Portrait of Jonathan (20 page)

She stood up. ‘I must go—it's almost time for dinner.'

He went and opened the door for her, a tight, wary smile at the corner of his mouth. She passed out of the room close to him but her eyes were downcast and she did not look up at him.

Over dinner, the family demanded to hear the full story of the kidnapping.

‘It was wrong of me to have gone without Giles—I realise that now. I do hope you don't blame him in any way,' she turned her clear gaze towards Lord Melmoth. ‘I've already told him he is not to blame himself. Well—I went to the Gardens and Roderick was waiting for me near the fountain. We talked for a few moments—oh, he spun me a fine tale,' she laughed. ‘I was completely taken in.'

Merriment was in her tone, but her listeners could not share her mirth.

‘After a while he suggested we take a short drive. As, by that time, I was fairly sure his attempts at reconciliation were genuine, I consented.'

‘We left the park and drove for only a short distance. We slowed a little and two men jumped into the carriage and sat either side of me. Before I could utter a word or realise what was happening, they had tied a kerchief about my mouth and secured my hands behind my back.'

She paused and turned back the cuff of her sleeve to reveal the tender skin on her wrists still bore the bruises and soreness of those bonds.

‘None too gently,' she smiled ruefully, ‘ whilst Roderick just laughed. Then the driver whipped up the horses and we journeyed for what seemed an intolerable distance. I have no idea where we were for they drew the blinds down over the windows so I could not see out. At last we stopped and I was blind-folded too and led into a building—up numerous stairs and pushed into an attic and left alone.'

‘Didn't they bring you any food?' Giles asked.

‘Nothing. I must have been there for several hours before I managed to free the bonds round my wrist on a rusty nail. I had lost all account of time. Fortunately for me they had not bothered to secure the door. It was frightening trying to get out of that place—I was so afraid one of them would come at any moment. Anyway, I crept down the stairs in complete darkness and somehow—though I really couldn't tell you how—I found a door into the open air.

‘Then I just ran as far as I could—I did look back once—the place seemed to be a derelict farm as far as I could see.' She shrugged and spread her hands. ‘Then I just kept walking until the carriage stopped and brought me part of the way, then I walked again until Jonathan and Giles found me.'

Though Lavinia, in the telling of her story, had minimised the danger and the treatment of her captors, no one was in any doubt as to the frightening circumstances in which the girl had found herself.

‘The sooner we return to ‘Avonridge', my dear, the better,' Lord Rowan said.

‘But Grandfather,' Lavinia cried, her eyes wide, ‘we must stay until the steamship has won. I must!'

‘Do you still mean you're interested in the race after all that's happened to you because of it?' Lord Melmoth enquired in surprise.

‘Of course I am—it's nothing to do with the steamship, is it?'

Only Giles of their number realised that it was not just the ship itself but because it was Jonathan's pride and joy which caused Lavinia's unfailing interest.

So Lord Rowan and Lavinia remained in London until the
Lavinia
returned. The excitement grew in the city as day by day the ships drew nearer. Wagers were taken as to which ship would win. Rumours said that the
Lavinia
was first, then another said that the clipper was far ahead. The ships were to dock at the East India Docks, and the last day, when it was still undecided as to which would win, found the Eldon family, Lord Rowan and Lavinia near the docks awaiting the end of the race. They were able to find a spot where they could see some distance down the river and were joined by several other spectators, for the race had caused great interest in the city.

Anxiety was again the over-riding emotion. With Lavinia safe again, and the message never sent to the steamship, there had been no setback in the race itself. Now all their thoughts were on it. Would their ship win and show the way to the future, or would the clipper come sailing in defiantly, smashing all Jonathan's hopes and dreams and bring, if not total ruin to the Company, at least a financial disaster?

Jonathan remained motionless, his only sign of anxiety seeming to be his total engrossment in watching for the steamship. Giles paced up and down muttering to himself, alternating between confident elation and despondency. Lavinia, her mood matching Jonathan's, one of quiet but tense expectancy, went to stand beside him.

