Mingled With Venom mb-54

by Gladys Mitchell

  To help with the work involved, the occupiers gave free lodging at Easter to students who were willing to lend a hand with clearing and opening up woodland paths and in summer by going out early in the morning tidying up cans, bottles, cartons and paper left by holiday visitors. They also good-naturedly helped with the household chores and exercised the owners’ three dachshunds.

  At other times of the year Diana was bored. She had never wanted children and when, in the second year of marriage, she produced twins, she was highly resentful of having to tend two babies instead of one. After the children were old enough to be sent to boarding-school and she and her husband became more and more estranged, she began a flirtation, which developed into an affair, with Garnet Porthcawl. An affair, however, taken much more seriously by her than by him, for whereas Diana was frustrated and bored, Garnet was contented with his home life, got on well with his sister, loved Gamaliel and looked upon the weak and often peevish Parsifal with tolerance, if not with affection or respect.

  Another reason for Garnet’s reluctance to be married was that, although his income was rather more than enough to support himself and contribute towards, the support of his sister, her husband and Gamaliel, he doubted whether he could stretch it sufficiently to support a wife as well, for, married or not, he had no intention whatever of deserting Bluebell and Gamaliel. He knew that Parsifal could do little for them.

  Rupert’s estrangement from his wife had begun with her resentment at what had been a difficult birth of the (to her) unwanted twins, followed by the discovery that Romula, Rupert’s wealthy grandmother, far from forgiving him for his illegitimate origins now that he had legitimate children of his own, refused an invitation to his children’s christening and declined to see him when he called to remonstrate with her.

  He earned a sufficient although not a considerable income by writing educational books, but his magnum opus was to be a work of the flora of South Cornwall, for which he sometimes enlisted the help of Parsifal, whose poetic wanderings occasionally produced fairly rare specimens of the local plants. To console himself for the breakdown of marriage, Rupert had what was supposed to be a platonic friendship with Fiona Bute. She would have been prepared to marry him if she had not felt that Romula would disown her if she did. Divorce from his wife, however, was not one of Rupert’s priorities.

  It was not until they were nine years old that Quentin and Millament became aware of the strained atmosphere of the house. This had nothing to do directly with their actual age, but was due to their having been sent home from school in the middle of the spring term owing to an outbreak of infectious illness.

  Suddenly the house was different. During the Easter and summer holidays there were the students, a father who liked children and would take them for walks in the woods, a mother who would put up packets of sandwiches and provide fruit and there were always dogs and puppies about the house and garden. At Christmas their adopted cousin Gamaliel, who had taught them to call him Greg Ubi, always came to stay and they went back with him to Seawards, that mysterious, exciting house, for the New Year and to finish the holiday.

  But in the middle of the spring term it was as though a blight had settled on Campions. The weather was cold and wet, so that it was not possible to go out into the woods, there were no puppies to play with, the thoroughbred dachshund sire was out at stud, the bitch was heavy with her next consignment and was more or less in purdah, one of the maids was under notice of dismissal, the others were sullen because they were on her side and against Diana who had sacked the girl in a fit of petulance and knew it but would not retract, and as for Rupert, the children’s companion at holiday times, he was immersed in his writing.

  Even Gamaliel’s company was denied them, for he still had to attend school. Moreover, his homework, however carelessly or badly he did it— and he refused to ask for help—occupied his evenings. The twins, however, were resilient. When the next school holidays came round, all was as before, and, at their age, they neither knew nor cared about the sympathies and antipathies of those in the family circle. They knew that they had a great grandmother whom they had never seen and a grandmother who paid occasional visits to Campions and brought sweets. They knew from her that she had fostered their father when Rupert was a boy, and had brought him up with her own two children.

  They were well acquainted with Bluebell through Gamaliel, less so with Garnet. Of Parsifal they knew little, for he was not at ease in the company of children and was apt to make himself scarce when they paid visits to Seawards. His, however, was a presence they could easily dispense with. Bluebell, who was an excellent cook, fed them, Gamaliel was their play-fellow and Garnet was sometimes available to join in a game or tell jokes and show them card tricks. Parsifal was, for them, a redundant member of the household and, for his part, was content to be so. Whatever the weather, his daily walks grew longer when Quentin and Millament were in the house.

