The Chainmakers (17 page)

Now she wandered through the lovely house, wondering if Robert would be free later, or whether he intended to take his guests out to lunch. She went into the small library, one of her favourite rooms, and perused the shelves carefully, there were a few volumes in English if one could find them.

'Oh, you're here.'

Anna turned quickly to see Delphine had entered the library. She was wearing a stunning day dress of caramel coloured lace, with an inset fichu of pale peach silk, and as she moved Anna was aware of the delicate perfume which surrounded her. She smiled graciously at Anna.

'I was not aware you read French Miss...er...'

'Gibson.' Anna supplied quietly. 'Anna Gibson.' She turned back to the shelves. 'I don't read French, but there are some English books here.'

'Oh yes, I believe there are a few. I read very few novels, when I do I read in the original French, one tends to lose so much in the translation.'

Anna did not reply. Delphine however, was inclined to talk. She took out a slim volume and offered it to Anna. 'Here's one in English which may be suitable, I have not read it but it seems very light reading.'

The snub was obvious. Anna stiffened, and said quietly, 'Why are you determined to be so rude to me? I have never harmed you, as far as I know.'

'Harmed me? Of course you have not my dear. It would be very difficult for you to do so, would it not? The contest would hardly be equal.'

Delphine appeared to be enjoying herself. Anna, trembling slightly but with a high spot of colour flaming each cheek, stood her ground.

'Then I ask again, why be so rude to me?'

Delphine laughed. 'Since we are alone, I will confess it. I was not trying to be rude, as you so quaintly put it, I was simply giving you a gentle warning.'

'About what? What have I done?'

‘Nothing as far as I know, but you might...'

'Might what?' Anna said hotly, becoming exasperated.

'Become a little too close to my fiancé. I have seen you talking and laughing together.'

'Your fiancé?' Anna began to smile. 'But I don't even know your fiancé...'

Even as she said it a cold dread began to gnaw. Delphine, observing Anna's face said quietly, 'So he didn't tell you? I thought as much.' She turned away as if annoyed, but then said in a more conciliatory tone, 'It's unofficial as yet, but Robert and I have been promised for almost two years, we are getting married next Spring.'

Anna did not answer. She stood, whitefaced, staring at Delphine with a look of undisguised shock. Delphine became concerned.

'Come and sit down Anna, you are as white as a ghost.' She propelled Anna towards a chair, and Anna sat down mechanically.

Delphine hovered. 'I did not mean to upset you so, but I had to say something!'

'Y... yes.' It was a strangled whisper.

'I mean before it became serious...' Delphine looked into the wide eyes, and read the fear there. 'Anna, you didn't...?' She stared at Anna's pathetic face, and recoiled with a groan of disgust.

'You little fool!' she exploded, 'How could you be so stupid?' She paced the floor angrily, and her lips set into a thin determined line. 'So Robert's had his sticky fingers in the jam pot has he?' she said, almost to herself. 'Again!' she added, and Anna felt as if she was shrinking, crumbling, dissolving slowly until she was an unimportant scrap, a meaningless and insubstantial wisp, which could not think or feel, could not... could not...

How Anna reached her room she never knew. It was a combination of shambling steps and wild clutching at the bannister rail, pushed and pulled by Delphine, who, once Anna was safely on the bed, fetched a glass of water. Anna attempted to sip it but was overcome by a wave of nausea.

After a moment she felt a little better, and attempted to regain some remnants of dignity.

'I'm sorry,' she said to Delphine. 'I'm alright now.'

Delphine sat on the edge of the bed. Her voice was quietly determined.

'Anna, I'm sorry to have given you such a shock, but I ask you to understand this is something of a surprise to me also. I had not realised that...' Her voice tailed off, and Anna took her cue.

'Oh, there was never anything between Robert and I,' she lied. 'Nothing serious, just a mild flirtation really. It was a shock to find out he is engaged, that's all.'

Delphine did not believe her, but said quietly, 'Of course. Do you feel better now?'

'Much better thank you.' The conventions were in place again.

'Then I have one last thing to say to you. It will be best if you leave as quickly as possible. I am going to invite Robert to accompany us to Cannes for a couple of months.'

Even now Anna clung to a shred of hope. 'He may not wish to come,' she said. I think he wants to return to England.'

'He is coming to Cannes,' Delphine said firmly. 'There is no doubt about that. If he doesn't...' She left the rest of the sentence unspoken, but it hung in the air between them.

Delphine rose. 'Surely you did not think...? You must have known Robert could not marry you?'

Anna forced a smile, her composure returning fast. 'Of course not, it never entered my mind. I told you, there was nothing serious.'

Delphine sighed and said, not unkindly, 'Go home, Anna Gibson. Go back to what you know and to those who care for you. It is useless to try to be what you are not. Goodbye.'

