by Dilly Court
Rosina snatched up her cotton lawn nightgown and slipped it over her head, covering her shameless nakedness. She climbed into bed and lay down, pulling the coverlet up to her chin. She closed her eyes, but she knew then that she would not sleep. She could still hear the strains of the orchestra playing a waltz, then a polka, a schottische and a quadrille. She was floating in his arms and they were the only two people on the crystal platform – if only she knew his name. The music played on and on, they were whirling round and round – he was repeating her name over and over again. He was shaking her by the shoulder – she opened her eyes and found herself staring up into Bertha's wrinkled face.
'Wake up, sleepyhead. Half the morning has gone already,' Bertha said, chuckling. 'My goodness, you must have had a good time at the Gostellows' last night. I never heard you come in.'
Rosina raised herself up on her elbow and yawned. 'Walter brought me home.'
'I should hope so. I wouldn't have let you go if he hadn't offered to bring you home safely.' Bertha grunted as she bent down to retrieve Rosina's discarded clothing. 'You should pick up your own things, miss. Not leave it to poor old Bertha. Me back's killing me this morning.'
Rosina swung her legs over the side of the bed. 'I'll do it. I was tired. I'm sorry, Bebe.'
'Well, lambkin, you don't get asked out to dinner at a rich man's house very often. I suppose I shouldn't grumble. Come downstairs and have your breakfast and you can tell me all about it. I want to know every detail.' Bertha waddled to the doorway. 'Your papa will be so pleased that young Gostellow is taking such an interest in you. I know it's looking ahead, but it would be a fine match.'
'Don't get your hopes up. I think Harry was more interested in Sukey than in me.'
'Then the man is a fool. But I think you're being too modest. Who would give that whey-faced girl a second glance when they could choose my girl, with her raven hair and violet-blue eyes?'
Rosina hurried to the washstand and poured cold water into the bowl. 'That's soft sawder and you know it, Bebe. Sukey is twice as pretty as me and as lively as a cricket. Gentlemen adore her and I wouldn't be at all surprised if Harry wasn't knocking on her door this very minute.'
'Well, that's odd, ain't it? Because young Mr Gostellow has been sitting in my kitchen for the past ten minutes waiting for you, missy.' Bertha gave a throaty chuckle. 'You hurry up and get dressed and come downstairs. He don't want to chat to an old woman like me.' She winked at Rosina as she left the room and the stairs creaked beneath her heavy tread.
'Bother, bother, bother!' Rosina dashed cold water on her face and rubbed it with a towel until her skin glowed with colour. She dressed hastily, her fingers fumbling with laces and buttons, and she prayed silently that Harry would not say anything to make Bertha suspicious. Having brushed her long hair, tugging at the tangles until it hung about her shoulders like a dark cape, she twisted it into a heavy knot at the nape of her neck and secured it in a snood. Smoothing back the stray tendrils that curled around her forehead, she took a quick look in the mirror, and, satisfied that at least she looked reasonably presentable, she went downstairs to the kitchen.
Harry leapt up from his seat by the range. 'Good morning, Miss Rosina. How splendid you look this morning.'
'She missed out on her beauty sleep because of you, young man,' Bertha said severely. 'It were good of your parents to entertain her and Miss Barnum, but don't make a habit of it. Late nights are bad for young girls.'
Rosina cast her eyes up to heaven. 'Thank you, Bebe. I'm sure Harry doesn't want to hear all that.'
Harry took her hand and raised it to his lips. 'On the contrary, I agree entirely with Miss Spinks. Your welfare should always come first with me.'
'There, what did I say?' Bertha lifted the singing kettle from the hob. 'Wasn't I right, Rosie?'
Rosina felt the blood rush to her cheeks as Harry gave her a quizzical look. 'Is this a social call, Harry? Or did you have business with Walter?'
'A bit of both, but mainly I wanted to speak to you, Rosie.'
'Not until she's had her breakfast, young sir.' Bertha poured boiling water into the teapot.
'I'm not hungry,' Rosina said hastily. There was something in Harry's expression that sent chills running down her spine. His lips were stretched in an urbane smile but there was a disturbing light in his eyes and she sensed trouble. She needed to get him away from Bertha before he said anything out of turn. 'I was going to call on Sukey this morning. Would you like to walk with me, Harry?'
'Delighted.'
'What about your breakfast?' Bertha demanded, barring her way. 'And you ain't going nowhere without a bonnet and gloves. You was raised proper, Rosie, and don't you forget it. Your mama was a real lady and she'd be turning in her grave to see you go out hatless and without gloves.'
Rosina snatched her bonnet and mittens from the dresser and put them on. 'There! Are you happy now, Bebe?'