  Chapter2

  Family Dinner

  « ^ »

  The task of arranging the seating had devolved upon Fiona. Romula had made only two stipulations. She would sit at the head of the table (Fiona had taken this for granted) and facing her at the foot was to be one of the men.

  Fiona, in pursuance of her usual policy, sought out Maria for a consultation. ‘There are all sorts of things to consider,’ she said, ‘and I don’t want to boob.’

  ‘For one thing,’ said Maria, ‘the two children must be placed side by side. They will be shy and awkward. They are at an in-between age. It would be unwise and unkind to separate them. Then their parents had better be near enough to them to tender advice and exercise authority if that is needed.’

  ‘Yes, I had thought of all that, but I can’t put Rupert and Diana together. I don’t even think it would be a good idea to put them directly opposite one another. The first thing to be settled is which of the men to place at the other end of the table, don’t you think? It is a position of some importance.’

  ‘It ought to be Garnet. He is her grandson and my son. It is his obvious place. After all, if everybody was given his rights, Garnet should be her heir.’

  ‘Granted, although I have a feeling it won’t work out that way.’

  ‘Blood is thicker than water.’

  ‘Meaning that that marks the difference between us?’

  ‘Well, let’s not go upon those lines, but there is a difference, I suppose. I’ll tell you what! Let us each take pencil and paper, make our own dining plan and then compare the results. That way there is a basis for rational discussion.’

  ‘Fine! Let’s do just that.’

  In spite of what both saw as a slight passage of arms between the prodigal daughter and the chosen favourite, the two women had no intention of quarrelling. Each made her list and put her point of view and without acrimony a compromise was reached with which both were satisfied.

  The invitations had been greeted by their recipients with mixed feelings. There was no doubt in anybody’s mind that there was some sufficient reason for the unexpected summons and all except the two children and Gamaliel concluded that it had something to do with Romula’s disposal of her property.

  ‘Not that we’re likely to come in for much,’ said Rupert almost amiably to Diana. ‘She can’t forget that I was born on the wrong side of the blanket, although how I could help that happening I can’t possibly say.’

  ‘I don’t intend to go.’

  ‘Oh, I don’t know. Better humour her, I think.’

  ‘Why? She’s never been here, she has never shown the slightest interest in the children or in me and she repudiated your father. Why should you suddenly turn round and lick her boots?’

  ‘Is there any need to be offensive? I should like to go if only to please Aunt Maria. She brought me up when my parents died and was kind to me. Besides, if my grandmother has invited us, she will have invited the others. I wouldn’t mind having a talk with Garnet and Bluebell again. They were like brother and sister to me when I was a boy. Then
there are our own youngsters to consider. She may pass me over, but surely she won’t attach any stigma to Quentin and Millament? We ought not to stand in their way and they are included in the invitation.’

  ‘They are at school until the middle of July.’

  ‘The invitation is for a Saturday. There would be no difficulty about their getting weekend leave.’

  ‘Well, you must please yourself what you do. I certainly shall not go.’

  ‘Oh well, if you want Fiona and Ruby to bounce your children out of their inheritance, I have nothing more to say.’

  ‘Fiona and Ruby? But they’re not family! They couldn’t have the slightest claim!’

  ‘That’s what you think! One thing I can tell you, and I’ll give it you straight. If she does cut them, or either of them, in for the lion’s share, I shall not contest the Will and Maria, Garnet and Bluebell can’t afford to go to litigation, so bang will go her money straight out of the family and there you have it.’

  ‘My price is a new dinner gown.’

  ‘Done!’ Rupert was tempted to add: ‘I knew you’d see reason if I mentioned Ruby’ but he bit the words back and merely remarked, ‘will Truro or Exeter do, or will you want to go up to Town to buy it?’

