The girl in the blue dress

by Mary Burchell

  CHAPTER TEN

  "IT was Sara who was the girl in the background of Geoffrey's life, wasn't it?" Franklin repeated, as Beverley remained obstinately silent. "That was why you were so afraid I might guess something, while she was still engaged to me." "Yes," Beverley said slowly at last. "I suppose there's no harm in telling you now. But at the time of the ball I just couldn't let you know. It was bad enough to indulge in anxieties and suspicions myself, but I had no right to communicate them to anyone else. Least of all, to- someone so personally concerned. Besides, I didn't even know if the suspicions were well founded. I don't even know now, come to that," she added, with a sigh. "But what you really think is that Geoffrey was the man Sara loved, only she wouldn't marry him so long as he was a poor man?" "It sounds so brutal, put like that, but " "The truth often sounds brutal," Franklin assured her dryly. "I think in fact, I know that Sara was was greatly attracted to Geoffrey. And I can't imagine that he didn't feel something very deep for her. Otherwise, why should he kiss her even after he had become engaged to me? But I don't think marriage was ever even discussed between them. It was not a practical possibility." "And now?" He bit his lip thoughtfully. "Now it has become so," said Beverley simply. "That's all there is to it. I should be unrealistic if I didn't face the fact." He stared at her moodily for a moment, then those bold, fine eyes of his softened, and he said, "You're a brave girl. Do you think this was why Sara threw me over?" "No. I'm sure it wasn't. She didn't know about Geoffrey's .changed' circumstances until I told her or, 145 rather, Toni told her an hour ago. It was just one of those coincidences that happen only in real life." "I'm glad of that," he said slowly. "I'd have hated to think she just snatched shamelessly at the best of both worlds. I'll be glad to remember that she drew back from marrying "me simply because she couldn't face the substitute thing, after all.""It couldn't have been easy," Beverley agreed. 1 think the family are all pretty mad with her. Except Toni, of course." And she smiled."Toni doesn't grind her own axe," agreed Franklin, with a slight smile in his turn, allowing by implication that the others did. "Maybe she's too young to have learned how." ."Oh, no. She is naturally and truly interested m what happens to other people. She always will be," Beverley asserted. "But that doesn't mean that I'm criticizing the rest of them. In fact, if it wouldn't sound impertinent at such a time, I'd say don't think too hardly of Sara." "I don't." He turned his head and smiled full at Beverley. "And if I-felt tempted to do so, I'd remind myself that you don't appear to be thinking too harshly of Geoffrey, which must be more difficult still What are you going to do about this new turn of events, Beverley?" "I don't know." "Just let things take their course?" "Oh, not that. I think I'll have to put the issue to the test, in some way." "It will take some courage.""It would take more to face the prospect of just going on, for ever wondering what the real truth was," Beverley retorted. ."Well, perhaps you're right." But he frowned. I wish I could help you "somehow." "Why, how nice of you!" She smiled at him, a good deal touched. "I guess it's something I just have to tackle myself, but it gives one a good feeling to know that someone sympathetic is in the background." "Anyway " he started the car again "use me if you need me. I'm feeling a bit out on a limb, at the moment, 146 s and I suppose it would soothe my pride a bit to know i that I was essential to someone's planning. Selfish, of : course, but you may as well profit by it, if it's of any ! use to you." "I will." Beverley laughed softly and accepted his casual explanation of his offer at its face value. But , at heart she was touched afresh by what she guessed to be his genuine sympathy. He drove her home after that, but refused her invitation to come in. "Your mother and you will have enough to talk about, without a third person there," he declared. And she saw no reason to tell him that she had chosen to keep her mother in happy ignorance of the complications in her life. Indeed, as soon as she re-entered the house, Beverley found it necessary to resume the role of the happy fiancee whose future was looking exceptionally rosy. "How did you get on with him?" Aunt Ellen wanted to know immediately, not even specifying who the all-important "him" might be. And she followed Beverley into her mother's room, determined not to miss ' a word of the story.I-"How is Mr. Revian, darling?" Beverley's mother I looked at her anxiously. "You look a bit pale and I strained." I "Oh, I'm all right." Beverley put up her hands andI. rubbed some colour, into her cheeks, and Aunt Ellen said, "I'll get you a cup of tea in a minute. But what happened? "I "Nothing very much. Except that I was taken to see l-Mr. Revian, and he spoke kindly to me, and seemed quite pleased with Geoffrey's choice." ('' "I wouldn't call that 'nothing very much,' " declared I'Aunt Ellen, "I'd call that very satisfactory. You mean I-that he knows all about the engagement and he appproves?"JH "I think so