Ever After (19 page)

“Oh, don’t I?” He seemed much struck by this.

“You just drift around wearing tweeds the way you do and saying the silly sort of things you do, and that ridiculous eyebrow of yours, and—”

“Which? What’s wrong with it?”

“It
slips
, in the most fascinating way, didn’t you know? There it goes now. It slips
up
.”

“Does it? I never noticed. And it’s your considered opinion that the grand total of these unusual talents of mine is fatal to every woman who sees me? Well,
really
, I had no idea.”

“I’m not fooling, Bracken, honest.”

“No, I don’t believe you are. But has it occurred to you, my sweet, that as a sister you might be prejudiced?”

“As a sister I ought to know the worst of you. And if
I’m
crazy about you, what chance have the rest of them got?”

“What
is
the worst of me, Ginny?” he asked gravely.

“When you’re in a black depression like you are now, and try to hide it by being flippant and obtuse.”

For a few minutes they rode slowly in silence. Then Bracken said:

“All right. I’ll tell them.”

“That you have a wife?”

“Mm-hm. It may be a trifle difficult to find an opening, of course. Speaking of cut-worms, I have been deserted in a most scandalous fashion by my lawfully wedded wife—would that be too abrupt, do you think?”

“Darling, I hope you don’t think it’s interfering of me, but—”

“No, no, it’s all just part of the curse.”

“What’s become of her, do you know?” she asked suddenly.

“Oddly enough, we’re trying to find that out. Funny, we no sooner get rid of her than we start in trying to get hold of her again. Partridge has set some sleuth-hounds of his on the trail, but it’s all so very hush-hush that it’s extra complicated. I don’t want a scandal, for your sake.”

“I wouldn’t mind, if it got you free.”

“But I would, and so would Father. Come on, we’ll be late for tea.”

H
ALF
the county was coming to the ball.

Both the Hall and Farthingale were jammed with house guests and more people began to arrive in carriages with dress-baskets and band-boxes soon after luncheon. At the Hall a striped marquee had been set up on the lawn below the terraces, and coloured lights were hung in the shrubbery, although a full moon was expected. Tubs of azaleas flanked the grand staircase. There was a band down from London to play in the ballroom, which was festooned with Marechal Neil roses, and Gunter’s had sent a van full of caterer’s assistants who took possession of the dining room, where the decorations were pink and white peonies in tall silver vases. There would be ices in shapes, and fireworks, and enough champagne to float a battleship.

Lord Enstone and the Viscount had compromised on wearing Court dress. Archie had adopted the powdered wig, brocade skirted coat, knee breeches and sword of the third Earl’s portrait at the time of his marriage in 1745. John and his wife were coming to stay, and were dressing as Romeo and Juliet, which everyone thought was rather odd as they had been married several years and didn’t get along very well. Mrs. John, whose name was Iris, was a pallid, timorous woman, and John was like Alwyn except that where the Viscount had merely a sort of natural animal arrogance of good looks and superb health, John was domineering and humourless. Sir Gratian was wearing something Wellingtonian with a very high collar, black stock, tail coat and tight pantaloons. Sue had a simple Hogarthian costume that was quite irresistible on her.

At Nathan’s in Coventry Street they had found for Dinah a gipsy dress of no particular period–a white cotton blouse with a round gathered neck, quite low, and very short puffed sleeves, and a wide
apple-green sash that tied around her slim hips above a flaring, brightly flowered skirt. Heavy bracelets and ropes of gay beads went with it. Virginia reported that she looked adorable in it and was excited completely out of her usual composure. She was still not to come down to dinner, but only after the dancing began.

Bracken endured with resentment the knowing glances brought about by his Elizabethan dress partnered at dinner with Clare’s Tudor queen. He realized that Virginia was right and he must somehow convey to them soon that he was—encumbered. What effect that fact might have on Dinah’s attitude towards him he could not decide. Meanwhile he observed that Alwyn’s rather florid attentions to Virginia were also attracting notice. It was impossible to tell by Virginia’s habitual play of eyelashes and smiles whether she was unduly impressed.

After dinner Bracken strolled on the lawn with Sue and Sir Gratian, who were as handsome a pair as there was in the whole company, while a tuning of instruments sounded from the open windows of the ballroom.

