Silver (36 page)

             
“Good morning,” he offered and Elizabeth smiled thinly back. “Did you sleep well?”

       
Braced as she was for an exchange of the usual morning platitudes, Elizabeth found she could not stomach them.

“When shall you leave?”
she asked bluntly.

       
He put down his coffee cup and looked up at her, the beginning of a smile upon his lips.

“
Kate thinks we can have everything packed by late morning.”

“
Well, I don’t think I will be able to have everything packed by then, so you shall have to go back to London without me. I will send word to my father that I shall return in a few days and perhaps you would be so kind as to organize my passage to Marylebone.”

       
The smile on Avery’s face grew and the wider it spread, the hotter she felt her cheeks burn. The anger and disappointment from the previous evening was beginning to well up inside her again.

“
It’s all very well for you, Silver, but I am returning to London with nothing. Less than that. You have everything and I am owed something.” She balled up the napkin she had been carefully unfolding and threw it back down on the table, blinking away angry tears. The room was silent save for her own heavy breaths and she waited for him to say something.

“
Why don’t you just ask?” he said eventually.

       
Though surprised, Elizabeth knew exactly what he was suggesting and quite aside from the fear of a refusal, it was not in her nature to ask for anything. However, she could not ignore the spark of hope he had lit inside her.

“I don’t know what you mean,” she uttered, petulantly.

“Ask me.”

“Ask you for what, Avery?”

        He stared hard at her, his smile had faded and he seemed to be searching her face for something. After more than a minute, he pushed his chair back from the table and put his napkin beside his plate.

“
Temper gets you into trouble, but pride will keep you there.” And with that he stood and turned to leave.

       
His superior tone infuriated her but more so because he was right.

“
Oh for Heaven’s sake, fine then. Will you take me with you?” she shouted gracelessly at his retreating back.

       
He turned with a broad smile and said simply, “Of course.”

             
Though Avery had granted Elizabeth her heart’s desire in letting her travel with him, it was a good few days before she forgave him. Unaccustomed as she was to having to ask for things she felt a little put out by being teased so. Nor did it improve her mood by being back at the family home, albeit a temporary measure.

             
“Elizabeth.” Agnes’s tone was formally neutral. Elizabeth could almost feel the temperature around her sister grow chill at the very sight of her. Time had done nothing to strengthen their relationship but rather put them at greater distance.

“
Bessie!” Her father’s welcome, on the other hand, was effusive enough and she felt momentarily elated at the hearty response her presence had evoked. As ever, it was to be short lived and within the hour, he was closed within his study and, Agnes had retired to her room. Elizabeth was left to haunt the rooms of the family home alone.

       
By the following afternoon, having endured only two meals with her sister, Elizabeth was desperate for some escape and it was therefore with more than great pleasure that she received a visit from Avery. As he was permitted to the drawing room, Elizabeth’s face registered great surprise. Unusually, he was dressed in the most smart and fashionable of dresses. In keeping with his state of mourning for his father, the whole ensemble was black but Elizabeth was surprised to find that she admired the style very much. He wore a jet black bustle dress with lace applique accents. Obviously new and exquisitely finished, it must have been very expensive. She had never seen him wear any such outfit before and she was confused as to why he had gone to so much effort to visit her. For a moment, she wondered if he hoped to impress her perhaps with his newfound wealth and then she remembered that it was not her he hoped to impress.

“
Is your father home?” he asked as soon as Cribbs had left the room.

“Of course. He is in his study.”

“Have you spoken with him yet?”

“Of course not
. Aunt Georgina had been sending him good reports and he seems more than best pleased that this summer has been both a diversion for me and that you have been a good influence.”

       
This last comment caused Avery to smirk. He wondered if Frederick Greenwood could have any idea just how much of an influence the two had had on each other during their time at Juniper Hall.

“
That is good news Elizabeth. This may be easier than we imagined. I would suggest we make the most of my being in good favour and ask that we be introduced.”