yes. He referred to Grandfather very gflatteringly. Said he was the best man he ever heard the pulpit, and a grand worker in the parish too.' "That's true," agreed Aunt Ellen with 'emphasis. it 147 "Though he was a little on the easy-going side with some who needed a firm hand. Still, Mr. Revian wouldn�t . know that. Go on, Beverley what else happened? "I stayed to lunch, and m t Geoffrey's aunt "How did she react?" Aunt Ellen displayed an almost professional interest in aunts. ."Politely rather than cordially, but that may just be her manner." "No, no. She's jealous, mark my words. She will make trouble if she can." Aunt Ellen wagged her head in gloomy satisfaction."Oh, Ellen, don't be tiresome! Why should she? exclaimed Mrs. Farman impatiently."Because she feels her own nose will be put out of joint of course. But, in a way, that's a good sign. She wouldn't bother to be resentful if she thought Beverley would soon be pushed out of the way." "I wouldn't describe, her as resentful," said Beverley mildly. "Merely un enthusiastic.""Well, they seem to have kept you there long enough, anyway, dear." Beverley's mother smiled encouragingly at her daughter. "You must have stayed a good while after lunch." ,"Oh, no, I didn't, really. I met Toni Wayne on the bus and I called in at the Grange with her." "Why?" asked Aunt Ellen, who always liked to get straight to the bottom of things. "To tell them about Geoffrey's father?" ' "Not exactly," said Beverley disingenuously. went to collect "some work I'd like to finish this evening. Besides Toni had told me some rather distressing news. Sara has broken off her engagement." "Broken off her engagement? Then they won't want you working for them anymore," cried Aunt Ellen, unerringly selecting the blackest outlook from a personal point of view."I don't know about that. For the moment, I am to go on with what I have already begun. But no, I suppose they won't want me for as long as I expected." "That's the least of it," declared Mrs. Farman, "especially as you're getting married so soon yourself. 148 But I'm dreadfully sorry. Did you hear what the trouble-was? How could she not want to marry that nice Franklin Lowell, I wonder?" "I think she just decided she didn't love him, after all," Beverley said cautiously. "With all that money and a fine estate?" Aunt Ellen laughed sceptically. "She's probably found someone who is a better catch. Though how and who it could be " she frowned as she obviously passed the cream of the county in hurried mental review "I really don't know. I'll go and see about some tea now." And, satisfied that she had heard all the salient points of Beverley's news, she hurried off into the kitchen. "Will he take it very badly, Beverley?" Mrs. Farman, who had developed quite a genuine affection for Franklin Lowell, looked solemn. "He is feeling pretty miserable at the moment, I think. He brought me home just now, and we talked about the broken engagement quite frankly," Beverley explained. "But, at a guess, I'd say his pride has suffered more than his heart." "Pride can hurt an awful lot too," remarked Mrs. Farman, but she smiled slightly. "Was there someone else, Beverley?" "Someone else?" "I mean did Sara Wayne decide that she wanted another man whatever the reason?" Beverley hesitated a moment. Then she said curiously. "I wonder what makes you ask that?" "It's always a reason for a broken engagement or one of the reasons. But, in this case, it seems the most likely reason to me. Franklin Lowell is a rather special person, quite apart from his worldly advantages. It would be quite extraordinarily difficult not to fall in love with him, I'd say, unless there were a strong counter-attraction. And as fo
r falling out of love with him No, no, Sara Wayne must have had a very definite feeling for someone other than Franklin." "Oh, Mother, do you think so?" Beverley tried not to feel dejected and failed. "So it seems to me. But there's no need to look 149 glum about it, darling. Once one has accepted the fact : that she has broken the engagement, I suppose the reason why is immaterial." "I suppose so," Beverley managed to say. But she was glad that Aunt Ellen chose this moment to come in a ain with the tea. During the evening Aunt Ellen became almost cheerful. Local affairs were of finitely more interest to her than world affairs, and she had a wonderful time examining Sara Wayne's broken engagement from every point of view. But it was only when she remarked, "This will make a great deal of difference to the other Wayne girls too," that Beverley remembered guiltily that she had forgotten to isk Franklin what he intended to do about Madeleine's y ar at the Dramatic Academy. "There will be another chance," she assured herself remorsefully. "And there arr rather a lot of other things to think about at the moment." Once or twice that .'venire she was severely tempted to go out to the telephone box and ring up Geoffrey, just to hear his voice ad some reassurance from the sound of it. But if she did that, she would feel bound to tell him of Sara's broken engagement. And what she wanted above else was to be able to see him when he first receiv.