And before that visit was over he had decided to take Enderby for a short period; and I was sure he had done so, not because the house was suitable but because he was falling in love with me and wanted to be near the family.
He had moved in before Christmas. It was very easy because the place was furnished, just as Aunt Sophie had left it before she died. We seemed to spend a lot of time going back and forth to Enderby and he was often with us at Eversleigh. Amaryllis and I helped him decorate the place for Christmas and he insisted that he entertain us on Boxing Day as he came to us for Christmas Day.
My mother said it was rather touching to see Enderby in a festive mood. There had never been anything like that during Aunt Sophie’s ownership, and before that the place had been empty and neglected. We brought in the yule log and hung a Christmas bush on the door; we stuck up holly and mistletoe in every conceivable place and we decorated the house with ivy.
The Barringtons were invited and I think Mrs. Barrington was a little put out because she wanted us all to go to them on the important days and it was she who had to have her Christmas party on Christmas Eve.
When I had danced with Edward at Grasslands he had once more asked me to marry him. I told him I was still undecided. He was rather sad—anxious about Peter Lansdon’s coming into my life. I was sorry for him and should have liked to comfort him because he was going through such a difficult time; but I did not know how to, except by promising to marry him.
On that occasion I had a word or two with Clare Carson. She said: “What an attractive man your friend from London is.”
I agreed with her.
“I wonder how long he will stay at Enderby.”
“He is deciding what he will do now that he is going to settle in England. He has just sold his estates in Jamaica.”
“How fascinating. I expect… you will marry him.”
I flushed hotly. “Why do you say that?”
“I thought it was what he wanted … you too.”
“You know more than I do.”
She laughed and I realized that was something she rarely did. “I should be surprised if it didn’t happen that way,” she said.
I thought: Is it as obvious as that? Or was it a matter of wishful thinking on Clare’s part.
The Pettigrews were spending Christmas at Eversleigh. My father liked Jonathan to come fairly frequently. He would, of course, be the eventual heir and my father was the sort of man to look ahead. He had a certain affection for Jonathan, a grudging admiration which I think meant that he saw in his grandson something of what he had been at his age.
Peter Lansdon was intrigued by the relationships in our family. He said: “It is so complicated that I have to keep reminding myself who is who. It seems odd that Jessica should be your aunt, Amaryllis.”
“Oh yes,” agreed Amaryllis. “It gave her such superiority when we were in the school room and you can be sure she took advantage of it.”
“Jessica would always seize an advantage.”
We were walking home from church at the time. It was Christmas morning and my head was ringing with the Christmas hymns which I loved. I felt so happy that I could have burst into song.
I said: “You make me sound grasping and scheming. Is that your opinion of me?”
He turned to me and took my hand. “I am sorry. I merely meant you are full of energy … full of the desire to enjoy life … which is what it is meant to be.”
“It is true,” Amaryllis confirmed. “Jessica is… how can I put it? … aware. I am far more gullible, more trusting, more stupid I suppose.”
“I will not allow you to say such things.” He had turned his attention to her. “Like Jessica, you are charming …”
“Although so different,” she added.
“You are both … as you should be.”
“You make us sound like paragons,” I said, “which we are not… even Amaryllis.”
“I shall insist on keeping my opinions.”
“You will probably change them when you know us better.”
“I know you very well already.”
“People can never really know each other.”
“You are thinking of the secret places of the heart. Well, perhaps that is what makes people so fascinating. Would you say that?”
“Perhaps.”
“I am still a little at sea about these relatives of yours. Who is the lively young gentleman?”
“You mean Jonathan?”
“Yes, Jonathan. What exactly is his relationship?”
“My father in his first marriage had twin sons—David and Jonathan. Jonathan married Millicent Pettigrew and young Jonathan is their son. David married my mother’s daughter by her first marriage, Claudine. And Amaryllis is the outcome of that marriage.”
“So Amaryllis and Jonathan are cousins.”
“Yes, and I am Jonathan’s—as well as Amaryllis’—aunt.”
“Isn’t it strange what complicated relations we have managed to build up,” said Amaryllis.
“My father likes Jonathan to come here,” I said. “I daresay he’ll have Eversleigh one day, after David has died of course.”
“Don’t speak of it,” said Amaryllis quickly.
“It will be years and years and we all have to go some time,” I retorted lightly.
“And haven’t the Pettigrews got an estate for Jonathan somewhere?”
“They have a fine house but it is not exactly an estate,” said Amaryllis.
“It will have to be Eversleigh for Jonathan,” I put in. “My father will insist. It was lucky that his sons were so different. David was very good for the estate and I believe his brother Jonathan wasn’t interested. He had all sorts of mysterious irons in the fire. He died violently … I think because of them. I am sure he would never have settled down to run the estate. It may be Jonathan will be like his father.”
“My mother says he reminds her so much of him,” said Amaryllis.
“Your father seems to be a man who knows exactly what he wants,” said Peter to me. “And he’ll make sure he gets it.”
“That sums him up perfectly,” I replied. “There will be trouble if Jonathan doesn’t come up to expectations. He is always saying it is a pity David didn’t have a son as well as you, Amaryllis. He is very fond of you but he would have preferred you to be a boy. He thinks David’s son would have been … amenable.”
“You see,” said Amaryllis, “I have a reputation for being easily led.”
“That’s not exactly true,” I replied. “Amaryllis can be firm, but she is inclined to believe the best of people.”
“What a nice compliment for an aunt to pay her niece,” said Peter lightly; he slipped his arms through mine and that of Amaryllis.
We had reached the house.
Peter said goodbye to us and went back to Enderby. He would be returning later for the evening festivities.
It was a very merry party which sat down for Christmas dinner, consisting of the Barringtons, with Clare Carson, Peter Lansdon, the Pettigrews and our own family. It also included the doctor and his wife and the solicitor from the nearby town, who looked after my father’s domestic business at Eversleigh. For several years they had been our guests and the only newcomer was Peter Lansdon. He made a difference to the party. He had all the social graces to make him immediately popular. Clare Carson seemed to like him a great deal—but I think that was largely due to the fact that she believed he wanted to marry me and that I felt strongly about him.
I was thinking a great deal about Edward and it seemed to me that it would be an excellent idea if she married him. She would care for him, sympathize with him; and she knew something about the factory for she had lived with the family in Nottingham since she was a child.
How unfortunate life was! Why did people set their hearts on the wrong people?
I talked to Edward at dinner and asked how matters were faring at Nottingham.