Red Phoenix

  Both of the kids nodded.

  ‘Have I missed anything?’ I said.

  ‘Simone,’ John said, still smiling encouragement, ‘if you are concerned that you may say something wrong, or if you don’t know the answer to a question, just call me silently and I will tell you the answer silently. I’ll be able to help you.’

  Simone studied her little hands. ‘Thank you, Daddy,’ she whispered. ‘I hope I can do this right, Emma. What’s a cousin?’

  ‘It’s when your dad and his dad are brothers. That means that Michael is your family, not a Retainer.’ I made my voice more stern. ‘So don’t you go ordering him around in front of people, okay?’

  Simone glared at Michael. ‘I don’t order you around anyway.’

  Michael glowered at her. The animosity between them made them appear perfectly normal and would be the icing on the cake if they could pull it off.

  ‘Michael,’ I said, ‘please try to refrain from calling me “my Lady”, or any other honorific term, while we’re there. If you do slip up accidentally, make it sound like a private joke between us. Got it?’ Michael nodded and his blond hair flopped over his forehead. ‘I’m the nanny, guys. Leo is the driver. Michael, call Lord Xuan “Mr Chen” or “Uncle John” the entire time we are there. But don’t worry too much, I’d never heard of Xuan Wu before I met him.’

  Leo smiled. I smiled too. I remembered as well.

  ‘Now have I missed anything?’ I said.

  ‘Simone,’ Leo lisped. He winced and continued. ‘They don’t think demons are real, as well. Okay?’

  ‘Why do you talk funny, Leo?’ Simone said innocently. ‘You’re doing it all the time.’

  ‘The Snake Mothers hurt my mouth. I can’t talk properly now.’

  ‘They’re really mean,’ Simone said. ‘Those Snake Mothers are really bad.’

  ‘Yes, they are.’ His face softened. ‘You have no idea.’

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  A small yard at the front of the house had been covered with gravel to accommodate visitors’ cars. Leo parked the van, we all hopped out, and I led the way up sandstone steps to the front door. Simone was very stiff and her eyes were unseeing. John was silently coaching her.

  I rang the doorbell. There was silence for a moment, then the sound of feet coming. The door flew open and there was Jennifer.

  I hardly recognised her. My sister had always been a little drab and dowdy, but now she looked like an English lady. Her hair was blonde instead of brown and she sported expensive make-up and gold jewellery. She wore a pencil-thin pale blue skirt and matching cashmere twin-set. She looked fabulous.

  ‘Emma!’ she exclaimed. ‘Finally! I thought you’d never get here.’ She reached out to hug me, her fingers glittering with bright red artificial nails and a great many gold rings. She pulled back to beam at me. As usual, I was wearing a tatty old shirt and a pair of jeans and loafers, my hair tied back in a rough ponytail. Her smile widened. She moved back and gestured broadly with one arm, inviting us in.

  We all went into the hallway, Jennifer leading. She guided us into the living room. ‘Please, sit,’ she said, smiling at all of us. ‘And who do we have here, Emma?’

  The living room was elaborately decorated in cream and blue, with fancy pictures and expensive porcelain. She’d done very well for herself. I was glad.

  A couple of little boys dashed in, their shoes thumping on the wooden floor of the hallway. They stopped dead when they entered the living room. One of them jumped backwards slightly with surprise.

  ‘This is Andrew.’ Jennifer grabbed the smaller one around the shoulders and dragged him forward. ‘And Colin.’ She gestured towards the bigger one. ‘Say hello to Aunty Emma, boys.’

  ‘Hello, Aunty Emma,’ the boys said mechanically, in unison.

  ‘This is my employer, my boss, Mr Chen.’ I gestured towards John and he nodded to Jennifer.

  ‘Bout time you acknowledged me as boss, John said right into my ear. But I think you should have said it the other way round.

  I shot a warning glance at him. He smiled at me serenely, then smiled at Jennifer.

  Jennifer’s smile froze.

  I did not believe this.

  ‘This is his daughter, Simone. I look after her,’ I said.

  Simone looked like she was about to rise and bow, then stopped. I quietly breathed a sigh of relief. He was forgiven for that last crack.

  Jennifer warmed up again when she saw Simone. She went and crouched in front of her. ‘Hello, Simone, you are very pretty.’

