The Devil on Horseback (14 page)

“They will take you home and how his grandparenttij will love little Chariot!” | They stood grouped at the door of the house-Madame Gremond, Madame Legere, with Jeanne and Emilie standing behind them.

That group made an indelible mark on my memory and often during the months to come I could see them in my mind’s eyes, just as they were then.

Margot held the baby and I could see that the tears were slowly running down her cheeks.

“I can’t let him go, Minelle, I can’t,” she whispered.

But of course she must, and in her heart she knew it.

We stayed the first night at an inn. Margot and I shared a room and we had the baby with us. We scarcely slept at all. Margot talked for most of the night.

She had the wildest ideas. She wanted us to run away and keep the baby. I went along with her, to soothe her, but in the morning I spoke to her sensibly and told her to stop romancing.

“If you had not wanted to part with your baby you should have waited until you were married before you had one.”

There could never be another like my little Chariot,” she cried.

She really did love her baby. How much? I wondered. Her emotions were ephemeral, but none the less she did feel deeply at the time, and I supposed that never had she been so involved with another human being as she was with her child.

I was glad of the cool aloof manner of the Bellegardes-servants of the Comte. They had been sent to do a job and they were going to do it.

Margot said to me: “I shall see Chariot’s foster parents and I shall come back and see Chariot. How can they think anything would keep me away from my baby!”

But the separation had been subtly arranged.

We had come to an inn on the previous night and tired by the long day’s travelling we retired early to bed and were asleep almost immediately.

When we awoke in the morning. Chariot had disappeared.

Margot looked blank and helpless. She had not imagined it would be like that.

She went to the Bellegardes, who told her gently that the child’s foster parents had come to the inn last night and taken him away. She need have no fear for him. He had gone to a very good home and would be well cared for throughout his life. Now we must leave. The Comte was expecting us to arrive at the chateau within the next few days.

AT THE CHATEAU SILVAINE

Margot was stunned. When I spoke to her she did not answer. I knew that nothing I said could comfort her so I remained silent.

As we passed through the country I knew that she was making mental notes of the places, promising herself that she would come back and find Chariot.

Poor Margot, this was the first time she realized that what had happened was not some sort of high adventure. It had had its terrifying moments, of course, such as when she had discovered she was going to have a child, but even then the excitement had carried her along. Now the abject misery of losing her child enveloped her and she knew what real unhappiness meant.

I shall never forget my first sight of the Chateau Silvaine. It was built on a slight eminence, and its lofty tower could be seen from several miles away. A great fortress with pepper-pot-shaped towers at its four corners and in the centre the great watch tower, it looked formidable, menacing which was what I supposed it was meant to be, for in the thirteenth century it would have been a fortress rather than a home.

As we approached its magnificence increased.

We must have been observed by the minstrel in the watch| tower for the grooms were waiting for us as we came into the;

precincts of the castle.

We were in a big nagged courtyard and ahead of us rose] the grey marble staircase of which Margot had told me. ,j Margot said: “Good day’ to the grooms and one replied:’ ” Welcome back to the chateau. Mademoiselle. I am happy to” see you.” S Thank you, Jacques,” she said. Is my father expecting us oh yes. Mademoiselle, he has given orders that as sooD 96 ” |

as you and the English Mademoiselle arrive you are to go to the red salon and he is to be told of your arrival. “

Margot nodded.

“This is my English cousin. Mademoiselle Maddox.”

“Mademoiselle,” murmured Jacques, bowing.

I inclined my head in acknowledgement and Margot said:

“We should go at once to the red salon. Then we can go to our rooms.”

“Would it not be better to wash and change,” I suggested.

“We are rather dusty from the journey,” “He said to the red salon first,” replied Margot; and I realized, of course, that his word was law.

“We won’t mount the great staircase,” said Margot.

“That is one way to that part of the castle which we use, but there is another. It was the only approach in medieval days, but much of the castle has been altered to provide greater comfort and we can go this way.”

