The Island of Love (Camfield Series No. 15) (3 page)

“I hope you will think so,” the Earl replied. “By the way, I have a horse I would like to show you, a most amazing animal...”

Their voices died away as they walked down the steps to where the Earl’s Chaise was waiting.

Lydia wondered what her father had meant about a ‘trip.’

Because she was curious she ran down the stairs into the Drawing-Room.

Heloise was standing at the window looking out into the garden.

She turned as Lydia came into the room and threw out her arms.

“I am engaged! I am engaged!” she cried. “And we are to be married, but not until we return from some extraordinary place where the Earl insists on taking me.”

“Where is that?” Lydia asked as she walked towards her.

“Honolulu!” Heloise answered. “And I have not the slightest idea where it is!”

chapter two

Lydia
could only stare at her sister in astonishment.

Then as her father came into the room she remembered that Honolulu was the capital of Hawaii—a group of islands in the Pacific Ocean.

She thought Heloise must have got it wrong, for it seemed impossible that the Earl of all people should want to go to such a strange, far-away part of the world.

But her father was able to explain the situation to them.

Two years previously King Kalakaua, he told them, had ascended the throne of Hawaii, and because he had a flourish and style which made him very different from all the previous Kings, he was determined to fashion his Kingship on the traditions of Western Monarchy.

He immediately began building himself a grand Palace and also planned a trip round the world which would make him the first Monarch to circumnavigate the globe.

“He organised gala horse-races, gave grand Balls and old-style Hawaiian feasts,” Sir Robert related, “and entertained his many friends and visitors most extravagantly at the tax-payers’ expense.”

Lydia laughed.

“That is nothing new, Papa, where Monarchs are concerned!”

“It certainly earned the King the reputation of being Hawaii’s ‘Merry Monarch.’ ”

“Is that what he is?”

“Very much so,” Sir Robert averred.

“He certainly sounds amusing,” Lydia remarked. “But why should the Earl wish to visit him?”

“The King came to England on his world tour,” Sir Robert explained, “and strange though it may seem, he charmed Queen Victoria with his British accent.” He paused before he went on:

“Her Majesty has therefore decided that she wishes to be represented at the King’s Coronation which will take place in Honolulu in February.”

“Now I understand,” Lydia exclaimed. “How lovely for you, Heloise! You will have a special place at the Coronation, and I believe Honolulu is a very beautiful place.”

“I shall certainly look forward to seeing it,” Sir Robert said, “and I think the Coronation will have its amusing moments!”

There was so much more that Lydia wanted to hear about how they would travel to reach Honolulu, but Sir Robert then left his daughters alone.

Heloise only wanted to talk about her clothes. Because she could not help being curious Lydia asked after a little while:

“What did the Earl say when he proposed, Heloise?”

“I suppose it was romantic,” her sister replied indifferently, “but I was so intent on making sure he really did ask me to marry him that it was not as dramatic as it should have been.”

Lydia gave a little laugh.

“What did you expect? That the Earl would go down on one knee?”

“That has been done before,” Heloise replied. Lydia thought she could not imagine the Earl going down on his knees to anybody, least of all a young girl.

But she persisted in asking questions until at last Heloise said:

“Well, if you must know, he said: ‘I want you to marry me. You are the most beautiful person I have ever seen, and I am sure we shall be very happy together.’ ”

“Is that all?” Lydia asked.

“It was enough,” Heloise replied. “I said: ‘Yes, I am sure we shall be happy.’ Then he kissed me and said that he had to go to Honolulu and that he wanted me to go with him.”

“With Papa!” Lydia added.

“Of course,” Heloise agreed, “and the Earl did explain why we could not be married for another three months.”

She looked a little petulant as she went on:

“I think it would have been more impressive if 1 could have gone with him as his Countess, but he said we could go to New York on the way, and he was sure that everybody there would think I was very beautiful.”

“Of course they will!” Lydia agreed. “There is not likely to be any American girl as lovely as you.”

“I have to think of my clothes, and quickly!” Heloise said. “We have very little time.”

“When are you leaving?”

“Immediately after Christmas.”

Lydia gave a cry of consternation.

“As soon as that? Oh, but of course! Papa said that the King was being crowned in February.”

“I am not bothered about the King,” Heloise exclaimed crossly. “I have to look sensational, so we must go to London immediately, Lydia, to choose at least part of my trousseau.”

“The dressmakers will not be very keen to have to make a lot of things just before Christmas,” Lydia said warningly.

“They will have to,” Heloise insisted. “You know as well as I do, Lydia, that I have not nearly enough gowns even counting the ones I wore for my coming out in London. I am tired of them, anyway!”

Lydia remembered the money her father had spent on Heloise’s Ball-gowns and the elaborate dresses she had for almost every hour of the day, and thought it was really quite unnecessary that she should want any more.

She knew however, that even to express such an idea would bring her sister’s wrath down on her head, so she said nothing and merely began to make preparations for them to leave for London.

When Sir Robert heard what was planned he was annoyed.

“I have no wish to go to London just now,” he said. “As it is, I am going to miss the horses while I am on this trip to the other side of the world.”

