Every Mother's Son

by Val Wood

  ‘It sounds a bit like English – you know, slightly guttural, from ’back of ’throat, not like French from up your nose!’

  The mule didn’t want to go out, that was quite obvious from his stance and the noise he was making, a mixture of neighing and braying with his feet firmly locked on the ground. The chandler cracked his whip and shouted to no avail, and after a few minutes Daniel jumped out of the cart, took hold of the snaffle and spoke gently to the animal, who then walked meekly on.

  ‘Bravo,’ the muleteer applauded.

  ‘How did you do that?’ Charles asked, when Daniel climbed back into the cart.

  ‘He’s part hoss, isn’t he, and they respond to firmness. He was jumpy, probably because he didn’t know us, so I just told him that I was ’boss.’

  ‘I think you’re kidding me,’ Charles laughed. ‘But at least we’re moving at a fair pace now.’

  The fair pace slackened when they left the valley and the road became steeper, but when they glanced back they saw they had already climbed a considerable distance from the town, which now lay in shadow with only the lights glinting from windows showing that it was there.

  ‘Do you know this place, the academy, monsieur? Erm, mein Herr?’ Charles asked the driver. ‘Have you been before?’

  ‘Ja, I know it. I go sometimes to deliver, or to drive ze mesdemoiselles. But not in this cart.’ He laughed. ‘In ze carriage.’

  ‘That’s a relief,’ Charles murmured to Daniel, sinking back into his seat, ‘because I noticed a couple of side roads back there and I wondered if he really knew the way.’

  Daniel grinned. ‘And you were afraid we were going to have to spend ’night on ’mountainside.’

  It was now totally dark apart from the silvery moon and countless stars that only served to make the blackness even more impenetrable. They travelled on in silence, broken only by the wheezing of the mule, the clatter of the cart and the muted whistling of their driver. Charles was wondering whether they would be able to get a bed for the night, and Daniel how Beatrice would react to their late arrival. It’s not so late, he thought, it’s only that it seems to be because it’s so dark. I hope she’s pleased to see us, and not annoyed that we’ve taken so long to get here.

  ‘Soon we come,’ their driver said after another fifteen minutes and a long haul round several bends in the road. ‘Five minutes only.’

  There was nothing ahead to indicate any kind of dwelling place, but the mule brayed and seemed to pick up his feet; they turned another bend and ahead of them were several lighted windows that by their position suggested a large establishment.

  The driver steered the animal to the front of the wooden building, which they now saw had three storeys, with short stubby chimneys rising from the low-hanging roof.

  ‘Oh, this is nice,’ Daniel said, climbing down and retrieving his things as their driver rang a bell at the side of the solid wood door. ‘I hope they let us stay.’

  A young woman wearing a dirndl skirt and a white blouse with puffed sleeves under a striped apron opened the door, and was nodding her head as Daniel and Charles approached. The driver turned to them. ‘You are expected, yes?’

  ‘We don’t – erm, yes, probably.’ Charles smiled at the young maid, who dipped her knee.

  ‘Mademoiselle Beatrice, she say you come,’ she said. ‘I will fetch her.’

  ‘Sir,’ Daniel said to their driver, ‘please, will you let us pay something? We have some money.’

  ‘Nein,’ he replied. ‘Ze academy, they give me custom. It is enough.’ He winked. ‘It is a gut turn, ja?’

  ‘It is,’ Daniel agreed. ‘Thank you. Danke schön. Merci.’ He didn’t know which language to use and as his command of any was limited he thought he would use the only words he knew.

  The driver patted his shoulder, wished him good luck and climbed back on to his cart, and Daniel thought that if they couldn’t stay here they were in for a sleepless night, for it was bitterly cold.

  Charles was already inside, so he followed him, and a minute later Beatrice was rushing down the stairs, her skirts flying. She launched herself into her brother’s arms, and then into Daniel’s.

  He was almost overcome as he held her, and she whispered in his ear, ‘You’re my cousin, Daniel, if anyone should ask. That’s what I’ve told them.’

  ‘All right,’ he croaked, and thought that this might be the only time he would ever feel her in his arms.

  ‘How wonderful to see you both,’ she said, and her cheeks were flushed and her eyes bright as she took a hand of each. ‘We’ll go into the common room; there won’t be anyone in there at this time.’

