It was typical of Clementina that she was more pleased and excited about the simple meal shared between the two of them than she was at the prospect of the splendid and important occasion with so many prominent guests later in the evening.
‘You look really lovely in that tea-gown, Mother,’ she’d enthused.
‘Thank you, darling.’
‘I wish I was tall and regal like you. And I wish I had your pale complexion. And look at your lovely slim hands! Long fingers are supposed to be artistic. You could have been a writer or a painter or a—’
‘Eat your soup, dear.’
‘Didn’t you ever want to be something?’
‘Eat it slowly and calmly, Clementina. A lady should have self-control and dignity at all times, but especially at mealtimes.’
‘Didn’t you, Mother?’
‘Didn’t I what?’
‘Ever want to be something?’
‘I hope I have been a good wife and mother.’
‘But I mean do something.’
Lorianna gasped with exasperation. ‘Clementina, I had hoped that you would grow out of this irritating habit of yours.’
‘What habit?’
‘Continuously asking questions.’
‘Miss Viners said it was a sign of intelligence.’
‘It would have fitted Miss Viners better if she had instructed you in proper ladylike behaviour. I was always suspicious of that woman.’
‘If that was how you felt, Mother, why didn’t you do something about it? Why didn’t you sack her the moment you felt she wasn’t the right person to be teaching me?’
‘She was your father’s choice and presumably was giving you the kind of instruction that he wished you to have. It was not my place to interfere or go against his wishes.’
Clementina groaned and rolled her eyes upwards. ‘Bloody hell!’
‘Clementina!’ Lorianna had turned sickly white with shock. ‘How dare you use such language!’
‘I’m sorry, Mother.’ Clementina was genuinely upset to see the distress she had caused Lorianna. ‘Please forgive me. I’ll never do it again.’
‘I should think not.’ The slender fingers, weighed down it seemed by a large ruby and diamond ring, a diamond cluster and a broad gold band, fell trembling on to the gauzy lap of her tea-gown. ‘Now you have completely spoiled what little appetite I had.’
‘Honestly, Mother, I promise.’
‘I dare not think of you behaving in such a shocking manner tonight, especially when I am so anxious that everything goes well for you.’
‘Everything will be fine, don’t worry.’
‘I can’t help worrying about you, Clementina.’
She could not eat another mouthful of anything, despite Clementina’s desperate pleadings. In the background she could hear the frenzied activity of what seemed like the army of local women that Mrs Musgrove had engaged. There were loud bumps and scrapings as carpets were lifted and furniture in the sitting-room and drawing-room was dragged back against the walls to make room for the dancing. There was the sound of running feet and the excited babble of strange voices. Lorianna began to feel so agitated that in the end she was forced to retreat to her bedroom and lie down for an hour to try to calm herself. Lizzie shut the heavy velvet curtains to darken the room and left her to lie on top of the bed-covers in her loose ecru lace tea-gown. A big fire flamed silently in the hearth, creating a deep ruby glow and dark quivering shadows.
From distant parts of the house sounds of excited voices and hurrying feet continued to float towards her; sometimes the chinking of china and glass, sometimes the clatter of cutlery and silver trays agitated the air.
The dark room seemed haunted. Even when she closed her eyes she could still sense the shadows moving and feel the room’s withdrawal from the rest of the house. She kept slipping back in time. Or was she dipping into sleep, where ghosts could come unbidden to torment her, make her cry out and claw up to awakeness wide-eyed, bathed in sweat?
‘Did you say something, madam?’
Lizzie was lighting the candles with a taper. Once a highly nervous girl, she had been firmly trained by Mrs Musgrove. Now, although still thin and frizzy-haired, tending to be somewhat apprehensive at times, she was for the most part well-controlled and smoothly efficient. She came over and lit the oil-lamp by the bedside, tainting the air with the night-time smell of paraffin.
‘Is it so late?’ Lorianna jerked into a sitting position. Still disorientated with nightmares, she thought she saw Mrs Musgrove melt into the shadows. For a frightening moment she had the feeling that she had lost some time, that the dance was over and everybody had gone.
