Papa came hurrying down the stairs, having heard our voices in the hallway. As the old friends greeted each other with great warmth I led the way into the drawing room, where Cathleen had set out sherry and glasses on a silver tray.
Over dinner, I sat mostly silent, while Papa and Uncle Iain reminisced over the long years of their friendship and shared news of their many mutual acquaintances. They had met in Edinburgh at the university, where the young medical student and the Highland laird’s son became close companions. Although after their university years their lives took divergent courses, and they were often separated by great distances, they never lost contact. They attended each other’s weddings, took pride in the arrival of each other’s children, tried to meet as often as possible. Now, I thought sadly, there was one more point of common ground between them in that they were both early widowers.
Uncle Iain seemed to feel a need to talk of Christabel, and therefore Papa gently encouraged him to do so. Thus we learned the facts of the accident, of Christabel’s terrible, fatal fall from the awesome Black Cliff, upon which their home, Creagdhubh House, was built and from which it took its Gaelic name.
‘I still can’t understand,’ Uncle Iain whispered, his white head shaking back and forth, ‘I still cannot understand what she was doing there. You see,’ he looked up, bewildered, ‘she hated the cliff. She had such a fear of heights. Why, Christabel even hated the path down to the loch, because it was so high, so steep. She never went near the Black Cliff. Not … not until that day, anyhow.’ He looked down at his untouched plate. ‘I can only think,’ he said slowly, ‘it was the primroses … It was spring, you see, early spring. She loved flowers, anything beautiful. There weren’t many flowers at Creagdhubh; it’s high, rugged country. And in the winter, little lives. But those first spring flowers, something bright and gay for the house … they grow down the cliff edge. You could reach them from above, if you were careful, but the rocks are wet and slippery in the spring …’ He stopped helplessly, and Papa gently rested his hand on his friend’s arm.
I thought of the pale yellow flowers clinging to the wet rocks, and Christabel who loved beautiful things, and I wanted to cry.
Hoping to take his mind from the tragedy, Papa urged Uncle Iain to tell us of the children.
He did so, brightening noticeably as he described Gordon’s successes at school and Rowena’s blossoming beauty. But when Papa asked about Gordon’s plans for university, Uncle Iain seemed to withdraw again and then, after a long hesitation, he said, ‘Yes, he’ll be going up to Edinburgh, of course. But next year, I think. I want him to have this year away, first. He’s studied hard. He needs the rest.’ The explanation seemed logical enough, yet there was some slight reserve in his manner, that seemed in itself to imply that this was not the full story.
Papa then asked about Rowena’s schooling. Again, there was a hesitation, then Uncle Iain said slowly, ‘Actually, Henry, that was something I wished to discuss with you.’ And then he turned quickly to face me, ‘And with you, also, Elspeth.’
We both looked up, inquiringly, and Uncle Iain continued, ‘Rowena’s not been happy at her school in Edinburgh. I think she is still too disturbed, too lonely to be so far from home. She returned from the autumn term very distressed, and I don’t wish to send her back there.’
‘Perhaps a governess?’ Papa suggested helpfully.
‘Yes, of course,’ Uncle Iain replied. ‘Naturally this is what I had in mind. But you see, Rowena is a strange girl in some ways; I’m afraid she’s rather difficult at times,’ he admitted. ‘She was always high-strung, and now, since her mother’s death she has been really quite troublesome. Christabel could always win her around, you see, they were so alike. But now everything is so different, and sometimes I don’t know quite how to approach her.’ He stopped then, and looked straight at me across the table. ‘This is why, Elspeth, I’ve thought now of you. You knew Christabel, and you and Rowena and Gordon, too, have known each other so long … You see, Elspeth, I would like you to come to Creagdhubh to give Rowena her schooling. Provided of course,’ he added hastily, ‘your father has no objection.’
I sat, momentarily silent, with this whole new vista opening up before me. Before I could speak, Papa was saying, ‘Of course I’d have no objections. What a wonderful idea, Iain, I’m sure Elspeth would be a great help to Rowena now, and indeed, the experience would be wonderful for Elspeth too. It’s time she had a chance to travel some and to be on her own, away from London.’
His enthusiasm was genuine; as always he was thinking purely of my welfare and not of his own. ‘But come, Elspeth,’ he added quickly, ‘let’s hear what you have to say.’
‘Oh, I’d love to come, Uncle Iain,’ I answered hurriedly, thinking of all the excitement and adventure of going to a new place so far away, and living on my own as an adult for the first time. ‘But Papa,’ I stopped, turning to him, ‘what of you? How will you get on here, alone?’
Papa laughed aloud. ‘I’m really quite capable, my dear, I’m not quite in my dotage yet, you know.’
‘But the house, your appointments, everything …’ I continued.
‘Now, don’t you worry. Mrs. Flanagan can manage with most of it, I’m sure. Or perhaps I’ll take on more help. It’s a minor difficulty. No, you must go, Elspeth, It’s a wonderful opportunity for you. I’d been regretting so much that I couldn’t afford to send you to the Continent next year. This will be good for you, a chance to see some of the rest of the world. Besides, Rowena will be needing companionship as well as education, and I know how well you can provide that. You must go, Elspeth, you must regard it as your duty.’
‘No, surely not,’ Uncle Iain interrupted, ‘Only if she wishes to come.’
‘But I do wish to come,’ I said, smiling happily. ‘It will be so exciting. I can hardly wait to see Gordon and Rowena and to see Creagdhubh.’
Uncle Iain took my hand, as he had done in the hallway. ‘I’m so glad, Elspeth,’ he said, ‘Now I’m sure everything will be all right again.’
Papa smiled at us from across the table. I realized without his having to say it that it was as much for Uncle Iain’s sake as for Rowena’s that he wished me to go.
And so it was decided with those few words, that I should leave our quiet, city home and, in the dark, cold days of the new year, travel north to the Highlands, to Creagdhubh House, to be governess to Lady Christabel’s daughter.
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Abigail Clements
Titles by Abigail Clements
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Mistress of the Moor
Christabel’s Room
Highland Fire
The Sea-Harrower
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Abigail Clements is the pen name of the international bestselling author C. L. Skelton. You can read C. L. Skelton’s gripping historical family sagas in ebook format from Amazon.
Titles by C. L. Skelton
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Hardacre
Hardacre’s Luck
The Maclarens
Sweethearts and Wives
Beloved Soldiers
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Mistress of the Moor: A gripping gothic romance mystery Page 20