The Hall had returned for that single night to its past glory, and was full of lights and music and crowds of expensive people behaving in an expensive way. The grand staircase was alive again with silks and velvets and cambric, hooped skirts, powdered hair, and the clink of sword-belts. Just as the music began Bracken went into the entrance and saw Dinah peeping over the banister. He motioned her to come down and she shook her head, looking shy and frightened, eyeing his unfamiliar dress critically.

Bracken started impulsively for the stairs, and ran into Lord Alwyn, who caught his arm and said, “Hullo, come along to the ballroom, old boy, that’s the first dance.”

“Yes, I’m already engaged for it,” Bracken replied.

“Clare just went in. Probably looking for you.”

“I’m dancing this one
with Dinah,” said Bracken.

“With
Dinah
!
Oh, come, now, you’ll have her poor little head completely turned. She’s only supposed to look on, you know, at her age.”

Bracken felt one of his rare furies rising within him, and except for that sudden urge of rage he was entirely responsible as he said quietly:

“Alwyn, it will doubtless surprise you to hear that I intend to marry Dinah as soon as she’s old enough.”

The Viscount stared at him, still holding fast to his arm with one heavy hand. The idea passed plainly across his mind that one or the other of them was drunk, or that Bracken was joking. Reluctantly he abandoned both those surmises.

“Well, uh—have you told her so?”

“Of course not. And I would be grateful if you’d leave me to do it in my own good time.”

“But she’s—let me see, not sixteen yet!”

“I can wait. In fact, that’s not the only difficulty. I have a wife, though we haven’t lived together for several years. Her religion makes it convenient for her to refuse divorce, but I hope to get round that before long.”

“I see,” said Alwyn, obviously not seeing at all.

“I am speaking in strictest confidence, naturally.”

“Oh, naturally.”

“But I thought it would help you to understand my interest in Dinah.”

“Quite. Quite.”

Alwyn let go of his arm and Bracken ran up the stairs to where Dinah still stood watching.

“What on earth did you say to Edward?” she greeted him. “He looks simply floored.”

“I only let him know that I always choose my own partners for dancing. Come along.”

“Me?”

“Please.”

“No wonder he was surprised!”

“You can waltz, can’t you? If not, I’ll teach you.”

“At dancing school. But never with a real partner.” At the door of the ballroom she shrank back against him with wide, apprehensive eyes on the whirling couples. “I can’t do that.”

“Yes, you can.” His arm went round her waist. “Just relax and listen to the music.”

After only a minute their steps matched perfectly.

“It’s like floating,” said Dinah.

“You’re wonderful,” he said. “There’s nothing you can’t do when you try. How much do you weigh?”

“About seven stone. Why?”

“I just wondered.” Not a hundred pounds, he thought. And in that slim body he held so lightly was all his hope of happiness. Her throat and breast in the low-cut blouse showed that they were losing their childish thinness, her upper arms had still that heart-catching frailty of the very young. God forgive me for a cradle-snatcher, Bracken thought. If I were Alwyn I’d call me out. But I will be very careful of her. And I promise to wait patiently. Well—I’ll wait.

“It was kind of you to make them let me come tonight,” she was saying. “Oh, Virginia too, but I’m sure it was you in the beginning, wasn’t it?”

“It was, as a matter of fact. But Virginia agreed with me that you had a right to come.”

“You’re the kindest man in the world, I think. I do appreciate it.”

Bracken winced.

“Can’t you think of another word?” he asked.

“What did I say?”

“
Kind
. It makes me sound like a very old gentleman who keeps up his charities.”

“How old are you?” she asked directly, as though it had occurred to her for the first time.

“Twenty-seven, nearly twenty-eight.” It sounded awful as he said it. “Lord help us, that’s almost twice your age!”

“It’s the same age as my brother John,” she said unconcernedly. “I don’t think that’s bad at all.”

“Of course when you’re twenty, I shall be only thirty-two instead of nearly forty,” he reminded himself.

“I wonder where we’ll be then.”

“I wonder.” His arm tightened involuntarily.

“Have you got a birthday coming too?” she suggested.

“November third. I’ll give a party. Will you come?”

