The India Fan (11 page)

I learned through Mrs. Janson that Miss Lucille was madder than ever. She was more or less shut up now in her part of her house. Some of the staff had seen her wandering around looking like a ghost. They said she had lost all sense of time and was often heard calling for her lover.

I also resumed my acquaintance with Dougal Carruthers, who was very affable when he saw me. I was now seventeen years of agedult, one might saynd I was learning what a difference that made to one relationships. Dougal attitude towards me had changed subtly. I quite enjoyed the change.

He came to see my father and talked a great deal about Norman architecture, Norman customs and so on. My father was delighted to have met a kindred spirit and was more animated than he had been for a long time.

Fabian, too, had changed towards me. He took more notice of me and asked questions about the chateau.

The four of us went riding together and I could see that Lavinia was annoyed because Dougal talked more to me than to her. It was the first time any young man had shown interest in me, and that rankled with Lavinia.

e only being polite,she said. When we rode out she would endeavour to get beside him, which left me with Fabian. I always felt that he was a little embarrassed with me because of that long-ago time when he kidnapped mend he was a little ashamed of it.

I was glad to have a week with Polly. She pretended to be blinded by the sight of me, which was because of the old joke about polish.

y word, someone been rubbing you up a bit. I can see nothing for shine.

Everything was going well with the two houses. Polly and Eff were, as Polly told me, quite well-to-do in the neighbourhoodadies of substance. The houses were full of good payers and Eff had her eyes on another house in the same row.

xpansion,that what she calls it. Father always said Eff had a head for business.Downstairs No. 32 had left some months before and it had been a bit of a wrench because of the loss of the nipper. But they had found a good replacement in Mr. and Mrs. Collett, a good steady couple, too old for nippers alas, but you had to count your blessings.

There was the usual round of markets and p Westand everything we had done before; and it was good to be with Polly, and wonderfully comforting to know that the bond between us was as strong as ever.

I said a sad farewell, knowing that it would be a year before I saw her again.

In September we returned to Lamason.

There were changes. Francoise had left, and must be married to her rich, elderly husband by now. In her place in our dormitory was Janine Fellows.

I did not know whether I was pleased or repelled by this, for I was still not sure whether or not I liked Janine. Francoise had been a good companion; she had been entertaining and her knowledge about the chateau had helped us along in our first days. Her nonchalant acceptance of her fate, her philosophical views of life, her realism and lack of sentiment had intrigued me. I felt I had learned a good deal from Francoise. Gerda, of course, was not the most interesting of roommates. Her preoccupation with food had always bored me a little; she was too phlegmatic and intent on her creature comforts, but she was never malicious and was fundamentally good hearted. Lavinia, of course, was my familiar; and now there was Janine.

Her presence had changed the atmosphere of our dormitory. It had been cosy and rather exciting with Francoise; now I felt there was something malevolent there.

In the first place, she and Lavinia seemed to take an instant dislike to each other, and what made it a little sinister was that Janine rarely showed this. It was only now and then that it came out in certain flashes of temper with Lavinia and sly sarcasm from Janine.

Janine was plain, and that gave her something in common with me. Her reddish hair was fine and straight, hardly ever tidy; her eyes were small, very light blue, and her fine eyebrows made her look perpetually surprised.

She seemed to turn more to me for friendship. Gerda was interested mainly in herself, and her eyes would become glazed and vague when other subjects were raised. She never made trouble; neither did she contribute anything to companionship.

So naturally Janine talked to me more than any of the others, simply because Lavinia, like Gerda, was not interested in anything but her own desires, Gerda for food and Lavinia for admiration.

Lavinia had renewed her admiration for Monsieur Dubois, perhaps because there was no other male available. Janine noticed this and her lips always twitched with amusement every time he was mentioned.

