Then Gordon Lewyth arrived.
I knew who he was, of course, because Dermot had explained the family to us and had referred more than once to Gordon Lewyth; but I was unprepared for such a man.
He was dark-haired and tall—being well over six feet—which gave him a commanding appearance. He was also broad-shouldered, which accentuated that certain effect of power.
Matilda Lewyth rose and cried: “Gordon…my dear.” She went to him and he kissed her lightly on the cheek. “Our visitors,” she added.
He shook hands with my father and then my mother.
“These are the twins—Violetta and Dorabella,” said Matilda Lewyth.
His handshake was firm and strong.
“We are pleased to see you,” he said. I wondered if it was a little like the royal “we.” Was he a little arrogant? I wondered. I thought he might be. There was a nonchalance about him, which might have been deliberate, as though he were telling us that although he said he was pleased, that was merely for the sake of convention and he was quite indifferent to our presence.
“Dinner is about to be served,” said Matilda, and I had an idea that we had been waiting for his arrival.
“Then let us go straight in,” he said.
I noticed that his attention was on Dorabella. She seemed a little flustered, but pleased, and aware of his attention. I imagined he was not assessing her charms so much as wondering what such an acquisition to the family would mean.
We went into the dining room. Dorabella was seated between Dermot and his father. Next to me was Gordon Lewyth and on the other side of him my mother.
I noticed his strong hands. He emanated strength, and I wondered what his position was here. It was true that Matilda Lewyth was treated like a member of the family, but I guessed they might be poor relations. Perhaps a deep consciousness of this fact might account for his determination to assert his importance. It was almost imperceptible, it was true, but it was there.
And what was his real position in the household? The son of the housekeeper! Yet he seemed to be managing the estate…with Dermot. If one had not known that, one would think that he was the master of the house.
He talked to my mother and then, dutifully, turned to me. He asked about Caddington and the estate there.
I said: “I suppose there is a similarity about all estates.”
He replied that this was possibly so. But in different parts of the country there must be different ways of going about things. There were hazards…and blessings…of certain climates, for instance, and it was amazing how they could vary throughout the country.
“We have a rainfall which in some ways can be very provoking and in others a blessing. Then there are the strong winds at times along the coast.”
“The estate is very large, I suppose.”
“Not compared with some. Perhaps in this part of the world it would be called large. It extends inland. Being near the sea has its handicaps.”
“Are you very isolated?”
“Not really. Poldown, the little fishing village—a town in miniature—is not very far away.”
“You can see it from the windows, I believe.”
“That’s true.”
“I’m looking forward to visiting it.”
“I doubt you will find much of interest there. I suppose you visit London frequently?”
“Well…occasionally. My uncle has a house in Westminster. When we go to Town we stay there usually. But we are in the country, mainly. My sister and I have only recently left school, so we have been away from home for a lot of the last few years.”
“I see. Well, you asked if we are isolated and the answer is no. The estate fans out, you understand. Perhaps when it gets inland it might be a little isolated. You could ride some way without meeting anyone. There is an estate which adjoins ours, Jermyn’s.”
“I see.”
“We’re not good friends with them. The families never liked each other. It’s some quarrel which goes back for generations. I am not quite sure what it was all about. It was long before my time. However, the Tregarlands and the Jermyns don’t mix.”
“A sort of Capulet and Montague affair?”
“It might be that.”
“That sort of thing is usually the result of something which doesn’t really matter at all. Then the daughter of one house marries the son of the other and all is happy ever after.”
“I have a vague idea that in this case it may have started something like that. So there would have to be a different sequel.”
I laughed.
“So we shall not meet the Jermyns,” I said.
“I can assure you that they will not be invited here.” He looked at me intently. “So you and your sister are twins,” he said.
“Yes.”
“There is a slight resemblance.”
“I think it is quite a strong one, and you say slight.”
He said: “Yes, I repeat, slight.”
I immediately thought: He means I am not as attractive as Dorabella and that he probably finds me rather dull.
I became intent on my food and he turned to my mother.
There was little conversation which I recalled after that, and when the meal was over we went back to the punch room where coffee was served; and after an hour or so Matilda Lewyth whispered to my mother that we must be tired after our journey and she was sure we should like to retire early.
My mother said that was a good idea, so the party broke up and we went to our rooms.
There was a fire in mine, yet the eeriness I had sensed on my arrival had increased. I went to the curtains and drew them back. There was enough moon to show a path of light across the water. I could hear the faint murmuring of the sea as it broke against the rocks below.
I turned back to the room. I would leave the curtains open. If I did not, I should feel shut in.
I waited for the door to open, for I guessed Dorabella would come in. I was right.
She looked beautiful in her blue silk nightdress and negligee, with her hair hanging about her shoulders.
She stood leaning against the door, smiling.
“You don’t have to look surprised,” she said. “You knew I’d come. What do you think of all this?”
“Interesting.”
“It’s more than that. It’s fascinating…meeting them all.”
“It must be for you, if you are going to be part of it…mistress of this place. Just think of it.”
“It’s a bit like Caddington, isn’t it? Except for the sea…we don’t have that.”
“Nor the people. What of them?”
“I say…what do you think of him?”
“As there were several members of the male sex, which one do you mean?”
“Gordon Lewyth, of course.”
“I don’t know him well enough to say.”
“You are maddening. You are so precise about everything. I mean what was your impression?”
“I think he wants everyone to know he is not merely the son of the housekeeper.”
“Well, Matilda Lewyth could hardly be called a housekeeper.”
“I don’t know enough about them yet. It’s all rather unusual.”
“Oh, it’s perfectly clear. She came here when Dermot’s mother died. It was a sort of favor. They were members of the family…poor relations, I imagine. I think she is very nice, don’t you? As for him…Gordon, I mean…well, I think he’s interesting. And…” She giggled. “I think he’s rather pleased…about me.”