  She was speaking quickly and excitedly, not at all in her usual manner. Then she addressed the maid. ‘Thank you, Jeanne. Will you go to the kitchen and ask Cook if she can rustle up some supper for my brother and our cousin? Perhaps some soup, and some of that sausage and potato dish she makes?’

  She led them into a room off the hall, which was furnished with comfortable sofas and shelves of books and a bright fire burning in a stove.

  ‘Oh!’ She flopped on to a chair. ‘I’ve been waiting and waiting for you. I thought you were never coming!’

  ‘It’s a long way,’ Charles protested. ‘I had no idea that you had to come so far. Do our parents know how long it takes to get here?’

  ‘No,’ she said, ‘I don’t suppose so. But it takes me less time than it has taken you, as I don’t linger in Paris!’

  How brave and clever she is, Daniel thought, gazing at her. She was calmer now, her excitement on greeting them abating, and she smiled at them both.

  ‘I’m so pleased to see you,’ she said. ‘I asked Madame Carpeoux if you might have a room when you arrived and she said that you could.’

  ‘Oh, how very kind of her,’ Charles said. ‘We thought we might have to sleep out again.’

  Beatrice raised her eyebrows. ‘Sleep out?’

  They explained what had happened in Montreux and she laughed. ‘The Swiss wouldn’t want you making the town look untidy. It will be ready for the tourist season.’

  ‘Shall we be able to meet Madame Carpeoux?’ Daniel asked. ‘To thank her?’

  Beatrice hesitated. ‘She isn’t here at present. She’s gone to visit a sick relative and won’t be back for a few days, but the housekeeper was aware that you were coming. There’s a room ready for you. It’s kept for parents who might come to see their daughters.’

  ‘You’ve never mentioned that before,’ Charles quizzed her.

  Beatrice smiled. ‘I haven’t, have I?’

  She seems tense, Daniel thought. What is she up to?

  ‘What’s going on, Beatrice?’ Charles voiced Daniel’s question.

  ‘I don’t know what you mean,’ she answered.

  ‘Yes, you do. Don’t think I can’t read you,’ Charles said.

  ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.’

  Jeanne knocked and entered, carrying a laden tray, and Daniel got to his feet to take it from her and place it on a table. ‘Thank you,’ he said. ‘Thank you very much,’ and the maid beamed, dipped her knee and left.

  ‘You’ve made a conquest there, Daniel,’ Beatrice remarked lazily. ‘Jeanne doesn’t often get the chance of seeing handsome young men.’

  ‘She didn’t smile at me,’ Charles complained.

  ‘That’s because you didn’t say thank you.’ Beatrice set out the dishes of soup, bread and pie. ‘Daniel is always polite, no matter who he’s talking to.’

  Daniel opened his mouth to say something, but then thought better of it. I should know by now that these two have a special banter going on between them that no one else can understand, he told himself.

  After they had eaten, Beatrice showed them to their room on the ground floor; it had two beds with a blanket on each, a washstand with a jug and basin, and a separate cubicle with a flush lavatory.

  ‘It’s quite basic, I’m afraid,’ Beatrice said, prowling about. ‘But it’s only for one night be
fore we move on, isn’t it?’

  ‘We?’ Charles said. ‘Are you going to show us the area? We thought we might like to see the Jungfrau, if you’re allowed the time off.’

  ‘Of course I’m allowed,’ she said pertly. ‘I have special privileges. I didn’t have to come back, you know.’

  ‘So why did you, Beatrice?’ Daniel asked quietly.

  ‘Because you two were coming,’ she said. ‘I knew Papa wouldn’t allow me to come back once I’d left the academy and I wanted to meet you here. So that – so that I could spend some time with you,’ she finished lamely.

  Charles yawned. ‘Let’s talk in the morning. I’m dead tired. What time should we be up?’

  ‘About eight o’clock.’ She stood. ‘I’ll give you a knock, shall I?’

  Daniel opened the door for her. ‘Thanks, Beatrice, for arranging for us to stay.’ He hesitated. ‘It’s really good to see you again.’

  She moistened her lips. ‘You too, Daniel,’ she said softly. ‘Good night.’

