Mistress of Mellyn (25 page)

He put his head on one side and regarded me in the old mocking manner.

” My dear Miss Leigh,” he said lightly. ” I am a very ignorant man, I fear. I have no notion how valuable a gift must be before it is acceptable.”

I flushed hotly and stammered: ” This is a very valuable ornament.”

” I thought it so suitable. A horseshoe means luck, you know. And you have a way with horses, have you not?”

” I … I have no occasion to wear such a valuable piece of jewellery.”

” I thought you might wear it to the ball tonight.”

For a moment I had a picture of myself dancing with him. I should be wearing Phillida’s green silk dress, which would compare favourably with those of his guests because Phillida had a way with clothes. I would wear my shawl, and my diamond brooch would be proudly flaunted on the green silk, because I treasured it so much, and I treasured it because he had given it to me.

” I feel I have no right.”

” Oh,” he murmured, ” I begin to understand. You feel that I give the brooch in the same spirit as Mr. Nansellock offered Jacinth.”

” So …” I stammered, ” you knew of that?”

” Oh, I know most things that go on here. Miss Leigh. You returned the horse. Very proper and what I would expect of you. Now the brooch is given in a very different spirit. I give it to you for a reason. You have been good to Alvean. Not only as a governess but as a woman. Do you know what I mean? There is more to the care of a child, is there not, than arithmetic and grammar. You gave her that little extra. The brooch belonged to Alvean’s mother. Look upon it like this, Miss Leigh: It is a gift of appreciation from us both. Does that make it all right?”

I was silent for a few moments. Then I said : ” Yes … that is different, of course. I accept the brooch. Thank you very much, Mr.

TreMellyn. “

He smiled at me—it was a smile I did not fully understand, because it seemed to hold in it many meanings.

I was afraid to try to understand.

” Thank you,” I murmured again; and I hurried back to the house.

I went up to my room and took out the brooch. I pinned it on my dress, and immediately my lavender cotton took on a new look.

I would wear the diamonds tonight. I would go in Phillida’s dress and my comb and shawl, and on my breast I would wear Alice’s diamonds.

So on this strange Christmas Day I had a gift from Alice.

I had dined in the middle of the day in the small dining room with Connan and Alvean, the first meal I had taken with them in this intimacy. We had eaten turkey and plum pudding and had been waited on by Kitty and Daisy. I could feel that certain significant looks were being directed towards us.

” On Christmas Day,” Connan had said, ” you could not be expected to dine alone. Do you know, Miss Leigh, I fear we have treated you rather badly. I should have suggested that you should go home to your family for Christmas. You should have reminded me.”

” I felt I had been here too short a time to ask for a holiday,” I answered. ” Besides …”

” In view of Alvean’s accident, you felt you should stay,” he murmured. “It is good of you to be so thoughtful.”

Conversation in the small dining room was animated. The three of us discussed the Christmas customs, and Connan told us stories of what had happened in previous years, how on one occasion the wassailers had arrived late so that the family had gone to church and they had to wait outside and serenade them all the way home.

I imagined Alice with him now. I imagined her sitting in the chair I now occupied. I wondered what the conversation was like then. I wondered if now, seeing me there, he was thinking of Alice.

I kept reminding myself that it was merely because it was Christmas that I was sitting here. That after the festivities were over I should revert to my old place.

But I was not going to think of that now. Tonight I was going to the ball. Miraculously I had a dress worthy of the occasion. I had a comb of amber and a brooch of diamonds. I felt. Tonight I shall mingle with these people on my own terms. It will be quite unlike that occasion when I danced in the solarium.

I took Connan’s advice that afternoon and tried to rest so that I might stay fresh until the early morning. Much to my surprise I did manage to sleep. I must have slept lightly for I dreamed, and as so often in this house, my dreams were of Alice. I thought that she came to the ball, a shadowy wraith of a figure whom no one but I could see, and she whispered to me as I danced with Connan: ” This is what I want, Marty. I like to see this.

I like to see you sitting in my chair at luncheon. I like to see your hand in that of Connan. You . Marty . you . not another. “

I awoke with reluctance. That was a pleasant dream. I tried to sleep again, tried to get back to that half-world where ghosts came back from the tomb and told you that they longed for you to have all that you most wanted in life.