‘Why wasn’t I awakened?’
‘Mrs Musgrove said the sleep would do you good, madam,’ Lizzie told her. ‘And you have still plenty of time to get ready. Mrs Musgrove says you are not to worry—Flora’s seeing to Miss Clementina and everything else has been taken care of.’
Lorianna relaxed with relief, but was so shaken she was unable to leave the bed and stand up for a few minutes. When she fully recovered and could think normally, she decided on a gown of cream silk edged with gold embroidery. The gown emphasised her shapely figure by being draped in spirals round her body into a flounced train. The off-the-shoulder gold-edged bodice flattered her fair skin and the gold and diamond chain and matching earrings added a sparkle to it.
‘My embroidered fan,’ she told the maid.
‘Oh, madam!’ Lizzie looked quite flushed with pleasure. ‘You do look beautiful.’
Lorianna smiled kindly at the girl, ‘Thank you. Now I ought to have a look round to check that the preparations have all been completed and everything is perfect. Before you clear up here, run up to the tower stairs and make sure that Miss Clementina’s ready. Then come straight back and tell me.’
‘Yes, madam.’
Obediently the maid hurried away and after another glance at her reflection in the mirror Lorianna swirled her train aside and, petticoats rustling, moved elegantly from the room.
The reception hall, like the rest of the house, was filled with fragrance. The floral arrangements were works of art in unusual shapes, and in colours that melted magically into one another.
The drawing-room looked twice its normal size now that the chairs and sofas and small tables had been moved back against the wall and the piano was over in the far corner. A three-piece band—a lady pianist, a male accordionist and a fiddle player—had been booked from Bathgate and they were already in place and tuning-up. The sitting-room had dancing space too and together the rooms provided what looked to her a very large floor area indeed, which she noticed had been suitably prepared with sprinklings of French chalk.
‘Miss Clementina will be down in a minute, madam,’ Lizzie interrupted her thoughts.
Lorianna relaxed with relief… . But only for a moment.
‘Does she look all right?’
‘Oh yes, madam.’
‘Good! You can go and clear up the bedroom now.’
The clock in the hall struck the hour. Only thirty minutes now before the guests would start arriving, although she expected the family and possibly John too to come earlier. She inspected the dining-room and found that Cook had surpassed herself in culinary artistry. She had decorated the sweets with spun sugar and created beautiful sugar baskets in all kinds of designs for the petit-fours. There were beehives and bird’s nests and rose baskets and crowns.
Lorianna made a mental note to congratulate Cook; tomorrow she would tell Mrs Musgrove to send Mrs Prowse up to the sitting-room so that she could speak to her personally. Although the housekeeper might not like that. Anxiety about Mrs Musgrove was nibbling at her nerve-ends. She never dared to clear her mind enough to be able to think out her anxieties logically; they just remained a fearful suspicion. At the same time she was ashamed of her feelings.
When she returned to the reception hall Lorianna was met by the housekeeper, who looked very imposing in a black dress with a row of tiny butto
ns on the bodice and a stiff rustling skirt. As usual she wore silk mittens, but unusually she had a jet brooch at her throat and jet drop earrings dangled against her sallow jowls.
Lorianna managed to smile at her. ‘You are looking extremely smart, Mrs Musgrove.’
The housekeeper’s mouth tilted very slightly. ‘Thank you, madam. And is everything else to your liking?’
Before she could reply, her attention was diverted by the sudden appearance of Clementina from the tower stair.
‘Oh darling, how beautiful!’
‘I’m glad you like it, Mother. It was your choice.’
Clementina gave the dress a careless swirl. It was a pale apple green satin with diaphanous chiffon sleeves and ruched chiffon over the satin bodice. A single strand of pearls lay at her throat and a pearl-topped comb nestled in one side of her hair like captured sunshine.
