by Dilly Court
‘Well done, my boy.’ A bewhiskered gentleman of military bearing rose to his feet and slapped Rupert on the back. ‘Courage under fire. That’s what this country needs.’
Daisy straightened her hat, blushing furiously. ‘I’d like to go now.’
‘Of course, darling.’ Rupert summoned the waitress with an imperious gesture and paid the bill, adding a generous tip.
They made their way between the tables to a further round of applause and congratulations. ‘I hope that none of Mother’s friends were there today,’ Daisy said as they emerged into the sunny street.
Rupert stopped to put on his peaked hat. ‘Who cares? I don’t for one.’ He slipped his arm around her waist. ‘You are sure now, aren’t you, darling? I mean, I know I put you on the spot rather. It wasn’t planned, I just acted on impulse. You must tell me if you’d rather have time to think about it.’
‘I’m quite sure.’
‘Then let’s go straight to the jeweller’s shop and get a ring. I’d have one made for you but there isn’t time, and I want to see you wearing it before I leave.’
Swept along on the tide of his enthusiasm, Daisy made no objections, not even when he chose a ring that was opulent to the point of vulgarity. She had not the heart to tell him that she would have preferred a solitaire and that the ornate claw-set diamond surrounded with emeralds was far too large for her small hand. He was like a child in a toyshop at Christmas time, and his enthusiasm seemed to rub off on the dour shopkeeper and his solemn assistants who all congregated outside the shop to wave them off. Daisy could only suppose that the ring must have cost an awful lot of money to have created such a feeling of goodwill.
At home it was much the same story. Rupert had insisted on stopping off on the way to purchase a magnum of champagne, and he waited impatiently for everyone to congregate in the drawing room before making the announcement. In an unexpected show of emotion, Gwendoline uttered a small shriek and flung her arms around Daisy. ‘My dear girl. I’m so happy for you.’
Teddy slapped Rupert on the back and grabbed the bottle of Bollinger. ‘Ring the bell for Ruby, Bea. I wonder if we brought the champagne glasses from the old house,’ he said hopefully. ‘If not we’ll have to drink it out of one of Daisy’s slippers.’
‘I’d rather drink out of the coal scuttle,’ Beatrice said, giving the embroidered bell pull a tug. ‘Will we have a proper party to celebrate the engagement, Mother?’
Victor cleared his throat loudly. ‘Ahem. Isn’t there something you’ve forgotten, Rupert my boy?’
‘I’m sorry, sir. I know that I should have asked your permission first, but this all came about rather quickly, and I’m leaving first thing in the morning to re-join my regiment. I hope you have no objections.’
Victor shook his head and his severe features creased into a smile. ‘Not at all. I couldn’t be happier. You’re a lucky man.’
‘I certainly know it, sir.’ Rupert gazed fondly at Daisy, squeezing her hand gently. ‘I’m the luckiest chap alive.’
A shiver ran down Daisy’s spine and for a moment it seemed as though a shadow had blotted out the sun. Perhaps it was the ever-present threat of war and the fact that Rupert was in uniform that was unsettling, but the feeling went as quickly as it had come and she was beginning to relax when Ruby appeared in the doorway. Her reaction was one of ill-concealed astonishment when Beatrice blurted out the reason for the celebration. Daisy met her startled gaze with an attempt at a smile. Ruby of all people ought to be pleased that she was no longer a rival for Bowman’s affections. She had placed herself above his reach forever, leaving the field clear. Somehow the thought did not make her feel as happy as it ought. She moved a little closer to Rupert and was rewarded with a hug.
‘Fetch the best glasses, Ruby,’ Teddy said as he attempted to open the bottle. ‘Double quick. We’re celebrating.’
‘Bring one for yourself,’ Daisy said gently. ‘You’ve been through so much with us, Ruby. You’re one of the family now.’
‘Yes, miss.’ Ruby bobbed a curtsey and hurried from the room.
‘I say, Daisy, did you have to treat her like one of us?’ Teddy protested. ‘You’ll give her ideas above her station.’
Rupert drew her closer to him. ‘This is our celebration, Teddy. I think Daisy is entitled to include anyone she likes.’
‘Exactly,’ Bea said enthusiastically. ‘Rupert isn’t a snob. That’s one of the things I love about him, and now he’s going to be my brother. I’d rather have him than you any day, Teddy.’
