Blossom Time (13 page)

“Lord Sylvester has gone to London,” Rosalind said.

“No, he hasn’t. He’s having an ice with Annabelle. I’m going to tell Dick on her.”

Rosalind had her back to the couple. It was Miss Rafferty who confirmed it.

“It is Miss Fortescue, and with a smart-looking gent.” She had never seen Lord Sylvester.

“It’s him,” Sukey said. “They’re leaving. Good!”

Annabelle spotted Sukey and the others on the way out and stopped to have a word with them.

“Rosalind,” she said, smiling triumphantly and sliding her arm through Sylvester’s.

“Miss Lovelace,” Sylvester added, bowing to the table and turning pink about the ears. “As you see, I am still here.” He emitted a nervous little laugh, almost a giggle.

“Yes, so I see,” Rosalind replied, and introduced Miss Rafferty.

“The party lasted so late last evening that I slept late this morning, nearly till lunch,” Sylvester said. As it was now almost five o’clock, however, this did not explain his still being in town.

Annabelle felt no embarrassment at all. “And I convinced him to stay for the day. Lord Sylvester has taken me to the bookshop to help me choose some really worthwhile books. I am tired of silly gothic novels.”

Before Rosalind could think of a reply, Annabelle turned to Miss Rafferty. “Out enjoying yourself
again,
Miss Rafferty? My, weren’t you fortunate to find such an undemanding employer? What is the excuse this time?”

“Tomorrow is Sukey’s birthday,” Miss Rafferty replied.

“And you are celebrating a day early?”

Rosalind willed down a sharp retort and said, “I asked Miss Rafferty to join me, as I wished to bring Sukey to town to choose a present.”

“I hope you bought her something educational,” Annabelle sniffed.

“You must agree she is a little young for really worthwhile books, as you are only beginning to read them now,” Rosalind replied.

Over Annabelle’s shoulder, Lord Sylvester gave Rosalind a conspiratorial smile and tried to pour oil on the troubled waters. “So you have a birthday tomorrow, eh, Miss Sukey?” he said in a hearty manner. “Well, as I shan’t be here, let me wish you a happy one now.”

Sukey just stared at him.

“Say ‘Thank you,’ Sukey,” Miss Rafferty said.

“Thank you,” Sukey said, and shoveled another spoonful of the ice into her mouth.

“Well, I daresay we ought to be getting along, Miss Fortescue,” Sylvester said.

“Tell Dick to call on me this evening, Rosalind,” Annabelle said, with a long, hard look at Miss Rafferty. “I would like to have a word with him.”

Angered at the chit’s bold command, Rosalind replied, “I shall give him your order, but I cannot guarantee his obedience.”

“He had better be there!”

Sylvester cleared his throat. “Come along, Miss Fortescue,” he said. Then he forced another nervous smile, bowed again at the ladies, and left.

“I hate her,” Sukey said.

“Ladies don’t hate people,” Miss Rafferty said with very little feeling. “You’d better be nice to her. She’s going to be your sister.”

“I already have a sister. I’m going to London to live with Roz. If you don’t take me, Roz, I’ll run away.”

“Then you’ll be sorry, Miss Lovelace!” Miss Rafferty added, and laughed.

“Can I have another ice?” Sukey asked.

“No, you may not,” her sister said. “You’ll spoil your dinner. Let us go, Miss Rafferty.”

As they walked along to the carriage, Miss Rafferty said, “I get the feeling Miss Fortescue is unhappy with me. Would you know why, Miss Lovelace? I’m sure I’ve never been anything but civil to her. My job will be a hard one if the new mistress takes me in dislike.”

Rosalind hardly knew what to say. “I believe she thinks Sukey should have an older governess,” she said.

“Surely she doesn’t think I have Mr. Lovelace in my eye?”

“Perhaps she’s worried at having a pretty young lady about the house. You know how new brides are.”

“I never thought of myself as pretty! I’m a regular hedgehog beside her. Who would look twice at me when he had Miss Fortescue?”

“Oh, I think you’re pretty,” Rosalind said, and frowned. Too pretty!

After a moment’s silence, Miss Rafferty said, “Should I be looking about for another position, do you think? I love working at Apple Hill, but if I’m causing trouble, I’ll leave. It does seem a pity, when Sukey and I get along so well.”

“I shouldn’t do anything before the wedding,” Rosalind said, and smiled in sympathy. She could not in good conscience give more hope than that.