  Simone hesitated, then, ‘Thank you,’ she said softly.

  I gestured towards Michael. ‘This is Simone’s cousin, Michael, who came along for the trip to Europe.’

  Michael nodded without smiling at Jennifer. She studied him appraisingly from where she was crouched in front of Simone, then smiled and rose.

  ‘And this is Leo,’ I said, gesturing towards him. ‘The driver.’

  Leo nodded without speaking.

  ‘Leo doesn’t talk much,’ I said, and Leo nodded almost imperceptibly in thanks.

  Jennifer’s smile went even more ice-cold.

  I really did not believe this. I didn’t know she had changed so much.

  ‘Would you like the boys to show you their rooms and their toys, Simone?’ Jennifer said.

  Simone hesitated. ‘That would be very nice, thank you, Mrs Black,’ she said very carefully.

  ‘Andrew, Colin.’ Jennifer’s bright smile didn’t shift. ‘Would you like to take Simone upstairs and show her your rooms? I’m sure she’d be interested to see how we do things here in England.’

  ‘Can I leave my shoes on?’ Simone said.

  Jennifer hesitated at the unusual question. Then she shrugged it off. ‘Of course, dear, don’t take your shoes off, there’s absolutely no need.’

  Simone nodded and rose. Andrew smiled at her and took her hand. He and Colin led her out.

  Michael jumped as if he had been stung. ‘May I go and see the boys’ rooms too, please, Mrs Black?’ he said politely. ‘I’d like to see what houses are like in England. It’s very different to Hong Kong.’

  ‘You don’t want to stay here with us?’ Jennifer said.

  Michael shook his head.

  ‘If you like,’ Jennifer said. ‘Just follow the boys, they know where to go.’

  Jennifer sat next to me and put her arm around my shoulders. ‘Would you like to come and have a look around the house, dear?’ she said maternally. ‘I’d love to show it to you.’ She smiled at John. ‘Would you like to see?’

  I think you would probably like to spend some time alone with your sister without us men in the way, John said silently into my ear. Nod if you would. We can go outside and wait.

  I nodded very slightly without looking away from my sister.

  ‘I don’t think so, if you don’t mind, Mrs Black. I have some calls to China to make. Do you mind if I go back out to the car and get my phone?’ John said.

  ‘Of course, no problem, get your phone, come back inside. I’ll have the housekeeper make you some tea,’ Jennifer said. ‘Would you like tea? Oh, and call me Jennifer.’

  ‘That would be very nice,’ John said. ‘Jennifer.’

  Jennifer grabbed my hand. ‘Come and have a look, Em.’ She showed me through the dining room. John and Leo went out the front door.

  ‘This is the kitchen.’ She dragged me through. It was expensively appointed with luxurious European appliances. She waved deprecatingly at a smiling round English woman in a maid’s uniform. ‘That’s just Tess, the housekeeper.’

  Tess nodded without saying anything and I nodded back.

  Jennifer pulled me back into the hallway. She opened a door. ‘Here’s the garage,’ she said proudly. She pointed down the stairs at the car below us. ‘That’s my car, Leonard bought it for me.’ It was a shiny new silver BMW. ‘His Jag isn’t here, he’ll be home soon. He’ll take some time from the office to come and see you, don’t worry.’

  ??
?I look forward to it.’ I tried to remember what he looked like. I couldn’t. I had spoken to him about three times nearly ten years before, at their wedding, and that was all.

  We walked along the hallway to the bottom of the stairs that went to the next floor up. She opened another door. ‘Leonard’s study.’ Like the rest of the house, it had been decorated by a professional, and had a bay window overlooking the front yard. John and Leo stood next to the van. John was on the phone and I wondered who he could possibly want to talk to.

  If you’re wondering, he said into my ear when he saw me at the window, your sister’s children are making my daughter’s life miserable and she is in constant contact with me for help. Please get up there and rescue her. Even Michael is getting a pummelling.

  ‘Are the bedrooms upstairs?’ I said brightly. ‘I’ll bet the boys’ bedrooms are even nicer than this.’

  ‘I’ll show you.’

  The boys were shouting as we went up the stairs. They sounded very angry. I didn’t hear a sound from Simone or Michael.

  ‘They’re in Colin’s room,’ Jennifer said cheerfully. She opened the door.