Lavinia was an excellent dancer and Monsieur Dubois still chose her when he wished to demonstrate how a step should be danced. Lavinia revelled in this, twirling round, swaying from side to side, pressing closer than was necessary to Monsieur Dubois, raising her beautiful eyes to his face and then allowing the lids to fall over them, showing her long curling lashes, which alone would have made a beauty of her.

onsieur Dubois is a born flirt,said Janine. t part of his trade. Of course he knows what girls he can flirt with. He wouldn dare with some. You can see him trying it on with the Princess, can you?

The Princess belonged to the ruling house of some obscure middle European country and Madame was especially proud of her title.

should hardly think he would want to,said Lavinia.

y dear, he doesn want to with any of us. It just his way of keeping us happy. If he sees a girl wants to flirt, he flirts. It what he has been paid to do.

Lavinia was not subtle in conversation and Janine was too clever for her. She nearly always lost in these verbal battles. But she continued with her wooing of the dancing master.

She was the best dancer and the most outstanding beauty of the schoolr certainly the most flamboyant one. She was now at the zenith of her youth. Eighteen years old, full-hipped, full-bosomed, with the tiniest of waists. Sometimes she wore her hair hanging down her back, caught back by a bow of ribbon; sometimes she piled it high on her head with little tendrils nestling against her white neck. Hardly anyone could stop taking a second glance at Lavinia.

One day Janine came in bursting with excitement. She waited until Lavinia was with us until she spoke of what was amusing her.

She had followed Monsieur Dubois to his home. She had waited for him and kept a safe distance. She saw his home, his wife and four children; she overheard the greeting between him and his wife, for Janine spoke fluent French. They embraced, she said, like lovers who had been separated for months. ow was it today, Henri?h, not bad not bad at all, my cabbage.ow many silly girls were chasing you today?h the usual. It is always so. Such a bore. You must bear with it, my angel. I must keep the little girls happy. It is a nothing all in the matter of the work, eh.

don believe it,said Lavinia hotly.

Janine shrugged her shoulders, as though it were immaterial to her whether Lavinia believed her or not.

Janine sought me out.

oue different from the others,she said. hey are silly frivolous nonentities, most of them. As for your friend Lavinia, I don know how you endure her.

e known her all my life.

ar too long,commented Janine.

er mother pays some of my fees. My father couldn afford to send me here. You are right in saying I am different from the others. I am, I am not rich and destined for a grand marriage.

hank your lucky stars for that.

Janine had a way of ferretting our secrets. I was often amazed at myself for being so frank with her. She was an avid listenerare among self-centred girls. I was soon giving her a picture of Lady Harriet and our village.

poilt brat,she commented of Lavinia.

ady Harriet sees herself and everything connected with her as perfect, and that includes her daughter.

he must be mentally blind. Lavinia hasn much above the neck beyond her curly hair and her pretty face.

suppose that makes up for a good deal.

he is too physical for her own good. It wouldn surprise me if she got herself into some mess sooner or later. She so blatant about men. Look at the way she throws herself at Monsieur Dubois.

he didn like what you said about him and his wife. Was it true?

She looked at me and laughed. n a way,she said.

o you made it up!

sure it goes something like that. Ie seen them in the market together. They are very devoted. He must be bored with silly romantic girls throwing themselves at him; and she must be grateful to have such a desirable husband.

Janine confided to me about herself. I was not sure whether I believed her. The story, according to her, was quite romantic. She was the illegitimate offspring of two people in very high places. She hinted at royalty.

hey couldn marry, you see. He my father was to make a very grand marriage for political reasons. That is how it is with the royals. My mother was a lady of the Queen Bedchamber. She, too, was to marry into high circles. However, I happened. I was born in a clinic run by the woman whom I call Aunt Emily. She is not my aunt at all, but I was brought up there and always called her Aunt Emily. I was to have the best education. It was paid for by my parents, but I was meant to believe that I owed everything to Aunt Emily. Aunt Emily has close connections with the Court. She is known to be discreet. People come to her if they don want it known

I said it was very interesting, while only half believing it. I could not imagine why, but I felt sorry for her. I fancied she was always trying to prove something to herself. She was not very popular with the other girls, and as, after all, she was one of the quartet that shared our room, I seemed to be with her more than anyone else.