  The two young men undressed and fell into their beds. Charles was asleep immediately, but Daniel tossed and turned, his senses churning at seeing Beatrice again. I think that after this journey it’ll be as well for my own peace of mind if I don’t see her too often, he decided. Before long she’ll be married off to some toffee-nosed arrogant aristocrat who’ll be given short shrift if he doesn’t do what’s expected of him. She’ll make his life a misery, and quite right too, the pretentious conceited braggart.

  For some time he considered what he would do to this unknown contender for Beatrice’s affections if he should fail her, but at last he fell dead asleep, only to be awakened by someone knocking softly on the door. He put his bare feet to the floor, and wrapping a blanket around himself he staggered to the door and opened it.

  Beatrice was outside with a tray in her hands. They stared at each other, lips apart. ‘I’ve brought you breakfast.’ A flush spread over her cheeks and she thrust the tray towards him.

  Tentatively he put out one hand, but then he realized that he couldn’t take the tray without revealing his nakedness beneath the blanket.

  ‘I’ll – I’ll put it down here.’ She averted her eyes and bent down to place it on the floor, and saw his bare feet, his straight toes and ankles. ‘I’ll – I’ll come back in ten minutes,’ she said, and hurried away.

  Charles grunted and leaned up on one elbow. ‘Who was that?’

  ‘Beatrice.’ Daniel hastily slipped into his trousers and shirt and went back to fetch the tray. ‘She’s brought us breakfast.’

  ‘Bea has? Incredible.’

  ‘She’s coming back in ten minutes. We’ll have to get washed and dressed before then.’

  ‘She’s seen me in my underwear plenty of times. Mmm, coffee and muffins. Wonderful.’

  ‘Not me she hasn’t,’ Daniel disputed sharply. ‘And it won’t do if she’s found in here when we’re in a state of undress, brother and cousin or not.’

  ‘Oh, all right, grumpy,’ Charles said, taking a sip of coffee. ‘But I’m going to partake of this fine breakfast first.’

  When Beatrice knocked again some fifteen minutes later, they were both washed and shaved and dressed with their rucksacks repacked.

  ‘Are we ready for off?’ Charles asked, for Beatrice too was dressed for walking in a short coat, a plain skirt, a fur hat and sturdy boots.

  ‘Yes,’ she said, ‘and there’s a trap waiting outside to take us down the valley. You did say you wanted to see the Jungfrau?’

  ‘Oh, yes!’ Daniel said enthusiastically. ‘Charles is going to walk up to ’summit.’

  ‘Do you know how high it is?’ Beatrice said incredulously.

  ‘Oh, come on!’ Charles picked up his rucksack and Daniel grinned and ushered Beatrice forward. She too picked up a rucksack from where she had left it outside their door and Daniel took it from her.

  ‘This is heavy, Beatrice. There must be more than enough here to last the day.’

  She didn’t answer him but led the way outside. Jeanne was waiting by the door and said, ‘Goodbye, Miss Beatrice.’

  Beatrice kissed her on the cheek. ‘Auf Wiedersehen, Jeanne. Thank you.’

  Puzzled, Daniel followed her to the waiting open-top chaise where Charles was talking to the driver, the chandler who had brought them the evening before. He turned and took their bags and Beatrice got in. There was just room for the three of them on the one seat.

  Beatrice turned to look back and wave to Jeanne, who was still standing by the door.

  ‘Why is she seeing you off?’ Charles asked. ‘Does she always do that?’

  ‘No.’ Beatrice lowered her head and smoothed out her skirt. ‘Only when saying goodbye.’

  Daniel looked at her, taking in her sturdy boots, her fur hat and the sensible coat. ‘Beatrice?’

  She looked squarely at him and then at her brother and then faced straight ahead, breathing in a deep breath.

  ‘Didn’t I say? I’m coming with you. You don’t mind, do you?’

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  ‘Honestly?’ Daniel was astonished and elated. ‘You’re coming with us? You mean to ’Jungfrau, or,’ he could hardly dare to hope, ‘to Italy?’

  ‘Beatrice!’ Charles, shocked, looked at his sister. ‘What do you mean, you’re coming with us?’

  ‘What I said; Daniel won’t mind. Will you, Daniel?’ Her voice dropped a little as if she had overstepped the protocol expected of the uninvited.

  ‘Of course I won’t.’

  ‘But …’ Charles began, and Daniel prepared himself to defend Beatrice against any objection that Charles might raise.

  ‘… what will Father say? He’ll be furious!’