Bertha stuck out her bottom lip. 'I still say you ought to have something inside you before you go out gallivanting.'
'I will eat later. I promise you.'
Harry opened the door. 'Don't worry, Miss Spinks. I'll take good care of her.'
As she walked past the office door, Rosina could see Walter in his customary seat behind the large oak desk. He looked up and smiled. She waved to him but she did not stop. Outside on the cobblestones, she turned to Harry. 'Well? What is so urgent that it couldn't wait?'
Harry held his bowler hat in his hands, his knuckles whitening. 'I wanted your reassurance that what happened last night would not be repeated.'
'I beg your pardon?'
'And so you should, Rosina. The way you behaved with that – that charlatan was beyond belief.'
'How dare you!'
'I do dare, my dear girl. I dare because I care about you. And I believe I have your father's blessing in paying court to you, Rosina. Do you understand what I'm saying?'
'If speaking to me like a stupid child is your idea of paying court, then I'm sorry for you, Harry.'
He caught her by the hand. 'Don't be angry with me, Rosie. I know I'm not putting this very well, but I – love you. And I want you to be my wife.'
She stared at him in disbelief. Suddenly it seemed as though he was speaking in a foreign tongue. Nothing made sense. 'We hardly know each other. You can't possibly want to marry me. And I'm sorry, but I don't love you.'
'That doesn't matter in the slightest. You will come to love me when we are married. I want you, Rosie. I could look higher for a bride, but I want you.'
'You're saying that I'm beneath you socially, but you'll marry me anyway?'
He squeezed her hand. 'My dear, I wouldn't have put it like that. But you've bewitched me. I can't get you out of my thoughts, and last night, when that oaf was making up to you – I could have killed him. He was just playing with you, Rosie. He was amusing himself at your expense.'
'I don't believe you.'
'You will never see him again. I'm asking you – no, I'm begging you to consider my proposal. I know it's sudden, but you need not answer me immediately. You need time to think it over, I realise that.'
'But Harry . . .'
He leaned towards her so that his face was close to hers. 'I'd advise you to think carefully before you refuse me, my dear. Your papa relies on me to put trade his way. He's made bad decisions lately and lost a lot of business. If I were his son-in-law I could save him from himself. But if I were to go against him – you wouldn't want to bring about his downfall, now would you?'
Chapter Six
Rosina took a step backwards, staring at Harry in disbelief. The man who was glowering at her was so unlike the good-natured, easy-going person she had always thought him to be. 'Are you threatening me?'
The anger died from his eyes and he smiled sheepishly. 'No, not at all. I'm just pointing out that I could be instrumental in restoring your father's flagging fortunes.'
'You're making it all up. My papa works hard and his business might have hit a bad patch, b
ut it will soon recover. You're just exaggerating the case to scare me into accepting your proposal.'
'Would I be so base?' Harry laid his hand across his heart with a comical twist of his lips. 'Come now, Rosie. Surely you don't believe such a thing of me?'
'I don't know. You've got me all confused, Harry. I wish you'd say no more on the subject. I can't marry you, and that is that.'
'You need time to consider my offer. I under-stand, my dear. And perhaps I should have proposed to you in a more romantic manner. I would have done so last night had that clown dressed as a pirate not intruded on our party.'
Rosina shook her head vehemently. 'No, Harry. The man who was masquerading as a pirate has nothing to do with my decision, and I won't change my mind. I'm sorry.'
'I'm disappointed, of course, but I won't give in so easily.' He offered her his arm. 'Will you allow me to escort you to Miss Barnum's house? I need to see the captain on a business matter.'
'All right, as long as you promise not to mention marriage ever again.'
In the Barnums' morning parlour, Sukey sat on the edge of her chair and clapped her hands. 'Oh, Harry. That would be delightful, wouldn't it, Rosie?'
Rosina shot him a reproachful glance. He might have warned her of his intention to ask them both to tea at Gostellow House. If she refused it would look churlish and Sukey was so eager to accept that her heart went out to her, and she could only echo her friend's reply. 'Yes. Delightful.'
He chortled triumphantly. 'I knew you would agree. The fact is that if we're to get away with last night's escapade, you will need to have met my parents. It wouldn't do at all if it came out that they did not know you, when we were all supposed to have dined together.' He slanted a glance at Rosina. 'Who knows, we might even have another outing. We could visit the Crystal Palace or even Cremorne Gardens again, if you so wished.'
She searched his face to see if he was joking, but Harry's expression was innocent of mockery. Forgetting everything that had passed between them, Rosina allowed herself to dream. This might be her only chance to see him again – the mystery man who had quite literally swept her off her feet into that first waltz. She realised that they were both staring at her, waiting for her answer, and she shrugged her shoulders. 'I wouldn't mind. It might be fun.'