‘Now, now, children,’ Gwendoline said hastily. ‘Don’t start squabbling or Rupert might change his mind, and that would never do.’
‘It would take more than that, Mrs Lennox,’ Rupert said gallantly. ‘Never having had a brother or a sister I enjoy being part of a larger family.’
Gwendoline puffed out her chest. ‘Does your dear mama know about this?’
‘Not yet, Mrs Lennox. It all came about quite suddenly.’
Beatrice moved closer to Daisy, seizing her left hand. ‘Let me see the ring. Oh, it’s a darling. It’s absolutely huge. How smashing. I want Jimmy to see this.’ She hesitated, flushing to the roots of her hair. ‘Not that we’re thinking of getting engaged or anything like that . . .’ She broke off in a state of confusion.
‘I should think not. You’re only sixteen, not long out of the schoolroom,’ Gwendoline said, bristling. ‘I don’t want to hear any more of that sort of talk from you, young lady. This is what comes of mixing with the lower orders.’
Daisy opened her mouth to protest but was interrupted by the appearance of Ruby bearing a tray of champagne glasses. She placed them on the table and left the room as silently as a shadow. Daisy had to resist the temptation to follow her and explain her reasons for accepting Rupert’s proposal, but she was beginning to realise that it was she herself who had created the barrier that now lay between them. By accepting Rupert’s proposal she had elevated herself to a level in society far above the ordinary person in the street. From now on much would be expected of her, and easy friendship with those in a lower social class would be impossible. There must always be a fine line between servant and mistress. She glanced at the happy faces of her parents as they raised their glasses in a toast. Beatrice downed hers in one gulp and held her glass out for a refill. Laughingly Teddy obliged, ignoring his mother’s protests.
Rupert slid his arm around Daisy’s waist. ‘Happy, darling?’
She sipped her champagne. ‘Yes, of course.’ She twisted her lips into a smile but inside her heart was like ice. She glanced down at the sparkling diamond and emerald ring, feeling as though she had gained the world and lost her soul.
‘You make such a lovely couple,’ Gwendoline said happily. ‘Will you stay for dinner, Rupert? I’m afraid it’s only something that Ruby has cooked up for us with Daisy not being here to supervise.’
‘I’m sure it would be delicious, but my parents are expecting me. As this is my last night at home I wouldn’t want to disappoint them and I really should be going.’
‘Of course, my boy,’ Victor said hastily. ‘We understand entirely.’
‘I’ll see you out.’ Daisy hurried from the room. If she had stayed there for another minute she felt she would have suffocated. She led the way to the front door and opened it, taking deep breaths of the cool evening air.
Rupert had been quick to take the hint and he came up behind her, taking her in his arms. ‘I hope I haven’t rushed you into accepting me, Daisy Bell. You know I’d never do anything to hurt you.’
‘Of course I do.’ She raised her face, parting her lips, and responded to his kiss in a desperate attempt to capture the passion that Bowman had kindled in her, and failing miserably. Rupert’s kiss was gentle, tender and loving, but for her the vital spark was missing. Not so, it seemed, for him. He released her with a sigh of delight.
‘I can’t wait until my next leave, sweetheart. It will probably be at Christmas and we’ll have a ball at Pendlet
on Park to celebrate. It will give my mother something to plan in my absence. She’ll be overjoyed when I pass on our news. I just wish I had a day or two longer so that we could tell her together.’
‘It won’t be too long until Christmas.’ She gave him a gentle push. ‘You’ll be late for dinner and you know how much your father hates unpunctuality.’
‘You know us all so well. We’ll make a wonderful couple, you and I, my darling Daisy Bell.’ He blew her a kiss before turning away and walking down the path to where his motor was parked. With a last cheerful wave he started the engine and climbed into the driver’s seat.
Daisy watched until the Prince Henry was out of sight. She was about to go indoors when she caught a whiff of cigarette smoke. Turning her head she saw Bowman standing in the coach house doorway. He raised his cigarette to his lips and drew on it deeply, exhaling a plume of blue smoke into the still air. Their eyes met and she moved towards him, drawn by an invisible silken thread that refused to be broken.
