Silver (28 page)

       
Avery listened in silence and wondered whether Elizabeth was truly a threat to them both or whether she was biding her time. Surely, she could have revealed him right there at the side of the road, humiliated him in front of the old woman, yet she had not. Of course, that wasn’t to say she had not discussed the matter with the old woman on the journey. As Kate put him into his nightdress and hustled him into the bed to complete the pretense, he knew it would not be long before he found out and if he stayed put, something told him his patience would be rewarded very soon.

       
Kate left him alone for the rest of the afternoon and being resigned to bed, he slept a little. When he woke, he could tell from the fading light that the day was drawing to a close. He started in bed, immediately aware that he was not alone. He sat up and peered into the gloom around him expecting to see the familiar face of Kate bringing him news.

“
The country air can make one rather tired can it not, Silver?”

       
Elizabeth was seated by the dressing table. She was fingering the silver vanity set that had been placed there so carefully by Kate that very morning. Though Avery never thought of them, he had noticed how delicately Kate always handled them. She was almost reverent with them yet Elizabeth handled them with a quiet disdain. She held the small mirror into which she now gazed, appraising her reflection as she spoke.

“
Though you may not believe me, Silver, we have a lot in common.” She swept a finger over her eyebrows, smoothing the fine hairs flat, keeping her attention on her face in the mirror as she did so. “We both hold stock with appearances.” She looked towards him where he had sat up in bed to watch and listen. He held his breath. “And we both seek to be delighted with danger.” She casually tossed the mirror back on to the dressing table where it clattered. Avery waited.

“
I had been wondering whether you had been brave enough to bring along your…disguise. And whether you would be bold, or stupid enough to seek danger under our noses.”

“
It’s not a disguise. It’s who I am.”

       
Elizabeth closed her eyes and flapped a hand in his direction, indicating she was neither interested nor ready for explanations.

             
“Regardless, I am right am I not Silver? You cannot deny what you are...what you want and you cannot stop yourself from seeking it?”

       
There were many things he could have said to try to explain or to put it better than she had but it had not gone unnoticed that he not yet called her Miss Silver, only Silver and instead he nodded.

             
“Then, if we are of the same spirit, you will also agree that this…” She looked around them both and made a shrug to indicate the entire room, the house and its occupants. “….this situation is abhorrent and you will no doubt wish to find a way to make it more appealing?”

       
He nodded again.

             
“Good. Then here is how I propose we make it so.”

~o~

“
I must say, Miss Silver, you have made a remarkable recovery. You look almost passable this morning. Will you take some breakfast?” Mrs. Fearncott indicated the vacant seat to the left of her, opposite Elizabeth. “The weather also seems to have made a turn for the better since yesterday. Elizabeth was just wondering whether you and she might wish to take your watercolours to the river? That is if you feel up to it?”

       
Avery took his seat and allowed one of the maids to serve him some kippers and egg.

             
“I believe I do feel up to it Mrs. Fearncott. What a lovely idea Miss Greenwood.”

“Call me Elizabeth, please.”

        The two young ladies chattered pleasantly over breakfast about composition and light and Georgina Fearncott was not too proud to allow a self satisfied grin to break over her face, at the relative ease with which she appeared to have broken down Toby’s daughter.

       
It was just as easy to persuade the old woman a while later that two maids would be quite too much, as they were prone to chatter in pairs and that Kate would be quite sufficient to carry their equipment of which there seemed a lot.

             
              “We have packed our overcoats in case the weather turns again Aunt Georgina.”

             
“Take some lunch with you as well, there is no sense in rushing your composition for the want of sustenance,” the old woman added.

       
Kate began to look like a pack mule with the bag, picnic basket and sketchbooks and Georgina was about to insist on Cribbs coming along when Kate insisted she was ‘
Quite capable, Mrs. Fearncott
.’

       
Kate’s accent was enough to convince her that she would be ill advised to press another maid to the service. She muttered to Elizabeth as they left.

“
They do breed them stronger in the North but they have never quite managed to temper their sullenness.”

       
Elizabeth smiled and nodded in agreement, rolling her eyes to effect. With a last fluttering wave to her aunt, Elizabeth skipped down the steps to join Avery and the two of them joined arms and sauntered down the lawn to the bottom gate, Kate stoically trudging after them. Georgina felt her spirits rise, as she envisaged her plans bearing fruit at last, and she embraced the opportunity to catch up with her own correspondence. Once they were out of view of the house, Elizabeth pulled away from Avery and he in turn strode back to help Kate with her load.

             
“I don’t expect to know what she is up to, but be careful,” Kate whispered to him, as he took the heavy bag from around her back.

             
“Hush Kate, there are many means to the same end.”

       
She frowned at him and repositioned the picnic basket across her arm scowling ahead at the fast retreating figure of Elizabeth.

             
“Yes, and there are just as many ends to be met,” she added quietly.

~o~

              It took them just over two hours to reach Amersham having found a quiet place by the river for Kate to stay with the easels and paints, and for Avery to change his attire. Crossing the Harewood Downs at a trot, Elizabeth had let out a great snort of laughter.

             
“What is it? What’s so funny?”

