Portrait of Jonathan (15 page)

‘When is the launching to take place, Jonathan?' Lavinia asked as they moved towards the landau.

‘About three weeks from now.'

‘How lovely—I'm looking forward to it enormously. Grandfather is inviting you all to dine with us afterwards—you will come, won't you?'

‘Of course.'

As the landau moved away Lavinia turned to wave to Jonathan as he stood, a lonely figure, watching them out of sight.

Although Lavinia's excitement at the forthcoming launching of the steamship grew, it seemed as if the Fates were conspiring to spoil every event upon which she pinned special hopes regarding Jonathan.

First, there had been the time, when on her departure for France, she had been overjoyed to think that Jonathan had come to Dover to say goodbye to her, and Giles had dashed that pleasure by telling her that Jonathan was there on business anyway. The second occasion had been the ball and the dances which Lady Anthea had stolen from her and to add to this was the fact that she had seen Jonathan only once since, and then his mood had seemed so strange.

Now, when she had anticipated the launching of the
Lavinia
with such delight, again a disappointment awaited her.

The day of the launching arrived. Lavinia was in a fever of excitement. She had looked forward to this day for so long. She took a long time to dress and then went to find her grandfather in the long drawing-room.

‘Do I look all right, Grandfather?' She pirouetted gracefully before him.

Her dress was royal blue, the skirt with the draped bustle effect which was now rapidly becoming popular. Her matching hat was trimmed with a paler blue ribbon and was perched on the front of her head. She again wore her hair in a smooth chignon at the back of her head. Her gloves and parasol were a pale blue to match the ribbon trimming on her hat. The short, tight-fitting coat was royal blue.

‘Perfect, my dear.'

‘I thought the plainer material and less frills and feathers more befitting the occasion.'

‘But you'll wear that pretty evening gown tonight—the new lemon one?'

She laughed. ‘The one that's a profusion of frills and roses—yes, if you like it.'

‘I think it suits your colouring, my dear,' he smiled. ‘ But any colour seems to suit you—you look enchanting whatever you wear. Come, it is time we went to ‘Eldon House' and collected the others. We're all travelling in my carriage—it's big enough to hold the six of us.'

The Eldons were waiting for them and they left immediately.

As the carriage sped towards Blackwall, Giles burst out.

‘Have you heard the news, Lord Rowan, Jonathan has only just told us?'

‘Depends what it is, my boy,' Lord Rowan remarked. ‘Can't say I can think we've heard anything of import recently, have we, Lavinia, my dear?'

‘I don't think so, Grandfather.' She looked towards Jonathan anxiously. ‘Is it something to do with the ship?'

‘No,' he said slowly. ‘Not directly, though I suppose it could ultimately affect the present situation.'

‘What is it?' Lavinia asked, her wide eyes never leaving his face.

‘Lord Thorwald has died.'

‘What?' exclaimed her grandfather, but Lavinia merely gasped and turned pale. As if about to speak the very thought she herself had, Giles burst out, ‘Affect the situation? Jonathan, you don't mean you'd—oh no, dash it all!' Then realising the rashness of his words Giles reddened and subsided into silence. Jonathan merely glanced affectionately at his brother and smiled quietly to himself. Everyone in the carriage was uncomfortably aware that Giles' question had been provoked by Jonathan's remark that Lord Thorwald's death could affect the present situation existing between the rival companies. Giles, and possibly everyone else, thought that Jonathan meant that a change in the present circumstances would be brought about because Lady Anthea was now free to marry again and if he were to propose to her and be accepted, the two companies would be somewhat united by their marriage.

‘Er—um. Well, now,' Lord Melmoth broke the uneasy silence. ‘Can't pretend much regret, though I didn't wish the fellow any personal harm. Mind you,' he added wisely, wagging his forefinger, ‘he wasn't the most dangerous of our rivals—you mark my words.'

‘Quite so, Rupert,' agreed his wife, and, with her eyes on her eldest son, she added, ‘I should not be surprised if his wife were not one of the prime movers against us.'

The subject was closed, but remained in the minds of them all, and for Lavinia the day which had begun so light-heartedly was in one short moment spoilt.

‘Good gracious, there's quite a few people here, Rowan,' Lord Melmoth remarked as the carriage drew to a halt near the steamship. ‘Didn't realise it had created quite so much interest, did you?'

