Some Veil Did Fall

by Kirsty Ferry

  ‘Well,’ said Adam, reaching his hand out for Ella’s. He pulled her gently to her feet and drew her close to him. ‘The storm did us a favour last night. I found Miss Dunbar wandering by the summer house and bade her enter in order to stay dry. While we were in the summer house she did me the honour of agreeing to become my wife. I hope you will welcome her warmly into the family.’

  ‘Ella! You have always been part of our family!’ cried Lydia, rushing up to her and embracing her. ‘Now my dearest wish has come true and you are to be my sister. And this photograph shall be your official engagement photograph!’

  ‘I am to have a portrait painted of Ella for the landing,’ said Adam. ‘Or a portrait of Lady Eleanor as she will be.’

  ‘No!’ said Ella. ‘Please, to see myself in that photograph is bad enough. I don’t want to be subjected to seeing myself every time I ascend the staircase.’

  ‘I shall have to ignore your objections,’ said Adam. ‘I shall arrange it immediately.’ He lifted a lock of Ella’s hair from her shoulder and let it drop again. ‘I cannot wait to see what someone like Sir Edwin Landseer makes of you. If his work is good enough for the Queen, it is good enough for Lady Eleanor.’

  ‘Stop tormenting me!’ she said. ‘No.’

  ‘Jacob,’ said Lydia suddenly, ‘you have not wished them well yet.’ She fixed her cousin with a look that Ella knew hid a glimpse of steel. Vague and delightful as Lydia was on the surface, she was not quite as naive as she appeared to be.

  ‘Why, of course I am delighted for you both,’ said Jacob. He bowed to Ella and took her hand in both of his. He kissed it and ran his thumb gently over her hand. The gesture was so pathetically tender, she was surprised for a moment. Jacob raised his face and looked into her eyes. ‘It is rather a shock to me,’ he said, ‘and very sudden.’

  ‘Ella has known Adam almost as long as I have,’ said Lydia. ‘And I think that you, my dear cousin, need to race after Helena and make us happy with some news of your own.’

  ‘I really cannot see that happening,’ said Jacob. ‘Miss Warner is a wonderful girl, but it was never going to be.’

  He looked at Ella and she couldn’t read what was in his eyes. Pain? Regret? Anger? Whatever it was, it made her uncomfortable and instinctively she moved closer to Adam. She saw Jacob catch the movement and his mouth twisted for a moment, as if he was biting back a comment. ‘My heart lies elsewhere, Lydia. Alas, I think your matchmaking in this instance has failed you. Helena has run away. She has deserted us all, and what are we to make of that?’

  ‘Oh, she will be back,’ said Lydia. ‘She cannot keep away from you.’ She tapped Jacob lightly on his chest with her forefinger. ‘She is besotted with you, did you not know that?’

  ‘In the light of recent events, perhaps it is best that she has gone home. It is a more pleasant atmosphere all round,’ replied Jacob. ‘So, are we to ready ourselves for our trip then?’ he asked, neatly changing the subject. ‘Or do we maybe have another task to perform before that? Please, do allow me to inspect that marvellous camera of yours, Lydia. I know a little about them and, strangely enough, how to make the subjects feel at ease.’

  Ella watched the conversation around her; Lydia was speaking quickly, excited at the prospect of an outing and some fun with her new toy; Adam half sat on the piano, amused at his sister; and Jacob – well, Jacob. He was as unfathomable as ever. But she knew one thing for certain – she really wasn’t sure that she felt she could trust him very much.

  THE DRESS

  August 1865

  Once Lydia had an idea in her head, she was determined to see it through. She had been consumed over the last few weeks with organising Ella’s wedding. Her excuse was that Ella needed assistance and she was the best placed person to do it.

  ‘Darling, what if you go somewhere and they chatter too quickly?’ was one of her favourite rationales. ‘I can help.’

  ‘I don’t need your help,’ said Ella every time. ‘I will ask them to slow down. I always manage when you are not around.’

  To which Lydia would shake her head and say, ‘No, no, no. It is best that I come.’

  Ella usually found herself acquiescing, just to stop Lydia from pestering her.