  Garnet and Bluebell were equally convinced that something was in the wind.

  ‘I haven’t known her call the whole family together since my father died, and that was long enough ago, goodness knows. Do you think she means to spill the beans about her Will?’ said Garnet to his sister.

  ‘I can’t think of any other reason for calling up the clan. What chance do you suppose we stand?’

  ‘She can’t leave us out altogether.’

  ‘I’m not so sure. There are Rupert’s children.’

  ‘I wouldn’t worry so much about those. She thinks Rupert comes of tainted stock. No, it’s Fiona and Ruby who tangle in my hair.’

  ‘Well, they are on the spot, of course, but so is our mother, and we do not come from a marriage over the tongs.’

  ‘We’re our father’s children and she was bitterly opposed to mother’s marriage. Besides, she may have a colour bar. What is she going to think when she sees Gamaliel?’

  ‘Do we need to take him with us?’

  ‘He received a separate invitation. I think Fiona did that deliberately to put you and Parsifal in a quandary,’ said Garnet. ‘I don’t see how you are going to explain to him that he can’t go. He showed me the card he’s had and is bucked to death about it. It would be inhuman to cut short his pleasure. Besides, he’s such a handsome, delightful boy that grandmamma may take a liking to him.’

  ‘I’m not so sure. She’s very much the memsahib, you know, and she was neither consulted nor informed when we adopted him.’

  ‘Anyway, I don’t see how you can do him out of what he obviously regards as a treat. Of course, he’ll need a dinner jacket.’

  ‘Oh, nonsense! He’s only sixteen. His dark suit will do very well.’

  ‘I’ll tell you what then. I’ve got a white mess-jacket somewhere. I’ll rout it out and get it cleaned and pressed. That, with his dark trousers, will fill the bill. Stick a red carnation in his buttonhole and he’ll knock grandmamma for six. Want to bet on it?’

  ‘I wish you wouldn’t spoil him the way you do.’

  ‘Spoil him nothing!’ Garnet turned away whistling and went out of the room. Parsifal said: ‘I would prefer that Gamaliel wore his dark suit. He will be quite conspicuous enough without being dolled up in a white mess-jacket and a red carnation.’

  ‘I know, but what can I do? I’ve no doubt Garnet has already promised him the mess-jacket,’ said Bluebell.

  At Headlands preparations for the dinner party were going ahead with what Fiona, who was superstitious, decided was uncanny smoothness. Mrs Plack had recovered from her crise de nerfs and had actually agreed without fuss to Maria’s suggestions for the menu; Garnet, contacted by Fiona in person, had told her that he no longer had a dog; Bluebell now accepted meat as a suitable food and Diana was no longer on a diet.

  It was all far too good to be true, thought Fiona, and was soon justified in this assumption.

  The places at table had been settled and the place-cards written so that there could be no confusion as to where everybody was to sit, when Ruby sprang a most unwelcome surprise announcement. ‘You’ll have to put those two brats at a separate table or something,’ she said.

  ‘Of course we can’t,’ said Maria. ‘Mother has said definitely that she wants them at table with the rest of us. I showed her the list and it has her full approval. I don’t want to hurt your feelings, Ruby, but actually those children have far more right to sit with the rest of the family than you have.’

  ‘Dee dah dee dah!’ said Ruby. ‘All I meant to say was that Barnie is coming. That’s why I think you’ll have to move them.’

  ‘Barnie?’

  ‘My music master, Barnaby Orme-Head.’

  ‘Does madre know?’ asked Fiona sharply.

  ‘Certainly. I asked her if he could come and she agreed at once when I told her he was my singing teacher.’

  ‘But we shall be thirteen at table!’

  ‘That’s why I still say you’ll have to move the brats, dear. They probably chew with their mouths open and spill things in their laps, anyway, so you’ll be better off without them. Besides, I did promise you that I could get Barnie when you said you’d be short of men. Actually I thought I would be doing you a favour.’