  The boys were screaming and hitting Simone with a pillow. Michael tried to block their blows. Simone sat with her hands over her head, her little face a mask of torment. I rushed to her, pulled the boys off, and grabbed Simone. She buried her face in my neck. ‘Thanks, Emma,’ she said quietly.

  ‘The little tinkers. Is their play too rough for you, petal?’ Jennifer said to Simone without a hint of compassion. ‘They go to a boys school and they don’t really know that girls are a little more delicate.’

  ‘I’m okay,’ Simone choked. ‘Can I go back downstairs now, please?’

  ‘You’ll be fine, Simone, I’ll look after you,’ I said into her ear. I picked her up with one arm, put her on my hip, and she clutched me.

  Jennifer gasped.

  ‘What’s the problem, Jen?’ I glanced around, there didn’t seem to be anything wrong. Michael’s face was rigid with control. The two little boys glowered at me.

  Jennifer stared at me, eyes wide.

  ‘Can I see the rest of the bedrooms?’ I said, trying to snap her out of whatever daydream she had drifted into. Then I realised I’d just lifted a five-year-old girl one-handed. Way to go being normal, Emma!

  Fortunately, Jennifer shook herself out of it. ‘Let me show you,’ she said, and went to the door. I followed her, still holding Simone with one arm.

  The master bedroom was enormous. Jennifer took us onto the balcony. It overlooked the rear garden, which was formally laid out and beautifully landscaped with a small fountain.

  Simone was fascinated. ‘This is your garden?’

  Jennifer smiled. ‘Yes it is, pet.’

  ‘You don’t share it with anyone?’

  ‘It’s like the house in Guangzhou, Simone,’ I said. ‘It has a garden.’

  Simone nodded, understanding. She wriggled a request and I lowered her. ‘Can I go out there?’

  ‘Let’s take you out so that you can see, pet,’ Jennifer said kindly. ‘You don’t need to see the next floor up, it’s just guest rooms and storerooms. Let’s go and see the garden.’

  Michael quietly followed us down the stairs. Jennifer didn’t appear to notice him. We went out to the back garden. An expensive outdoor table sat on the lawn next to some play equipment.

  Simone says thank you, John said into my ear. But she didn’t want to say it herself, she’s a little ashamed that she couldn’t handle them.

  Poor Simone, what a baptism of fire. She clutched my hand. She stopped when she saw the play equipment.

  ‘This is yours?’ she said with wonder. ‘You don’t share it with anybody?’

  ‘Go and play, dear,’ Jennifer said generously.

  Simone glanced enquiringly up at me and I nodded. She ran to play on the swings. Michael followed her and posted himself nearby, guarding.

  Jennifer sat at the table and beamed at me. ‘So, tell me all about it. You’re a nanny for this Chinese man, are you?’

  I nodded. ‘I care for Simone.’ Simone’s face was full of delight as she played. Probably one of the first times in her life she didn’t have to share. ‘Her mother’s dead, had an accident when Simone was very small. It’s a lovely family. Mr Chen is a wonderful man, and Leo is great.’

  She waited for it. Go on, Emma, give her what she wants.

  ‘I can’t get over your house, Jen,’ I said with wonder. ‘And you have this great car and everything. Your house is fabulous. I am so jealous.’

  Jennifer’s smile broadened. ‘Oh, it’s nothing really. I must have Mum and Dad over to visit. Leonard will pay for their tickets for me.’

  ‘He’s a solicitor?’

  ‘Senior partner,’ she announced with pride. She leaned forward over the table and tapped her long red nails on the surface. ‘He does work for royalty,’ she said conspiratorially, her eyes sparkling. ‘I’ve met some princes and kings and everything.’

  ‘That is so impressive,’ I gushed, thinking of some of the princes and kings that I’d met.

  ‘Come inside. The housekeeper made tea, we can have it in the dining room.’ She rose and gestured for me to follow her. I shot a glance at Michael. He went into military at-ease position to indicate that he was guarding. I nodded. Jennifer missed the exchange completely.

  We sat at the dining table and the housekeeper brought out a tea tray of expensive china. ‘Have a look at the table, Emma, it’s an antique,’ Jennifer said. ‘Cost a fortune, but Leonard said that we have to have the very best. We bought the table, and a few other bits of furniture, at an auction in London. It was great fun.’