Daisy brought me a cup of tea at five o’clock. On Mrs. Polgrey’s instructions, she told me.

” I’ve broughtee a piece of Mrs. Polgrey’s fuggan to take with it,” she said, indicating a slice of raisin cake. ” If there’s more you do want, ‘tis only for you to say.”

I said : ” This will be ample.”

” Then you’ll be wanting to get ready for the ball, will ‘ee not, Miss?”

” There’s plenty of time,” I told her.

” I’ll bring ‘ee hot water at six, Miss. That’ll give ‘ee plenty of time to dress. The Master ‘un be receiving the guests at eight.

That’s how it always was. And don’t forget—’tis but buffet supper at nine, so there’s a long time to go afore you’ get more to eat. Are you sure you wouldn’t like something more than that there piece of fuggan?

”

I was sure I was going to find it difficult to eat what she had brought so I said: ” This is quite enough. Daisy.”

” Well, ‘tis for you to say, Miss.”

She stood at the door a moment, her head on one side, watching me.

Speculatively? Was she regarding me with a new interest?

I pictured them in the servants’ hall, Tapperty leading the conversation.

Were they always wondering what new relationship had begun—or was about to begin—between the Master of the house and the governess?

I was at the ball in Phillida’s green dress with the tight, low-cut bodice and the billowing skirt. I had dressed my hair differently, piling it high on my head; it was necessary to do so in order to do justice to the comb. On my dress sparkled the diamond brooch.

I was happy. I could mingle with the guests as one of them. No one would know, unless told, that I was only the governess.

I had waited until the ballroom was full before I went down. Then I could best mingle with the guests. I had only been there a few minutes when Peter was at my elbow.

” You look dazzling,” he said.

” Thank you. I am glad to surprise you.”

“I’m not in the least surprised. I always knew how you could look, given the chance.”

” You always know how to pay the compliment.”

” To you I always say what I mean. One thing I have not yet said to you, and that is A happy Christmas.”

” ” Thank you. I wish you the same. “

” Let us make it so for each other. I have brought no gift for you.”

” But why should you?”

” Because it is Christmas, and a pleasant custom for friends to exchange gifts.”

” But not for …”

” Please … please … no reminders of governessing tonight. One day I am going to give you Jacinth, you know. She is meant for you. I see Connan is about to open the ball. Will you partner me?”

” Thank you, yes.”

” It’s the traditional dance, you know.”

” I don’t know it.”

” It’s easy. You only have to follow me.” He began humming the tune to me. ” Haven’t you seen it done before?”

” Yes, through the peep in the solarium at the last ball.”

” Ah, that last ball! We danced together. But Connan cut in, didn’t he?”

” It was somewhat unconventional.”

” Very, for our governess. I’m really surprised at her.”

The music had begun, and Connan was walking into the centre of the hall holding Celestine by the hand. To my horror I realised that Peter and I would have to join them and dance those first few bars with them.

I tried to hold back, but Peter had me firmly by the hand. Celestine was surprised to see me there; but if Connan was he gave no sign. I imagined that Celestine reasoned: It is all very well to ask the governess as it Is Christmas. But should she immediately thrust herself into such a prominent position?

However, I believed her to be of too sweet a nature to show her astonishment after that first start of surprise. She gave me a warm smile.

I said : “I shouldn’t be here. I don’t really know the dance.

I didn’t realise . “

” Follow us,” said Connan.

” We’ll look after you,” echoed Peter.

And in a few seconds the others were falling in behind us.

Round the hall we went to the tune of The Furry Dance.

” You’re doing excellently,” said Connan with a smile as our hands touched.

” You will soon be a Cornishwoman,” added Celestine. ” And why not?”

demanded Peter. ” Are we not the salt of the earth?”

” I am not sure that Miss Leigh thinks so,” replied Connan. ” I am becoming very interested in all the customs of the country,” I added.

” And in the inhabitants, I hope,” whispered Peter. We danced on. It was simple enough to learn, and when it was over I knew all the movements.

