightly ashamed that she had been so calculating, but it was no more than Veronica deserved.

To her relief, the dinner passed without incident and Evie took quiet satisfaction in the sour expression on Veronica’s face as her repeated attempts to steer the talk in another direction failed, against the constant discussion of rubber price movements, fluctuating market demand and the restrictive quotas imposed by the rubber industry association.

At the other end of the table, the conversation between herself, Dorothy, and Arthur was about music, books, and life in Penang. Dorothy Rogers urged Evie to visit the swimming club and the picture house and the beaches at nearby Batu Ferringhi.

Since the Rogers were travelling up to northern Kedah on the mainland the following morning, the party broke up early, and Evie stood beside Douglas on the doorstep as their guests left. Veronica took Arthur’s arm and draped it around herself as if to signal ownership. She gave Evie a sour look, before replacing it with a joyless smile. ‘Well done, darling!’ she said to Evie in a voice that oozed insincerity, clearly not pleased at the way she’d been marooned at the other end of the table.

When they’d gone, Evie felt relieved that she’d got through this test without mishap. She’d not tripped or stumbled and had spilled no gravy – a triumph in itself! ‘I think that went well. Don’t you?’

Douglas grunted.

‘I hope you got what you wanted from it.’

Another grunt.

‘Well, I’m going to turn in.’ She moved towards the staircase.

He reached for her wrist and drew her back. ‘Let’s have another drink first.’

Evie hesitated, before deciding there was no point in delaying the inevitable. Better to get on with the news that she was leaving him and going back to England. She followed Doug into the drawing room and