‘I know there's been a lot of talk about it in the city, especially since the sabotage episode.'

‘You don't think they'll try anything today, do you?' Giles asked.

There was a slight pause.

‘I don't think so—I don't think they'd want to risk harming innocent people,' Jonathan said. ‘You're not afraid, are you, Lavinia?'

‘Only for the ship,' was her reply.

‘We'll stick close by you, anyway,' Giles said. ‘Mama, you stay close to Father and Lord Rowan. We'll look after Vinny.'

Lavinia, with Jonathan and Giles close beside her, climbed to the platform where the traditional bottle of champagne was held in place until she released it to fall against the ship. In her clear, steady voice she said, ‘I name this ship the
Lavinia
. May God bless her and all who sail in her.'

Privately she added ‘and God bless the man whose pride she is.' She let the bottle swing towards the ship. It smashed at once, splashing champagne in all directions. A few drops fell on Lavinia's dress. The crowd cheered and the ship began to move, gathering speed until it hit the water. It was a wonderful moment, but an anxious one for in these first few moments the ship had to prove her ability to float. Gradually the water, disturbed by the ship plunging into it, calmed and she lay peacefully below them as if quite ready to begin her maiden voyage without further delay.

Lavinia turned to look at Jonathan, who was standing beside her. His face was animated with pride and a fire glowed in his usually calm eyes. He turned and met her gaze.

‘Isn't she beautiful? Isn't she perfect? Look at that line?'

He looked back to the ship. ‘My goodness, we'll show those clippers.'

Lavinia followed his gaze and ran her eyes over the sleek lines of the new ship. There was no doubt about it—the ship was similar in appearance to the clippers but so very different in modus operandi, and she still had to prove herself better than they were. No doubt their rivals were hoping that, as they had failed to prevent the completion of the steamship and the launching, the
Lavinia
would now fail in proving herself better than the clippers.

The Eldons returned with Lavinia and Lord Rowan but went on to ‘Eldon House' and returned to dine later in the evening.

Lavinia, as she had promised her grandfather, wore the gown he favoured. Her hair she had dressed in a more elaborate style than the chignon, high on her head but with ringlets and curls. But gone was all the joy with which she had awoken that morning. She sighed as she descended the stairs to join her grandfather and the Eldons in the drawing-room and realised that she must try her best to be cheerful for no one must guess how the thought that Lady Anthea was once more free to marry affected her.

‘Vinny, how beautiful you look,' Giles greeted her, his wide grin as beaming as ever, as if he had forgotten all about his previous remark in the carriage, or perhaps, she thought, he had not realised how his insinuation regarding a possible marriage between Jonathan and Lady Anthea could hurt her.

‘Indeed you do, my dear, doesn't she, Jonathan?' said Lady Melmoth.

‘But she always looks beautiful,' he murmured. The half-smile was there as if he had no other thought in his head beyond paying petty compliments to Lavinia Kelvin. He moved towards her and standing close said softly so that no one else could hear,

‘Don't be offended, my dear, but I do like your hair the way it is tonight.'

His fingers touched one of her ringlets gently. ‘The style you wore this afternoon was sophisticated, but far too severe for you.'

Despite the ache in her heart, she smiled, amused to think that he had noticed her hair.

‘Then,' she said playfully but meaning it, ‘I shall never wear it that way again.'

Jonathan gave one of his rare chuckles and offered her his arm as dinner was announced.

The table was a magnificent sight, for, to add to the fine silver and glassware, was the centre piece—an archway of about five feet high and four feet wide of red roses and fern, beneath which stood a small silver vase of white roses. At either end of the table stood two more identical vases of white roses.

‘Wilford,' exclaimed Lady Melmoth, ‘ what beautiful roses and so wonderfully arranged. Whoever have you on your staff who is so artistic?'

Lord Rowan and Lavinia exchanged a smile and as they all took their places, he said mildly,

‘Not exactly a member of my staff, Evelina.'

‘Oh,' Lady Melmoth said with disappointment, but with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes. ‘What a shame. I was hoping to entice whoever it was to join my household.'

‘I'm sure,' Lord Rowan replied finding difficulty in hiding his smile, ‘ that the person concerned would be only too happy to assist you any time.'

