Sister of the Bride (18 page)

I swung around with such suddenness that Sybil blinked with surprise. ‘You mean, Sybil,’ I said tersely, ‘that you were with them when it happened? I mean when Eric was shot?’

‘Well—er—er—no, not exactly,’ Sybil said hesitantly, giving a great deal of unnecessary concentration to mopping up some spilled powder. ‘What I mean is that I happened to be walking the dogs in the woods that day. I had heard Vance say he was going shooting. But I’d have walked the dogs anyway. I mean, they need lots of exercise and of course I kept well out of their way—’ Her voice trailed off.

Yes, I could well imagine Sybil convincing herself that the place where her hero was shooting would be an ideal spot for exercising her dogs. She would keep at a discreet distance, of course, but to be even in the same vicinity as Vance Ashmore would be balm to her infatuated heart.

‘Well, suddenly I heard a shot and someone screaming. Naturally I tore through the woods, making for where I thought the sound came from, and after a while I came on Eric. He was lying across a tree-trunk which was half-hidden in ferns and briars and I suppose he didn’t really see it and tripped over it. His gun had gone off and he was terribly hurt. He was so dreadfully injured that he didn’t even think of lying at the time and told me his gun had gone off accidentally when he’d fallen. It was after I had found Vance who was at the other end of the woods and we had got him back to the house that he began to change his story. Actually, I think he almost half believes it himself now. I mean about Vance deliberately shooting him. You know, Esther,’ she added after a pause, ‘this may sound strange to you, but I think Eric and I are alike in lots of ways.’

‘That’s nonsense, Sybil,’ I said briskly. The knowledge she had imparted had suddenly made me feel light-hearted. ‘What possible resemblance could there be
?
You
’
re utterly different. You’ve always given yourself unsparingly while Eric is wrapped up in a sort of bitter cocoon, taking a delight in spreading lies and dissention.’

Her owlish eyes behind the thick lenses of her glasses looked suddenly infinitely wise and understanding
.
‘Perhaps not superficially, but we are both handicapped. Only our reactions are different. Eric’s injuries have ruined his life and prospects: as
a man,
he had been cut off from all the achievements that make a man’s life worth while. Well, as a woman I’ve been deprived of all that makes for happiness. Do you think I don’t know what that dreadful Monsieur Lacroix said of me when I left you?’

She smiled wanly as she saw me look uncomfortable. ‘Oh, don’t be upset, Esther. Other people aren’t as brutal, of course, but I see it in their eyes. “Poor Sybil,” they seem to say, “she’ll never get a husband with that face and figure!” And the worst of it is, Esther, that’s exactly what I do want—children, security—and I’ve been robbed of all that makes life worth while,’ she added morbidly. ‘Of course, I know there’s no chance for me with Vance, and actually the most painful thing is that he puts himself out of his way to be kind to me.’

‘But you mustn’t let yourself feel like that, Sybil,’ I said quickly. ‘If you weren’t so frightfully engrossed in Vance you’d see that Erie’s rather fond of you.’ She looked startled. ‘What do you mean?’

‘You see, you’re throwing your life away in vain dreams. You could make him a good wife; perhaps in time eradicate the bitterness and malice he feels towards life in general!’

‘What on earth makes you think he cares for me?’ she asked almost shyly.

I smiled. ‘It’s the onlooker who sees these things. For one thing anyone could tell by the way he looks at you. Apart from that,’ I added teasingly, ‘perhaps you’ve noticed that he manages to control that caustic tongue of his when you’re present.’

‘Perhaps, but he has never said anything—’ she began.

‘Hasn’t it occurred to you that a man with Eric’s disability would find it difficult to think of proposing unless you were to give him encouragement?’

She turned and thoughtfully began to arrange the folds of a lace fichu, but I could see her mind was busily engaged on my suggestion and that a faint pinkness touched her round cheeks.

