A Strange Affair (8 page)

‘Nothing will change I assure you, Megan.’ And as I left her tidying my room I silently prayed that I had told her the truth.

Kieran and I were silent all the way to Llanberis in the carriage, as he helped me down into the street he placed my arms through his and patting my hand smiled down at me. Not a word was spoken, but I knew that today, whatever the outcome we were united at last.

We sat together in a gloomy room side by side on uncomfortable hard-backed chairs, facing a table at which an elderly magistrate sat whom we understood to be a Mr Simmonds. He had no humour in his eyes and scrutinised us both silently before speaking.

My heart was pounding and when I glanced at Kieran who still held on to my arm, I could see his mouth was set in a determined line.

‘I have the facts before me, Mr Alexander and Miss Thorpe?’ he questioned and I nodded foolishly in reply as if a cat had got my tongue. ‘The first Mrs Alexander fell tragically to her death, I understand,’ Mr Simmonds said looking at Kieran for an answer.

‘Yes indeed,’ said Kieran in his measured tone.

‘And before her body was recovered you married the lady now sitting at your side?’ Mr Simmonds questioned again and I wished with all my heart he would just get on with it.

‘That is correct, Sir,’ said Kieran politely, which must have pleased the old gentleman.

‘Did you not realise that a decree of presumption would be required before you married again?’ asked Mr Simmonds.

‘No, I did not,’ said Kieran.

‘Well I have to tell you that exhaustive enquiries should have been made before a second marriage took place. I declare therefore that no valid marriage exists between you and Barbara Thorpe and I declare that you’re marriage to Barbara Thorpe is null and void,’ Mr Simmonds uttered the words with a flourish and Kieran and I looked at each other with disbelief.

‘But I can tell you,’ continued Mr Simmonds, ‘that now the first Mrs Alexander has been found and identified you are now free to marry, and with all the evidence I have before me there will be no charges brought against either of you. You are therefore free to go.’

As we stepped out into the street once more I burst into tears and Kieran gathered me in his arms once more.

‘Marry me, Miss Thorpe?’ he said most unexpectedly, ‘And this time we will do it properly, little one.’ At his words my heart was singing and I wrapped my arms around his neck.

‘Yes.’ I whispered. ‘I will marry you.’

And Kieran bent to kiss me without any thought for where we were and I had no care either as at last his lips met mine with the gentlest of kisses.

8

It’s strange how indifference can turn to love, and despair to joy in such a short space of time, but for Kieran and I thankfully it had; and we arrived back at Rowan Castle longing to tell everyone our wedding plans. As we stepped into the hall Mrs Burnet was laying a letter on a silver salver which stood on a table by the main door, seeing us arrive back the letter was forgotten.

‘Master, mistress!’ she exclaimed, ‘I’ll be making you both a nice cup of tea,’ she said bustling over to us.

‘That would be perfect, Mrs Burnet,’ Kieran said kindly, ‘but what I would like you to do is fetch Justine, Derrick and Kerensa from wherever they may be and ask them to join us in the drawing-room,’ he instructed.

‘Well I know Master Derrick and Miss Kerensa have just returned from their ride, but I shall need to locate Miss Justine. I’ll get on to it straight away,’ said Peggy Burnet going in the direction of the kitchens.

Kieran and I went into the drawing-room when I removed my bonnet and gloves, then we sat together on the cream settle facing the door. Kieran turned me to him.

‘Do you agree that we should marry in the chapel here at the end of August? For we must wait a few months, out of respect for Annabel,’ he told me softly.

‘I agree, and it will give us enough time to arrange everything,’ I said, thinking of all that was to be done and the most important thing of all was my wedding dress.

‘Six months will be ample enough time, little one. I admit I can hardly wait,’ Kieran confessed.

‘Shall we pick a date so we can tell the others when they arrive?’ I said smiling with happiness. I was longing to tell Justine for I knew she would be happy for us, but I wasn’t too sure how Derrick and Kerensa would take the news even though their thought was that we were married already.

‘Shall we say the twenty-eighth of August which is about six months away?’ suggested Kieran.

‘Very well,’ I agreed. Just then Justine and Derrick arrived.

‘Now let us all be seated for we have something to tell you, haven’t we, Barbara,’ Kieren said.

Derrick and Justine sat on one settle and Kieran and I on the other opposite them.

‘So what have you to tell us?’ Justine asked curiously.

‘I’d rather wait until Kerensa were here also.’ As he spoke Miss Templeton burst through the door, she had changed and now wore the green silk she’d worn on the day of my arrival, the emerald colour matched her eyes perfectly.

‘So why have we been summoned? No doubt it’s to tell us the marriage is over,’ she said sarcastically. Looking at her I could see no resemblance to the other three siblings.

‘Sit here Kerensa,’ offered Derrick, rising from his seat and sitting on a high-backed chair. Kerensa did as she was bid.