However, it was not the dress which had arrested Lorianna’s immediate attention but the tilt of Clementina’s head and the green sparkle of her eyes. For a shattering moment all other emotions were banished by a surge of pride in her daughter that was so unexpectedly powerful it almost reduced Lorianna to tears. Then other emotions, including apprehension, returned to battle with each other for supremacy and tighten her voice.
‘Yes, it’s very pretty, dear. Now come with me into the sitting-room and we will wait for our guests to be announced.’
The sitting-room, usually shadowy in the evenings, was ablaze with candles as well as oil-lamps, and the adjoining drawing-room was equally bright and gay looking.
Soon Baxter had announced the arrival of Gilbert and Hilda and Malcolm and Mary Ann. Not long after them John Stirling appeared, tall and elegant in his black tail-coat, stiff white shirt-front and black tie. Then the other guests began to arrive, a bevy of maids in the reception hall divesting the ladies of their wraps and the men of their top hats and gloves. The band was playing and the two rooms were a glorious riot of coloured gowns and sparkling jewellery. Everything seemed to be going splendidly. There was laughter and gaiety and chivalry and Lorianna was beginning to feel quite happy and light-headed. Several personable young gentlemen had seemed extremely interested in Clementina and she had danced with them very nicely and politely.
Lorianna was disappointed that the two titled gentlemen she had expected had not put in an appearance. One, had sent his valet with his apologies; apparently he had fallen from his horse only a few hours previously and broken his ankle. The other, had sent no word but to Lorianna’s relief he did eventually arrive. She supposed it was a lord’s prerogative to turn up whenever it suited him. Anyway, better late than early.
Important guests like this often called in at various dances or balls that were being held on the same evening and left the one they judged to be the best until last.
She detected a glint of steel behind his apparently easy, relaxed manner and charming smile. Instinctively she knew he was a man with whom one would be allowed to go so far and no further—the very type of man Clementina needed. She understood too that the Dumbreggan estate was very large and wealthy. Her heart soared and sang; she was delirious with secret hope and excitement for Clementina’s future.
She smiled at the man. ‘Allow me to introduce you to my daughter, Clementina.’
‘Lord Monteith—’ Lorianna began.
‘We have met,’ Clementina interrupted in such an abrupt and rude manner that Lorianna was first shocked and then furious. Only by some miracle did she manage to remain outwardly cool and dignified.
‘But not danced,’ Lord Monteith said, cupping Clementina’s elbow as she was about to turn dismissively away from him and leading her, stiff and protesting, on to the floor.
On each occasion when they met after the dance, there always seemed to be not only a verbal and personality battle for supremacy between them but a physical one as well.
At the dance Clementina had struggled with all her might, yet always with outward dignity, to break free of his hold on her but without the slightest success. This surprised her, because she was much stronger than any woman she knew and had always regarded herself as a match for any man.
It was infuriating! Her face grimaced and reddened with the intensity of her concentration in fighting to push him away and break free of the grip he had on her wrist as he forced her round the floor. It was all to no avail and his show of strength seemed so calm and effortless. Even when she vigorously stamped on his foot he betrayed only a narrowing of his eyes and a brief murderous look.
Despite the injury she must have inflicted on him, indeed as if hell-bent on suffering or in the grip of some teeth-gritting obsession for revenge, he repeated the dance-battle over and over again during the evening.
Clementina could hardly believe her ears when, bidding goodnight to her mother and herself, he asked if he might call at Blackwood House next day. It was her turn to flash a murderous look. But Lorianna of course was delighted.
‘I am warning you, Mother,’ Clementina said later. ‘I shall make a point of being out.’
‘Don’t be silly, dear. Why should you not want to meet such a charming gentleman again?’
‘He’s neither charming nor a gentleman, Mother. He’s … he’s a stubborn, ungentlemanly bully …’
Lorianna shrugged slightly and glanced away. ‘Oh well, dear—if you feel he’s too much for you to cope with …’
‘Too much for me to cope with?’ Clementina echoed incredulously. ‘Him? Douglas Monteith?’