‘Don’t let your life slip past in useless regrets. You’re such a tremendously vital person and a talented organizer. If you were Eric’s wife you would have an object and purpose in life. Oh, I know it would be impossible for you to feel about him the way you do about Vance, but I feel sure he cares for you and in time I think you’ll find yourself returning his love.
’

‘You sound very old and wise.’ She smiled wanly. ‘And I suppose I’d like to believe you. In a way talking things over has clarified things for me. I mean, making an excuse for walking the dogs in the woods that day, just because Vance was in the vicinity, has brought home to me that I was behaving like a silly infatuated schoolgirl. I wasn’t really being grown-up about things and it’s not as if I’d really have been happy married to him, even if that had been remotely possible, because you see I don’t really understand him
:
he’s a sort of enigma to me and always would be. Let’s say I hero-worshipped him.’ She sighed. ‘It all sounds so perfec
tl
y stupid now when I put it into words, but I’m glad we spoke it over, Esther.’ She glanced at me a little shyly. ‘You see, you’re about the only girl I’d be able to confide in. If I told anyone else they’d probably pretend to be terribly sympathetic but would have been tittering behind my back. Now I’m being morbid and suspicious again,” she added with a shaky lit
tl
e laugh.

Gradually the dressing-room became crowded with chattering, laughing girls, transforming themselves into glamorous women of the past. I watched fascinated as a tall elegant girl donned the dress of Elizabeth the First, with its high pearl-encrusted collar. Another wore the white buckskins and buckled beaver hat of George Sand and I was fascinated to see Marie Antoinette slowly revolve in her gold-embroidered panniers and high wig topped by a ship in full sail.

Meanwhile, Sybil, obviously in her element, sped around bringing order into chaos. She had everything at her fingertips, I could see, and was obviously revelling in her role as organizer. She bustled up to me as I stood fully dressed and feeling rather out of things. ‘Why don’t you go along to Averil’s room and let her see how you look in the costume? I’m sure she’ll love to see it.’

I hesitated. Somehow I couldn’t imagine Ave
ril
being particularly happy to see me appearing in the frock that she should have modelled.

But Sybil evidently had no such doubts. ‘It will buck her up tremendously to feel that everything’s going on just as if the accident had never happened,’ she said earnestly, ‘for I know she’d hate to let Mrs. Ashmore down.’

Her owlish eyes behind the spectacles had a pellucid innocence that made me fed guilty at my own reservations. Sybil evidently had no idea how bitterly Averil resented my taking her place in the pageant. Fussily she pushed me towards the door.

I found Averil seated in an armchair, her foot, encased in plaster, propped up in front of her. She appeared to be gazing moros
el
y at the bustle and activity on the terrace beneath as cars drew up and laughing and chattering crowds disgorged and groups moved towards the house.

She turned her head towards me as I stood in the doorway and as I saw the look of bitter resentment in her face I wished heartily that I had not listened to Sybil. Completely devoid of jealousy or envy herself, she evidently found it hard to believe that others were more fallible.

‘Do come in and stop standing there: I can’t see you properly,’ Averil said pettishly, and as I walked into the centre of the room she surveyed me critically. ‘What on earth made you decide to present yourself in all your finery? You didn’t think I’d get up and cheer, did you? Well, you’ve got your own way at last. You ought to be satisfied,’ she said moodily.

‘I’m sorry, Averil. I know how much it meant to you,’ I said, ‘although I won’t deny that it’s wonderful to have the opportunity to wear one of Lacroix’s designs.’ I added with a little shy laugh, in an attempt to placate her, ‘It’s the sort of thing that doesn’t occur to people like me as a rule. I’ll be able to boast about it when I’m an old lady.’

‘Oh, don’t give me that stuff,’ Averil replied contemptuously. ‘You know perfec
tl
y well what I mean. You’re thrilled because Vance will be down there watching you when you make your appearance. Well, take my advice and don’t waste your time on wishful thinking.’ Her eyes narrowed and she regarded me thoughtfully. ‘There’s not the remotest possibility of your standing a chance as far as he’s concerned. You see, Esther, our relationship is a lit
tl
e more involved than you may imagine.’