Sukey leapt up from her chair, and seizing Rosina round the waist she danced around the room. 'We got away with it last night, Rosie. We could easily do it again.'
'Shall I tell my mother that you accept her invitation to afternoon tea?' Harry smiled indul-gently as Sukey twirled away from Rosina and collapsed onto a chair.
'Yes, please.' Sukey clasped her side, giggling. 'Now I've got a stitch, and it's all your fault, you bad man.'
'Rosie?' Harry turned to her with a question in his eyes.
Slightly dizzy, her thoughts filled with the prospect of seeing the pirate again, she smiled and nodded. 'Thank you, yes.'
'Splendid. I'll come for you at three o'clock this afternoon. Now I must go about my business. Good day, ladies.'
As the door closed behind him, Sukey let out a squeal of delight. 'Isn't that exciting, Rosie? He must like me after all. I used to think it was you he wanted, but he made such a point of asking me to meet his mother; maybe there's hope for me. What do you think? After all, you know Harry much better than I.'
'I think he would be a fool if he did not see what a wonderful girl you are.'
'And do you think his mama will approve of me?'
'How could she not, Sukey?'
The Gostellows' mansion was set in the middle of a terrace of five-storey town houses. The red bricks had long ago been dulled to dark brown by soot and city dirt. The carved oak front door had developed the patina of age, but the brass door furniture was polished to a high shine, and the lion's head door knocker almost growled at them as they waited on the top step. An aged retainer opened the door, shielding his rheumy eyes against the sunlight with a gnarled hand.
'About time too, Potter,' Harry said impatiently. He stood back to allow Rosina and Sukey to enter the entrance hall. 'Show the ladies to the drawing room.'
Rosina could feel Sukey shivering, and she gave her arm an encouraging squeeze. Despite the warmth outside, the house had a morgue-like chill. Potter hobbled across the black and white marble floor, and his hands shook as he reached out to grasp the porcelain doorknobs. He looked so old and frail that it seemed wrong to allow him to wait on them. Rosina had to curb the desire to rush over and help him, but she thanked him kindly as he opened the double doors and ushered them into the drawing room. It took her eyes a few moments to become accustomed to the gloom. The heavy velvet curtains were half drawn across the tall windows, and the ornately carved mahogany furniture loomed up out of the shadows like predatory monsters.
'Mother,' Harry said, approaching the pale-faced woman who was reclining on a sofa in front of a desultory fire. 'May I present Miss Rosina May and Miss Susan Barnum?'
Margaret Gostellow raised a lorgnette to her eyes and looked them up and down: for all the world, Rosina thought, like an auctioneer inspecting a couple of pieces of sale goods. She curtsied, as it seemed the correct thing to do in the circumstances. With a nervous giggle, Sukey copied her.
'Please be seated,' Margaret said in a weak voice. 'You're making my neck ache with staring up at you.'
Harry pulled up two chairs. 'You mustn't tire yourself, Mother.'
Sukey gave him a grateful smile and sat down, but Rosina did not feel comfortable in this oppressive atmosphere and she remained standing.
'It's all right, Harry. I'm feeling quite well this afternoon.' Ignoring Sukey, Margaret gave Rosina an appraising look. 'So you are Ellie Carpenter's daughter.'
'You knew my mother, ma'am?' Rosina's knees seemed to have turned to jelly at the unexpected mention of her mother's name, and she sank down onto the chair.
'We were at school together.' Margaret smiled for the first time. 'It seems like yesterday when we were pupils at Miss Harbutt's Academy for Young Ladies.'
'I never knew her.'
'She was a lovely girl. It was such a shame that she became entangled with the wrong sort of man, and then she married beneath her station. I believe she was quite happy with your father, although, naturally, we did not see much of each other after the wedding.'
Rosina opened her mouth to defend her father, but Margaret seemed to have lost interest in her. She raised her lorgnette again to peer at Sukey. 'And you, Miss Barnum. You are welcome in my house. I don't hold the sins of the fathers against the children.'
Harry coughed and cleared his throat. 'I don't think we need to go into that, Mother.'
Sukey's lips trembled. 'I – I don't understand.'
'Doesn't the child know about her father's reputation, Harry?' Margaret's eyebrows formed twin arcs of surprise. 'Well, it would all have come out in time, I suppose.'
Sukey leapt to her feet. 'Perhaps I should not have come? I don't know what you're talking about, ma'am. But I can't stay here and listen to bad things about my dada.'
'Oh, sit down, you silly girl. It's ancient history, and it really doesn't concern you.'
'Mother, please,' Harry said hastily. 'Can we change the subject?'