-d that news. It was possible, of course, that Sara would herself telephone and tell him, but, on the whole, Beverley thought that unlikely. And so she waited, through an uneventful evening and a rather restless night, alternately hoping for the best and trying to face the possibility of.Ae worst happening. Early the next morning, the respectful chauffeur in the big car came to fetch her once more to Castleton. : Mr. Revian was a little better again, it seemed, but he ! would like to see Beverley once more. Mr. Geoffrey had not been able to come himself because he was reluctant to leave his father. If Miss Farman wouldn't mind n A , I Miss Farman said she did not mind at all. And, having bade her mother and aunt a hasty goodbye, she stepped into the big car and was driven away in state, , 150 ] while one or two stragglers from early morning service stood in the main street of Binwick and gazed after her in pleasant speculation. The car was very beautiful and very comfortable, and Beverley leaned back in her seat, trying hard to relax. But she knew, from the way her hands kept on clasping each other tightly, that she was feeling nervous again. Not because of the prospect of seeing old Mr. Revian this time. But because she knew that she was nearing the vital test of her relationship with Geoffrey. It was he himself who came out to greet her, aad his welcoming hug and kiss should have been reassuring enough. But when he led her into the library and said, "The old man's asleep at the moment," she knew that here was the opportunity which she had to grasp. For a minute or two they talked of Geoffrey's father and the slight improvement which had taken place since Beverley had been there the previous day. Then, at a momentary pause in the conversation, she heard herself say quite calmly, "I met Toni when I was going back on the bus yesterday." "Toni Wayne? Did you? That gave you lively company, I'll bet. She always has plenty to say for herself.""Yes. She had even more than usual to tell me yesterday." Beverley paused for a second, with the queer sensation that she was about to launch herself into space from a great height. Then, though she lookedstraight at Geoffrey, she spoke almost casually. "It seems that Sara has broken off her engagement""Sara! broken her engagement?" She was not really surprised that Geoffrey had lost colour. Only a sort of leaden despair seemed to replacethe anguish of uncertainty. "You mean she's not going to marry Lowell, afterall?" "Yes, that's what I mean. She is not going to marry Franklin Lowell," said Beverley quite exactly. "But " suddenly he got up and walked from one side of the room to the other "why not?" His voice 151 had gone hoarse. "What reason does she give? I mean what reason did Toni give?" "None Except that she just doesn t want to marry him, after all. That was the reason Sara herself gave, when I saw her later." "Then you you've seen her? . "Oh yes. I called in at the Grange on my way home "And_talked to her about this broken engagement "A little. She was not inclined to say very much, naturally. We aren't intimate friends after all. "So that you say you '?I�ve no idea why she did 'No I didn't say that. I said Sara herself gave no specific reason. But," Barley went on, not knowm" whether a sense of justice., or sheer nervousness or just stupidity prompted words, "my own view has always been that Sara really wanted someone else. Not Franklin Lowell at all." "I wonder what made you think that." Geoffrey had sat down again now opposite her, but she had the queer impression that his defences were down His clasped hands hurg slacky between his knees and his face looked pale and damp."Quite a number of small problems combined to make me think it, I suppose," she said slowly. "At one time thought it was best to ignore the fact, to put a line under the past. But now-it's different. is�t it ? He didn't reply. He just stared at her, half apprehensively, so that she was bitterly sorry for him Much more sorry than for herself. And it was not at all difficult to say quite gently. "It was you she wanted, wasn't, it, Geoffrey? And it things had been as they are now, it's you who would be engaged to her. He gave a little, groan and buried his face in his hands "how did you guess? "I told you-there were lots of things-but none of them matters now. The only thing which matters is the fact that you and Sara love each other, and the barriers are down 'But I can�t do this to you! You've been such a dear, 152 loyal, loving girl, all the years I've known you." He looked up haggardly. "That's why I thought " "You thought you could make a good second-best of things with me, didn't you?" She spoke without bitterness. "You probably would have too if Sara had been permanently out of the running. But that isn't how things are, Geoffrey." "They could be still," he said, but without conviction. "Oh, no, dear!" She got up and came and stood beside him. "You don't think we could really go on from here, do you? Not even if I would accept such a sacrifice which of course I wouldn't. You couldn't marry me now, just out of friendship and a sort of mistaken sense of chivalry. Any more than I could marry you, now that I know it's Sara you really want." "But what are we to do?" "Just break our engagement and and call it a day. Then you can go to Sara and and tell her you're free.' It's almost simple, really." "No, it