'Goodbye, Miss Braybrook.'

~

Robert found her in the kitchen an hour later, preparing the vegetables for dinner.

'Oh there you are piglet.' He had the grace to appear slightly shamefaced. 'Delphine tells me you have decided to go home early...'

'Is it true?'

Robert looked slightly startled. 'Er... is what true?'

'You are engaged to be married to Delphine?' His manner gave the answer, but she had to hear it from his lips.

'Well... unofficially...'

'For two years?' For some unaccountable reason she wanted to brush the lock of hair back from his eyes.

'About that I suppose.'

'Why didn't you tell me?' She must keep her voice steady.

'Didn't think of it really... it didn't seem to have anything to do with us...' He smiled sheepishly, and Anna realised with sudden clarity that he was speaking the truth.

'You didn't think I would be hurt?' she asked gently, almost as if she spoke to a child.

'Why should you be? It isn't as though...' Suddenly a frown crossed his face and he said slowly, 'You didn't think... Anna, you can't have thought we would ever... marry?' His expression showed more clearly than words that the idea was preposterous.

Anna made no reply, and Robert continued quickly, 'You can't have thought that, I never gave you the slightest reason to think...'

'Is Delphine rich?' Anna interrupted softly.

Robert was taken aback. 'That's not a nice suggestion piglet. I have known Delphine for years, her father and mine were business acquaintances.'

'I see. But she is rich? As wealthy as you?'

Robert laughed shortly. 'She could buy and sell our family a hundred times over, but that has nothing to do with it.'

'Of course.' Anna smiled,'I just wanted to know, to get things sorted out in my mind.' She turned away and cut fiercely into a cauliflower, adding lightly, 'I think I'll go on Friday if I can get a ticket.'

'There's no reason to go early, piglet. We aren't leaving for Cannes for at least a week, stay until then...'

'No, I must get back.' She put the pieces of cauliflower into a bowl and sprinkled them with salt.

'Well, if you must. When I get home, about the end of September, I'll get in touch.' He came around the kitchen table and took her hand. 'We mustn't lose each other piglet. There is no need for you to work at chainmaking for the rest of your life.'

She looked at him, not understanding.

'What else is there?'

He smiled his easy smile, he was back in control and there had been no ugly scene. 'Well, I've been giving that some thought,' he said, 'Why don't I buy a little place for you, a house in Dudley perhaps, or a cottage in the country if you prefer it. I'll make you an allowance, not a fortune but more than you will ever earn from the chain, and then we can see each other whenever I can get away.'

His words were like a physical blow, her degradation was complete. She picked up a basket of peas and began to shell them. Controlling the tremble in her voice she said 'No.'

'But why not? We could...'

'No.'

'But what else can you do? Make chain for the rest of your life? Or marry that gawky Irish workman... if he'll have you now of course.' He stopped. 'I'm sorry piglet, I shouldn't have said that.'

Anna swallowed. 'No, you shouldn't.' Her trembling hands would not split the peas.

'It's just that I'm worried for you.' Robert said. 'I want to see that you have a decent life...'

'Decent? Did you say decent?' she almost spat at him.

Robert sighed. 'It's a bit late for your Chapel puritanism now. You must face the fact there is nothing for you in Sandley Heath. Your father's a well known drunk...'

'I have a brother too.'

'And what can he do? He doesn't earn enough to keep his own family. I'm saying nothing against him but you know yourself he'll never amount to anything. He's a well meaning clod of earth that's all, without enough sense...'

'How dare you!' Anna's self control fractured. 'How dare you speak of my brother that way?' She was beside herself with anger and her words were torn from her in a frenzied jumble. 'My brother is a man... a real man, a decent, hardworking man with more true worth than... than... a hundred of you or your fancy friends! You, who talk on and on about honesty in art... what about honesty in life...?'

Her words tailed off as the tears came, running unheeded down her cheeks. Robert attempted to put his arm round her.

'I didn't mean anything... I'm sure your brother is a fine chap... I just want...'

'Oh, what's the use?' Anna got up from the table and wiped her eyes. 'Robert, this conversation is over. The answer is 'No' and will always be 'No'. I'll leave on Friday.'

'If that's what you want.'

Anna walked to the door. She said, 'Why did you make love to me Robert? Why did you bring me to France?'

'You are beautiful, piglet,' he said simply. 'I've always tried to make you see. I appreciate beauty.'

~

On the day Anna left Paris the weather broke, and a fine rain drizzled over the grey stone of the city as she drove to the Gare du Nord. She had bidden a tearful goodbye to Therese, who had presented her with a collar of hand made pillow lace, which she had sat up half the night to finish on time. Anna had promised to write to her at La Maison Blanche, and Therese had been distressed.