As the last bars were played I heard someone to say: ” Who is the striking-looking young woman who danced with Peter Nansellock?”

I wanted for the answer to be: ” Oh, that’s the governess.” But it was different: ” I’ve no idea. She certainly is … unusual.”

I was exultant. I doubt that I had ever been so happy in my life.

I knew that in the time to come I should treasure every minute of that wonderful evening, for I was not only at the ball, I was a success at the ball.

I did not lack partners; and, even when I was forced to admit that I was the governess, I continued to receive the homage due to an attractive woman. What had happened to change me, I wondered. Why couldn’t I have been like this at Aunt Adelaide’s parties? But if I had, I should never have come to Mount Mellyn.

Then I knew why I had not been like this. It was not only the green dress, the amber comb and the diamond brooch; I was in love, and love was the greatest beautifier of all.

Never mind if I was ridiculously, hopelessly in love. I was like Cinderella at the ball, determined to enjoy myself until the stroke of twelve.

A strange thing happened while I was dancing. I was with Sir Thomas Treslyn, who turned out to be a courteous old gentleman, a little wheezy during the dance so I suggested that he might prefer to sit out the rest of it. He was very grateful to me and I felt quite fond of him. I was ready to be fond of anyone on that night.

He said: ” I’m getting a little too old for the dance. Miss er …”

” Leigh,” I said. ” Miss Leigh. I’m the governess here, Sir Thomas.”

” Oh indeed,” he said. ” I was going to say. Miss Leigh, it is extremely kind of you to think of my comfort when you must be longing to dance.”

” I’m quite happy to sit for a while.”

” I see that you are kind as well as very attractive.”

I remembered Phillida’s instructions and accepted the compliments nonchalantly as though I had been accustomed to them all my life.

He was relaxed and confidential. ” It’s my wife who likes to come to these affairs. She has so much vitality.”

” Ah yes,” I said, ” she is very beautiful.”

I had noticed her, of course, the very moment I entered the ballroom;

she was in pale mauve chiffon over an underskirt of green; she evidently had a passion for chiffon and such dinging materials, and it was understandable considering her figure; she wore quantities of diamonds. The mauve toning down the green was exquisite and I wondered

whether my own vivid j emerald was not a little blatant compared with hers. She looked outstandingly beautiful, as she would in any assembly.

He nodded, a little sadly I thought.

And as I sat talking, my eyes, wandering round the hall, went suddenly to the peep high in the wall, that star-shaped opening which merged so perfectly into the murals that none would have guessed it was there.

Someone was watching the ball through the peep, but it was impossible to see who it was.

I thought: Of course it is Alvean. Did she not always watch the ball through the peep? Then I was suddenly startled for, as I was sitting there, watching the dancers, I saw Alvean. I had forgotten that this was a special occasion—Christmas Day—and just as, on such a day, the governess might come to the ball, so might Alvean.

She was dressed in a white muslin dress with a wide blue sash and I saw that she wore the silver whip pinned to the bodice of her dress.

All these things I noticed with half my attention. I looked swiftly up to the peep. The face, unrecognisable, indefinable, was still there.

Supper was served in the dining room and the punch room. There was a buffet in both these rooms and guests helped themselves, for according to custom the servants on this day of days were having their own ball in their own hall.

I ssw, that these people who so rarely waited on themselves now found it quite good fun to do so. Piled on dishes were the results of all that kitchen activity; small pies of various kinds, called here pasties—not the enormous ones which were eaten frequently in the kitchen, but dainty ones. There were slices of beef, and chicken and fish of various descriptions. There was a great bowl of hot punch;

another of mulled wine; there was mead, whisky and sloe gin.

Peter Nansellock, with whom I had had the supper dance, led me into the punch room. Sir Thomas Treslyn was already there with Celestine, and Peter led me to the table at which they were sitting.

” Leave it to me,” he said. ” I’ll feed you all” I said: ” Allow me to help you.”

“Nonsense,” he replied.

“You. remain with Celeste.” He whispered banteringly: ” You’re not the governess tonight, Miss Leigh; you’re a lady like the rest of them. Don’t forget it;