Chapter Nine
DAISY WAS HALFWAY down the path when she saw another shadowy figure emerge from the coach house. A sudden and painful stab of jealousy brought her to a halt as she realised that it was Ruby, and a feeling of nausea gripped her stomach when she saw her stand on tiptoe to whisper something in Bowman’s ear. She clenched her fists at her sides, hating herself for being stupid enough to fall for his charms.
She retreated into the house, closing the door as if to shut out the bittersweet memories that came flooding back to her. She could not help comparing the sensations that had all but consumed her during the moments of passion she had shared with Bowman and those evoked by Rupert’s tender kiss, and she was instantly ashamed. She must be very wicked to entertain such thoughts and feelings for a man who had simply been toying with her emotions. She could only hope that Bowman would be more honest in his dealings with Ruby.
She hurried back to the drawing room. ‘Oh, it’s you, Daisy,’ Gwendoline said crossly, apparently forgetting that for a brief moment Daisy had been her favourite daughter. ‘I’ve been ringing and ringing for Ruby. Where is that wretched girl? We’re all famished.’
‘Yes, it’s too damn bad,’ Teddy complained. ‘Father and I have been working all day and we expect a meal on time even if it doesn’t come up to scratch.’
‘I was just going to look for her,’ Beatrice said with a tipsy smile. ‘You were ages saying goodbye to Rupert. I’ll bet you two were necking.’
‘Don’t be vulgar, Beatrice.’ Gwendoline sank down on the sofa. ‘Go and see what’s holding the silly girl up, Daisy. Things haven’t been the same this week with you gallivanting about with Rupert. We’ve barely had a decent meal.’
‘I’ll go now,’ Daisy said hastily. It was fortunate that Bea had been too squiffy to go looking for Ruby, otherwise their maid’s secret tryst with Bowman would have been discovered and she would almost certainly have been sacked. Daisy went straight to the kitchen, and discovered a pan of potatoes boiling dry on the hob. The salad was prepared and the cold cuts of meat were laid out on a silver platter, but there was no sign of Ruby. Daisy rescued as many of the potatoes as she could and put them in a serving dish. She was about to take them through to the dining room when Ruby rushed into the kitchen, her frilled white cap awry and her cheeks flushed. She came to a sudden halt and they faced each other like duellists.
Daisy was the first to speak. ‘We’re ready to eat now, Ruby,’ she said, making a huge effort to sound calm and in control of the situation, even though her heart was drumming a tattoo inside her chest. She did not blame Ruby for being smitten by Bowman, but she could not quite control the vicious serpents of jealousy that coiled around her heart. She knew it was ridiculous, but she was gripped by an emotion beyond her control. ‘I’ll take this in if you bring the rest.’ She did not mention Bowman. She would never utter his name in front of Ruby again.
‘I’m sorry, miss,’ Ruby said, straightening her cap. ‘I just went outside to get a breath of fresh air.’
‘I know where you were and who you were with.’ Daisy could not resist the temptation to let Ruby know that she had been seen. ‘It doesn’t matter. Let’s say no more about it. Just serve the food, please.’
‘Of course, miss. Right away.’
There was no need to say more. A truce had been declared. In her heart Daisy knew that they were both victims of Bowman’s irresistible charms.
Lady Pendleton arrived next morning just as Daisy came in from the garden with a trug filled with freshly dug vegetables. Ruby rushed into the kitchen to pass on the news that Daisy’s future mother-in-law was waiting for her in the drawing room.
‘How does she look?’ Daisy demanded, dumping the trug on the table and hurrying into the scullery to wash her hands. ‘Did she seem pleased?’
‘I dunno. It’s hard to tell with them toffs. They don’t give nothing away, but she didn’t appear to be put out, so I suppose that’s a good sign.’
Daisy ripped off her apron and patted her windswept hair into place. ‘Oh well. Here’s hoping she didn’t mind being the last to find out.’ She made her way slowly to the drawing room, but as she opened the door she realised that she had worried needlessly.
Lady Pendleton rose from the sofa, smiling and holding out her arms. ‘My dear girl, I can’t tell you how happy I was to hear the wonderful news.’
Daisy approached her tentatively. ‘I’m sorry that it was sprung on you like that.’
‘That’s how the best surprises come about.’ Lady Pendleton kissed her on both cheeks. ‘I’ve always wanted a daughter and I couldn’t have chosen better myself.’