  It was on one such day that they had taken the carriage into Whitby to choose the material for Ella’s dress. Ella was looking out of the window, watching the moors roll past her and feeling the warmth of the sun through the glass. The gentle rocking motion of the carriage was almost lulling her to sleep and she laid her fingers gently on the door, sensing the clip-clopping vibrations of the horses’ hooves as they travelled along the road.

  Lydia startled her by laying her hand on her knee and tapping gently to get her attention. ‘What colour have you in mind?’ she asked, her round, dark brown eyes even wider than usual. ‘Because I have seen a beautiful pale green satin and I thought that would suit you. The seamstress said she could trim it with ribbons and beads for us as well. It will be stunning.’

  ‘Lydia, this is my dress!’ exclaimed Ella. ‘Yet you are telling me you have already chosen it?’ She frowned. ‘Lydia. How could you?’

  Lydia had the grace to look slightly ashamed. She dropped her head then looked up again. ‘I am sorry. I thought that it would help.’

  ‘Once again – I don’t need all this “help” you keep offering me. Honestly! I am perfectly capable of deciding on a dress. And if I want a scarlet dress, I shall have a scarlet dress. Or maybe I shall choose royal-blue. Or perhaps purple. It is my dress after all.’

  More upset than she cared to admit, Ella looked stubbornly back out of the window and refused to acknowledge any more little taps from Lydia the whole way to the town, even though they became more urgent and insistent the closer they got to Whitby.

  Eventually, the carriage pulled up and stopped to let them alight.

  Ella gestured to Lydia to leave first. ‘Go ahead,’ she said, still smarting. ‘You know where the seamstress is, not me.’

  ‘Oh, please, don’t be cross with me,’ said Lydia, clasping Ella’s hands. ‘I was trying to help. I know I’m becoming intolerable. I just want everything to be perfect for you. I always wanted you and Adam to marry and I just cannot let go of the thought that I need to keep driving the situation.’

  ‘You also wanted Helena and Jacob to marry,’ replied Ella. ‘Look what happened there. Has anybody had word from Helena since that horrible night? No. Now Lydia, I love you. You are my sweet sister. But you have to let us all make our own mistakes. If I want you to make a decision, I will ask you. What have I even organised myself for this wedding? Nothing.’

  She shook loose Lydia’s hands. She actually hated people touching them when she was trying to drive a point home; it was like they were cutting her tongue out. ‘And now, now you want me to let go of the whole … dress thing as well.’ She emphasised her words with a quick sweeping motion, moving her hands down from her shoulders to the ground, spreading her fingers out to show the sort of gown she desired. ‘No. I appreciate everything you are doing for me, but please, let me decide this for myself.’

  Lydia nodded, looking contrite. Sorry she signed, balling up her fist and rubbing it vaguely around her chest area.

  ‘And so you should be. In consideration of that, I will allow you to take me to your seamstress and we can look at the fabric together.’ She signed the word as she spoke it, so there was no mistaking it.

  Lydia threw her arms around Ella, all smiles again. ‘Thank you,’ she said, sitting back in the seat. It was her turn to gesture to Ella. ‘After you,’ she said. ‘I will show you where the seamstress is, but you can make all the decisions. But I must simply insist on a pale pink for my gown. You know I look terribly sickly in green. It is, actually, maybe best that we have decided against the pale green for you. I will be standing next to you all day – I want to look my best as well, you know.
I cannot have a greenness reflected upon me. It would look terrible, I know it would.’

  Ella smiled and blew a little kiss to her. ‘I shall look forward to seeing you in your dress,’ she said. ‘You will be a wonderful foil to me.’

  The seamstress had worked for Lydia’s family for years. She had made dresses for Lydia since she was small, and had known her mother very well. Lydia looked a lot like her mother; she had the same slim figure, despite her height, and the same exuberant attitude and knew the seamstress appreciated how she had kept using her services, even after her parents had died.

  Today, Lydia led the way through a narrow door in a building off a side street from the town. It was a small place, but very welcoming. The seamstress lived above the shop and used much of the space downstairs as storage for her fabrics and trimmings.

  Lydia turned to encourage Ella to hurry up, and saw the girl staring around her in wonderment.

  ‘I didn’t expect it to look like this,’ she said, turning to address Lydia. Ella’s words, as always, were clear and precise and rang around the little workshop.

