The Silk Vendetta (7 page)

He thought it was romantic and exciting and he said he would enjoy his stay at The Silk House all the more because of the fascinating history behind it.

I could see that Grand’mere liked him. She had a very special look in her eyes; she smiled and nodded and talked volubly with a sprinkling of French among her words.

We could have gone on quite happily for a long time but Charles came out. He had returned to the house and was immediately told that his guest had arrived and had gone into the gardens so he had come to look for him and I guessed the sound of our voices had directed him to us.

He stood at the entrance to the garden looking in surprise at Drake Aldringham sitting between myself and Grand’mere chattering to each other like old friends.

“Drake … old fellow,” he said.

Drake stood up.

“So there you are,” he said. “I should have let you know but it seemed more sensible to arrive.”

“It’s good to see you. Sorry I was out and there was no one to receive you.”

“Oh, but there was Miss Lenore and her grandmother. We have had a very interesting chat.”

Charles gave a sharp laugh. He hardly glanced at us. He took Drake’s arm and said: “Let’s go in.”

Drake looked over his shoulder and smiled at us. “I’ll see you later,” he said.

And they had gone.

Grand’mere looked at me, her eyes smiling.

“But he is charming. He is very … interessant … I like him. He is a very nice young man.”

“I thought he was quite pleasant.”

“It is good that such come to the house,” said Grand’mere.

She looked at me with dreams in her eyes. I was beginning to realize how preoccupied she was with my future. As we went back to the house she was humming En passant par la Lorraine under her breath.

The entire household was enchanted by Drake Aldringham. He was natural in his behaviour, so enthusiastic about every-thing and charming to everyone. Even Cassie came out of her shell and talked to him with ease. Lady Sallonger was delighted with him. She would have him sit beside her and talk.

“My dear boy, you must tell me all about yourself. It is so exciting for me. Here I am a prisoner… on my couch doomed to spend my life here and you … you have these wonderful plans. Tell about that uncle of yours … and of course of your father. When are you going to get into Parliament? You must be our member, mustn’t he Julia? We would all work for him, wouldn’t we?”

“Oh yes, we would,” said Julia fervently.

Julia was already half way to falling in love with him, but I think she would have been with any young man who had pre-sented himself at that time.

He had great charm and could respond to Lady Sallonger’s mildly flirtatious conversation and be quite serious with Philip; I used to hear him laughing heartily with Charles; he was at ease and at home with everybody. He always had a special smile for me; and I would often find him sitting next to me when we were in the drawing room. I thought meeting me first had made a special friendship between us.

Julia was a little resentful of that. I understood. She wanted Drake’s undivided attention and it was indefensible that I, not even a member of the family, should take it from her. When I sat with him, Cassie would often join us and it was amazing how she lost her shyness in his company. I often found Charles’s eyes on me and I felt rather uncomfortable under his scrutiny. I thought he was implying that I should remember my place.

It was agreed that something must be done to entertain the guest and Lady Sallonger decided on a dinner party. We should ask about twenty guests and with the family that should make a considerable party. They might dance afterwards, just informally as the company would be comparatively small. There was a ballroom which was not used half enough but would be, of course, after Julia had come out. Lady Sallonger thought that several people who did not live very far away should be invited. They need not stay the night. But there could be one or two from London who would have to, of course. But The Silk House was commodious enough. She grew quite excited planning it.

I was commanded to bring her writing pad and paper. “Not that one. Lenore … the larger one in my bureau.” Finally we had the right pad and the right pen and the compilation of the list began.

There was excitement throughout the house. I was to go to the party. Certain duties had been assigned to me.

“You will look after the Barkers, Lenore,” said Lady Sallonger. “I don’t suppose anyone will want to talk to them … and I don’t think people like to feel neglected. It makes the party seem unsuccessful. Perhaps I should not have asked them. They are very, very rich … but it was all made out of building. People might forget that but Jack Barker won’t let them. He talks about property developments and decay in the industry all the time. I’m only asking them because we need the number and they are near enough to go home afterwards.”

