Some couples had already begun to dance in the garden.
“Shall we?” he said. “Did you not find our steps fitted perfectly?”
“I thought we performed quite well together.”
“How glad I am that I discovered you and rescued you from that boring Saxon.”
“I was not finding him boring—probing rather.”
“The Saxons were very crude. Didn’t they paint their faces with woad?”
“No, that was the ancient Britons.”
“The Saxons were almost as bad. Not refined in their tastes as the cavaliers were. I’m surprised at James Eliot coming as a Saxon. I thought he would have wanted to be something more grand—the Great Cham or Marco Polo or something, wouldn’t you?”
“Oh … I don’t know.”
“I recognized him at once, didn’t you?”
“N … no.”
“You didn’t! I’m surprised. I thought it was obvious. At an affair like this you can guess most people. Their voices … the way they stand, the way they walk. I suppose it is because we all meet so frequently. But you, my dear gracious Queen, are the enigma. I don’t think we can have met before. I am wondering if you will be very kind and lift the edge of your mask.”
“I shall do no such thing. I shall cower behind it until the moment I take it off.”
“How cruel! I grow more and more intrigued with every passing moment.” He had drawn me towards the garden wall. We leaned out, looking across the Park.
“What a beautiful night!” I said.
“I am finding it more delightful every moment.”
This was flirtation, I recognized. I quite enjoyed it, and I had to confess that I was finding the cavalier’s company very stimulating.
He said suddenly: “You are different … from the other girls.”
“Every human being is different from every other,” I replied. “That is one of the wonders of nature.”
“Is that so? I find a rather boring similarity in many of the young ladies I am called upon to escort.”
“Perhaps that is due to your own lack of vision.”
“I wish it could serve me better tonight. I should like to look behind the mask. Still, I intend to possess my soul in patience. I shall discover on the stroke of midnight when I am determined to be at your side.”
A faint tremor of uneasiness swept over me, but I dismissed it. It was early and I had not yet had the fun I intended to have this evening. I wondered fleetingly how Olivia was faring.
“You are a very mysterious lady,” he went on.
“Well, is not mystery the theme of this gathering? It is intriguing to talk with people and not know who they are. It should make one very cautious.”
“It is supposed to have the opposite effect of making us all careless, throwing off our inhibitions. What does it matter what I do tonight? No one will know who I am … until midnight.”
“Unless, like Cedric the Saxon, we make discoveries.”
“Oh, some are obvious. Did you see Marie Antoinette? I’d be ready to swear she is Lady Massingham. I thought to myself the lady has acquired a little avoirdupois—and after her stay in the Conciergerie! And the gentleman who is our host … who is he? It is harder to guess who he is supposed to be than who he really is. Is it Dr. Johnson? Or Robespierre? Surely one should be able to tell the difference between these two gentlemen—but I’m dashed if I can. You dance divinely.”
“And you pay empty compliments. It is quite impossible to know how one dances in a crowd like this.”
“Please, dear enchanting Queen of Egypt, whisper your name.”
“It is against the rules.”
“Do you always obey rules?”
I hesitated. “Ah,” he said quickly. “You do not. You are a rebel. Just as I am. How far do you rebel against the laws of society?”
“You would not expect me to admit my indiscretions to you, would you?”
“Why not? I don’t know who you are, and do you know me?”
“One should never admit to indiscretions even to people one does not know.”
“Oh, you are very profound. Perhaps when you know me better".
“Tonight I cannot be anyone but Cleopatra and you are Rupert of the Rhine.”
“I have a feeling that tonight is only a beginning.” He gripped my hand suddenly and brought his face close to mine. I was aware of light blue eyes glittering through the mask; they studied me intently.
“Dear Serpent of the Nile,” he said, “I have a feeling that you and I are going to know each other very well.” For a moment I thought he was going to kiss me and I half wanted him to. I was reckless on this night. I certainly was enjoying the world of romantic glamour into which Olivia had the right to enter, while I was an intruder.
He touched the necklace at my throat. “What a clever touch to bring your asp. I hope you don’t decide to carry your interpretation too far. Oh … I believe I have seen that asp before. It’s really rather unusual. I remember seeing it on the neck of a young lady. Ah … yes, I have it. It was Lady Jane Grey … in other words Moira Massingham. And you are not Moira Massingham, are you? A clue! You are a great friend of that young lady and she has lent you her necklace. Collusion, dear Queen. Conspiracy. Who is Miss Massingham’s friend of the moment? I fancied it was Miss Olivia Tressidor. I saw you come in together. I noticed you at once. In spite of your mask you looked excited, ready to enjoy every moment. None of that blase indifference which so many young ladies affect. You came in with Miss Olivia Tressidor when you were accosted by the crude Saxon. I was watching you, you know.”
I was growing more and more uneasy. I turned away from the Park. I said: “I believe they are serving supper in the dining room.”
“They are. Let me escort you.”
It was glittering and so exciting. I was amused and happy. I did not want the evening to end. I found my companion exhilarating, and the fact that I was afraid he would discover I had no right to be here only increased my enjoyment. What if he did discover? He would laugh, I was sure. He would never betray me. Not tonight perhaps. But later he would laugh over the incident with his friends.
We grew very merry. He told me I had chosen wisely for I was possessed of infinite variety. It was a pity all that beauty should be destroyed by a venomous snake.
“We are a tragic pair. Poor Rupert, you found disgrace … in Exeter, was it?”
“Your historical knowledge is greater than mine. You are gracious to have elevated me to the rank of Prince and commander when I entered this house as a humble cavalier.”
So the badinage continued.
I drank champagne and felt myself light-headed. We danced; we talked; he was at times earnest. He wanted us to be friends. “I await midnight with impatience,” he said, “and yet I don’t want the evening to end.”
I certainly was not looking forward to midnight when I should be in the carriage worrying about getting into the house unseen. Most surely I did not want the evening to be over; it had been one of the most exciting I had ever known, and I did not want to say goodbye to my companion.
Servants, presided over by a splendid gentleman in blue and gold livery, stood behind a table laden with dishes; duck and chicken sizzled over braziers. Cutlets of salmon were laid out on dishes garnished with watercress and cucumber; and there were patties containing all sorts of delicacies.
When we had been served we took our plates to one of the tables for two and there we ate and talked again.
He said: “Your eyes are green. I don’t remember ever seeing such green eyes before. You are a mystery woman. But soon I shall know. Do you realize that within an hour that mask will no longer hide your face.”
“Within an hour!”
“Dear Queen, it struck eleven some time ago.”
He was looking at me intently.
“Why are you so scared?” he asked.