  Ella smiled. ‘Miss Waters, allow me to introduce my dear friend, Miss Ella Dunbar,’ said Lydia, reaching for Ella’s arm and drawing her closer.

  The seamstress smiled and curtseyed. ‘Miss Dunbar,’ she said.

  Ella smiled at the seamstress and held out her hand. ‘I am delighted to meet you,’ she said. ‘I have heard so much about you.’

  ‘And I you,’ said Miss Waters. ‘You are marrying Master Adam, yes?’

  ‘That is correct,’ said Ella. She turned to smile at Lydia. ‘Lydia said I should come to you for my wedding gown.’

  ‘Ah, yes,’ said Miss Waters. She disappeared behind the counter. ‘The pale green, was it not, Miss Lydia?’

  Lydia darted over to the counter and hung over it. ‘No!’ she said to the seamstress, quite loudly. ‘We had a discussion on the way here. Ella needs to choose her own!’

  Miss Waters looked up, surprised. ‘I thought you said, miss, that it was the green.’

  ‘Let her choose her own!’ said Lydia quickly.

  ‘Is there a problem?’ asked Ella coming over to them. ‘Lydia?’ She touched her arm, apparently confused. ‘What is the matter?’

  ‘Oh! Miss Waters is simply checking she has enough samples for you to choose from,’ said Lydia. ‘That is all.’ She smiled disarmingly.

  ‘I see,’ said Ella, half-smiling. ‘Well, I may be able to save her the bother. Miss Waters?’ The seamstress popped up from behind the counter and looked at the girls. Lydia hoped that Ella wouldn’t notice the ream of pale green satin in the woman’s arms.

  ‘I have just seen some satin over there. Would it be possible to look at it a little more closely?’

  ‘Oh!’ said Lydia. ‘Already? Well, I am sure you can look at it.’ She drew Ella from the counter, seizing her opportunity to get her friend away from the pale green material. ‘Show me. Show me where it is.’

  ‘This one,’ replied Ella. She pointed up at a roll of satin. ‘It is that lovely creamy-white stuff.’ She turned to Lydia. ‘I think maybe with some swansdown and crystal trimmings? Would you agree?’

  ‘Ohhh. Utterly perfect, darling!’ said Lydia. ‘See, I knew it would be fun coming for your fabric today! Would you agree to some white tulle, perhaps? Some frills of some description?’

  ‘That sounds delightful,’ said Ella. ‘See, now you are being useful.’

  Lydia smiled and tugged her gently to the side as Miss Waters was approaching them from behind with a small stool. The seamstress set the stool down and clambered up to reach the fabric.

  She pulled the ream down from the shelf, climbed back down and headed over to the counter. ‘Here you are, Miss Dunbar,’ she said, rolling it out. ‘Feel that. It is beautiful and soft, is it not?’

  Ella reached out and ran her fingers along the surface of the material.

  Not for the first time, Lydia was a little jealous of how elegant her friend’s hands actually were. Lydia was the unfortunate bearer of short, stubby fingers and her hands were, it had to be said, rather large considering the rest of her proportions. That was her excuse as to why she could never play the piano, anyway.

  ‘It is, it is wonderful,’ said Ella. ‘If I tell you what I am considering, would you tell me if it is possible to make it?’

  Ella tilted her head to the side, a habit Lydia knew her brother found most endearing. A little bubble of love and warmth burst inside her, making her so pleased that her plans had worked out so happily. Adam, she decided, owed her a great debt.

  ‘I can make almost anything,’ said Miss Waters proudly. She puffed her chest out like a little pigeon. ‘You just tell me what you want.’

  ‘That is good to know,’ said Ella. Innocently, and without missing a beat, she looked straight at Miss Waters and smiled. ‘I would also like a bridesmaid’s dress for my new sister here. I think that pale green satin she had set aside would be marvellous on her. I see you have it all ready there, anyway. I think maybe she would like some beads and ribbons as trimmings?’ She nodded to Miss Waters and turned away.

  She smiled sweetly at Lydia as she passed her. Sorry she signed.

  Lydia knew she didn’t mean it in the slightest.

  Some time later, Lydia and Ella left the seamstress, happy in the knowledge that Miss Waters was now settled with a nice commission and the promise of a neat little sum of money.