  ‘Only with me,’ Beatrice argued. ‘And I’ve written – at least I’ve written to Madame Carpeoux, and she’s sure to write home for confirmation, so they’ll know.’

  Charles huffed out a breath. ‘I’m quite happy for you to come if Daniel is, but I’m thinking of you, Beatrice. What will people say?’

  ‘Which people?’ Daniel broke in. ‘We don’t know any people, and if we did, what has it to do with anybody else?’

  Beatrice smiled gratefully at him. ‘I know what Charles means, though, Daniel,’ she said. ‘It’s because I’m female and travelling with two men without a chaperon. People might consider it indecorous, and that’s why I described you as my cousin.’ She gave a little laugh. ‘No one would believe that you were my brother.’

  ‘Of course they wouldn’t,’ he said. ‘You’re so very fair, fairer even than Charles.’

  ‘Yes, yes,’ Charles said testily, ‘but nevertheless—’

  ‘You sound just like Papa!’ Beatrice told him. ‘I never thought you would be so very proper. Women are travelling all over Europe without an escort and I don’t see why I shouldn’t too if I want to, and I do,’ she added petulantly. ‘And besides, if Daniel doesn’t mind, and it is his journey after all, then I don’t see why you should object.’

  ‘I don’t think Charles is objecting, Beatrice,’ Daniel said mildly. ‘He’s onny thinking of ’consequences.’

  ‘You see?’ Charles said grumpily. ‘Daniel understands.’

  They were heading down the narrow twisting road and the driver was slowing on the sharp bends. He spoke to Beatrice, far too quickly for either Daniel or Charles to understand.

  ‘He says that he’ll take us to his premises. I have some things to collect that he’s been storing for me.’

  ‘What things?’ Charles asked. ‘I hope you’re not bringing a sack of fripperies. We’ve to carry everything on our backs, you realize?’

  ‘Of course.’ Beatrice turned up her nose. ‘I am prepared, but I wanted to make a suggestion. You must say if you don’t agree.’

  ‘We will, don’t think that we won’t,’ Charles retorted, but Daniel said nothing. He was just happy that Beatrice was going to travel with them.

  When they reached the town the chandler pulled into a stable yard at the back of h
is shop and they jumped down and unloaded their belongings. Beatrice followed the chandler into his premises by the back door.

  ‘She’s been here before,’ Charles commented. ‘I’m a bit bothered, Daniel. Beatrice is used to comfort; what if we have to sleep out under the stars as we did before?’ He ran his hands through his hair. ‘Father would be horrified.’

  ‘Then don’t tell him,’ Daniel said. ‘He’ll assume we’ve stayed in lodgings, which we will be doing most of the time. It’s not as if you’d be lying; you’d be protecting him from a truth he wouldn’t like, but which isn’t doing any harm.’

  Beatrice came out again and waved from the doorway. ‘Will you come in?’ she called. ‘Henri has an idea for us, and there’s coffee and cake too.’

  ‘We’re being softened up,’ Charles muttered, and Daniel laughed. It was going to be unpredictable and fun with Beatrice travelling with them.

  They were led into a small room behind the shop where the chandler’s wife had set out a pot of coffee and a delicious-looking cake. She chattered to Beatrice as if she knew her well. The chandler was attending to someone in the shop but came in and sat down at the table with them as they drank their coffee.

  ‘I know Henri and his wife fairly well,’ Beatrice explained. ‘I’ve often borrowed a mount from him to ride along the lakeside.’

  ‘Alone?’ Charles questioned.

  ‘Sometimes,’ she said. ‘Or sometimes with a companion. Madame Carpeoux hasn’t objected. She knows I’m proficient.’ She paused. ‘And the last time I was here, I told Henri that you were coming and that we were all travelling into Italy. That’s why he was happy to drive you up to the academy last night.’

  Charles sat back and folded his arms with a resigned sigh, and Daniel hid a smile. It seemed that Beatrice had been planning for some time.

  ‘He asked how we were travelling and said it was quite expensive to take a carriage, for there isn’t yet a train from here that goes through the mountains. Obviously it’s much too far to walk, so he said why didn’t we go on horseback.’

  Daniel leaned forward and clasped his hands together. ‘That’d be marvellous,’ he said. ‘But ’cost of hiring would be far too much.’