  ‘Wow, I am so impressed,’ I said, wide-eyed. ‘You’ve done so much incredible stuff. How old is the table?’

  ‘About two hundred years old. Doesn’t look like it, does it.’

  ‘Gee, it doesn’t.’

  The boys raced down the hallway towards the back door, their shoes clumping on the floorboards. The back door was thrown open and then slammed shut.

  ‘I hope Simone will be okay with them,’ I said. ‘She’s not really accustomed to playing with boys.’

  ‘Oh, she’ll be fine, the boys are good.’ Jennifer looked around. ‘Why haven’t your boss and the driver come back in? They should come in and have some tea. We can’t have them standing out in the front yard like that, it just won’t do.’

  She rose, smiled at me, and went out. She spoke to John and Leo as she brought them back in. She guided them into the dining room and sat them down, then poured tea for John. She slopped some tea into Leo’s cup as an afterthought.

  I really did not believe her. She had changed so much.

  The back door opened and Simone and Michael came in. They stopped when they saw all of us sitting at the table. I put my arms out to Simone and she crawled into my lap.

  They threw me off the swings, Emma, she said silently.

  ‘Not all children are like that, sweetheart,’ I whispered into her ear. ‘You’ll make lots of friends with some lovely children when you start school.’

  She nodded into my chest. Then she turned, hopped off me, skittered to Leo, and climbed into his lap. He wrapped his huge arms around her and she put her head on his chest. Probably felt safer in his arms; I would have to remember that for later. She might feel safer with Leo nearby when she first started school.

  ‘Come and sit, dear,’ Jennifer said warmly to Michael. ‘Would you like a soft drink?’

  ‘A cola?’ I added, explaining.

  Michael waited, but nobody helped him. He smiled. ‘That would be great, thanks.’

  Jennifer rose and leaned through the door to the kitchen, ordering the housekeeper.

  A car engine rumbled in the garage. ‘There’s Leonard,’ Jennifer said. ‘He said he’d love to see you, Emma.’

  The door banged in the hallway and Leonard came in.

  He was tall, dark-haired and in his mid-forties, about ten years older than Jennifer, with
an intelligent, friendly face. He wore a smart pin-striped suit. He smiled kindly at all of us; then he saw John and froze.

  John shot to his feet. ‘Of course! Leonard Black! I didn’t realise until just now. Good to see you!’

  Leonard bowed very deeply from the waist to John. ‘Your Celestial Highness.’ Then he rushed to John, grabbed his hand, and pumped his arm until it was about to fall off, a huge grin on his face. ‘Lord Xuan! What are you doing here?’

  ‘It seems,’ John said, ‘that your wife is the sister of my Lady.’

  Leonard was bewildered. ‘Emma? You’re the Dark Lady that everybody’s been talking about?’ His face cleared. ‘Oh my God, Emma. Of course. I didn’t know.’ He looked from John to me and he grinned broadly. ‘What an amazing coincidence.’

  ‘Leonard,’ Jennifer said as Leonard charged over to pull me up and give me a huge hug, ‘what are you talking about? Emma is just the nanny, to this man from Hong Kong.’

  ‘No,’ Leonard said, ‘Emma’s the Dark Lady of Lord Xuan Wu, sworn to marry him when he returns. Didn’t you know?’ He grinned widely at me. ‘I hear you can throw fireballs, Emma, you must show me. Come into the backyard. The boys have to see this.’ He saw Simone sitting in Leo’s lap. ‘Is that who I think it is? Princess Simone?’ He saw Leo. ‘And the Black Lion. My, but the house is fairly bursting at the seams with notables today.’

  ‘Now hold on a minute!’ I shouted, pushing Leonard away. I studied him closely. Nope, perfectly normal human. ‘What the hell is going on? How come you know all this, Leonard?’

  ‘I told you this was to stay in the office, Leonard,’ Jennifer said fiercely. ‘I want none of this business brought home.’

  ‘It was your idea to have Emma over, dear,’ Leonard said. ‘Didn’t you know she was the Dark Lady?’

  Jennifer looked daggers at me. She was ready to rip my throat out.

  ‘She has her singing sword, Leonard,’ John said. ‘You may see it after all.’

  Leonard gasped. ‘Could I? Please, my Lord, I’ve heard so much about it.’