“Monsieur, Madame,” said Jacques to the Bellegardes, you will step this way. ” Margot led me across the courtyard to a door which we went through.

We were in a hall not unlike that at Derringham Manor, but the furniture here was more elaborate and although gilded and intricately decorated gave an impression of delicacy.

There was a beautifully-curved staircase leading from the hall and Margot and I ascended this. We went along a corridor and she opened a door. This was the red salon. I had never seen such beautiful furnishings and it was elegant in the extreme. The curtains were of red silk edged with gold. There were two or three sofas and several gilded chairs. I particularly noticed a cabinet containing glass goblets and decanters. The only thing the room lacked was comfort.

Everything in it seemed either too elaborate or fragile to have been put there for use.

I was very conscious of my travel-stained appearance and thought it typical of the Comte not to give us a chance to make ourselves fit for the meeting. I had already started to feel antagonistic towards him and I was sure that he had acted in this way to make us feel at a disadvantage.

When he came in my heart started to beat fast in spite of my inward resolve not to be browbeaten. He was plainly d. o. h.

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dressed but everything he wore proclaimed that it was of the best. The wool jacket was perfectly cut, the buttons certainly pure gold; the lace at his wrists and throat dazzlingly white.

He stood, legs apart, arms folded behind his back, looking from one to the other of us, a faint smile of satisfaction settling on his lips.

“So … our little affaire is over,” he said.

Margot curtsied while he looked at her half amused, half impatient.

Then his eyes were on me.

“Mademoiselle Maddox, this is a pleasure.”

I inclined my head.

“I have to thank you,” he said, ‘for helping us out of this unfortunate contretemps. I believe it has been conducted as well as we could have hoped. “

“I trust so,” I said.

Tray be seated. You too. Marguerite. “

He indicated two chairs and himself took a chair by the window-his back to it so that his face was in shadow and the light fell full on us. I was immediately aware of my less than immaculate appearance.

“Now let us talk of what lies ahead. That little matter is over and we shall never speak of it again. It is as though it never happened.

Mademoiselle Maddox is on a visit to us. I think she might remain a distant cousin. We discovered the connection when I was in England.

Marguerite has been indisposed and her English cousin had just lost her mother. They comforted each other and out of the goodness of her heart. Mademoiselle Maddox agreed to accompany Marguerite on a little vacation. They” have been resting for a month or two in a quiet village in the south and they are employing their time teaching each other the other’s language, It will be seen how successfully.

Mademoiselle, I comply ment you on your grasp of our tongue. If I may say so youl accent and intonation nave improved since we last met.

You^ grammar of course was always impeccable but while manA can write our language, few can speak. You are an exception!

Thank you,” I said. | ” And since you are my cousin although such a distant one1 think it inappropriate for me to call you MademoiselM

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Maddox. I shall call you Cousin Minelle and you shall call me Cousin Charles. Why, you look horrified! “

“I shall find it difficult,” I said with some embarrassment.

“Such a little matter! I had the impression that you were a woman of great resource, capable of mastering the most difficult obstacles and you balk at a name!”

I merely find it difficult to regard myself as related to-‘ I waved a hand and finished: ‘such grandeur. “

“I am enchanted that you see it as such. Then you will be happy to be part of a family such as ours.”

“I have such a spurious claim.”

“But one which is freely given by me.” He rose and came towards us.

Then, placing his hands on my shoulders, he kissed me solemnly on the brow.

“Cousin Minelle,” he said, “I welcome you into the bosom of the family.”

I flushed uneasily, aware of Margot regarding me in some astonishment.

He resumed his seat.

“Sealed and settled,” he said.

“The kiss of welcome-as binding as my seal on a document. We are grateful to you, Cousin, are we not.

Marguerite? “

“I don’t know what I should have done without Minelle,” she answered fervently.

“So …” He gesticulated.

“We shall entertain here in the chateau,” he went on, ‘and as my cousin you will join with us. “

“I had not expected that,” I replied.