He was painfully aware of her presence, though he gave every appearance of being wholly absorbed in watching for his steamship. She, for her part, was willing her namesake to win for Jonathan's sake. Suddenly she clutched his arm in excitement. Her sharp eyes had seen a shape looming up in the distance moving steadily towards them. Silently, she pointed, her hand returning to clasp Jonathan's as they stood breathlessly watching the ship move nearer, waiting until they could be sure …

Jonathan's whisper was for Lavinia alone. ‘ It's your ship, Vinny, it is the
Lavinia
.'

‘Oh Jonathan, it is—I know it is,' she turned to him, tears running down her face. He looked down at her smiling tenderly.

Then a shout went up amongst the crowd.

‘It's the steamship—It's the
Lavinia
.'

People cheered, whilst Lavinia laughed and cried with happiness and Jonathan continued to gaze down at her.

‘It's our ship, it's our ship!' The boisterous Giles bounced up and whirled Lavinia round to embrace her, lifting her completely off the ground. When she laughingly admonished him and demanded to be put down, she turned to find that Jonathan had disappeared into the crowd.

It was indeed the steamship which had won the race and all the anxiety of the past months and weeks was over and ahead lay the fulfilment of all Jonathan's plans.

A little sadly, after all the excitement, Lavinia turned away. She knew she had no part in those plans and even though she knew the Eldons were her dearest friends, the future held no bright prospect for her without Jonathan.

Lord Rowan insisted that they should return to ‘Avonridge' the next day.

‘You're looking so pale my clear child,' he said. ‘After your frightening experience and the excitement of the race, it's too much for you. Back to ‘Avonridge' we go where you will take a good long rest.'

Lavinia was not completely sorry to return to the place she regarded as her home for although she was leaving Jonathan, she realised he would now be so busy again that she would see little of him even if they did remain in town.

As they travelled through the countryside a few days later towards Warwickshire, her grandfather said conversationally, ‘It's time you were thinking about marriage, my dear.'

‘Oh no. Grandfather,' Lavinia's swift reply was scandalised.

‘Not that I want to lose you, my love,' his kind eyes twinkled, ‘but it is my dearest wish to see you happily settled.' His tone sobered. ‘Life has little meaning unless you have a loved one to share it.'

Lavinia knew he was thinking of the idyllic years he had known with her grandmother. But how could she tell him she already knew this—how could she explain to him that there was only one person with whom she wished to spend her life? So she remained silent, hoping that this was merely idle chatter on his part, and not the beginning of a campaign to see her well-married.

Four weeks passed in which she fully recovered and all the marks of her unfortunate experience disappeared without trace. She thought her grandfather had forgotten his words about marriage, so she was surprised when he announced one morning at breakfast.

‘I am expecting some guests to arrive this afternoon, my dear, one of whom will be a young man who, I believe, wishes to pay court to you.'

‘But Grandfather, I don't want …'

‘Lavinia, you will oblige me by receiving this young man. I shall be most seriously displeased if you are uncivil to him.'

She looked at her grandfather. She had never heard him speak so sternly and his face gave no sign that he was anything but serious,

‘Yes, Grandfather,' she said meekly, and left the table without looking back so she missed seeing the mischievous twinkle Lord Rowan allowed himself behind her back.

She spent the morning discarding all manner of wild ideas for escape from the preposterous idea that she should allow a complete stranger to court her. By mid-afternoon, however, she was resigned to the fact that she must, at least, receive the young gentleman for she could not so easily displease her grandfather after all his goodness to her.

Mid-afternoon, which was the expected time of arrival for the guests, found Lavinia in her favourite spot, her grandmother's small garden. Seated on the white painted garden seat, watching the sparkling fountain, she could not feel the peace and happiness she usually found in this secluded spot. She sighed. She supposed she must return to the house and meet her grandfather's guests and her would-be suitor.

‘Vinny.' The soft tones of a well-known voice startled her reveries. She jumped to her feet and turned to see him standing at the entrance to the enclosed garden.