       
Elizabeth wasted no time and whirled out of the room herself to interrupt her father’s afternoon. Frederick was reluctant to break from his work but wished to set eyes upon the peculiar young woman that his sister had thought so in need of help. It would also be rude to deny an audience with the young woman after she had so recently lost her own father. The three spent an easy fifteen minutes in polite conversation and Elizabeth’s father seemed very pleased with how he found Avery. After a further fifteen minutes however, he seemed keen to return to his work and the decision to have interrupted him proved to be most advantageous to Elizabeth and Avery.

“
Mr. Greenwood, I can’t thank your family enough for their support. Mrs. Fearncott has been like a mother to me and I owe her an enormous debt of gratitude for her taking an interest in my finishing.”

       
Frederick seemed pleased that the conversation was drawing to a close and stood to leave but Avery continued.

“
And Elizabeth has been my bedrock during this difficult time. We have become just the best of friends.”

       
Glancing at his pocket watch, Frederick beamed in pleasure.

“
Miss Silver, I am thrilled that Elizabeth has found such a friend as you also. My sister informs me that Elizabeth has been much more content these last few months. Well, perhaps I can look forward to seeing more of you soon? Well, if you will excuse me.”

“
I simply don’t know how I shall manage without her?” Avery interjected.

“
Without her?” Frederick had barely stepped one stride from his seat before he glanced back at Avery. “What do you mean, Miss Silver, without her?”

“
I’m sorry Mr. Greenwood. I am leaving in a week or so and I shall miss having a friend like Elizabeth. As you know my mother died when I was young and I have no sister. Elizabeth has come to mean a lot to me over the summer and I shall miss her dreadfully.”

       
Elizabeth watched her father’s face as Avery mentioned his mother dying and she recognised the pained expression that her father wore when people spoke about her own mother and she silently praised Avery for getting this in quickly.

“
Leaving?” Frederick asked.

“
Forgive me. It’s all happened rather quickly. It’s just that it was my father’s greatest wish that I undertake some travel before I get married…”

       
Elizabeth smirked and had to hide her face behind her sleeve to avoid laughing out loud.

             
“….and he had made plans for me as a surprise.” He paused for a moment as if gathering the strength to finish his sentence. “I feel as though this is a last gift from him. I’m sure you understand?”               

       
With this Avery looked at Frederick with a pained smile and Elizabeth could barely keep herself from crying with laughter.

“
Of course. Of course. Well that sounds a splendid plan.”       Frederick stated. He seemed keen to leave the room again and Avery looked meaningfully towards Elizabeth as the older man began to head for the door. “Well, I am sure that Elizabeth will miss your company equally but it will give you two young ladies that much more to chatter about upon your return.”

“
Avery is to follow the Grand Tour, Father,” Elizabeth offered. “Avery, did you know that my father has travelled extensively in Europe?”

“I did not,”
Avery answered simply. “I would love to hear his opinion on Florence. My father thought the place entirely devoid of culture and suggested I leave it from my itinerary.”

       
The effect on Frederick Greenwood was instantaneous. If there was one thing that Elizabeth knew her father enjoyed more than his work was talking about his time around Europe. She had told Silver as much and that Florence was the highlight of his own tour experience many years ago. Her father had returned to his seat in a state of some animation and begun a chastisement of the late Toby Silver’s taste in tourist destinations. Avery sat, looking rapt, and Elizabeth thought he looked genuinely interested. She rolled her eyes and began the arduous but necessary task of listening to her fathers, seemingly endless, recollections of the Europe he had found in the 1830’s. After more than an hour, he started at the sound of the doorbell and he stood, abruptly drawing out his pocket watch and exclaiming loudly.

“
Heavens! I am very sorry Miss Silver to cut short our fascinating conversation but I am expected elsewhere.”

“
I should be the one apologizing Mr. Greenwood I have been monopolising your time. I should so love to finish hearing about your thoughts about the Swiss.”

       
Again, it was a magical word and Fredericks eyes twinkled like Elizabeth had rarely seen them.

“
Elizabeth, perhaps Miss Silver would like to join us for dinner this evening and we can continue this then.”

       
And with that, Frederick left the room far more merry than he had arrived and in better cheer than Elizabeth had seen him in many years. Avery, though pleased, seemed annoyed that he would have to return again that evening. He tugged at the bodice of his dress and pulled a face at Elizabeth before disappearing after Frederick.

