Winterwood (3 page)

For the next half hour, surely, it wouldn’t do any harm to forget what life had already taught her…

She sat down gracefully.

“Certainly, if it pleases Flora, I can stay for a short time. I would enjoy an ice. Already it’s so hot, so different from our own climate. Are you making a long stay in Venice, Mr. Meryon?”

“Where did you learn to be so expert,’ Miss Hurst? You answer one question with another.”

She had never believed in dropping her eyelids in pretended modesty. She gave him her full wide gaze.

“I hadn’t thought you so dangerous that I had to run away.”

It was Flora who enjoyed what she assumed to be a joke.

“Oh, Papa isn’t dangerous. Are you, Papa? What did you think he would do, Miss Hurst? Beat you as he does Edward sometimes?” Then, with her too acute intelligence, she seemed to sense something had excluded her and she exclaimed pettishly, “My head is beginning to ache. Do hurry the waiter with our ices, Papa.”

“Certainly, my pet. Here he is now.” Daniel gave the order to the waiter, and then picked up the conversation smoothly.

“You were asking how long we intended to stay in Venice, Miss Hurst. That isn’t certain yet. My wife has an aunt living here. She is suffering from heart trouble, and has expressed a wish to die in England. So naturally we intend to take her there, as soon as the doctor says she is fit enough to travel. That should be within a week or two, we hope. Unfortunately, she had just suffered a shock before we arrived, and that didn’t help her condition.”

A shock. The funeral Lavinia had heard them discussing last night? She couldn’t ask, since that conversation hadn’t been meant for her ears.

“Just think what an entourage we will be,” said Flora, with her adult precocity. “Me in a wheelchair, and Great-aunt Tameson scarcely able to walk. I don’t care for her, but at least she’s someone who can’t run away from me.”

Lavinia saw the quick pain in Daniel’s face before he said impassively, “You are probably wondering about Flora, Miss Hurst. She hasn’t always been in a wheelchair. She had an accident in the hunting field a year ago, and damaged her spine. The doctors say she will certainly walk again one day, but it’s impossible to say when. So in the meantime, she must be very patient.”

Flora frowned with great impatience.

“Oh, Papa, you’re talking just like everybody else. How can I be patient? I’m so bored, I could die.”

“At least you’re a lucky girl to be in Venice,” Lavinia pointed out Already she found she wanted to take the pain from this man’s, the perfect stranger’s, face.

Flora pouted.

“You needn’t think this is a holiday. Even here I’ve had to see specialists. And in Paris, and Lausanne.”

“Naturally,” said her father. “Aunt Tameson wasn’t the only reason for this trip.”

“She was for Mamma,” Flora said sulkily. “She thinks far more of that horrid old lady than me. And she loves Edward best of all.”

“Now, Flora—”

“It’s true! She hates having a crippled daughter. She’s ashamed of me. And she says it’s all my own fault for riding Chloe.”

“On the contrary, darling. She blames me for letting you. And she’s quite right. I should have forbidden it.”

Flora was clenching her hands, on the verge of a tantrum.

“I ride well. Much better than Edward. I was quite able to manage Chloe. She stumbled in a rabbit hole. It wasn’t my riding that made her fall. I’ve told you a hundred times, Papa!”

“It was an accident, pet. We all know that. Now forget it and eat your ice.”

Lavinia felt it was time to go. Besides, she had suddenly remembered Cousin Marion’s diamond earrings. They must be returned to her jewel box before Cousin Marion came back.

Flora immediately said, “Are you going to be scolded for staying out too long? I wouldn’t like to be you, poor thing.”

“I can manage,” Lavinia said coolly.

Daniel stood up and bowed.

“I think Flora has no doubt of that, Miss Hurst. Neither have I.”

He overestimated her self-control. Tomorrow Cousin Marion intended to move on to Florence. This was goodbye. And already she knew how little she wanted to say goodbye.

Again it was Flora who made the diversion.