       
She had thrown back her head, her hair trailing down her back in curled tresses and laughed even more deeply. It was infectious and, without knowing the reason why, Avery began to laugh as well. He was less self conscious now he was dressed in the comfort of his trousers and boots again. The clothes gave him a confidence he had failed to muster in the last few days. He had caught up with her and had asked her again, a little guardedly in case he were the reason for her mirth.

“Elizabeth?”

        She stopped and looked at him, her lips trembling on another outburst.

             
“Can you just imagine the look on Aunt Georgina’s face when she sees poor Miss Ward’s attempts at a watercolour?” She burst out laughing again and walked on. Avery had felt a little ashamed to leave Kate at the river all alone and the thought that she should be mocked for her efforts to assist them made his face grow pink. Elizabeth had walked ahead, still giggling and he followed, his light mood darkened slightly. After a while, and both perspiring in the heat, they arrived on the outskirts of Amersham just before midday.

“Is this it?”
Elizabeth could barely hide the disdain from her voice. Though she had traversed the street in a cab from the station, she had expected the town to herald more but upon closer inspection, they were able to walk the length of the town within ten minutes. It was a thriving market town but, in comparison to the bustle of London, was sleepy and dull. Avery indicated a smart public house on the approach to the station and escorted Elizabeth across the street. They decided to eat some lunch and from their window seat, they watched the comings and goings of the town come alive, like a symphony. There was a stream of grey looking people arriving from the station and milling towards the town. Just as many were returning with brown packages tied up. They provided the rhythm of the street. There was a mixture of high-class ladies stopping to chat, their brightly coloured dresses punctuating the grey like a timpani. A baritone of well suited gents strolling about with purpose and elderly gentleman inspecting their pocket watches moved like percussion; the organised chaos of grey and brown scurrying servants seemed to weave a melody around them all dizzying in their speed, Avery was reminded of the sound made by bumblebees in their frenetic scourges for pollen. Slow as it was compared to London, Avery was somehow mesmerized.

“Oh good God!”

        Elizabeth’s voice startled him and he knocked his tankard of ale, spilling a portion across his lap.

“Oh Lord!”
Elizabeth continued to exclaim.

       
Avery stood up and began to mop at his trousers with his napkin. As he did so, Elizabeth also stood up and peered more closely out of the window.

“I
t is. It’s him!” she cried.

       
Avery was caught between intrigue and irritation. The barmaid had scurried to his assistance and was now arranging the plates before them to mop up the spill whilst at the same time flapping at Avery’s trousers with a beer sodden rag which smelled like an open toilet.

“Who?
For goodness sake, will you please stop!” He grabbed the rag from the girl and threw it on the table. The girl muttered at him and, grabbing the cloth, scurried back behind the bar.

       
Elizabeth’s face was like a child’s as she both tried to peer out of the window yet drawing back from the light to do so discretely. She looked like she had been caught playing truant from school yet something about her made Avery think that she wanted to be caught. He leaned across the table and tried to follow her gaze. The summer had finally dawned in the country and the bright light of the sun reflected from the pale buildings opposite so that Avery had to squint to see the faces beyond the window. As he scanned the scene, he was about to draw back when he recognised Bateman stood directly opposite. He was looking in the direction of the tavern. Avery’s first reaction was one of shock and he pulled his face away from the glass. He had to double check himself. Involuntarily, his hand shot to his thighs where his hand met the reassuring feel of his trousers. He had considered Bateman a friend but here in the company of Elizabeth and in the vicinity of Georgina’s home town he recognised the risk and immediately began to panic.

“Do you think he has seen us?”
Elizabeth’s voice was calm and he glanced down at her anxiously. She seemed remarkably calm and had a strange look on her face.

“I
hope not! Come on, we should be leaving.” He pulled Elizabeth up by her arm and marched towards the door.

“
He does not know about you does he?” she pulled her arm from Avery’s grip and the two were stood looking at each other. He tried to grab her arm again to draw her away to the door which exited to the side.

       
As he did so, the main door opened wide bringing a warm gust of summer air and with it the familiar figure of Bateman. He stood for a moment, allowing his eyes to become accustomed to the gloom. Avery spun around and turned his back on his friend. Elizabeth, however, exclaimed loudly.

“
Bateman! Is that you? It is! What a pleasant surprise!” She stepped from behind Avery and grabbed his arm. “Avery. Look who it is.”

       
Avery, his back still to Bateman stared hard at Elizabeth, his jaw tightened around words he could not form. The pause was too long to be polite and Avery turned slowly to face Bateman. His reluctance had not gone unnoticed and Bateman’s expression was one of suspicion and jealousy in equal measure yet his manners forbade him to betray himself.

             
“Miss Greenwood! And Avery? Well, what a surprise!” His tone suggested otherwise. “What a pleasure?” he repeated.

       
He had stepped towards Elizabeth and taken her wrist to place a kiss on her gloved hand. As Avery watched, it gave him some pleasure to note that they were slightly soiled from their earlier walk on the downs.

“
What on earth are you…..both…doing here?” he asked.

       
Elizabeth looked between the two men lingering with some thought as she considered Avery’s stony face. Her eyes lit up with a raised eyebrow as she stepped towards Bateman and took his arm genially and placed her hand over his.

“
You won’t believe this but I am staying nearby with my Aunt for the summer and I…..happened upon Avery here on a chance visit to town.’”

       
Avery stepped in, unable to keep his tone even.