The Triumph of Katie Byrne (19 page)

Katie loved the little sandwiches, which Xenia had told her were invented here in the British nursery years before, but limited herself to one of egg salad, another of smoked salmon, and a third of potted meat. Even though Rex urged her to make it a round figure of six at least, she resisted the temptation.

She then sat back, munching on the sandwiches, enjoying the marvellous warmth of the big roaring fire, the comfort and cosiness of this lovely old room. And it
was cosy, despite its grand size. Her thoughts jumped around in her head as she reviewed the last couple of days, and she realized that she had been busy every minute. Today had probably been her most fruitful, in regards to her work, because of the visit to Haworth and then her discussion of the Brontës with Rex.

She stole a quick look at him. Katie thought Rex Bellamy was a nice man, and she liked him a lot. Just as she liked everyone in this room, even though they were all a bit odd, in their own way. It seemed to Katie that each of them had some kind of secret. She laughed inwardly. Didn’t everyone have secrets of some sort? Skeletons in the closet?

Katie brought her attention back to Xenia, and her ears pricked up when she heard her friend say, ‘I’ve no idea where it is, Rex. I looked for it last night, actually. I wish we could run it. Laurence Olivier is great as Heathcliff and Merle Oberon is a most beautiful Cathy Earnshaw. Odd, but she didn’t look
chichi
, which she was, of course.’

‘What’s
chichi
?’ Lavinia asked.

‘Anglo-Indian,’ Rex answered.

Xenia went on, ‘At times one has the feeling bits of it were shot on the Hollywood backlot, but for the most part it has great authenticity.’

‘Are you talking about the film of
Wuthering Heights
?’ Katie asked.

‘Yes,’ Verity replied. ‘We have a video of it, but
apparently it’s been lost. Anyway, why watch it, since Xenia just put the kibosh on it.’

‘No, I didn’t!’ Xenia exclaimed. ‘And it’s a classic now. Certainly it’s a hundred times better than those awful remakes of the last few years. Nobody ever gets it right, you know.’

‘I would’ve loved to have seen it,’ Katie murmured, sounding disappointed.

‘I think I know where the video is,’ Lavinia announced, standing up as she spoke. ‘I’m sure I saw it on a shelf in the library, and not long ago either.’

‘The library! What on earth is it doing there? I always keep the videos in the study off my office,’ Verity said, sounding puzzled.

‘I
know
I saw it in the library,’ Lavinia cried, and went out. She was obviously intent on retrieving it, not listening to Verity, who was telling her to look for it later.

‘Have you never seen the film, Katie?’ Rex asked. ‘Not ever?’

She shook her head. ‘No, I haven’t, but I’m a big Olivier fan. He was the greatest, wasn’t he?’

‘A most superb actor,’ Rex agreed, and offered Katie a plate of pastries.

Against her better judgement, she took a piece of cream sponge, and reminded herself to go on a diet the moment they got back to London. All of this wonderful home cooking was definitely going to her hips.

Within minutes of her rushed departure, Lavinia came racing back into the room, excitedly waving the video in her hand. She handed it to Xenia, and went back to her seat by the fire, murmuring to Verity, ‘I just
knew
I’d seen it in the library.’

‘What a cast!’ Xenia looked up from the video and stared at Katie. ‘Just listen to this list of actors. Laurence Olivier, Merle Oberon, David Niven, Flora Robson, Geraldine Fitzgerald, and Donald Crisp. It was directed by William Wyler, produced by Sam Goldwyn and written by Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur. Gee whiz, I’d forgotten what an illustrious crew was involved with it! Smashing that you found it, Lavinia.’ Xenia looked across at Verity, and said, ‘Shall we watch it after dinner tonight?’

Verity smiled at her. ‘I think that’s a grand idea. It’ll be a treat for Katie. And by the way, talking of all these wonderful old actors reminds me of the Wainrights’ party in November, Rex. You are going to escort me, aren’t you?’

‘Of course, although I’m damned if I know who I’ll go as. Movie stars of the past. What a theme! I do detest these fancy dress things.’

‘But you promised,’ Verity said, throwing him a reproachful look.

‘You could go as Harry Lime in
The Third Man
,’ Xenia suggested. ‘I don’t mean as played by Orson Welles in the movie, but as played by Michael Rennie
in the British television series. You do look a bit like him, you know.’

‘I take that as a compliment,’ Rex said, bowing. ‘And I have an idea for you, Verity.’ Looking across at her, he said, ‘Try this one on for size, darling. Ann Todd, the way she was in
The Seventh Veil.
’

‘A bit before my time,’ Verity said, laughing. ‘But I vaguely remember Ann Todd. She was a favourite of Daddy’s, and he was always watching her old movies. I bet if we look through the videos later we’ll find some of hers.’