“I will look after them, Papa,” Lydia smiled.

“You will be unable to do that,” Sir Robert replied, “because you are coming with us.”

Lydia stared at him, not understanding. Then she said in a voice that did not sound like her own:

“Did you say that I am to ... come with you, Papa?”

“Has not Heloise told you?” Sir Robert asked. “Oh, I suppose she was not listening, but Royston said a battleship would be taking us from San Francisco to Honolulu.”

Lydia was listening intently as he went on:

“He said it would be impossible for us to take a female servant on the ship who would upset the Crew. He therefore suggested that Heloise took on the journey instead of a lady’s-maid, a companion who would be prepared to look after her and help her with her clothes.”

“A companion!” Lydia repeated rather stupidly.

“It is quite obvious that will have to be you,” Sir Robert said. “You are used to looking after Heloise, and you will keep her in good temper during any difficulties that are bound to arise at sea.”

He paused before he added:

“Personally, I think it is a mistake for the Earl to insist on our accompanying him, but as he said, since he has just become engaged to Heloise, he has no wish to leave her behind.”

“I can understand that, Papa,” Lydia said. “At the same time, it seems a little strange for him to arrive not with a wife, which would be understandable, but with a
fiancée
and her father.”

She did not mention her membership of the party knowing she would be kept very much in the background.

“I expect Royston has some very good reason of his own for this decision,” Sir Robert answered.

The way her father spoke and the fact that he immediately changed the subject made Lydia suspicious.

From that moment she was quite certain in her own mind that the Earl had some ulterior reason for taking Heloise with him, apart from the fact that she was to be his wife.

It was something which she pondered and wondered about, but there were so many other things to occupy her mind that she had no time to think of anything but Heloise and her unceasing demands upon her time.

It was Lydia who took her sister to London and, while Heloise lay in bed resting, arranged for all the best dressmakers to come to her father’s house at different hours.

It was Lydia who made it quite clear that either the gowns were completed in record time or else they would not be purchased.

It was Lydia who had to rush around to all the other shops finding shoes and gloves to match the gowns, bonnets that completed and complemented the morning and afternoon dresses which Heloise would be wearing.

She had to find a thousand-and-one other things, also, including sunshades, shawls, scarves and accessories which Heloise insisted must be new, as nothing she already had was good enough.

Sir Robert was a rich man and adored his beautiful daughter, but even he began to expostulate at her wild extravagance.

“I can hardly marry the Earl and let him be ashamed of me!” Heloise replied petulantly.

“He is not likely to be that,” Sir Robert remarked. “At the same time, he will hardly expect you to take so much with you on the journey. Surely the majority of the things could wait until you return?”

“I am not going looking like a beggar-maid!” Heloise protested.

She began to get into one of her tantrums and Sir Robert hurriedly left the room leaving Lydia to soothe her sister down in a way that only she could manage to do, and to cancel one or two of the gowns that Heloise had ordered without her being aware of it.

At the same time, after five days in London Lydia began to think that any ship would sink under the weight of Heloise’s trunks.

The fact that she looked ravishingly lovely in everything she put on certainly placated her father.

Lydia herself felt that no man, even the sophisticated Earl, would be able to resist anybody who looked so overwhelmingly beautiful as Heloise did when she was arrayed in her new gowns.

The Earl had not come to London as might have been expected, because he preferred to be in the country, hunting and shooting.

“He is neglecting me!” Heloise complained. “I have a good mind to send him a note to say I want to see him immediately!”

“I think that would be a mistake,” Lydia replied.

“I expected you would say that!” Heloise said rudely. “Why should you interfere?”

“I am not interfering,” Lydia objected, “but you must realise that men love their sports, and as the weather is so perfect for hunting, you cannot expect the Earl to give it up just to be with you.”

“I
do
expect him to!” Heloise said angrily. Because she thought perhaps it was rather unnatural for a newly-engaged couple to be apart, Lydia had an idea.

“Why do you not go back to the country, Heloise?” she suggested. “I will fit the gowns for you. We are the same size, and any small alterations can be made at home by the sewing-woman.”

Heloise thought about this for a moment. Then she said:

“That is a good idea! I am bored with fittings so I will go back to the country and you can stay here. But be as quick as possible! You must be home in two days’ time because I shall want you to do my hair before the Christmas Ball.”

“Yes, of course,” Lydia agreed.

The Christmas Ball which was given, was an annual event which took place just before Christmas Day, given by the Lord Lieutenant.

He was a very old man, and everybody knew that when he either died or retired the Earl of Royston would be appointed to take his place.

Heloise was well aware of this and Lydia knew that her sister had every intention of making a dramatic appearance at the Ball, and would undoubtedly behave as if she was already the hostess.

“I will be back in time for the Ball,” she promised, “and I expect you will want to wear one of your new gowns.”

“That is a silly remark!” Heloise retorted scornfully. “I shall naturally wear the most sensational of them all which I think is the white lace with all the
diamante
on it.”

“I think so too,” Lydia agreed, “and you will look like the Spirit of Winter!”