Gwendoline positively glowed, apparently taking this as a compliment directed at her personally. ‘She will make Rupert a splendid wife.’ She paused, frowning. ‘But just look at the state of you, Daisy Lennox. What on earth have you been doing?’
‘Digging up potatoes and picking runner beans, Mother. We have to eat.’
Lady Pendleton took one of Daisy’s hands and turned it palm upwards, shaking her head. ‘This must stop. You have hands like a navvy and that simply won’t do.’ She turned a serious face to Gwendoline. ‘We must get extra help for you, my dear. Daisy is going to be fully occupied from now on. I mean to take her under my wing and train her for her future role.’
‘But Jane, we can’t afford to take on more servants. I thought you understood our position.’
‘Of course I do, Gwendoline. But it need not be a problem. We are overstaffed as it is and I’m sure I can spare one of my kitchen maids. Iris is a reliable girl, according to my housekeeper. I’ll send her along this afternoon and you can decide whether or not she suits you.’
‘That is more than kind, but I’m afraid . . .’ Gwendoline broke off, biting her lip.
‘There’s no need to talk about payment. Leave all that to me.’
‘Too kind,’ Gwendoline murmured, dabbing her eyes with a scrap of lace that served as a handkerchief. ‘I hope you’re suitably grateful, my girl.’
Daisy was about to protest, but she thought better of it when she saw the stubborn set to her ladyship’s jaw. She was beginning to realise that, despite her gentle demeanour, Jane Pendleton was used to getting her own way. ‘Thank you, ma’am,’ she said, bobbing a curtsey. Suddenly it did not seem appropriate to take Lady Pendleton up on her suggestion that she call her by her Christian name. By accepting Rupert’s proposal of marriage, Daisy could see that she had placed herself once again in a subordinate position, only now it was the woman who would become her mother-in-law who must be obeyed without question.
‘We will start right away.’ Lady Pendleton patted Gwendoline on the shoulder. ‘If I might steal your daughter away for a few hours, I want to familiarise her with the duties and responsibilities expected of my son’s wife.’
‘But surely there’s plenty of time for that?’ Gwendoline said, a worried frown creasing her brow. ‘I mean, they’ve only just become engaged, and Rupert has re-joined his regiment.’
‘And there is much for Daisy to learn; quite apart from the fact that I will introduce her gradually to our set both here and in London. It’s unfortunate that she has never had a London season or been presented at Court, but it will give me great pleasure to launch her into society.’
Daisy exchanged glances with her mother and for once she knew that they were thinking along similar lines. She laid her hand on Lady Pendleton’s arm. ‘Don’t think I’m being ungrateful, but all that isn’t for me. I’ll do my utmost to make Rupert a good wife, but I’m not a debutante. We don’t move in those circles and I don’t think that Rupert would want me to pretend to be something I am not.’
Lady Pendleton’s eyes widened. ‘I’m shocked that you think I would push you into anything that was alien to you, Daisy. I merely want to ease your transition from all this into polite society.’
‘I’ll be an army wife, Lady Pendleton. I’ll learn as I go along and Rupert will help me. As to being a viscountess, I hope that won’t happen for a very long time.’
‘Very well, Daisy. I can see that you’ve made up your mind, and perhaps I was rushing things, but you must allow me to instruct you in the traditions of a great house like Pendleton Park. It’s a responsibility as well as a privilege to inherit such an important piece of English history.’ Lady Pendleton picked up her parasol. ‘We’ll start tomorrow. Your mama will bring you to tea and we will discuss matters further then.’ She held her cheek for Daisy to kiss. ‘I’m delighted to welcome you into our family, my dear.’ She left the room in a flurry of L’Heure Bleue and the rustle of silk.
Daisy followed her to the front door. ‘I will try to be a credit to you, but you must understand that I need to make my own way, with Rupert’s help, of course.’
‘I do understand, Daisy. I know you’ll make him a good wife, but you must allow me to do my bit. If it’s all right with you we’ll travel up to London on Sunday and I’ll make an appointment for you to visit my couturier.’ She glanced at Daisy’s print gown with a sigh. ‘You need some style, and the attention of my coiffeuse. You will indulge me in this at least?’