“Oh, Miss Hurst, don’t forget about the earrings! We don’t want you locked up in prison.

“But don’t worry, Miss Hurst.” The irrepressible voice floated after Lavinia. “If that happened, Papa and I would rescue you and carry you off to Winterwood. Winterwood is our favorite place in the whole world.”

C
OUSIN MARION
WAS SITTING
on the couch in her bedroom. She was still dressed in her large Leghorn straw hat and thin silk shawl. She was holding the diamond earrings in her hands. Her face was pinched and ugly with anger.

“So you’re a thief, too!”

“You’ve been looking through my drawers,” Lavinia exclaimed.

“And is that so reprehensible, after what you have done?” She dangled the earrings. “I just happened to find these.” She paused, then said almost conversationally, “What else have you taken?”

“I haven’t taken anything, Cousin Marion. I merely borrowed your earrings last night. I meant to put them back this morning. I know it was wrong, but please try to understand. I got so tired of looking drab.” She saw the implacable face of her cousin, and realized that there would be no understanding. She gave a small shrug, and added fatalistically, “I wore one of your dresses, too. Since I’m apparently to be hanged, it might as well be for a sheep as a lamb.”

Cousin Marion was momentarily shocked out of her anger.

“How can you be so flippant! I can’t say my friends didn’t warn me, when I proposed to befriend you. They all said I’d regret it.”

“Then your friends were right. They’ll be delighted.” Lavinia threw off her straw hat and pushed her hair back from her hot forehead. Suddenly she was very tired.

“I didn’t steal your earrings, or your dress, Cousin Marion. I simply borrowed them to wear, and I enjoyed wearing them. But I didn’t harm them. And I’m not a thief.”

Cousin Marion, with the illogical mind of a stupid woman, immediately pursued another suspicion.

“And who did you fascinate? That must be why you borrowed my things, to fascinate somebody. I suppose it was too much to expect that you wouldn’t be looking for another man.”

Lavinia went rigid.

“Cousin Marion! Please be careful what you say.”

“I shall ask Gianetta. You needn’t think you have that girl in your pocket. She shall tell me who you walked home with—if indeed you came home before morning. Now I believe everything they said about you, that you were mad for admiration, that you would pursue any man.”

Lavinia’s chin was in the air, her voice was ice.

“Cousin Marion, I have done nothing. I was merely desir—admired by a man whose sentiments I did not return. What happened was an accident, as you know very well. It’s true that Robin and I may have led frivolous lives. But we’re neither immoral nor liars.” She drew herself very straight. “I’m sorry for you with your meanness and your jealousy and your curiosity. You think you can find out about life only by questioning me. I’m tired of your sly insinuations.”

“Lavinia!”

“You’re a hypocrite, Cousin Marion. You pretended to be doing me a service when all the time it pleased you to have me here to humiliate. Secretly you’d like to have been in my place.”

Lavinia looked down at the crumpled figure, seeing the sallow face and the spiteful, frightened eyes. How could she ever think she needed to be grateful to a poor thing like this? She was only grateful for having been given the opportunity and the courage to leave her.

“Keep your diamonds and your expensive dresses. Don’t think anyone is going to look at you in them. I’m giving you my notice from today, from this afternoon.”

Cousin Marion’s small pale eyes had watered into furious tears.

“It’s
my
business to dismiss you.”

“Then do it, pray.”

“And without a reference. I don’t know where you’ll get another position, I’m sure.”

“I shall manage.”

“I can arrange for you to travel back to England in the company of some suitable person.” Cousin Marion was recovering some of her authority. “I won’t have people saying I treated you badly.”

“I would prefer to go alone.”

“Now, Lavinia, for goodness sake! Come down off that high horse. I did think you’d have at least conquered the sin of pride. All right, then, I didn’t mean to dismiss you; I only meant to humiliate you, as you say. How do you think I’m going to like it, wandering about Europe with an Italian maid? But at least you’ll do me the goodness to allow me to arrange your return to England.”