A muffled giggle escaped Lavinia.

‘Mama,' Giles said, ‘I do believe Lord Rowan means Lavinia.'

Lord Rowan and Lavinia laughed together.

‘Really?' Lady Melmoth looked a little disconcerted. ‘Forgive me, my dear, for being so slow—I should have guessed it was you with your artistic talent. And,' she said smiling again, ‘ I shall take your grandfather up on his offer on your behalf.'

The meal commenced on this light-hearted note, but it was inevitable that the conversation should return to the topic of the steamship and Lavinia, once more reminded of Lord Thorwald's death and all it could mean, became unusually quiet.

‘Perhaps we shall see a little more of you, Jonathan,' his mother remarked, ‘now that the steamship has been launched.'

‘Indeed,' Lord Rowan said, ‘ you have taken more than your fair share of the responsibility in this venture—and you have dealt with all the problems admirably.'

‘Thank you, sir,' Jonathan said quietly, ‘but there is still a great deal to be done before the ship is completed and as we are determined to have her ready to sail about next April, I shall be occupied for some months yet.'

Lavinia, from her position at table between Giles and Jonathan, could not easily see the expression on Jonathan's face, but she could sense that Lord Rowan's brief compliment meant far more to him than all the elaborate flattery he had received during the last few weeks as the building of the steamship progressed.

‘You're very quiet, Vinny,' remarked the observant Giles. ‘Are you feeling all right?'

‘Yes, quite, thank you. A little tired perhaps.'

Everyone turned to look at her.

‘You do look a little pale, my dear,' said Lady Melmoth.

‘It's the high and giddy life she's been leading catching up with her,' chuckled Giles.

Lavinia saw her grandfather looking concerned, so she smiled brightly at him. She must not allow any one of them to guess the truth for her despondency—the thought that now Lady Anthea was free once more, she, Lavinia, would perhaps lose Jonathan for ever.

‘Maybe we should go to ‘Avonridge' for a while,' Lord Rowan remarked.

‘Why, yes, I would love that. Grandfather,' she said quickly, trying to ignore the feeling of swift disappointment at being parted from Jonathan again.

‘Would you all care to come?' Lord Rowan addressed the Eldon family.

‘That's very kind of you, Wilford,' Lady Melmoth answered. ‘Well, Rupert?'

‘Yes, my dear. It would make a welcome change. Rowan. Many thanks. Can't speak for the boys, of course.'

‘I should love to come—must get that woe-begone look off Vinny's face, y'know,' smiled Giles. ‘And I'm the chap to do it.'

Everyone laughed, but Lavinia was waiting for Jonathan's answer, hardly daring to breathe. She dare not hope that he would want to come with them to ‘Avonridge'—no doubt he would wish to stay in town now near Lady Anthea. But she was wrong for Jonathan said, ‘I too would very much like to come for a short while. The steamship can take care of itself for a week or two,' he smiled, ‘though I mustn't desert her entirely—in fact, I may go on her first trip to China when …'

‘Oh no,' Lavinia cried before she could stop herself.

Lord Melmoth looked sharply at his son.

‘I don't think that would be wise, my boy.'

‘There's always Giles to take my place if …'

‘If you go, I go too,' put in Giles firmly, all trace of his boyishness gone in an instant.

Lavinia heard Jonathan sigh softly. ‘There's an end to it then. I can't possibly go.'

‘There's something going on here I don't understand,' Lady Melmoth said. ‘Will someone please enlighten me?'

Lord Melmoth cleared his throat uncomfortably, but Lord Rowan looked as puzzled as Lady Melmoth and Lavinia were.

‘Jonathan has mentioned before that he wanted to go on the steamship's first voyage to China,' Lord Melmoth explained. ‘ Giles and I are trying to persuade him not to do so.'

‘I see. But why exactly?' his wife asked. Lord Melmoth and his sons exchanged glances.

‘Her first voyage to China will be a major trial for her. Provided all goes well, she will bring a cargo of tea back—her first. At about the same time—roughly the beginning of next July, we understand that Myron will have a ship—a clipper, of course—due to leave Shanghai and we anticipate that that could be the greatest test for the
Lavinia
. Whichever ship docks in London first will quite probably mean rain for the loser.'