‘Now that I come to think of it, he was very stubborn,’ Lorianna said. ‘Aggressively so. Yes, you are quite right, dear. It would be far safer to try to avoid him tomorrow.’
Bloody hell! thought Clementina. ‘It’s not a question of safety, Mother. I’m not in the slightest bit afraid of Lord Monteith.’
‘Yes, dear.’
‘I might see him tomorrow, I might not. It depends on how I feel—if I’ve nothing better to do.’
‘Yes, dear.’
Next day she had thought, to hell with him, and gone up to see Jamie instead. Then, despite Nanny Hawthorne’s protest, she had taken Jamie out to play in the garden. They had very quickly discarded his royal blue velvet jacket and matching beret and had a great time playing chases across the croquet lawn. Then they had a noisy and hilarious fencing match with the croquet mallets. Jamie eventually knocked the croquet mallet out of her hand, flung his own aside and lunged at her for a violent wrestle that knocked her on to her back, legs and petticoats flying.
‘Clementina!’ Lorianna’s voice was a high-pitched wail of horror. ‘Get up at once! And how dare you teach Jamie to copy your rough undisciplined behaviour.’
When Clementina scrambled to her feet, her horror matched her mother’s as she caught sight of Douglas Monteith.
Lorianna, visibly shaking, seized Jamie’s hand. ‘Come, darling, Mamma will take you safely back to Nanny Hawthorne.’
In her agitation Lorianna forgot about Lord Monteith. He remained staring at Clementina and she could not imagine what he might be thinking. There was only dark forcefulness tinged with cool speculation in his eyes.
‘Undisciplined is the right word,’ he said at last.
‘And you, I suppose,’ Clementina said mockingly, ‘are going to discipline me?’
‘That is correct.’
She laughed. ‘What conceit! For your information, Lord Monteith …’
‘Douglas.’
‘Douglas. You are not going to do anything with me.’
‘Oh yes I am.’
‘Get out of my way.’
‘Not until you agree to take a walk with me.’
‘I doubt if my mother would think that very proper.’
‘I have your mother’s permission.’
‘Well, you do not have mine.’
‘Why don’t you relax?’ he said, with the first glimmerings of a smile. ‘You might enjoy it.’
‘Look,’ Clementina said, ‘I am not one for beating about the bush.’
; He laughed then, a quick burst of sound from a thrown-back head. Ignoring his laughter, although it secretly disturbed her, Clementina went on, ‘I believe in being honest and coming straight to the point. You want to start courting me, don’t you? I mean, this is the usual conventional procedure. The invitations, the calling, the walking out?’
He was obviously having difficulty in looking serious. ‘That’s correct.’
‘Well, now that we have that straight, I can save you a lot of time and energy by just refusing you now rather than later. I have better and more important things to do with my life than be courted by you or anyone else.’
‘How can you make any comparisons?’ He took a firm grip of her arm and began propelling her towards the gate that was barely visible between the rhododendron bushes and trees and which led out to a country lane.
‘Take your hand off me!’
‘We can talk as we walk.’
‘I don’t want to walk with you. Why will you not take “no” for an answer?’
‘Because I am even more stubborn than you, Clementina.’
They were going through the gate now and it was a strange red-gold place full of earthy smells and heady perfumes. Clementina felt strangely affected—she was unsure whether it was by the lush tangle of the place or by the closeness of the man at her side.
As if he too was affected, he stopped and turned her towards him, saying, ‘I shall only take one kiss today. There will be plenty of time for others during our courtship.’
‘I have already told you—’ Clementina began, then stopped as Douglas bent down to kiss her. It was an unexpectedly gentle kiss and she had to admit to herself that she did enjoy it. She had in fact, never felt anything like it in her life. It gave her pause for thought and after a few minutes she found herself walking quietly by his side without realising it. Then she happened to glance up at him and caught the glimmer of amusement in his eyes. Bloody hell! He was laughing at her!
Light & Dark Page 33