“
I will see you at seven,” Elizabeth called, a wide grin spreading over her face.

~o~

Over dinner that evening, Elizabeth barely had to interject a single word. The charm, with which Avery had enchanted her, worked just as well on her father and Agnes. As she watched the two of them dance around his conversation and trip over themselves to answer his questions, she again felt the soaring headiness of adoration. It was a curious emotion and she fought to preserve the feeling before it shifted to the bleak disappointment that he was a woman and this moment would not be replicated by her own choice in husband. By the main course, Avery had managed to elicit from her father what was tantamount to agreement that she could join Avery on his trip.

“
Of course, in my day, it was not the thing for young women to be found on the Tour unless accompanied by their husbands. Your father sounds the very epitome of a modern man, Miss Silver. Of course, I should like to meet this chaperone you have in mind, whom did you say he was? A tutor?”

“Oh yes, I quite agree, Europe
would be a dangerous place without a man. Yes, Heston. He is the son of one of my father’s closest friends. He was a tutor in Bristol and has agreed to be my guide and to keep us from harms way. Of course you must meet him Mr. Greenwood.”

“
Oh please, call me Frederick!”

“
Frederick it is. I shall have Mr. Heston come to see you. How does tomorrow suit?”

       
The old man frowned slightly.

“
And that’s the only thing, Miss Silver. Must you race off so soon? I have barely had Elizabeth home for a few days and she is to race off to the continent. I feel a little uncomfortable that this is all happening a little too quickly.”

       
Here at last was where Elizabeth could be of use. She noticed the faltering of her father’s resolve and she seized the moment.

“
Oh Father. I will miss you dreadfully of course but I shall have so much time in London over the next few years when you will wish me away in Paris or Turin in an instant.”

       
Frederick Greenwood acknowledged the meaning of Elizabeth’s comments and considered his daughter for a moment.

“
And if Miss Silver were to travel any later than October we would miss the best of the weather for the crossing,” she added.

       
As if this, rather than his daughters blackmail, were the final piece of encouragement, Frederick Greenwood nodded his approval and scowled in mock defeat as his daughter rushed to thank him.

~o~

             
The following few days were a blur of activity as Cribbs and Agnes took charge of packing for her trip. Though jealous, Agnes was pleased to have something to divert her attention and she seemed keen for Elizabeth to accompany Silver having enjoyed her father’s attention to herself. However, being trapped with her sister brought out the worst in Elizabeth’s mood and she found that after a single day, she could suffer no more and took a cab to Silver’s home. She found he and Kate performing much the same scenes that she had escaped from in her own house. Many of the regular staff had been dismissed and it was the young man, Heston, who was organizing the storage of valuables.

“
What on earth is all this for?” she asked, fingering the chests and sheets covering the furniture.

“
You forget Elizabeth that I am not planning to return to England for some time. I have employed a firm who shall rent the property for me whilst I am abroad. I am having the more valuable effects either stored or sold. Mine and my father’s tastes are very different indeed and I would rather enjoy the money they release than the few poor memories they evoke.”

       
Elizabeth yawned and draped herself atop a packing case that was full of his clothes. She pulled the first thing she could lay her hands, a heavy grey skirt. She shook it out and lay it beside her. Kate, busy folding shirts into one case and blouses in another, eyed her cautiously. For a few moments, Elizabeth simply stared whilst Kate and Avery continued at their tasks. Absent mindedly, she pulled out another item, an ivory blouse with mother of pearl buttons and a lace neck; she laid it above the skirt carefully pressing the fabric with her hand. The clothes lay like a shadow beside her.

“
You know Silver, you should take us both to dinner or something. To celebrate,” she added.

       
Avery looked up and, seeing the clothes, frowned and looked to Kate.

“
I don’t think so. There is much to do still.”

“
Oh come on Avery, if you are not to return to London then we should make the most of the time we have left.”

       
Avery frowned again and looked between the two women.

“
I just don’t think we shall have the time.”

       
Kate, who had been watching the exchange, spoke.

“
If Miss Greenwood were to stop undoing the work we have already completed and lend a hand then we could be done in half the time.”