“I shall not really be equipped to join such company.”

“Equipped, dear Cousin? Do you mean mentally or sartorially?”

I certainly did not mean mentally,” I retorted tartly.

“I was teasing, for I did not for one moment think you did. Oh, this tiresome matter of clothing ourselves! We have dressmakers in the castle. Ill swear. Cousin, that you have a good sense of dress. I can picture you’ again that gesture’ most excellently garbed. So you see there is nothing more to be settled.”

“I think there is a great deal,” I protested. I came here to act as Margot’s companion while she needed me. I thought I was to be employed”

“You are employed. But as a cousin instead of a companion.”

A sort of poor relation? “

That sounds sad. A relation, yes, and perhaps not so well endowed with riches as some of us . but we shall all be too well-mannered to remind you of that. “

Margot who had been quietly listening to this conversation suddenly burst out: “I must see Chariot some time.”

“Chariot?” said the Comte coldly.

“And who might Chariot be?”

“He is my baby,” said Margot quickly.

The Comte’s face hardened. Now he looked cruel. Le Diable indeed, I thought. “Have I not made it clear that that matter is over and not | to be mentioned again?”

“Do you think I can stop thinking of my little baby?”

“You can certainly stop talking of it.”

“You say It.
(… as though he is a … thing … nothing of importance, to be pushed aside because he has caused. inconvenience.”p>

;

“It-or he as you prefer to call it-has done just that.”

“Not to me. I want him. I love him.”

He looked from Margot to me, his expression one of ex-f asperation.

“Perhaps I have been premature in congratulating you on the manner in which this unfortunate affair has been conducted.”

“I must see him sometimes,” said Margot sullenly. | “Did you not hear me say that the matter is ended?J Cousin Minelle, take Marguerite to her room. She will show^B you yours. I believe they have put you next to her. I wisb|J to hear no more of this folly.”

“Papa.” She ran to him and caught his hand. He threw he. off impatiently.

“Did you not hear me? Go. Take your cousin and show her her room and get over your foolishness out of my sight.

In that moment I hated him. He had brought his owl illegitimate son into his household but he had no sympath| for poor Margot. I went to her and put my arm about he “Come, Margot,” I said, ‘we will go and rest. We are tire from our journey. “

“Chariot…” she murmured.

“Chariot is in good hands, Margot,” I said gently.

“Cousin Minelle,” said the Comte, “I have given orders the child’s name is not to be mentioned. Pray remember that.”

Suddenly my feelings were too much for me. I was tired from the journey and he had begun by making me feel at a disadvantage by not allowing me to wash and change; and coming face to face with him and seeing him even more overpowering, even more menacing than he had been in my thoughts, was too much for me.

I burst out: “Have you no human feelings! This is a mother. She has recently borne a child who has been snatched from her.”

“Snatched! I did not know it had been snatched. My orders were that it should be quietly taken.”

“You know very well what I mean.”

“Oh,” he said, ‘melodrama! Snatched sounds so much more effective than quietly taken. You make it sound as though there had been a tug of war over this . bastard. I am surprised at you. Cousin. I had thought the English were restrained. Perhaps I have much to learn of them.

”

“You will learn that this one hates cruelty.”

“And would you like to see my daughter’s hopes for the future ended because of a youthful folly? Let me tell you, I have gone to great trouble and expense to extricate her from this absurd affair. I employed you because I thought you were possessed of good sense. I am afraid you will have to let me see a little more of that necessary qualification if you are to remain in my service.”

“I am sure you will find me most unsuitable. In which case I had better leave your employ without delay, for if you expect me to silently stand by and condone your cruelty and injustice, I shall not please you, I assure you.”

“Hasty! Disobedient! Sentimental! None of these is a quality I admire.”

“I did not think I could possibly win your admiration. I shall leave as soon as it is possible. But you must allow me one night’s shelter which in the circumstances you owe me.”