It really was too bad of Annabelle, but there was little doubt that Miss Rafferty’s life would be a living hell once Annabelle took over the house.

All the ladies were quiet on the way home. Sukey leaned against Rosalind’s shoulder and dozed. Miss Rafferty worried over her future, and Rosalind wondered exactly why Sylvester was still in Croydon. Yesterday he had been in a great hurry to get to London. Now he could afford a whole day to help Annabelle select “really worthwhile books,” which she would probably not even open once he was gone, but would display on the sofa table to impress callers.

Clearly Annabelle, with her great hankering for titles, was trying to impress Sylvester. Rosalind decided that he was only trying to get more money from Fortescue for
Camena,
but he might at least have told her he was still in town. It had been embarrassing to meet him with Annabelle. How Harry would laugh if he found out. As to what Dick would say to Annabelle’s bold command, she didn’t even like to think.

When she spoke to Dick later, she softened the command to a request and added, “If you are not too busy.”

“I can’t visit her tonight. My mare is due any hour. Her teats are wet. I’ll be in the barn with the groom. Did she say what she wanted?”

“I believe she was unhappy to see Miss Rafferty in town. I invited Miss Rafferty to go with me.”

“Does she think we ought to keep the girl a prisoner? Demmed nonsense.”

“Perhaps you could send her a note.”

“I suppose I must,” he said. “I shall invite her to Sukey’s birthday party. That might put her back in humor.”

But it would spoil Sukey’s party. Oh well, she would have all her gifts at least. “We planned a little tea party outdoors in the afternoon. If she could come around four . . .”

Dick nodded. “She was with Lord Sylvester, did you say?”

“Yes. He was helping her choose some books.”

“I hope he’s not coming to Sukey’s party!”

“No, he will be gone to London.”

“Thank God for that,” Dick said, and went off to his study to write the note.

Rosalind felt a sense of relief at the thought of his departure as well and told herself it had nothing to do with Sylvester himself. He was delightful company. It was just that he did not mix well with provincials.

Chapter Fourteen

The day of Sukey’s birthday dawned fair. The sky was that dazzling blue that urged birds from their nests to wheel and soar in its glory. A zephyr stirred the leafy branches. Dick smiled as he tiptoed to the nursery to place his present on the table, so that Sukey might have the day’s enjoyment from it. It was a new saddle for her pony, Gully. The saddle was of tan leather, embossed and studded with brass beads arranged in a swirling pattern.

Sukey came pelting downstairs from the nursery while Dick was just finishing his breakfast. She threw her arms around him and placed a loud kiss on his cheek.

“Thanks, Dick. It’s just what I wanted! How did you guess?”

“It was your pointing it out to me every time we passed the saddler’s shop that tipped me the clue.”

Miss Rafferty came behind her, carrying the saddle.

Dick leapt up from the table, nearly upsetting his cup. “Miss Rafferty, you shouldn’t be carrying that. It’s too heavy for a lady.”

She laughed away his concern. “I’ve carried heavier loads than this in my life. It’s a grand saddle, Mr. Lovelace. You’re a lucky girl, Miss Sukey.”

Dick took it from her and called a servant to take it out to the stable. He finished his coffee and left with Sukey. He wanted to see it placed on the pony’s back and watch Sukey take her first ride on it.

“It seems you will have the morning free, Miss Rafferty,” Rosalind said. “You won’t be able to get Sukey out of the saddle if I know anything. A groom will be with her. I see you wisely had her wear her riding habit.”

“Bessie, from the kitchen, told me what Mr. Lovelace was giving her for a present. When the day was so fine, I knew how she would spend the morning. Since it’s her birthday, I think we might spare her her lessons, eh? Can I give you a hand preparing her party, Miss Lovelace?”

“I’d appreciate it, if you have no chores of your own to attend to. We’ll go outside after breakfast and choose a spot for the table. Sit down and join me for coffee.”

Miss Rafferty smiled her pleasure and sat beside Rosalind. “There’s one thing I wanted to ask you, ma’am. About Sukey’s party . . .”

“Yes,
what is it?”

Miss Rafferty moistened her lips, then blurted it out. “Will I be going to the party? I mean—Sukey expects me to, but if Miss Fortescue is to come, I doubt she’ll welcome me. Is she coming?”

“Dick invited her, but of course, you will come,” Rosalind said at once. She felt the blood rise at the very question, or rather, at the possible troubles ahead. Yet it was only right that Miss Rafferty should attend this special do for her charge. Rosalind’s governesses had always attended her birthday parties. Sukey would want it, Dick would want it, and Rosalind wanted it, too.