  Gamaliel went into Bluebell’s room to admire himself in her long mirror. Bluebell stood behind him, a tall, cadaverous woman with short-sighted, vaguely kind eyes, hair prematurely grey and bony, long fingered hands with which she was patting her hair into place.

  Gamaliel turned to her. ‘But I am a prince!’ he said. ‘The Black Prince! Was he as black as I am?’

  ‘No. He wore black armour, that is all.’

  ‘Black is beautiful, don’t you think?’

  ‘I think so. In a little while we shall find out what my grandmother thinks.’

  ‘Oh, she will like me. Everybody does.’

  ‘How fortunate you are!’

  ‘What shall I call her?’

  ‘Mrs Leyden, unless she suggests anything else.’

  Her long hands fluttered about his bow tie. ‘And remember not to scrape your plate. It isn’t done in the best circles.’

  ‘Yes, I must make a good impression. Do you think this jacket suits me? It is tight across the shoulders.’

  ‘It makes you look very distinguished.’

  ‘Do I bow or shake hands?’

  ‘Bow first and then see how things go.’

  ‘Are you a society woman?’

  ‘No, thank God, I am an artist.’

  ‘And I am the Black Prince.’

  ‘And you are the Black Prince, but do not get above yourself if the people at Headlands are kind to you. It is not good manners to become exuberant in public’

  ‘I shall remember. Do you think I shall be head boy at school next year?’

  ‘You know that better than I do.’

  ‘I think I shall. I am very popular.’ He turned to the mirror and preened himself.

  Parsifal came into the room. ‘The car has come for us,’ he said. ‘You had better sit beside the chauffeur, Blue, so as not to crease your dress. We three men can squash up on the back seat. I must say it was very civil and thoughtful of your grandmamma to offer the car. Taxi hire from Truro would have been a great expense.’

  ‘We could have hired from Trewith in the village.’

  ‘His old rattle-banger? Hardly, on such an occasion. Oh, well, come along. We mustn’t keep Lunn waiting.’

  ‘Lunn is a great deal too big for his boots,’ said Bluebell. ‘Just because he serves a household of women, he thinks he can do as he pleases. Kindly hand me my cloak. How do you think I look?’

  ‘Splendid, my dear, and Gamaliel too.’

  ‘And,’ said Bluebell, ‘for a last word of warning, Gamaliel, reme
mber not to criticise the food. If you do not like what you are given, say nothing, just put your knife and fork beside one another on your plate, sit back and wait for the servants to collect. And remember that everything will be served over your left shoulder, so sit up straight and do not impede the service.’

  ‘Are you going to be ashamed of me at table?’

  ‘Indeed I hope not. You have natural good manners and should succeed admirably.’

  ‘That is what I think,’ said Gamaliel, smiling broadly.

  With the inclusion of Ruby’s Barnaby Orme-Head, the seating arrangements had suffered some changes and Fiona and Maria had decided to dispense with the seat opposite Romula’s at the lower end of the table.

  ‘It’s going to look so odd otherwise, madre,’ explained Fiona. ‘We’ve given Maria the seat on your right, next to her we’ve put Mr Orme-Head, then Diana, then Gamaliel, next to him Ruby (who is nearest his age) and then Parsifal.’

  ‘On the other side of the table,’ said Maria, ‘next to you we’ve put Garnet, then Fiona and next to her are the two children. The boy Quentin will be opposite his mother so that she can keep an eye on him, and Rupert is to be next to the little girl to fulfil the same purpose. The children go to a very good boarding-school, so they should not be too uncouth. Bluebell is to neighbour Rupert and that concludes the seating arrangements.’

  ‘Oh, well, I suppose it will have to do,’ said Romula. ‘You seem to have given thought to the matter.’ She looked older than her seventy-five years, a cossetted, selfish woman dependent upon others just as much as they were dependent upon her. ‘I would have preferred to have Fiona next to me rather than Garnet.’

  ‘It would make the party less symmetrical, madre, that’s all, but just as you wish,’ said Fiona. ‘I have no desire to sit between Garnet and a fidgety little boy, I assure you.’