An Introduction To The Eternal Collection Jubilee Edition (122 page)

“My friends arrive tomorrow,” Lord Brecon answered. “Twenty odd of them, so you won’t complain then, Aunt Augusta.”

“Complain? Am I complaining now? It is a change not to be deafened by the chatter of raffish fools who can talk of naught but gaming and racing.”

“Well, you will hear them again tomorrow,” Lord Brecon, said, and suddenly there seemed to Caroline to be a tremendous weariness in his voice as if he were bored to distraction at the thought of the morrow.

He looked at Caroline and then looked away, but she was so acutely conscious of him that she could not eat, and thought that every spoonful she put into her mouth must choke her. She had never felt like this in her whole life before. Always she had felt assured, certain of her feelings and her actions, but now she felt as if her whole being had come alive. She was tingling with a strange warmth and excitement which quivered within her and yet at the same time she shivered because she was half afraid.

“What is wrong with me?” she questioned, and knew only that dinner seemed at the same time interminably long and ridiculously short, long because the courses seemed to draw out one after another, dishes too innumerable to remember and short, because Lord Brecon was there and she wanted to listen to his voice as it came from between his lips, to watch him when he was not looking at her, to drop her eyes when he was.

When dinner was over and the ladies withdrew to the drawing-room, Mrs. Miller said to Caroline,

“I wish to speak to you, Miss Fry.”

Lady Augusta was moving ahead of them towards the drawing-room and Mrs. Miller opened the door of another room. Caroline followed her into a small breakfast-room. She noticed that the hearth was full of unswept ashes and although it was dark, the curtains were not yet drawn.

“A bad housekeeper,” Caroline thought and waited in attentive silence until Mrs. Miller should speak.

“I wish to say, Miss Fry,” Mrs, Miller began, “that there is no need for you to dazzle us at night in a creation such as you are wearing at the moment. ‘Tis unsuitable for someone in your position, and presumptuous for you to take advantage of Lady Brecon’s absence to flaunt yourself before the other occupants of the Castle. I am in charge here as you know, and unless you can find yourself suitable garments such as should be worn by someone in your humble station in life, then I shall make arrangements for the maids to bring you a tray in your room. In many houses a companion does not enjoy the privilege of eating with her employers, but Lady Brecon has with what is, in my mind, mistaken magnanimity allowed it here. But if you wish for the company of your betters, it must be conditional upon your correct appearance. Is that clear?”

Mrs. Miller’s bullying tone would have frightened anyone so young as Caroline had she really been anxious to retain her position, but Caroline had no real reason to be frightened of this vulgar woman.

She looked her in the face and said,

“I am sorry if my gowns displease you, Ma’am, but they are provided for me by Lady Caroline Faye who is reputed to have the best of taste. They are unfortunately all I possess. However, I will speak to her ladyship in the morning or if you prefer it tonight, and ask if my salary can be extended to buy the type of drab uniform which suits your pleasure.”

Mrs. Miller gasped for a moment, then found her voice.

“How dare you speak to me in that tone!” she said. “If you think you can flaunt me in this household you are much mistaken.”

“Indeed!” Caroline retorted. “I had the idea I was engaged by Lady Brecon and that my appointment was confirmed by her son - his lordship. Do I really need your approval, Ma’am?”

Mrs. Miller went quite white with rage. She spluttered and took a step towards Caroline as if she intended to slap her in the face. But Caroline’s level gaze and unconscious air of dignity made her change her mind. Instead, she stalked towards the door. As she reached it, she turned,

“You will be sorry for this,” she said in furious tones, “sorry when you find yourself put out in the road without a reference and without a chance of further employment. When I am mistress here, you will change your tune, my dear Miss Fry, and that will be before you are very much older.”

She went out and slammed the door after her. Caroline gave a little laugh, then stood considering Mrs. Miller’s words.

“So she intends to be mistress of this house,” she thought. “Can she really have set her cap at Lord Brecon?”

It was possible, but not probable for Caroline was sure in her heart of one thing - Lord Brecon was not interested in Mrs. Miller.

6

Caroline opened her eyes and stretched out her arms.

“Lud, but this is an uncomfortable bed,” she said to Maria who was drawing back the curtains.

