It was a week or so after our return to Lamason ... a lovely golden September afternoon. We had gone into the town on the wagon and then dispersed, going our various ways. We were at the patisserie. There were myself, Janine, Lavinia and a girl called Marie Dallon. We had chosen our cakes and had seated ourselves under one of the sunshades. Charles, the garcon, had brought our coffee.
We were laughing together when a man strolled by. He paused to look at us. He half smiled. Lavinia immediately responded, for, a little mature, he was very good looking in a dark, rather Italianate way. I noticed how his eyes rested on Lavinia; but there was nothing unusual in that.
"Good afternoon," he said. "Forgive me. I was so enchanted. I heard your laughter and I saw you all sitting there ... looking so happy. It is unforgivable of me ... but please forgive me."
"You are forgiven," said Lavinia, flashing a smile at him.
"Then I am indeed happy."
I thought he would bow and pass on, but he did not. He was still looking at Lavinia.
"Tell me," he went on, "are you not the young ladies from the chateau?"
"You are right," cried Lavinia.
"I have seen girls from the chateau in the past. Today I have just arrived here ... on my way to Paris. And I see that it is just the same. I rejoice. There are still young ladies from the chateau and ... they grow more enchanting than ever. I would make a request."
We looked at him enquiringly.
"It is that I may be allowed to stay here ... just for a little moment ... so that I may continue to look at you ... and perhaps talk a little."
Janine, Marie and I looked at each other a trifle uneasily. Heaven knew what would be the result if we were discovered in conversation with a strange man. It would be disastrous, quite outside the laws of Lamason; and the mistress who had brought us might appear at any moment.
But Lavinia was saying, "If you can become invisible when our dragon of a mistress comes into sight, do. You will have to stop talking to us if she comes along. Then we can say you are just someone who sat here after we had been served with our coffee, so we could not move away."
"How delightfully devious!" He sat down. The garcon came and he ordered coffee.
"I think we are safe," said Lavinia, leaning her arms on the table and studying him intently. Her very attitude was inviting.
"I shall be watchful and at the first appearance of the dragon I shall summon my magical powers and become invisible."
Lavinia laughed, throwing back her head and displaying perfect teeth.
"Now you must tell me about the Chateau Lamason. Are the rules there very strict?"
"In a way ... but not as bad as school," said Lavinia.
"For which you are very grateful?"
"Oh yes," I said. "It enables us to come into the town like this."
"And meet interesting people," added Lavinia, smiling at him.
We talked. He asked a good many questions about us and the school, and in return he told us that he was the Comte de Borgasson. His chateau was some fifty miles from here. It was one of those which had escaped the Revolution.
"Like Lamason," I put in.
"Yes ... that is so." He gave me a grave smile, but he could not for long keep his eyes from Lavinia.
During that first encounter he established himself as an aristocrat with a castle some fifty miles away, a large estate which included vineyards. He was young, unmarried; his father had just died and he had inherited the title and large estates.
"My student days are over," he said. "I have to be serious now."
It was quite an adventure. I was sure Lavinia had enjoyed it, particularly as he had shown so clearly that she was the one among us who held his attention.
When we saw Mademoiselle coming towards us we all rose innocently, murmured goodbye to our handsome companion and joined the others at the wagon.
I saw Lavinia look around as I clambered in. I saw the Comte lift his hand. Lavinia was smiling secretly as we drove back to the chateau.
We saw the Comte the next time we went into town, and he took coffee with us in the same way as he had before. There was a great deal of lighthearted chatter. This time he sat next to Lavinia.
Perhaps because I knew her so well I guessed she had a secret. She often disappeared and we were not sure where she was. She was very absentminded and seemed no longer aware of the charms of Monsieur Dubois. She danced with a kind of abandon, but she never sought to make him choose her, as she had in the past, by moving a little forward and flicking back the hair from her face.
I did not see the Comte again, and I forgot about him until one day I met him near the chateau. He smiled at me in a rather absentminded way, as though he were trying to remember who I was. I was not surprised, for during our encounters he had had eyes for no one but Lavinia.
She continued in a kind of euphoric mood. She was less querulous, and would often sit twirling a lock of her hair, staring into space and smiling.
I asked her one day what was happening.
She gave me a rather contemptuous look.
"Oh, you wouldn't understand."
"If it is so very profound I wonder you do."
"This isn't silly old schoolwork. This is life."
"Oh ... that," I retorted. "Has Monsieur Dubois discovered that he no longer loves his wife and four children and dreams only of you?"
"Don't be silly. Monsieur Dubois! That little dancing master! Do you think he is a real man? Oh, you might ... knowing so little about them."
"Of course, you know a great deal."
She smiled secretly.
"So it is something to do with men," I said.
"Hush," she replied, quite good temperedly.
I should have been prepared.
One day when we all went to the town she did not come. She said she had a headache. I should not have believed her. She looked quite radiant on that occasion.
When we returned she was not in our room and it was some time before she came in. She was very flushed. I cannot understand now why I was so blind. After all, I had seen it all before with Jos.
Christmas had come. It was celebrated in the traditional manner at Lamason, and most of the girls remained at the chateau, because it was too far to go home, so it was a merry time.
Janine told me that she had seen the Comte again. He was quite near the chateau. He had not seemed to recognize her. Janine said, "He looked a little purposeful."
A few days later I was alone with Lavinia and I told her that Janine had seen him.
She smirked a little and said: "Can you keep a secret?"
"Of course. What is it?"
"I'm going to be married."
"Married? Of course you will be. When Lady Harriet has found a husband for you."
She shook her head. "Did you think I couldn't find one for myself?"
"You certainly give the impression that you are on the lookout."
"I didn't have to wait very long, did I?"
"What do you mean?"
"I am going to marry the Comte."
"The Comte! Do you mean that man who spoke to us in the town?"
She nodded gleefully.
"But what of your mother?"
"She will be delighted."
"Have you told her?"
"No, Jean-Pierre thinks it better not ... just yet. Not until we have decided how to break the news."
"Jean-Pierre?"
"The Comte, of course, silly. Just think of it. I shall be the Comtesse de Borgasson, and I shall live in a wonderful chateau. He is very rich. He will go to England and see Mama. He noticed me at once ... that first afternoon, and he knew that I was for him. Isn't it wonderful?"