Kane and Abel Read online

  ‘We’ll have to tell them soon,’ he said, placing his bow on a table and taking her into his arms.

  ‘I know. I just don’t want to hurt my father.’

  ‘Me too,’ he said.

  She avoided his eyes. ‘Next Friday, Papa will be back from Memphis.’

  ‘Then it’s Friday,’ said Richard, holding her so close she could hardly breathe.

  Richard returned to Harvard on Monday morning and they spoke to each other on the phone every night, remaining resolute, determined that nothing would stop them now.

  On Friday, Richard came back to New York earlier than usual and spent the afternoon alone with Florentyna, at her apartment. At the corner of Fifty-Seventh and Park, they stopped at the flashing ‘Don’t Walk’ sign, when Richard turned to Florentyna and asked her once again if she would marry him. He took a small red leather box out of his pocket, opened it and placed a ring on the third finger of her left hand, a sapphire set in a circle of diamonds, so beautiful that tears came to Florentyna’s eyes. It was a perfect fit. Passersby looked at them strangely as they stood on the corner, clinging to each other, ignoring the green ‘Walk’ sign. When eventually they did observe its command, they kissed before parting, and walked in opposite directions to confront their parents. They had agreed to meet at Florentyna’s apartment as soon as the ordeal was over.

  Florentyna walked purposefully towards the Baron hotel, trying to smile through her tears and occasionally looking at the ring. It felt new and strange on her finger and she imagined that the eyes of all who passed would be drawn to the magnificent sapphire, which looked so beautiful next to the antique ring that used to be her favourite. She touched it and found that it gave her courage, although Florentyna was aware she was walking more and more slowly as she neared the hotel.

  When she reached the reception desk, the clerk told her that her father was in the penthouse with George Novak, and called to say she was on her way up. The elevator reached the 42nd floor far too quickly, and Florentyna hesitated before leaving its safety. She stood alone in the corridor for a moment before knocking quietly on the door. Abel opened it immediately.

  ‘Florentyna, what a lovely surprise. Come on in, my darling. I wasn’t expecting to see you today.’

  George Novak was standing by the window, looking down on Park Avenue. He turned to greet his goddaughter. Florentyna’s eyes pleaded with him to leave. If he stayed, she knew she would lose her nerve. Go, go, go, she said in her mind. George sensed her anxiety immediately.

  ‘I must get back to work, Abel. There’s a goddamn maharajah checking in tonight.’

  ‘Tell him to park his elephants at the Plaza,’ said Abel genially. ‘Now that Florentyna’s here, stay and have another drink.’

  George looked at Florentyna, but the message was clear.

  ‘No, Abel, I have to go. He’s taken the whole of the thirty-third floor. The least he’ll expect is for the vice president to greet him. See you soon, little Kum,’ he said, kissing her on the cheek and briefly clasping her arm, almost as though he knew she needed strength. As soon as he had gone, Florentyna wished he had stayed.

  ‘How’s Bloomingdale’s?’ said Abel, ruffling her hair affectionately. ‘Have you told them yet they’re going to lose the best junior supervisor they’ve had in years? They’re sure going to be surprised when they hear that Jessie Kovats’s next job will be to open the Edinburgh Baron.’ He laughed out loud.

  ‘I’m going to be married,’ said Florentyna, shyly extending her left hand. She could think of nothing to add, so she simply waited for his reaction.

  ‘This is a bit sudden, isn’t it?’ said Abel, sounding more than a little shocked.

  ‘Not really, Daddy. I’ve known him for some time.’

  ‘Do I know the boy? Have I ever met him?’

  ‘No, Daddy, you haven’t.’

  ‘Where does he come from? What’s his background? Is he Polish? Why have you been so secretive about him, Florentyna?’

  ‘He’s not Polish, Daddy. He’s the son of a banker.’

  Abel went white and picked up his drink, swallowing it in one gulp. Florentyna knew exactly what must be going through his mind as he poured himself another drink, so she got the truth out quickly.

  ‘His name is Richard Kane.’

  Abel swung around to face her. ‘William Kane’s son?’ he demanded.

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘How could you even think about marrying William Kane’s son? Do you know what that man has done to me?’

  ‘I think so.’

  ‘You couldn’t begin to know,’ shouted Abel, and let forth a tirade of abuse that seemed to go on forever, and only served to convince Florentyna that her father had gone mad. In the end she interrupted him.

  ‘You’ve said nothing I don’t already know.’

  ‘Nothing, young lady?’ he shouted. ‘Did you know that William Kane was responsible for the death of my closest friend? He caused Davis Leroy to commit suicide and, not satisfied with that, he tried to bankrupt me. If David Maxton hadn’t come to my rescue, Kane would have taken away my hotels and sold them without a second thought. Where would I be now if he’d had his way? You’d have been lucky to end up as a shop assistant at Bloomingdale’s. Have you thought about that, Florentyna?’

  ‘Yes, Daddy, I’ve thought of little else for the past few weeks. Richard and I are horrified about the hatred that exists between you and his father. He’s facing him now.’

  ‘Well, I can tell you how he’ll react,’ said Abel. ‘He’ll go berserk. That man will never allow his precious WASP son to marry you, so you might as well forget the whole crazy idea.’ His voice had risen again to a shout.

  ‘I can’t forget it, Father,’ she said evenly. ‘We love each other, and we need your blessing, not your anger.’

  ‘You listen to me, Florentyna,’ said Abel, his face now red with fury. ‘I forbid you to see that boy ever again. Do you hear me?’

  ‘Yes, I hear you. But I won’t be parted from Richard because you hate his father.’

  She found herself clutching her ring finger and trembling slightly.

  ‘It will not happen,’ said Abel, the colour in his face deepening. ‘I will never agree to the marriage. My own daughter deserting me for the son of that bastard Kane. I say you will not marry him.’

  ‘I’m not deserting you. I would have run away with him if that were true, but I could never marry anyone behind your back.’ She was aware of the tremble in her voice. ‘But I’m over twenty-one, and I will marry Richard. Please, Daddy, won’t you meet him? Then you’ll begin to understand why I feel the way I do about him.’

  ‘He will never be allowed to enter my home. I do not want to meet any child of William Kane. Never, do you hear me?’

  ‘Then you leave me with no choice but to decide between you.’

  ‘Florentyna, if you marry that boy, I’ll cut you off without a penny. Without a penny, do you hear me?’ His voice softened. ‘Use your common sense, girl - you’ll get over him. You’re young, and there are lots of other men who’d give their right arm to marry you.’

  ‘I don’t want lots of other men,’ said Florentyna. ‘I’ve met the man I’m going to marry, and it’s not his fault that he’s his father’s son. Neither of us chose our father.’

  ‘If your own family isn’t good enough for you, then go,’ roared Abel. ‘And I swear I won’t have your name mentioned in my presence again.’ He turned away and stared out of the window.

  ‘Daddy, we’re going to be married. Although we’re both past the stage of needing your consent, we do ask for your blessing.’

  Abel looked away from the window. ‘Are you pregnant? Is that the reason?’

  ‘No, Father.’

  ‘Have you slept with him?’

  The question shook Florentyna, but she didn’t hesitate. ‘Yes,’ she replied. ‘Many times.’

  Abel raised his arm and hit her full across the face. Blood started to trickle down her chin and she nearly fell