White Tiger

‘Put Miss Donahoe’s bags in the room next to Simone’s, James,’ Mr Chen said. ‘And as soon as you two are finished with the bags I want to see both of you in my study.’

Charlie spoke conspiratorially to Simone and me. ‘Come on, girls, let’s leave these silly men to their own business.’

Mr Chen glanced up at us, eyes sparkling, from the other side of the entry, but didn’t say anything.

Charlie sat us at the kitchen table and gave Simone some warm scones with lashings of jam and cream. Simone messily buried her face in them, and slurped on some milk.

‘What’s the problem between James and Leo?’ I asked.

‘James will never forgive Leo,’ Charlie said. ‘He blames him for…’ She hesitated, and glanced at Simone. ‘You know. What happened.’

‘I don’t think it was Leo’s fault,’ I said. ‘He’s very good.’

‘It wasn’t Leo’s fault at all, dear,’ Charlie said, ‘but I think James has to blame somebody.’

Charlie and I were firm friends by the time James came in.

‘I’ve put your bags in your room, Emma,’ he said, and I nodded my thanks. He didn’t lose his crisp London accent, and I began to suspect that the old-fashioned butler thing wasn’t an act. He bent over Simone to kiss the top of her head. ‘Hello, sweetie.’

‘Hello, James,’ Simone said through a crumbly mouthful of scone.

James pulled a cup and saucer from a cupboard and sat at the table with us. Charlie poured him some tea.

‘So, Emma,’ he said, ‘how long have you worked for Mr Chen?’

‘Full-time, about six months,’ I said. ‘But I’d been caring for Simone part-time for another six months before that.’

‘And Simone is happy?’ James said.

Simone nodded through her food.

‘Good. Where are you from, Emma?’

‘Australia. Queensland.’

‘Don’t know anyone there,’ James said.

‘How long have you worked for Mr Chen?’

James hesitated, probably working out something suitable in his head.

‘It’s okay, I know,’ I said.

‘What, already?’ Charlie said.

Simone piped up. ‘We were followed by some demons in Paris. Leo caught one, but Aunty Kwan let it go. So Leo had to tell Emma about Daddy and everything.’

The English staff shared a look. ‘A demon, eh, Simone?’ James said.

‘Yes,’ Simone said with confidence. ‘That’s the right word, isn’t it?’ she added, unsure.

‘Yes, pet, that’s the right word,’ Charlie said kindly. She stiffened and spoke more sternly, ‘I’ll have none of that here.’

‘Not much we can do about it, is there?’ James said.

‘Daddy and Leo will look after us,’ Simone said, full of confidence.

‘They had better,’ James said.

‘So, James,’ I said, trying to turn the conversation away from a topic that might frighten Simone, ‘how long have you worked here?’

‘My family’s been in Mr Chen’s employ for five generations,’ James said. ‘I hope my nephew will take up the mantle when I retire, he’s majoring in hospitality.’

‘My family’s been looking after him for three generations,’ Charlie said. She smiled indulgently at Simone. ‘If only my grandmother could see you, dear.’

‘Mr Chen’s owned this house for about a hundred and fifty years,’ James said. ‘Keeps it very well maintained.’

‘A hundred and fifty years? He’s been coming to the UK for that long?’

‘Longer than that,’ Charlie said. ‘Apparently he’s very unusual in being able to do it, most of them can’t. The records say he stayed away during the Wars, but he’s spent a lot of time here otherwise – diplomatic and trading things.’

‘Wars? World Wars?’

‘Opium Wars,’ James said. ‘Bad times. Don’t even think he was in China. Probably went to the top of the Mountain in disgust. Very unhappy about the whole thing.’

‘He wasn’t involved?’

‘Of course not,’ Charlie said, genuinely shocked. ‘He is an honourable man.’

‘Played cricket for Cambridge when he studied there,’ James said proudly. ‘Best bowler in the team. Brutal fast ball. Broke the lights in the front hall practising.’

‘Twice,’ Charlie said.

I had to laugh; but I could see it.

‘But we haven’t seen nearly as much of him as we’d like, with things the way they are. He spends most of his time in Hong Kong now,’ Charlie said. ‘Poor dear can’t even go to his Mountain. It’s very hard for him.’

‘When Daddy goes, I’m going with him,’ Simone said. ‘We’ll go and live on his Mountain together.’

We all shared a silent look.

Charlie wrapped her arm around Simone’s shoulders and gave her an affectionate squeeze. ‘We’ll just have to see what happens, dear.’ She smiled at me without releasing Simone. ‘Go and unpack, Emma. Simone and I will be fine here, we have a lot of catching up to do.’

‘I’ll show you the way,’ James said, rising.

‘Thanks.’

I lifted the suitcase onto my bed, then fell to sit beside it. He’d owned the house for a hundred and fifty years. They’d been working for him for generations. He’d studied in Cambridge thirty years ago.