Mab was happy.
‘I couldn’t believe Mistress Bersaba could die,’ she said. ‘She’s too sharp for it.’
I laughed at that observation. It was with the laughter that is born of relief and happiness because that great black cloud had been dispersed and the skies were blue again.
Carlotta said: ‘Now you can stop fretting and begin to take a real interest in everything. It’s been exasperating to have you so lukewarm when I take so much trouble to launch you.’
I laughed at her too—the same sort of laughter.
At dinner Carlotta told Sir Gervaise of my adventure.
He was most concerned.
‘My dear Angelet,’ he said, ‘that was a most unwise thing to do!’
‘I know it now. But, you see, it was my purse.’
‘You could have lost so much more.’
‘It was great good fortune that Richard Tolworthy was at hand. Gervaise, you’ve met him. What do you know of him?’
‘He’s a good soldier. He’s had great success in several campaigns.’
‘I mean … personally,’ said Carlotta with a trace of impatience.
Sir Gervaise looked thoughtful. ‘There was something about him. It slips my memory.’
‘Oh, do try to think.’
‘I don’t know. A somewhat unsociable fellow if I remember rightly. He doesn’t mix in society a great deal. Devoted to his profession, of course, which occupies him. Lost his wife …’
‘So he was married.’
‘I believe so.’
‘How could he have lost his wife if he wasn’t,’ said Carlotta with some show of exasperation.
‘I’m not sure,’ said Sir Gervaise. ‘Perhaps it was something else. However, there was some story.’
I lay awake a long time that night. I was thinking of the rejoicing at home. Bersaba no longer in danger, but very weak still and she would be for a long time. We could bear that. My mother would nurse her back to health and when I went home she would be there.
I slept at last and dreamed that I was at home. Bersaba and I were in the hall and as we sat there a man came in. He bowed and I said: ‘This is Bersaba whose life has been saved and, Bersaba, this is Richard Tolworthy who saved mine.’
And he sat down between us and we were very happy together. I awoke reluctantly from that dream.
The Betrothal
I FORGOT THAT UNPLEASANT adventure and thought about the exciting new experiences which were crowding in on me. I could now say to myself, I will tell Bersaba that, without the terrible foreboding coming over me that I might never be able to. I could, in other words, be happy and carefree, so I let myself think about the Mallard ball. I was to have a very special ball gown which Sir Gervaise wished to give me—a thanksgiving offering for two happy events, he told me: my escape from the London villains and the recovery of my sister, and he wanted me to be very happy wearing it.
‘Gervaise doesn’t want you to look like a little country mouse at the Mallard ball,’ said Carlotta, attempting to douse my pleasure as usual; I replied spiritedly that I thought the reason was that Gervaise wanted to be kind.
She shrugged her shoulders. The important thing was the dress. I was to have a rose pink silk bodice and flowing skirt over a most elaborate cream satin petticoat embroidered in gold thread, and it would be cut very low to enhance my long neck which Carlotta rather grudgingly admitted had a certain grace, but the immaturity of my bosom would have to be disguised.
Ana, who was making the dresses, whispered to me that that which Carlotta disparaged was in fact my youthfulness which to many would be very attractive, so I must not be depressed by my immaturity.
‘There are many ageing ladies who would give a great deal to possess it,’ she told me.
I discovered during the making of that dress that Ana was interested in me. She would kneel beside me and encourage me to talk. She liked to hear about Bersaba.
‘You look so alike,’ she said, ‘yet there is a difference.’
‘Most people can’t tell it,’ I replied.
‘Do you know,’ said Ana, ‘I think I could.’
I told her how Bersaba had gone to the midwife because she was so concerned about one of the servants whose baby was overdue.
‘I remember,’ said Ana, ‘she warned us that there was murmuring in the village against my mistress … and yet …’ She hesitated and I looked at her expectantly and Ana said: ‘I did not think she was so fond of my mistress.’
‘I do not think she was either,’ I answered, thinking of Bastian.
‘Yet she warned her.’
‘Of course she would warn her. The mob can be terrible when they are on the march. I once saw them taking a witch. It was horrible. There is something frightening about a mob. Ordinary people become like savages when they get together, and what is supposed to be a righteous cause rouses them to madness and cruelty.’
‘Your sister is a strange lady,’ said Ana.
‘Oh, I know her well. I understand her. Sometimes I think we are one person because there are times when it seems that nature divided the human qualities between us and gave all to one of us and none to the other. She is so much cleverer than I. It didn’t occur to me to go for the midwife, although I knew that the baby was overdue. I’m thoughtless, I suppose, thinking less of other people.’
‘I think you inherited your share of good points, my lady,’ said Ana. ‘Indeed, I should not think your sister has them all. It would be a mistake to think so if some occasion were to arise …’
I looked at her sharply and she went on: ‘But I talk too much. Look at the set of this bodice …’
I was mystified as much by her manner as by her words. It was almost as though she were trying to warn me. Warn me against Bersaba! What nonsense!
But she did seem fond of me, almost protective, and I was beginning to feel that I had kind friends about me. Senara was anxious to make me happy for my mother’s sake, but very soon she would be leaving for Spain. She told me how delighted she was to hear of my sister’s recovery and that if Bersaba had died she would have gone back to be with my mother. Now all was going to be well, it was only a matter of Bersaba’s getting strong again, and it occurred to me that now there was no longer any fear of infection I should soon be returning home.
The night of the ball arrived. I was thrilled to see myself in the most elaborate and exquisite ball dress I had ever possessed. Ana came in to make sure that Mab had helped me dress in the right manner. She whispered to me that she would have liked to do my hair herself but her ladyship was demanding her full attention. She glanced with approval at the dress and said I did it credit, but she was not quite happy about my hair and was going to find some time to come to me and do it as it should be. She came in due course and combed my curled fringe in the right manner, and my long thick hair was coiled up at the back of my head.
The Mallard residence was a large mansion with gardens which ran down to the river. Our hosts received us, and looks of interest were bestowed on me before we passed on. People gathered round Sir Gervaise and Carlotta, who appeared to be very well known, and I was introduced to a young man gloriously attired in breeches of satin, the shape of the bellows we used at home for getting the fire to burn, and I laughed to myself to wonder what he would think of such a homely description, for they were of pale blue satin tied at the knee with a bunch of multicoloured ribbons.
He was a little languid and I was afraid that I was out of step in the dance, which seemed to surprise him. I was relieved when the dancing stopped abruptly and there was a sudden silence over the ballroom. This heralded the arrival of the King and Queen, and the company immediately formed itself into two lines through which the royal party passed, and I had the privilege of getting a close view of Their Majesties. The King was undoubtedly handsome, with clear-cut features, a well-trimmed beard and hair which curled on his shoulders. He looked kindly but stern, and although his stature was not great there was about him such an air of dignity that I would have known him in any gathering as the King. As for the Queen, she had a fascination of her own, largely due to a vitality which was apparent even in her smile, and although she was far from good-looking—for her nose was long and her prominent teeth not good—she had large dark eyes which shone with interest in all about her and her pale skin was smooth and delicate.