Miss Rafferty still looked leery. “I could say I have the megrims if my being there is likely to stir up a hornet’s nest. I wouldn’t want to do anything to spoil Sukey’s party.”

The ladies exchanged a tacit but extremely conscious look. They both knew the party would already be spoiled if Annabelle attended. One could not but compare the natures of the two ladies concerned—Miss Rafferty so eager to insure peace and harmony, and Annabelle so bent on destroying it. Miss Rafferty had glided into the tempo of life at Apple Hill so easily and naturally that she already seemed like one of the family. How would they ever get on without her?

“Perhaps she won’t come,” Miss Rafferty said. “No point meeting trouble halfway, as my nanny used to say.”

“I would like you to come,” Rosalind said firmly. “Miss Fortescue is not mistress of this house yet.”

“If you say so, ma’am, but I really meant my offer to have the megrims.”

They abandoned this prickly subject and enjoyed the remainder of their coffee in discussing local matters. When they were finished, they went outside to choose a spot for the party.

“There, beneath the mulberry tree, is where I would choose,” Miss Rafferty said. “It’s not too far for the servants to have to cart everything. It will give us shade if the sun is hot, and shelter from a light sprinkle. That breeze is picking up. I hope it doesn’t rain on the cake.”

Again Miss Rafferty’s good common sense was revealed, and her concern for the household servants, which was always a feature of life at Apple Hill, where the servants were considered part of the family.

They spent a busy hour overseeing the setting up of the party facilities, then went around to the meadow to watch Sukey riding proudly on her new saddle. Snow Drop did not care for horses. It was Sandy who trailed behind Gully, barking his pleasure. Dick was still there, watching her and calling instructions.

“Doesn’t she ride well!” Miss Rafferty exclaimed. “Oh, I wish I could ride. I’ve never had the opportunity.”

“We have a spare hack in the stable,” Dick said. “Feel free to use it, Miss Rafferty.”

“That’s very kind of you, sir,” she said.

But the look she exchanged with Rosalind said, Don’t worry. I won’t do it.
She
wouldn’t like it.

After lunch, the ladies made a special toilette for the party. Rosalind wore the gown with the lowered neckline and a leghorn straw bonnet with a broad brim to protect her from the sun. When Miss Rafferty brought Sukey down, both ladies were in their best afternoon frocks. Sukey looked unusually ladylike in a white dress with a wide blue sash and her new blue hair ribbons holding back her curls. She carried Snow Drop, who had a matching blue ribbon around her neck for the occasion. Miss Rafferty had blossomed forth from her usual dark governess’s clothes into a jonquil muslin with green ribbons, and a straw bonnet.

Dick looked at her, then took a second look. He didn’t smile, but he gazed at her long enough to betray that he hadn’t missed a single ribbon, or the fact that her brown eyes were glowing and her curls gleaming like freshly peeled chestnuts in the sunlight.

“You all look lovely,” he said, then he formally offered Sukey his arm and led the party down to the table, where a pile of presents loomed enticingly.

A guest was already there awaiting them. Lord Harwell sat at his ease, sorting through the gifts. He rose, bowed formally to Sukey, and said, “Many happy returns of the day, Miss Sukey.” Then he handed her a small box wearing a pink ribbon.

“I thought you’d forget,” she said. Then she added nonchalantly over her shoulder, “I invited Harry, Roz.”

Harwell glanced at the five places at the table and said, “Is this fifth place for me, or should I claim a pressing engagement elsewhere?”

“Don’t be silly,” Rosalind said, and sent the servant off for another place setting.

“Annabelle is still to come, is she?” he said. “Odd she sent her present on in advance. I’ve been examining the offerings. Hers looks like a book. Not what I would have expected from her.”

“She sent the present?” Rosalind said, and went to examine it. “Yes, definitely a book. Is there a card? Perhaps she’s not coming.” She exchanged a small, hopeful, spontaneous smile with Miss Rafferty. She looked around and found a card stuck to the back of the gift.

Harwell lifted an eyebrow and said in a quiet aside, “You sound positively hopeful, Roz. Have you and Miss Fortescue come to cuffs so soon?”

“Not yet. Truth to tell, however, we are never far from it. I shall open this card, as Sukey—to her shame—can’t read.” She looked at the envelope. “Oh, it’s addressed to Dick.”