  Ella linked Lydia’s arm and pulled her close. ‘I am sure you will not look that terrible in green,’ she said.

  Lydia pouted. ‘You are wicked at times, Ella Dunbar. But I expect I deserved it.’ She sighed. ‘I swear I will not meddle in your affairs any more.’

  ‘Oh, I’m just teasing you. I asked her to use the pink in the end, don’t worry,’ said Ella. ‘I asked her to do so when you were being miserable in the corner, staring at the pink satin. You were the one who told me how nice it was to be bad, remember?’

  ‘Ella! You don’t have to practise that skill on me!’ said Lydia, trying hard to look indignant. ‘It was for … other people.’

  ‘Mmm. I suspect I could have been rather evil to Helena,’ replied Ella, ‘given the chance.’

  ‘Yes. I wish she would contact us,’ complained Lydia. ‘I just don’t know what happened.’

  ‘I wonder if Adam said anything to her?’ suggested Ella. ‘Oh, well. It is done.’

  ‘Anyway, how did you know that I was lusting after that perfectly delightful pink satin?’ asked Lydia.

  Ella laughed. ‘I see a lot more than people think. I rely on seeing things. There is not much that escapes my notice.’

  ‘Sometimes I envy you,’ said Lydia. She stopped and turned to face Ella. ‘You just astound me. You play that piano better than anyone I know. You enchanted my brother, which, believe me, many women have tried to do. And you are just incredible.’ She shook her head. ‘I have never told you any of this before. But I wish I was more like you.’

  ‘No.’ Ella shook her head. ‘I often wish I was just like everybody else. Just ordinary. It can be difficult, especially at night.’ She frowned. ‘Sometimes I worry about that side of things.’ She looked at Lydia. ‘I am sorry. I am speaking out of turn.’ She flushed and turned away, tugging Lydia along with her. ‘You have no need to know any of that.’ She put her head down, desperately embarrassed.

  Lydia stopped, forcing Ella to stop with her. She took her face in her hands and spoke to her. The girls were the same height – Lydia’s eyes were exactly on a level with Ella’s. ‘It will be perfect,’ she said. ‘This is Adam. He knows everything about you. Just trust him.’

  ‘But we can never have a conversation at night!’ said Ella desperately. ‘I dread the winter and the dark evenings. How will we manage?’

  ‘You do not always need words,’
said Lydia. ‘Just trust him.’ She stood a little way back and smiled impertinently. ‘And there is always lamplight and candles if you do need to converse.’

  Ella started to laugh. ‘You always make me feel better!’ she said. Then, suddenly, ‘Oh! I say, is that not your cousin Jacob? He is heading this way. You didn’t tell me he was in the area.’

  ‘I didn’t know!’ said Lydia. She swung around and they both faced the man who was heading towards them. She looked back at Ella, surprised. ‘He didn’t say he was here. Jacob! Darling!’ She waved at the man and he raised his hand in acknowledgement. He broke into a run and came up to the girls.

  ‘Lydia! Ella! What a coincidence. I was in the area and I thought I would come into the town. I didn’t tell you officially, as I have no time to visit you. I do hope you will forgive me. My services are required elsewhere today and I must travel back mid-afternoon. Truthfully, I was frightened to tell you I was here, in case you urged me back to the Park and I was forced to decline the invitation.’ He turned his full attention to Ella and his eyes met hers, with something like a challenge in them. ‘Am I in trouble for not confessing my intentions?’

  As Helena had so cattily mentioned, inflections were difficult for Ella at times and she frowned a little, wondering how exactly he meant those words. She realised, at least, that he was here unexpectedly and, for once, she was grateful Lydia was with her.

  ‘Lydia is very much in charge,’ said Ella. ‘So I should ask her.’

  ‘I would not normally miss such a chance to see you,’ he said, still looking at Ella. ‘It has been too long.’

  ‘July, was it not?’ interrupted Lydia. ‘Only one month since you visited us, Jacob!’ She laughed. ‘Or does time fly for you?’

  ‘Any amount of time away from the Park is too long,’ he said. ‘May I join you two ladies or are you on pressing business that does not require a man? I do have an hour or two to spare myself. And now we are together, we should make the most of it.’