She nodded. Her eyes were gay and confident.

“I’ll beat you, though. I shall be sixteen before you’re twenty-eight,” she boasted.

“That’s a comfort!”

“I have the strangest feeling with you sometimes,” she said after a minute.

“What sort of feeling?” he asked hopefully, all attention.

“I can’t describe it. It’s as though I
mattered
to you a great deal, the way Virginia does. I expect it’s just because you’re so k—”

“Kind!”
he said bitterly. “Will you stop it, Dinah?”

She laughed.

“Well, it’s a very flattering feeling, all the same. Miss French says I mustn’t presume on it. I’ll try not to.”

“I’ll tell you how it is,” he said, choosing his words. “I like to see people having a good time. There’s so much unhappiness in the world we can do nothing about, and when the expenditure of a little thought or money does give somebody something pleasant to remember. I like to do it, that’s all. I sound like a parson, don’t I, preaching sweetness and light. Maybe what it all comes to is that I happen to like you rather a lot, ever since that first morning on the hill.”

“I like you too,” Dinah said frankly. “I’d be crazy not to, after all you’ve done for me!”

“Then will you do me a favour?” he asked, feeling his way.

“Yes, of course.” No
arrière-pensées
for Dinah.

“If there’s anything I can do to—brighten things up a bit for you—promise to let me know, hm?”

“Why, yes—I will.” She looked a little puzzled.

“I’ll be around, you know. You can always reach me at the office if I’m not at Farthingale. By the way, I’ve decided to buy it.”

“
Buy
Farthingale? Oh, how lovely. That means the Major won’t be so poor.”

“It also means I can keep an eye on you,” he said, piqued that her first thought had been of someone else. “That may be a silly thing to say to a girl with a lot of brothers, but sometimes an
outsider
can be more useful than one of the family. Don’t you agree?”

“I suppose so. I never thought about it.”

“And after Virginia and Aunt Sue have gone back to America you’ll have to keep an eye on me, how’s that?”

“Do you—really think I’m old enough to be your friend?”

“Don’t see why not.”

“I’d be proud. Not that I could ever
do
anything for you, I know that, but sometimes one wishes there was somebody one could just talk to. At least I do.”

“So do I. We’ll talk to each other, shall we?”

She nodded gravely, and then the music stopped.

“Now I
will
have to dance with Clare,” he said. “Come and see my aunt’s dress. Isn’t she sweet?” He took her to where Sue and the Major were seating themselves on a sofa and left her with them.

Later, while he was dancing with Virginia he suggested a supper party of six—himself and Dinah, Sue and Sir Gratian, and whatever partner Virginia already had.

She made a face.

“Ed-ward!” she said.

“Oh, dear, that won’t do! Can’t you swap him for Archie?”

“Too late. And Archie hasn’t even asked me to dance.”

“What’s the matter with him? Nobody can be as shy as all that.”

“I begin to think he just doesn’t
like
me.” Her eyes were hurt, and it occurred to Bracken that he might have to take notice of Archie.

“Is there some other girl he’s after?” Bracken gave a quick glance around.

“Oh, no, he seems mostly to be making himself agreeable to the chaperones and wall-flowers.”

“The man’s a fool.”

“Or a saint.”

“I hope not! They’re very uncomfortable people to have around!”

“I think it would be fun,” said Virginia reflectively, “to make
Edward dance with Dinah. It would sort of establish her prestige for the evening.”

“He’s pretty busy, I expect.”

“He’ll do what I tell him to,” Virginia said darkly.

“Oh, that’s how it is, is it!” her brother remarked uneasily.

And sure enough, before very long the Viscount led out his younger sister. The triumph was Virginia’s. She had been engaged to him for that dance and she contrived at the last moment to catch hold of the elusive Archie and persuade Alwyn that she would be well taken care of while he made Dinah’s evening by conferring himself upon her for one waltz. Alwyn had observed that Dinah did herself credit on the dance floor, with Archie as well as Bracken, and he consented graciously enough. Dinah’s face was a study, and being nervous she did not do as well as with her other partners.

“Well, are you enjoying yourself, eh?” he inquired in the half-bullying, half-patronizing tone he had always used towards her ever since she had first been able to make intelligible sounds in reply.