‘Well,’ she said, ‘let us get it over with for I have things to do.’

‘It’s a rare occasion when you have anything to do except to be rude to others, which is to stop,’ Kieran said severely. ‘Barbara and I have been to a hearing today regarding the validity of our marriage, and we have to tell you that it has been deemed null and void.’

‘What did I tell you!’ gloated Kerensa as she stood up and clapped her hands together with glee. ‘Now perhaps the little mouse will go back to her hole so we can get back to some normality.’ At her words Kieran’s face held a look of thunder.

‘Sit down!’ He shouted at her. ‘For I haven’t finished, and what I am about to say, young woman, will hopefully wipe that smug expression off your face.’

‘Let me tell them, Kieran?’ I asked quietly, for at this moment I would like nothing better than to upset the gloating Kerensa.

‘Your brother, Kieran, and I are engaged to be married, and will marry here at Rowan Chapel on the twenty-eighth of August, giving time for respect for Annabel,’ I told them.

‘Oh Barbara, Kieran!’ said Justine jumping up and coming across to both of us and kissing our cheeks. ‘So we can at last attend a wedding, what a happy day this is. We must get to see Mrs Harding at our earliest convenience,’ she said excitedly taking both my hands in hers. Tor you will need a wedding dress and I a new outfit. Oh what a happy day! I’ll ring for Mrs Burnet to ask David to fetch us a bottle of champagne from the cellar.’ With which words she released me and went to pull the bell rope by the fireplace.

‘And where’s the ring? The Alexander ring?’ asked Kerensa. In all the excitement of our announcement I had almost forgotten her. She had said the words quietly and with menace in her voice and now she looked at Kieran for an answer.

‘It is here,’ said Kieran softly, as he spoke he drew a small blue velvet box from his pocket. ‘Come to me, Barbara,’ he said and I went back to the settle where he still sat and he indicated for me to sit where he was; and quite unexpectedly he knelt before me.

My cheeks grew hot as all eyes were on us just as Mrs Burnet answered the call of the bell but the master took little notice. He opened the box and I gasped, for inside nestling amongst the velvet was a glistening round sapphire ring surrounded by diamonds. Kieran took it from the box and taking my hand placed the Alexander ring on my finger. ‘We are now officially betrothed before everyone,’ he said, rising once more to his feet.

I looked across his shoulder at Mrs Burnet who hovered in the doorway, a tear in her eyes and out came her hanky once more.

Kerensa however was not smiling at the scene she’d just witnessed and for once she seemed lost for words, but found her voice once more just as I’d thought it.

‘You!’ she screamed at Kieran, her skirts swishing on the carpet as she turned to my betrothed, her finger pointing at him in a menacing manner, ‘You Sir, have broken my heart and I put a curse on both of you. Come Derrick, we will leave them to their ill-timed celebrations.’ With which words she flounced out of the room with Derrick at her heels pushing a startled Mrs Burnet to one side as she went.

‘Well, I never did in my life before!’ exclaimed the housekeeper,. ‘May I say congratulations to you master and your lovely lady from my David and me and all you staff here at Rowan. Now you called me,’ she said.

‘Yes,’ said Justine, ‘would you be kind enough to ask David to fetch a bottle of champagne from the cellar.’

‘I’ll do that right away, Miss,’ agreed Peggy.

‘And Mrs Burnet,’ Kieran called her back, ‘please tell no-one about the scene you’ve just witnessed with Miss Kerensa.’

‘I won’t, I promise, Sir,’ she said placing a finger to her lips.

‘Take no heed of Kerensa,’ soothed Justine when the housekeeper had left us, ‘she is fickle that one and as we speak will be casting her spell on Derrick.’ As Justine spoke the words I fervently prayed that this would be the case but I had my doubts.

Although I’d drunk champagne I found it very difficult to sleep that night, the mixed events of the day going round and round in my head. Kieran’s mother’s portrait, being married and then not being married, the engagement ring and Kerensa’s outburst all whirling in my mind and I came to the conclusion it was Kerensa’s reaction which disturbed me most of all. In all my darkest imaginings I could not have perceived what the outcome would be.

When morning came I had dismissed Kerensa from my mind for Justine and I were to visit Mrs Harding today and I was jubilant at the prospect of our outing.

‘I hear congratulations are in order mistress, no I mean Miss,’ said Megan, ‘I’m real pleased that all is well for I’d have been right sad if you’d had to leave.’

‘Well, I’m not, so all is well Megan and today I am to choose the material for my wedding dress,’ I told her.

‘Oh Miss, it must be the most exciting time for you, but didn’t you wear a special dress the first time?’ she queried, obviously quite perplexed at the whole situation, which I could well understand.

‘No Megan, but this time I intend to choose exactly what I imagine I should wear at my wedding.’

‘How lovely, Miss. I look forward to seeing you in your wedding gown,’ she said sincerely.