Even though the heating system was turned on, the sudden cold spell had brought a distinct chill to her room. Katie noticed it the moment she returned to her bedroom after tea.

Shivering slightly, she ran over to the fireplace. Kneeling down in front of it, she brought a match to the newspaper and chips of wood which had been placed in the grate. Once these were burning fiercely, she added several logs, then hurried into the adjoining bathroom.

A long soak in a hot bubble bath brought a tingle of warmth to her body; after towelling herself dry and putting on her robe, she returned to the bedroom.

Katie now took her diary out of her carryall and sat down at the
bûreau plat
in the corner. The fireplace was quite close to the little French desk, and Katie felt the warmth, enjoyed the flare of the flames, the crackle of the logs as the fire leapt up the chimney.

Reaching for a pen, she opened her Five Year Diary and found a new page. She sat back for a moment,
endeavouring to marshal her thoughts, and eventually began to write.

October 23rd, 1999

Burton Leyburn Hall

Yorkshire

I have to put a few things down here because I don’t want to forget this weekend in Yorkshire. I can’t remember when I had such a nice time. A lot of it has to do with my own frame of mind…I have been much more relaxed than I usually am in this old house with some very nice people.

They’re all highly individualistic, certainly different from anybody I’ve ever met. Even a bit odd, if I’m honest. And mysteries seem to abound. Still, I do love it here.

I’d love to know the truth about various relationships, but I don’t suppose I ever will. To begin with, there’s Lavinia. She’s treated like a beloved member of the family, but she isn’t even related to Verity or Xenia. She’s the daughter of the cook and an employee herself. She does secretarial work for Verity, runs errands, picks up guests at the station, things like that. And yet Verity treats her like her own daughter.

I mentioned this to Xenia yesterday, but she threw me such a peculiar look I clammed up. Then a bit later on she obviously felt she had to say something, so she told me Verity was extremely democratic in the way she did things here, that she didn’t even want to use her title, play the lady of the manor. But, in fact, she is the lady of the manor, in her
father’s absence. When I was at the studio yesterday, Lavinia explained that Verity was born Lady Verity Leyburn, because as the daughter of an earl she had her own honorary title. Then she married Lord Hawes, and became Lady Hawes, so she’s a lady twice, according to Lavinia. When she was married to Geoffrey Hawes she was called Lady Verity Hawes, though, because being the daughter of an earl entitles her to use her first name. If she had been just a plain Miss when she married Lord Hawes, she would have been known as Lady Hawes. No first name allowed in the title when you’re a simple Miss before marriage to a lord.

Lavinia took ages to explain this, but as an American I find it all a bit complicated. Not Lavinia though. She seems to put great store by it. But then she’s half English and grew up here at the hall.

Then there’s Rex. He’s very nice, kind, and charming, and I’m really grateful that he’s going to make notes for me about Emily Brontë. But he’s a true mystery. Xenia says he’s a spy, he says he isn’t, but would he admit that? Who knows. Still, he did tell me of his own accord that he worked in intelligence. Also, I think he’s in love with Verity, and she with him, no matter what Xenia thinks. They look at each other in a very intimate way.

I am sure that they are having a thing. That they’re lovers. Something I noticed at tea today was Rex’s behaviour with Lavinia. He seems to be very paternal and loving, and Verity was looking on adoringly. If I hadn’t known differently I would have thought they were her parents.

Lavinia confided that the Earl, Verity’s father, stayed away because of his grief, and she sounded a bit strange when she said this. It seems odd to me, sort of neglecting his duties here on the estate. I saw a photograph of him in the library; Xenia told me it was her Uncle Thomas. He was in a Royal Air Force uniform, and she said it was taken during the Second World War and that he was quite a hero, one of the young flyers who did so much in the Battle of Britain. He was also very handsome when he was young. Xenia told me he still is; Lavinia says he’s having an affair with this woman in France called Veronique.

Lavinia’s definitely a bit of a chatterbox. She told me all kinds of other things, when I was up viewing her paintings. It’s true that the family don’t have a lot of money these days, and that it’s Verity’s ingenuity that keeps everything running. Lavinia said the catalogues have helped, but that Verity sold off a lot of family jewellery and paintings, although the Earl hadn’t been too happy about it. She also told me that Xenia will never fall in love again, because she won’t let herself, that she’s ‘the keeper of the flame’, was the way she put it. I also found out that Xenia has a title too, because Tim, the only son of the Earl, was Viscount Leyburn. But she doesn’t use it.