“’Tis not the only thing that is uncomfortable in this house,” Maria answered. “Oh m’lady, I never thought I would live to see such a set of servants. Why, the head housemaid even had the impudence to tell me that there was no reason why I should trouble to bring you a cup of chocolate in the morning.”

“Miss Fry is only a companion,” she says, “and is not entitled to extra attentions.” Extra attention indeed! I nearly boxed her ears for her. But ‘tis from Mrs. Miller they take their orders.”

Caroline sat up in bed.

“For goodness’ sake, Maria, don’t parade your partiality for me too obviously or they may guess that I am not what I seem.”

“If they weren’t all cork brained, they would guess it anyway,” Maria retorted, “for no one could look less like a poor dependent than your ladyship.”

“Well, they must indeed be as you say,” Caroline replied “for everyone has accepted me as such, including Lady Brecon and his lordship.”

Her voice quivered a little on the last word. She had been slightly piqued that Lord Brecon had not for a moment questioned her story of being a companion. It was understandable when he had first seen her dusty and dishevelled from lurking in a wood at odd hours; but now although it would have been dangerous, Caroline would have been gratified if he had seemed just the slightest degree suspicious or even surprised that she should be in need of employment.

She wondered what her father and mother would think if they knew that their only daughter whom they held to be the equal of any great lady in the land, not only had chosen so lowly a post, but had been accepted in it without question.

“Put me out one of my prettiest gowns, Maria,” Caroline commanded suddenly in a mood of defiance.

Maria, however, was more cautious and chose not one of Caroline’s more elaborate dresses, but a simple muslin trimmed only with ribbons.

“Breakfast is downstairs m’lady,” she said, “but I credit you will be alone, for Mrs. Miller has asked for hers in her bedchamber, and his lordship is already out riding.”

“That reminds me, Maria,” Caroline said, getting out of bed and looking like some exquisite Greek goddess as she stood for a moment at the window, her body silhouetted through the transparency of her night-robe.

“Reminds you of what m’lady?” Maria enquired, when Caroline did not finish the sentence but was silent as she looked out over the green park as if searching for a glimpse of someone on horseback.

“What was I speaking about?” Caroline asked with a start. “Oh yes, of course, I want you to find out who will be in the house-party which arrives today. I expect the housekeeper will have a list so that she can prepare the bedrooms. You must try to see it, Maria, and commit it to memory in case there is one amongst his lordship’s guests who will recognise me.”

“Oh, m’lady, what a dreadful danger! I had not thought on’ it before,” Maria exclaimed in alarm.

“Why be scared until we discover if there is a reason for it?” Caroline asked and began to dress.

She found that her duties that morning were not very arduous. Lady Brecon slept late and Dorcas saw to all her needs until eleven o’clock. Miss Fry was then requested to read her ladyship the leading articles in the
Morning Post
and was given two letters to write, after which she was told that her time was her own until the Dowager awoke from her after luncheon nap. Delighted to be free Caroline hurried down to the Vicarage, where she saw Harriet and enquired if there were any letters. There was one from Mrs. Edgmont, and Caroline despatched one she had written saying that she was very comfortable and happy at Cuckhurst and intended to stay at the Vicarage for at least several more days.

Her business done, Caroline walked slowly back towards the Castle. Although the building itself was sombre, the park and the gardens surrounding it were lovely and a great avenue of oaks bordered the drive. Where they ended there was a wrought iron gate leading into the more formal gardens and Caroline, going through this, presently found herself on a broad grass walk at the end of which was a small Grecian Temple beside a water-lily pond.

She moved towards it humming a little tune, for the warm sunshine made her feel light-hearted and happy. When she reached the Temple she saw that it was overhung with honey suckle and rambler roses, and approached by three grey stone steps. She picked a spray of honeysuckle, smelt its sweet fragrance, and seating herself on the step took off her bonnet before she leant back against the cool marble of a rounded pillar.

It was very quiet and peaceful, swallows dived towards the lily pond, a peacock emerged from the shrubs, spread his tail in conscious vanity and strutted away across the lawns. There was the music of bird voices and the soft rhythmic buzzing of the bees moving among the flowers.

Caroline found herself dreaming a little so that it startled her considerably to hear someone say,

“You seem vastly serious, Miss Fry.”

