‘You said they’d just started to get on. Weren’t they close before?’
‘No.’ Merida shook her head. ‘Oh, they worked together and were polite and everything but Ethan grew up thinking that his father had had an affair with his nanny and that was the reason that their mother had left...’ Merida took a breath. ‘This is just between us?’
‘Of course.’
‘Their mother was absolutely awful. Everything in the press has her painted as a saint and Jobe let Ethan think that. Over the months I’ve been piecing things together but finally Jobe confirmed it—she was cruel. The reason Elizabeth left was because Jobe had found out what was going on. She painted herself as the perfect mother but she just ignored the boys. More than that, she neglected them. She left Ethan in a car once, in the height of summer. If Abe hadn’t told the nanny his brother was still in the car...’ She shook her head. ‘Abe nearly drowned in the bath. If the nanny hadn’t come in when she had...’
Naomi shuddered.
‘Apparently the nanny that everyone thinks Jobe had an affair with was actually the person who stood up for the boys. She told Jobe all that was going on. He’d always been too busy with work but as soon as he knew he confronted Elizabeth. She headed off to the Caribbean, insinuating she’d found out that Jobe was sleeping with the nanny. When she had her accident Jobe’s name was mud, but he never revealed the truth, not even to Ethan, until the night Ava was born.’
‘What about Abe?’ Naomi asked. ‘Did he think his father had cheated?’
‘No.’ Merida shook her head. ‘Apparently he always knew that the mother was awful. He always looked out for Ethan. Hard to believe, really, when he never gives Ava a glance. But who knows what he went through? Perhaps that’s why he’s so dark. He was never under the illusion that his mother was perfect, far from it. Jobe put up with a lot from the press and, sure, he’s had his fair share of wives and drama, but he’s done his best as a father.’
‘Do you think he’ll make it till Christmas?’
‘I don’t know,’ Merida said. ‘There’s the big ball on Christmas Eve and Jobe insists that it goes ahead. I can’t imagine going.’
‘It’s still a couple of weeks away.’
‘It’s ten days away.’ Merida grimaced. ‘I haven’t a hope of getting into a dress. I’m rather hoping that Abe and Candice can fly the Devereux flag without us.’
Naomi felt her cheeks go warm from the sting of Merida’s words, but thankfully her friend carried on chatting away and didn’t notice. ‘Khalid’s flying in on Friday and Ethan’s meeting him for dinner and things. It’s all business as usual, except we all know that it’s not...’
Naomi wondered if she should tell Merida that the staff were worried too but decided against it. She certainly didn’t want to add to Merida’s stress, especially when finally both mother and baby looked more relaxed.
‘She’s asleep.’ Merida smiled.
‘And she took a good feed.’
‘I don’t know how I’d have done this without you,’ Merida admitted.
‘I’ve hardly done anything. You’ve had her in with you at night.’
‘Honestly, you’ve been amazing, Naomi. I was all set to put her on the bottle this morning.’
‘She’s a fussy little thing.’ Naomi smiled. ‘I think if you can stretch her out again, especially with Ethan being out tonight, then you might get her into a bit more of a routine. Let me have her and I’ll bring her up to you again at ten and then again at two.’
‘You’ll be exhausted.’
‘That’s what you’re paying me to be,’ Naomi pointed out, but that didn’t work with Merida, so she changed tack. ‘I can sleep tomorrow,’ Naomi said with a smile. ‘This is like a holiday for me, Merida. Usually I have the baby, or babies, twenty-four seven and just take them in to the mother for feeding and cuddles and such.’
‘Well, it’s great that you’re here.’ She looked down at her now contented baby.
‘Then use me.’
Merida looked up. ‘Ethan wanted me to go for dinner with Khalid on Friday. He’s hoping to soothe the feathers that Abe’s ruffled.’
‘Is there still no agreement?’
‘None. Abe refuses to budge.’
‘Why don’t you go?’ Naomi suggested. ‘Dinner sounds far less daunting than a ball and you know that I’ll babysit.’
‘I don’t really want to go,’ Merida said. ‘And I don’t need you to babysit. I thought might go to the hotel and take Ava. Just have a nice night away...’
‘Sounds perfect,’ Naomi said. ‘And even better if we can get her sleeping between feeds.’