I don’t care about any of their idiosyncrasies, or their complicated relationships. I just know that I like them all very much, and they’ve been so welcoming, so kind to me, especially Xenia. It’s wonderful to have such a true friend, a real girlfriend again after all these years. She’ll never be able to replace Carly and Denise in my heart, but I know she is
a good person, and that she cares about me, as I do her. I love Xenia. She’s special. I hope Lavinia is wrong and that she will fall in love again one day.

Denise is gone, but Carly is there, lying in that hospital bed in the hospice in Connecticut. I haven’t seen her for over a year now, but Mom has been every month or so, as she always has for the last ten years. Mom’s been very devoted to her. Carly looks the same. In some kind of coma…lost to us all, is the way Mom puts it.

I’m still ambivalent about taking on the role of Emily Brontë. For a lot of reasons, really. I’m still not sure I can play the part; and then again, I know that deep down I truly dread going back to New York. It’s not that I’m afraid about my safety, because I’m not. Yes, there’s a murderer roaming free out there, a man who literally got away with murder. But I don’t think he’s after me, even if he did target me all those years ago. The reason I dread going back is because I was never happy in New York. These months I’ve spent in London have only pointed this up even more…

There was a loud knocking on the door. Katie stopped writing and put her pen down. Rising, she hurried to see who was there.

Dodie, the housekeeper, was standing in the corridor with an armful of towels. ‘I’m sorry to disturb you, Miss Byrne, but I thought you might need these…just freshly laundered.’

‘Thanks, Dodie.’ Katie opened the door wider, and the housekeeper came in and headed towards the bathroom.

A moment later she was back in the bedroom; she looked across at Katie, who was standing with her back to the fireplace.

‘Oh, I see you started the fire,’ she said. ‘I’ll send Pell’s boy up with some extra logs.’

‘Thanks.’

Dodie nodded, walked towards the door, and then stopped abruptly. She closed the door with some deliberation and came back to the fireside. In a low voice she asked, ‘Could I have a word with you, Miss Byrne?’

‘Yes, of course.’ Katie frowned slightly, a puzzled look settling on her face.

‘It’s like this, miss. I acted funny, sort of odd, on Friday, when I first saw you. And I know you noticed, so did her ladyship. And Miss Xenia, she noticed too.’

Katie nodded, not sure how to respond to this statement.

Dodie was silent, stood staring at her intently.

Feeling suddenly uncomfortable under this concentrated scrutiny, Katie said, ‘It’s all right, Dodie. Please don’t worry about it.’

Dodie took a small step forward, peered into Katie’s face. ‘I’ve lived here all my life, I was born here…in the village. I’m like part of the family.’

‘Yes,’ Katie murmured, nodding.

‘So you know I’m not a crazy person. What I mean is, her ladyship trusts me, she knows me inside out, miss. Lady Verity is aware I’m psychic. Miss Xenia knows it too, but she doesn’t always accept it. She thinks I’m daft, but I’m not. Far from it, miss. I told Lord Tim not to go to Harrogate that day. I had bad feelings. I saw death. But he didn’t listen. And then they were in that…crash.’

Katie stared at the housekeeper, wide-eyed, wondering what was coming next.

‘On Friday night, when I stood near you, I picked up on you, Miss Byrne…your aura…You are full of pain. You hide it. But I see it. I see it all around you.’

Katie swallowed hard, continuing to gape at Dodie, but she made no comment.

‘There’s violence in your past…violence changed your life…you must go home, Miss Byrne.’

‘To New York?’

‘To America. You must go. There is unfinished business…you are needed.’

‘Who needs me?’

Dodie shook her head. ‘Please, Miss Byrne, go home.
Home.
’ She repeated this word, stressing it. ‘It will all be clear.’

‘I was planning to go for Christmas.’

‘No. Sooner.’

‘Dodie, are you all right?’

‘Yes, miss.’

‘Are you sure? You look very pale,’ Katie said, frowning again.

Dodie came closer, and she placed her hand on Katie’s arm. ‘Listen to me, miss. Your future…I can see it all around you. It’s in America. And there’s unfinished business, like I said. Years old. I mean you no harm, miss.’

‘Oh I know that, Dodie. But I can’t leave London immediately. I have classes to finish at RADA…’ Katie’s voice trailed off under Dodie’s unwavering gaze.

Dodie went on, ‘Soon. Go soon. That’s best.’ She walked across the floor, added, ‘I’ll tell Verity what I’ve told you…I always tell her when I’ve
seen…
something.’ She paused at the door, turned around and said in that same matter-of-fact voice, ‘I’ll send the boy up with the logs.’