isn't. There's the old man to consider." Dismayed recollection flooded into Geoffrey's face. "He's taken an enormous fancy to you. He talked of little. else when I was with him yesterday evening and this morning. He says you're the ideal girl for me, and that you've been the making of me and other rather chastening things." Geoffrey grinned faintly for a moment, but then he became serious again. "I can't imagine what sort of a shock it would be for him, Beverley, to find I really wanted I mean that I proposed to marry someone else, after all. It would be enough to give him another heart attack. Quite apart from the fact that he'd decide I was an irresponsible rotter, after all. Which I suppose I am," he added ruefully. "Nonsense. Circumstances have just been unfortunate. But do you really think he would take it so hard?" "I think it could even threaten the new harmony between us." 153 "Then what are we to do?" She looked blank in her turn. "I don't know. That's what I was asking you just now," Geoffrey said gloomily. And at this moment the nurse came into the room to announce that Mr. Ravian was awake and would be very happy to see Miss Farman. "All right. I'm coming " Beverley made a movement towards the door. But Geoffrey exclaimed. "Wait a moment! We've got to settle this first." "Can't we discuss it afterwards?" "No. We've got to know what we are going to do from now on. He must wait a few minutes. Ask my father to wait a few minutes, Nurse. Miss Farman won't be long." , "Very well, Mr. Revian." The nurse gazed severely into space. "But I wouldn't delay too much, you know. . He doesn't stay very bright for long at a time." "I won't be long," Beverley promised, and the nurse went out of the room again. Geoffrey was pacing about once more, m nervous agitation. And, looking at him, Beverley had the distinct impression that it would be she who would have to take the initiative. "It isn't really that he's weak," she told herself quickly and defensively. "It's just that everything has happened so suddenly. And everything that matters to him is trembling in the balance." Aloud she sai
d, "Will you trust me to handle the situation in my own way?" "You mean tell him the whole thing now? "Not exactly as it is no. And not unless I see a good opening and feel that I can lessen the shock. But let me see him alone " "I think that's what he wants, in any case. "And leave me to do the best I can." "Remember that he must not have a severe shock. And the reconciliation is very real, Beverley, but it's a new and rather fragile plant." "I'll remember." "Bless you!" He caught her hand suddenly and held 154 it against his cheek. "You're the dearest and most wonderful friend. I feel sick with myself for hurting you so much." She pulled her hand away quickly. She had to do that, or she would have begun to cry. And then, because her pride had received all the battering it could stand, she said coolly, "Don't think of me as too desperately hurt, Geoffrey. If it's any consolation to you, I had already begun to wonder if " she stopped, groped for something that would not be too hurtful "if I had really allowed myself to become engaged to the right man." He stared at her. "Do you mean," he said almost hopefully, "that .there was someone else with you, too?" "Oh, I don't want to be too explicit at this moment. But " somehow she managed quite a provocative little smile "don't feel too badly about it all." And then she went out of the room arid upstairs to old Mr. Revian, aware that she had left a half-puzzled, half-relieved Geoffrey behind her. She had little time to arrange an.y plan of campaign. She must just trust to her own ingenuity and good sense. And she must accept the fact that, unless a good opportunity presented itself, she would do best to possess her soul in patience and delay any form of explanation for a few days longer, rather than risk saying too much too soon. The nurse was in the room when Beverley entered, but she rose and took her departure almost immediately probably on previous instructions, Beverley thought. "Come here, my dear. Come and sit down by the bed." The old man's voice sounded stronger that morning. "I want to have a talk with you." Beverley came and sat down in the chair indicated, and smiled upon Mr. Revian with all the tranquil good humour she could achieve. "You're better. I can see that," she said. And he nodded briefly, but dismissed this as of no special importance. .155 "I want to talk to you about Geoffrey." He plunged into the subject without preamble. "You understand , him and manage him very well, I notice " "I've known him a great many years," Beverley interrupted with a smile. "Ever since I was a little girl. We're very good friends, Geoffrey and I. We always shall be." "Well that's quite a good basis for a marriage, I suppose." Geoffrey's father smiled. "And I hope the boy's as stable in his attitude towards you. I suppose you know " he shot a shrewd look at her "that he's not the strongest of characters?" "He is essentially good and decent," Beverley said quietly. "Hm, yes. I think he's that. But if you marry _____ "Mr. Revian, have you any doubt about that?" Beverley smiled at him, "No, no. Just a manner of speaking. You mustn't take offence so easily!" "I