I crossed the room quickly and stood beside her chair. ‘What do you mean?’

‘Ah, I thought that might interest you,’ she crowed elatedly. ‘It would be too bad, wouldn’t it, if there was a flaw in your hero. Will you love him quite so much, I wonder, when I’ve told you a few things about him, about the methods he adopts when he has his heart set on something he wants to acquire? In this particular case it happened to be me. If it had been something else—say something as prosaic as getting the better of a business rival—his methods would probably have been equally ruthless.’

She tapped the arm of her chair and frowned as though her thoughts were anything but pleasant. ‘It all began soon after Clive joined Vance’s firm. I gave a dinner party. I did my very best to make things a success for Clive’s sake. I remember,’ she added, a slow tentative smile touching her lips, ‘I wore a stunning frock. It was in silk georgette the colour of Parma violets and with it I wore a simple knotted gold chain. I remember the way Vance looked at me when we met for the first time. Naturally I was flattered, but I didn’t intend to let things get out of hand. But remember, as I told you, Vance isn’t the type of man who takes no for an answer. He bombarded me with invitations to exclusive clubs and parties, the sort of places that poor Clive couldn’t afford on his salary. Naturally I refused. Then one day Clive came home and told me that the firm was transferring him to the Middle East.’ She frowned. ‘He seemed pleased, poor darling. I think he was delighted at the idea of being put in a position of trust. Then it turned out that I wasn’t included in the plans. Vance had seen to that. And Clive too felt that the climate wouldn’t agree with me. Well, you know what happened. Poor Clive was killed in some local fracas. So you see, Esther, your knight in shining armour as good as murdered Clive. He knew I’d never marry him as long as my husband was alive,’ she added virtuously, ‘so it was the only way he could get me.’ Her
li
ps trembled and her large blue eyes fi
lle
d with the facile tears that she could always conjure up at appropriate moments.

‘In that case,’ a voice said sardonically from the doorway, ‘isn’t it rather pecu
li
ar that I haven’t yet put the gold ring on your third finger, Averil? After all, if I was so keen to make you Mrs. Ashmore that I’d dispose of Clive, don’t you consider that I have been a little dilatory in marching you to the altar?’ Averil’s head snapped round and I could see that the fact that he had overheard what she had said had filled her with alarm.

‘May I congratulate you on the facility with which you’ve dished up that fairy-tale? If it was with the idea of putting between Esther and myself, you’ve been wasting your time, because I’ve already told her about Clive and the fact that he escaped prison by the skin of his teeth. I had a pretty good idea that you were determined to put between us and I thought she might as well know the truth before you got to work.’

‘All right—but what of it?’ Averil said shrilly. ‘You invited me down to this cottage and your mother has made no secret of the fact that she wants us to marry.’

‘As to asking you to Cherry Cottage,’ he said flatly, ‘up to the time that Clive went off the rails he had been a fairly reliable employee and it’s not Ashmore policy to leave employees’ widows and children destitute. As to your other remark concerning my mother, she’s often inclined to get ideas that I don’t share. However, I find it leads to more harmony if I don’t argue about it, but to make my own decisions.’

He turned to me and my heart leaped in wild elation at the warm love that I saw in his dark eyes. Averil must have seen it too, for she slumped back in her chair, silent and defeated.

At that moment Sybil bust
l
ed in and to her delighted, surprise was warmly hugged by Vance.
‘
You couldn’t have come at a more opportune moment, Sybil,’ he said gaily.

Laughingly Sybil patted her hair. ‘I’ve come to tell Esther that she’s on next. She’s to follow Marie Antoinette.’

She bustled off again and Vance and I left the room. Gently he shut the door and in the shadows of the corridor took me in his arms. ‘So you’re to follow Marie Antoinette,’ he said gently. ‘Would you mind much, Esther darling, if I followed you to the end of my life?’