Grand’mere was in a state of uncertainty. Before she had known that I would be there she was thoughtful. “It will be a sign,” she said. “I want you to be there … I do so want you to be there.”

So when I was told about the Barkers she was overjoyed.

“I shall make you a dress, mon enfant. You shall have such a dress as will make you shine among them all.”

“Julia wouldn’t like that,” I reminded her.

“Oh, she would not know. She is lacking in style, that one. She does not know a perfection when she sees it. She is too fond of show and glitter … but that is not style. Oh no. That is not chic …”

She did make me a dress. It was my first grown-up dress. It was in flame coloured silk, which suited my dark hair; it had a tight bodice and short puffed sleeves; the glory was in the skirt, which flared out from the waist in numerous flounces.

There were tears in Grand’mere’s eyes when she fitted it on.

“You look so like your mother,” she said. “I could almost believe …”

I embraced her and said it was very grand, and it would be my favourite dress for the rest of my life.

The evening came and the guests arrived. Lady Sallonger received them on her couch. She looked very regal when they came to bow to her. Charles and Philip were with her and Drake Aldringham, of course. It was all very splendid.

It was to be a buffet supper and the tables were set out in the dining room. The musicians were already playing in the ballroom and Lady Sallonger had arrived there leaning heavily on Charles’s arm. She had seated herself to watch the dancing.

I, of course, was with the Barkers. Mr. Barker talked all the time about his business. Mrs. Barker said very little; she sat arms folded over her ample stomach looking like a Chinese Buddha and watching her husband as though the words which came from his ever-open mouth were some divine gospel.

Still, it was fun to be there. I learned of the difference between building with bricks and with stones, of the difficulty there was to find workmen who knew their jobs, and how people did not work as they used to with all this talk of reform. Things had started to decline since every Tom, Dick and Harry could get the vote.

I was not paying very much attention but I took my cue from Mrs. Barker and just assumed an air of respectful absorption while my mind wandered.

I saw Drake Aldringham with Julia. Cassie was seated beside her mother. She could not dance because of her leg. Poor Cassie, I thought, she did not enjoy such occasions very much.

Charles looked in my direction and I was amazed when he sauntered over.

“Good evening, Mr. Barker, Mrs. Barker,” he said. “I hope you are enjoying the occasion.”

“Splendid, splendid,” replied Mr. Barker. “This is a finely proportioned room. They knew what they were doing when they built this place.”

“I’ll grant you that,” said Charles, giving me a conspiratorial look.” Alas, Mr. Barker, that you were not around at the time. I am sure if you had been it would have been even more splendid.”

Mr. Barker looked pleased. “Oh, I would have brought a bit of modernity into it. That fireplace. Look at it. It must use up tons of coal. Should have been more shallow.”

“I am sure you are right. I am going to take Lenore round the floor. She looks as if she is longing to dance.”

I turned to Mrs. Barker. I felt it was strange that Charles should be so concerned about me.

Mrs. Barker said: “That’s nice. Young people ought to enjoy themselves. We’ll see you later, Miss Cleremont.”

Charles had gripped my arm.

“There,” he said, as he led me into the dance. “Ah, the waltz. I love the waltz, don’t you?” He put his arm round my waist and drew me close to him.

My heart was beating fast. I was suspicious of him. I could not understand why he was being so genial towards me after the indifference—tinged with contempt—which he had so often shown me.

“I hope,” he went on, “that you are grateful to me for rescuing you from those two old bores.”

“Oh,” I replied. “They are not so bad. Mr. Barker must be an expert builder.”

”Why Mama had to ask them, I cannot imagine, and then to condemn you to look after them! Cruelty to the young, I call that. I say, Lenore, you look remarkably pretty tonight.”

“Thank you. It’s the dress.”

“If you were to ask me I should say it is what is inside the dress.”

His fingers crept up to the bare flesh of my neck and I felt a shiver run through me. He was aware of it.

“You are very young, Lenore,” he said. “Just a little girl, in fact.”

”I shall soon be sixteen.”