wasn't taking offence," said Beverley slowly. In an odd way, I was relieved." "Relieved?" The old man looked astonished. "Why?" "Because Geoffrey thinks you regard this marriage as signed and sealed and the only thing possible for the happiness of all of us. Although three days ago you didn't even know of my existence, Geoffrey seems to think it would be an almost mortal blow to you if you couldn't have me for a daughter-in-law. No one's well-being should be so much dependent on another person, should it?" "Well_no of course not." He looked disturbed and rather healthily annoyed, Beverley thought, "Mortal blow, indeed! No, no, I wouldn't use a term like that. But this is quite an academic argument, I take it " "No, Mr. Revian. It isn't entirely. And that's why I'm glad of the chance to talk to you. Whatever my faults may be and I have a number at least I'm straight with the people I like. And I like you." There was a moment's silence. Then he said gruffly, "I like you too, come to that. So you can be as 156 straight as you like with me. What is it you want to say? Something I won't want to hear? Thajt's usually what people mean when they say they're going to do some straight talking." She smiled slightly, but she put up a silent little prayer that she might find the right words. "Mr. Revian, have you ever been quite, quite sure of something in your life, and then found out, after all, that you were wrong?" Again he shot her that penetrating glance. "I suppose so yes. Most people have, if they're honest with themselves." "Well, that really happened with Geoffrey and me. We'd known and liked each other so long that we both thought honestly that we would be happy married to each other. That's why we got engaged, some months ago now. But then, quite recently, we both had the same experience. We met someone else " "Both of you?" The old man looked sceptical. "Both of us," Beverley insisted firmly. "Neither knew about the other, and right up to yesterday, we both meant to stand by our bargain. You see, we were truly too fond of each other as friends to be able to face letting each other down. But then, yesterday " "Yes? What happened yesterday?" asked Mr. Revian, as she paused. "I suppose," Beverley said slowly, "that when one is under an emotional strain and Geoffrey particularly was, after the happiness of being reconciled to you one is not so good at hiding one's feelings. Somehow we came to talk frankly to each other, Geoffrey and I and we found that, while we shall always be fond of each other as friends, we both want to marry someone else." "You both " The old man swallowed, and for a moment Beverley wondered if she had gone too far and too fast. "Please, please don't mind too much," she begged him. "Or else I shall feel a wicked, selfish girl, instead of a very happy one." 157 Again there was silence, while Beverley held her breath. Then he said, rather disagreeably, "So you'll always be good friends, eh, in the modem way?" . "Oh, yes, of course! And it's not specially modern. g We've been friends for years. There's no reason why we shouldn't go on being so." ' H "Does that mean that you'll go on being friends with - me?" he demanded with a grim smile. ' : "Yes, please." Beverley leaned forward and kissed his cheek lightly, which seemed to surprise and pleas him immensely. .HI "I've a suspicion you're a minx," he said. "Well, who is the girl that my boy is going to marry?" . "A perfectly lovely girl called Sara Wayne." "Of Huntingford Grange?" 'Yes" IS "Father's a bit of a mountebank,-but her mother's good stock," was the slightly disagreeable comment on this. "And who are you going to marry?". Hi "Yes, you. You've got a part in this double romance too, haven't you? Unless you've been foxing me with some story all the time." And he gave her such unexpectedly penetrating look that Beverley felt herself tremble. "Of course I haven't been 'foxing' you, as you call it Why should I?" she protested. . "In order to shield that boy of mine," was that devastatingly shrewd retort. "You can't tell me much about him, you know, even though I'm confoundedly glad to be friends with him again. But I'll not have behave badly to a girl of your calibre. Not if I have to turn him out of the house again." _ ' .'"But you mustn't even think of doing that!" criednBeverley in great alarm, "You'd spoil everything for all of us." "And who are 'all of us?'" was the dry enquiry. "Why, Geoffrey and Sara, and me and and " "Yes? Who?" Is She thought for a wild moment of saying, "John 158 ' Hi Smith," but she knew that no fictitious creature was going to satisfy this rather terrifying and angry old man. She had to find somebody genuine somebody who would do as a sort of "stand-in" in this emergency. Somebody but who? And then quite distinctly and with complete reassurance she recalled Franklin Lowell saying, only yesterday, "Use me if you need me. I suppose it would soothe my pride a bit to know I was essential to someone's plans." He may have not meant it so literally, of course. But she could not even wait to think what an outrageous thing she was doing. She took a deep breath and said very calmly, "I didn't really want to tell anyone yet. Not until we had actually fixed things up. But I'm going to marry Franklin Lowell." 159