‘Jonathan!'

‘May I join you?'

‘Oh—yes—of course, but …' she hesitated as he came towards her. Her eyes searched his face.

‘I didn't know you were coming. Grandfather is expecting guests but …' Again she paused, hardly daring to believe the impossible idea forming in her mind.

His smile, so beloved by her, his sideways smile was at the corner of his mouth. ‘Yes,' he said, ‘Lord Rowan is expecting guests—the Eldon family.'

‘Then who—who is the young man he said—he said …'

Jonathan's smile faded a little and a wary look came into his eyes. He seemed ill-at-ease.

‘Vinny—I am the young man who wishes to … to …'

The look upon her face would have answered his question even before he asked it for radiance flooded her eyes, but he had looked down as if almost afraid to meet her gaze. She stepped closer to him, her eyes never leaving his face.

‘Vinny, Vinny, my love,' he took her hands in his and raised them to his lips. ‘I love you so much—I know you can never love me—but do you think …?'

‘Jonathan,' she said softly, ‘why do you think I could never love you?'

Now he looked into her eyes again searching their depths, puzzled.

‘Giles said …' he hesitated.

‘Giles! Oh and he promised,' she cried, but not angry now. For now she had heard those magical, unbelievable words from Jonathan—words she had never dared to hope she might hear—she could forgive anyone anything.

‘He didn't tell me who it is.'

‘Who is what?' she asked. ‘Now, tell me
exactly
what Giles did say.'

‘Well, I wouldn't be here saying this but for him,' Jonathan admitted. ‘We were talking about you and he said “poor Vinny, she'll never make a happy marriage.” I asked him what he meant and he said, “ she's given her heart to some worthless fellow who never even notices she exists and doesn't deserve her.” Vinny, I know I am a poor substitute but I do love you so and I'll try to make you happy if …'

Lavinia laid her finger against his lips and laughed softly.

‘Jonathan, shall I tell you who that “ worthless fellow” is?'

A look of pain crossed his eyes. ‘ If you must, but I think I'd really rather not know.'

She moved even closer and laid her cheek against his shoulder.

‘He is you.'

There was a pause, so long that she began to think he had not heard so she went on. ‘Giles knew I loved you a long time ago, even before I went to France. Strangely enough, it was just here, in this garden, he found out. He came to look for me and I was sitting here sketching,' she drew back and looked up at him. ‘Sketching dozens of portraits of you—and he guessed just why my pencil kept drawing your face.'

‘You really
mean
it? I thought—when Giles said that, that perhaps it was Lord Selwyn or,' he smiled ruefully, ‘even Giles himself.'

She could still read the disbelief in his voice and on his face.

‘I'll spend the rest of my life convincing you that it
is
you,' she said.

‘But I'm so much older than you and—and there's this.' His fingers touched the scar on his face.

‘Oh that,' she said casually. ‘ That's a sign of maturity. We've all got scars, Jonathan, left by the pains of growing up, but they're not all visible like yours, but they're there for all that. And fancy you thinking I could have fallen for the man who caused you so much unhappiness.'

Jonathan smiled—really smiled—and gathered her into his arms.

‘Well, well, well,' said a voice behind them and they turned to see Giles grinning at them round the corner of the hedge which enclosed the garden. ‘I thought I'd
never
get you two together. I had the devil's own job, Vinny, getting it across to him without actually breaking my word to you.'

He came and stood before them grinning happily.

‘You always seem to come at the wrong moment, my boy,' Jonathan drawled, but Lavinia heard the amusement in his tone. ‘You've done it before—frequently.'

‘Oh I know, but that was to save Vinny embarrassment usually.'

Giles stood with his back to the fountain quite close to the edge. The same thought must have flashed through the minds of Lavinia and Jonathan simultaneously for they looked at each other, smiled mischievously and moved towards Giles, hand in hand.

‘A “worthless fellow” is he, Giles?' Lavinia laughed.

‘What shall we do with him, Vinny?' Jonathan asked.