Heloise therefore returned to the country while Lydia stayed to find that trying to manage the fittings of all the dressmakers was more tiring than any day out hunting.

She was so exhausted by the time she got to bed that she fell asleep as soon as her head touched the pillow.

She had promised Heloise that she would be back the day of the Ball which meant she had to catch a very early train and was therefore called soon after six o’clock.

It was incorrect for her to travel alone, but Heloise had taken back with her the lady’s-maid and one of the footmen who habitually travelled up and down to London.

Lydia therefore decided to travel alone, feeling it unnecessary to ask one of the older servants to accompany her.

She knew how much they disliked the trains which they looked on as dangerous. So she went to the station alone, knowing her father would disapprove, but there was nothing else she could do.

She had arranged to have a reserved carriage and the Guard had locked her in when at the last moment the door was unlocked to allow a very elegant Lady, draped in the most expensive sables, to get into the carriage with her.

Lydia could see a lady’s-maid on the platform carrying a jewel-case bearing a coronet on it before she got into another carriage.

The door was re-locked and the train set off. Lydia looked at the newcomer with interest.

She was certainly very lovely and seemed to be of great importance, which made it strange that she should not have a carriage to herself.

Then as the train gathered speed the Lady said:

“I wonder if you would mind changing places with me? I feel ill if I sit with my back to the engine, and as the sun is on the other side of the compartment I do not wish it to be on my face.”

There was very little sun and what there was was rather pale and watery but because her skin was very white and flawless, Lydia could understand her fears and replied:

“Yes, of course!”

After they had changed seats the Lady said:

“It is certainly unusual for me not to be travelling in a private train, or at least have a carriage to myself, but I only decided at the very last minute that I felt well enough to attend a Ball which is taking place tonight.”

Lydia smiled.

“You must mean the Christmas Ball at the Marquess of Roehampton’s house.”

The Lady raised her eye-brows.

“Do you know him?”

“My father, who is Sir Robert Westbury, lives very near him.”

The Lady stared at her. Then she said: “Westbury? You are not saying—you cannot be the girl who is to marry the Earl of Royston?”

“That is my sister.”

“Oh!”

For a moment it seemed there was nothing more to say. Then as if she felt she must talk the Lady said: “I am the Countess of Milbourne and the Earl is a very old
friend
of mine.”

The way she said it with a deliberate stress on the word ‘friend’ made Lydia think that the Countess had been more than friendly at one time with the Earl.

Then as if she could not prevent herself the Countess continued:

“It was certainly a shock and a surprise to everybody, especially the Earl’s old friends, that he should become engaged, so precipitately and without any warning!”

“My sister is very beautiful.”

Lydia thought as she spoke that the Countess, if she had not had herself strictly under control, would have snorted.

Instead she said:

“The Earl has always vowed he had no intention of marrying until he was very much older. Of course, your sister must have persuaded him to think otherwise.”

There was certainly a spiteful sting in the Lady’s words. Then she asked:

“How old is your sister?”

“She is eighteen.”

“Oh, dear! I cannot help feeling sorry for the poor child! I am afraid the dear Earl, much as we all love him, will lead any woman, however experienced, however sophisticated, a dance once he is married! But a girl of eighteen ...!”

She threw up her suede-gloved hands in horror and Lydia knew she was in fact, delighted that Heloise was so young and in consequence quite incapable of amusing the Earl and keeping him faithful.

It was an idea that had already gone through her mind.

Although she thought it extremely incorrect for the Countess to speak in such a manner because of her curiosity she could not help encouraging her.

“Do tell me about the Earl of Royston,” she begged, “I have seen him many times, but I have actually never met him.”

“You have never met him?” the Countess exclaimed. “Then I assure you, Miss Westbury, you are in for a surprise! He is different from other men, very, very different!”

“In what way?”

“I suppose, because he behaves as if he owns the world and everything in it, that one almost begins to believe it is true.”

The Countess paused before she went on:

“In the case of other men that would make them conceited and pompous, but with the Earl it seems so natural to him to have everything his own way that we just give in and treat him as omnipotent.”

She laughed as she spoke and it made her look very pretty.

At the same time there was a look in her eyes that was malicious, and Lydia knew she was longing to be spiteful, both about the Earl and his engagement.

“Have you known His Lordship for a very long time?” she asked.

“For years!” the Countess answered. “As I said, we are very old friends, so I shall be interested, very interested to meet your sister and find out what special attributes she has that have been so sadly lacking in all the other women who have in the past made themselves very much a part of Hunter’s life.”

The nickname slipped out by mistake, and immediately the Countess said firmly:

“Of course, as I have said, the Earl is a law unto himself, and therefore one cannot judge him by the same standards as one would judge other men.” Because she was fascinated and had never before been with somebody who knew the Earl and would talk to her about him, Lydia said very ingenuously: “Another old friend of the Earl’s was dining at my father’s house the other night, the Duchess of Dorchester.”

She saw by the expression in the Countess’s eyes that the name was very familiar and almost as if the words came to her lips before she considered them she said:

“Of course—Daisy! That might well be the reason—I would not be at all surprised! I heard the Duke was furious and swearing revenge!”