I met Justine in the hall at ten as arranged last evening, I was dressed in the cornflower blue as Kieran had liked it so much, and was so glad I had as he came into the hall just as we were leaving and kissing my hand he whispered, ‘Choose well, little one.’

‘I think I ought to tell you that Annabel’s funeral is to be held next week,’ said Justine as we travelled to Llanberis in the carriage. At her words my hand flew to my mouth for I had to confess I had quite forgotten poor Annabel and suddenly I felt that I shouldn’t be so happy or making plans for our wedding under these circumstances.

‘I can guess what you are thinking, Barbara,’ said Justine kindly, ‘but it is none of your fault as to what befell Annabel. We have to put it behind us as Kieran has done. It was an unfortunate accident but we are to thank God she has been found, haven’t we,’ she said with a matter of fact manner.

As we arrived at Mrs Harding’s I had butterflies in my stomach for I did so want to make the right decision. As always Mrs Harding welcomed us into her home and Polly took our bonnets and gloves, after which the dressmaker took us to the room full of bales of materials where I had chosen before.

‘I wish to wear white lace,’ I blurted out before we began choosing.

‘Do you, dear,’ said Justine, quite surprised at my words.

‘It is most unusual,’ said Mrs Harding, ‘but I’m sure we can achieve it with a little imagination,’ she said kindly, taking us over to one particular table where the white materials were. I looked at all of them not seeing any white lace which I’d set my heart on. ‘First of all we need to choose a white silk,’ explained Mrs Harding, obviously having seen the crestfallen look on my face. ‘For we will need to stitch the lace over it.’ At her words I brightened and the butterflies returned.

I chose a plain white silk and then Mrs Harding showed me a bale of lace which was exquisite with intricate motifs of tiny flowers worked on the net, entwined here and there by hearts.

‘Yes,’ I enthused, ‘this is exactly what I had imagined. Now can we talk of what Justine will wear as my bridesmaid, please.’

At my words Justine looked shocked. ‘Barbara, I had never thought...’ she began.

‘I have no-one of my own, Justine, you are the nearest to family I shall ever have. Of course I wish you to attend me at my marriage to your brother,’ I told her. ‘And can I tell you what I’d like you to wear please?’

‘Of course, I am overwhelmed and can hardly believe you have asked me. But what of Kerensa?’

‘You know as well as I that Kerensa would not be my bridesmaid even if I asked her, she would utter some unkind retort leaving me wishing I had not mentioned it.’

‘Very well,’ agreed Justine smiling, ‘tell me what you envisage I should wear on your special day.’

So I did.

‘I imagine you wearing the white silk and as pink becomes you so a pink cloak draped over the shoulder falling to the upper leg with a white lace bonnet to match the lace of my dress, decorated with small pink roses. How does this sound?’ I asked looking at both Justine and the dressmaker.

Arriving back at the castle having being duly measured by both Mrs Harding and Polly, and chattering all the way home about the wedding arrangements Mrs Burnet met us in the hallway.

‘I’m really sorry, Miss Justine, but a letter arrived for you yesterday afternoon and what with all the excitement I forgot about it, I’m truly sorry,’ The housekeeper apologised handing Justine the letter from the silver salver.

‘Thank you, Mrs Burnet. Could you please bring us a tray of tea in the drawing-room?’ said Justine accepting the letter from her.

We both walked into the drawing-room removing our bonnets and then sinking thankfully on to the settle by the fire.

‘I’ll just open my letter while you sit quietly for you must be exhausted by the events of the last twenty-four hours,’ said Justine looking down at the envelope in her hands.

I leant back on the settle relaxing when Justine suddenly sat bolt upright on her seat. I looked at her and noted that her hand trembled and her lovely face was ashen in colour.

‘Whatever ails you?’ I asked her with some concern.

‘I’m sorry Barbara, I need to go to my room,’ she said rising from the settle.

‘Is it bad news?’ I called after her as she left the room, but she did not answer me and I never saw her again that day. Mrs Burnet told me after dinner that Miss Justine had taken to her room and wished to be left alone.

That night I felt exhausted yet had less chance of sleep than the night before, which surprised me somewhat as I had had a pleasant day. I lay beneath the sheets imagining what my wedding gown would be like. I knew that Mrs Harding was an excellent dressmaker and would make me an exquisite gown for my marriage.

I was just about to fall asleep when the sobbing started, I sat up in bed but it persisted, so getting up I slipped my robe around me and put some slippers on my feet intent on solving the mystery and praying that this time I wouldn’t encounter Derrick in the corridor.

No-one was around so as swiftly as I could I sped along the maze of corridors to Annabel’s room, I stood at the door for some time, the sobbing was indeed coming from within the room.

Placing my hand gently on the doorknob and as quietly as I could turning it, I pushed the door so that I could see around it.