She looked up and saw Lord Brecon standing beside her. He swept his hat from his head and she saw that he wore highly polished riding boots and carried a whip in his hand.

“Oh, my lord, what a start you gave me,” Caroline exclaimed.

“I am sorry if I intruded on your thoughts. I have been riding round my estate and thought it was time that I inspected the gardens. Perhaps it is as well that I did, for it appears to me that there is a great deal which needs doing and those gardeners of mine have been monstrously lazy these past months.”

“While you have been fault-finding, I, on the contrary, have been admiring your lordship’s garden,” Caroline said.

“Have you indeed?” Lord Brecon said. “May I sit down and hear what you have to say about it?”

“Of course,” Caroline answered, extending her hand with a little gesture of invitation towards the stone steps. Even as she did so, she wondered whether as a companion she should not have risen to her feet at Lord Brecon’s appearance and dropped him a curtsey. However, it was too late now, and as if to make up for her ill manners she smiled at him very enticingly as he lowered himself on to the step beside her.

He took off his hat and threw it on the grass, then leaning back against another pillar turned half sideways to look at her. There was something embarrassing in his close scrutiny and after a moment Caroline turned her head away towards the lily pond. It seemed to her that the silence between them was dangerous and yet she could think of no words with which to break it.

“You are a strange girl, Caroline,” Lord Brecon said at last.

“Strange?” Caroline repeated, raising her eyebrows a little.

“Very strange,” Lord Brecon answered. “I have known many women, but there are none with whom I can compare you.”

“Ought I to be pleased at that or apologetic?” Caroline parried.

Lord Brecon threw back his head and laughed.

“Jove, but you are quick,” he said. ‘I remember how amazed I was the first few minutes of our acquaintance when you seemed to grasp the whole situation far better than I.”

“You are pleased to flatter me, my lord,” Caroline’s words were demure.

“Is that the sort of flattery you like?” Lord Brecon asked. “Or shall I tell you that you are exceeding lovely, for it is the truth?”

Caroline felt the colour fly to her cheeks.

“It is kind of you to think so, my lord.”

“Unfortunately so many people must have told you the same thing.”

“Unfortunately?” Caroline queried.

“For me! I would like to have been the first.”

Caroline’s eyes were on the spray of honeysuckle which lay on her lap. She picked it up, her fingers playing with it as if it were of considerable importance.

“So very lovely,” Lord Brecon sighed.

“The honeysuckle?” Caroline asked.

“Of course,” he replied gravely.

She looked at him then and laughed.

“You make me blush, my lord.”

“It is adorable! Do you know how long your lashes are when they lie against your cheek?”

“You would not expect me to answer that question, my lord?”

“In that case will you answer me another?” Lord Brecon asked.

“If I can,” Caroline replied, aware that the tone of his voice had changed.

“I want you to tell me,” Lord Brecon said softly, “exactly why you came here to my home.”

“But I have already done so,” Caroline replied. “I heard through Miss Hall, who was previously companion to your Lady Mother, that the position was vacant. Miss Hall wrote very glowingly of your mother’s kindness to her and I was not afraid that I should encounter another ferocious and untrustworthy lady of quality.”

“Yes, yes, I know that,” Lord Brecon said a little impatiently “but was that the only reason why you came to Brecon Castle?”

“There was another reason, my lord,” Caroline said, “of which I have also spoken. I wished to warn you.”

“Yes, and you have done that,” Lord Brecon said, “I was thinking of it half the night. It was brave of you, Miss Fry to be so interested in a stranger to whom you have once by chance afforded a service.”

“I was glad to be of assistance, my lord,” Caroline said.

Both their words were formal and yet so much underlay them. Caroline could almost feel Lord Brecon’s insistence as he tried to draw some revelation from her lips, although what it was she was not entirely certain. Yet there was such an undercurrent of feeling between them that words mattered but little, while their eyes met one another’s and their breath came quickly, and each was aware of some leaping flame within themselves which by the very magnetism in the air they knew was echoed in the other. Quite suddenly Caroline took fright. She felt shy, fearful, and yet a little exultant, all at the same moment. She sprang to her feet, moving the cool shadows of the little Temple out into the golden sunshine.