It was a week or so after our return to Lamason a lovely golden September afternoon. We had gone into the town on the wagon and then dispersed, going our various ways. We were at the patisserie. There were myself, Janine, Lavinia and a girl called Marie Dallon. We had chosen our cakes and had seated ourselves under one of the sunshades. Charles, the garcon, had brought our coffee.

We were laughing together when a man strolled by. He paused to look at us. He half smiled. Lavinia immediately responded, for, a little mature, he was very good looking in a dark, rather Italianate way. I noticed how his eyes rested on Lavinia; but there was nothing unusual in that.

ood afternoon,he said. orgive me. I was so enchanted. I heard your laughter and I saw you all sitting there looking so happy. It is unforgivable of me but please forgive me.

ou are forgiven,said Lavinia, flashing a smile at him.

hen I am indeed happy.

I thought he would bow and pass on, but he did not. He was still looking at Lavinia.

ell me,he went on, re you not the young ladies from the chateau?

ou are right,cried Lavinia.

have seen girls from the chateau in the past. Today I have just arrived here on my way to Paris. And I see that it is just the same. I rejoice. There are still young ladies from the chateau and they grow more enchanting than ever. I would make a request.

We looked at him enquiringly.

t is that I may be allowed to stay here just for a little moment so that I may continue to look at you and perhaps talk a little.

Janine, Marie and I looked at each other a trifle uneasily. Heaven knew what would be the result if we were discovered in conversation with a strange man. It would be disastrous, quite outside the laws of Lamason; and the mistress who had brought us might appear at any moment.

But Lavinia was saying, f you can become invisible when our dragon of a mistress comes into sight, do. You will have to stop talking to us if she comes along. Then we can say you are just someone who sat here after we had been served with our coffee, so we could not move away.

ow delightfully devious!He sat down. The garcon came and he ordered coffee.

think we are safe,said Lavinia, leaning her arms on the table and studying him intently. Her very attitude was inviting.

shall be watchful and at the first appearance of the dragon I shall summon my magical powers and become invisible.

Lavinia laughed, throwing back her head and displaying perfect teeth.

ow you must tell me about the Chateau Lamason. Are the rules there very strict?

n a way but not as bad as school,said Lavinia.

or which you are very grateful?

h yes,I said. t enables us to come into the town like this.

nd meet interesting people,added Lavinia, smiling at him.

We talked. He asked a good many questions about us and the school, and in return he told us that he was the Comte de Borgasson. His chateau was some fifty miles from here. It was one of those which had escaped the Revolution.

ike Lamason,I put in.

es that is so.He gave me a grave smile, but he could not for long keep his eyes from Lavinia.

During that first encounter he established himself as an aristocrat with a castle some fifty miles away, a large estate which included vineyards. He was young, unmarried; his father had just died and he had inherited the title and large estates.

y student days are over,he said. have to be serious now.

It was quite an adventure. I was sure Lavinia had enjoyed it, particularly as he had shown so clearly that she was the one among us who held his attention.

When we saw Mademoiselle coming towards us we all rose innocently, murmured goodbye to our handsome companion and joined the others at the wagon.

I saw Lavinia look around as I clambered in. I saw the Comte lift his hand. Lavinia was smiling secretly as we drove back to the chateau.

We saw the Comte the next time we went into town, and he took coffee with us in the same way as he had before. There was a great deal of lighthearted chatter. This time he sat next to Lavinia.

Perhaps because I knew her so well I guessed she had a secret. She often disappeared and we were not sure where she was. She was very absentminded and seemed no longer aware of the charms of Monsieur Dubois. She danced with a kind of abandon, but she never sought to make him choose her, as she had in the past, by moving a little forward and flicking back the hair from her face.