“Dear me! What a great age! Sweet sixteen and never been kissed. Or have you?”

He was whirling me round at a great speed. I loved to dance. I used to dance with Julia. Miss Logan was teaching her. I imagined that when the season grew nearer she would have a real dancing master or mistress. Dancing was one of the social graces at which one must be proficient when coming out. I joined in the lessons to give Julia a partner and I always enjoyed the session. But I was not really enjoying this. Charles seemed quite different from the young man whom I had known before. I had always thought I was far beneath his notice.

We were passing a door and as we came level with it his grip tightened about my waist and he swung me out of the ballroom … all along the corridor.

I gasped: “What are you doing? Where are you taking me?”

“Patience,” he sang out.

He opened a door and we were in a small room where the maids did the flowers every day. There was a sink and a tap. It was very cold and dark. I suddenly felt his lips on mine and I had rarely been so horrified.

“Let me go,” I shouted.

“Why should I?”

“I didn’t know …”

“You know. I think you are rather pretty. You’re a babe, but babes can be taught and there are a lot of things I can teach you.”

“I … I don’t think I want to hear them. I want to go back to the ballroom. I have to make sure the Barkers get supper.”

“The Barkers can take care of themselves for a while. Come on, Lenore. What’s the matter? You know I like you, don’t you?”

”I am sure you don’t,” I said.’ ‘You’ve always despised me.”

“I never despise pretty girls,” he said, attempting to insert his fingers into the neck of my dress.

“How dare you!” I cried. “I am going … now.”

He barred the way. “Now come on. You can’t tease me like this. I don’t like girls who tease.”

“And I don’t like people who force themselves on others.”

“Oh, you are a haughty piece, are you not?”

“I am myself and I choose people I shall talk to.”

“You little bastard,” he said.

I caught my breath and he laughed sneeringly. “Why so shocked? It’s what you are. Why we have you in the house I don’t know. Giving yourself airs … can’t accept a friendly kiss … after leading me on.”

I was silent with rage and astonishment.

He could not see my face because it was dark. He said in a more gentle tone: “Don’t be silly, Lenore. I like you. You ought to be pleased about that. But of course you are. I’m going to give you a good time. We’re going to be friends. This is just a beginning. It’s a pity you sleep near your grandmother. Do you think the old lady would hear if I came up quietly?”

I cried out: “I cannot understand why you are talking to me like this.”

“Because you’re growing into an attractive girl and it is time you realized what good fun attractive girls can have.”

My anger was turning cold. I knew that he was implying that because of my lowly and less than respectable birth I should welcome the attentions of the son of the house. I had never liked him. Now I hated him.

“Please understand that I want to go at once and that I will have no more of this kind of behaviour.”

“Oh, she is haughty, is she? Whom do you imagine you are? French scum … that’s what you are. And because I want to be kind to you … show you what a gentleman can do for you … you give yourself airs.”

“The trouble is that you are not a gentleman.”

He gripped my arm roughly. “Listen to me, my girl. All I want from you is a bit of fun. That’s what girls like you are meant for. You’ve no right in this house. Your grandmother may work for us but that does not mean that you can play the haughty lady … not unless you earn the right. Come on, Lenore, I’m lolling you I like you. Give me a kiss. There’s a lot I can show you.”

I was in a panic. I was alone with him in this dark cubbyhole. I brought up my hand sharply and hit him in the face. I had taken him by surprise and I heard his gasp of astonishment as he released me. I lost no time in slipping past him. I dashed out into the corridor. I did not stop running for I felt he might come after me. I sped up to my bedroom. I caught a glimpse of myself in a mirror. My face was flushed and my hair in disorder. I washed in cold water and was relieved to see that the red marks on my arms were beginning to disappear. I combed my hair with shaking fingers; but already I was feeling calmer.

Perhaps he had drunk too much claret cup. I could not believe that he really liked me. He felt towards me as he did towards the maids who tittered when he glanced their way and looked secretive as though there was some special understanding between them. He wished to treat me as he treated them.