How heartless the sun was for rising the next morning as if nothing had changed. By common consent Cousin Marion and Lavinia avoided each other’s company. Lavinia methodically packed her modest belongings, wondering what dreary friend of Cousin Marion’s she would accompany home. Then, anxious to get out of the hotel, as if the golden sunshine and the gaiety of life of the Piazza would dismiss her troubles, she tied the ribbons of her straw hat under her chin and set forth.

The day was completely her own. At least she could use it by gazing with last poignant affection on this lovely city.

She sincerely hoped she wouldn’t encounter Flora or her father. That would only involve awkward explanations, and another farewell. If she hadn’t forgotten Daniel Meryon’s face, he was one person about whom she was determined to have good sense. Further acquaintance with him could bring nothing but disaster.

“Miss Hurst! Miss Hurst!”

She hadn’t walked a dozen yards from the hotel before the imperious voice reached her ears.

She looked back to see Flora being pushed by an elderly woman in a servant’s cap and apron.

“Miss Hurst, what do you think? Papa has said Edward must be kept in his room this morning as a punishment for leaving me yesterday. Did you get into trouble, too, for stealing the earrings?”

Lavinia had to laugh. For no reason at all, this abominable child had made her spirits rise.

“I told you a dozen times I didn’t steal them.”

“Well, Papa and I were not so sure. We decided it would be only what your detestable cousin deserved.”

“Miss Flora!” The elderly maid was scandalized. She didn’t look as if she approved of Lavinia, either, staring at her suspiciously.

“It’s all right, Eliza. I was only joking. Miss Hurst, is your cousin letting you free this morning? If she is, would you take me to feed the pigeons? Edward isn’t allowed out, and poor Eliza isn’t entirely recovered from her sick stomach.”

“Miss Flora, there’s a forward minx! I beg her pardon, miss. She’s got above herself lately. As if this lady has time to spare pushing you about.”

Lavinia had been about to agree with Eliza, and walk on. But just for a moment there was something unbearably forlorn in Flora’s face. It was an unguarded and unintended expression, for in a moment Flora was saying with her usual acerbity, “Let Miss Hurst answer for herself, Eliza. You have got time, haven’t you, Miss Hurst?”

“I daresay I could spare you an hour,” she heard herself saying carelessly, thinking of the ghost beneath that small aggressive face. They were alike, she and Flora. They both concealed ghosts.

“Well, I must say I would be thankful,” Eliza said. “I’m still feeling peaky, to tell the truth. And we must be well for when we begin traveling with your great-aunt, mustn’t we, Miss Flora?”

“If she doesn’t die first,” Flora said heartlessly. “There was one funeral, Miss Hurst. The remains were put on a gondola, and it was draped with black velvet, and the gondoliers were dressed in black from head to foot. And they glided away over the blue sea and just seemed to be swallowed up. Mama and Papa and Great-aunt Tameson followed in another gondola, and they said the grave was under cypress trees. And it was terribly hot, and there were crickets making an awful racket all the time. But I believe the blue sea swallowed her up,” she said dreamily. “That’s the nicest thing to believe.”

“Who?” asked Lavinia, with the strangest stirring of eeriness. “Who was it that died?”

“Oh, just one of Great-aunt Tameson’s old servants. I don’t know what the fuss was about. Except I promise I’ll be just as upset for you when you die, Eliza.”

“Bless you, I’m sure, Miss Flora. Then, if it’s really all right with you, miss, I’ll go in out of this murdering sun. How Miss Flora enjoys it, I don’t know, her being so delicate and all. Likely the master will come out to fetch her in. He usually does.”

You’re crazy, Lavinia said to herself. You’ll see his face again, and it will be harder than ever to forget.

“You’re very quiet, Miss Hurst. Are you angry with me?”

“Shouldn’t I be? I don’t enjoy being buccaneered into doing things.”

Flora twisted around in the chair. “Don’t you like me?”

“I think you’re a very willful little girl.”

“Mamma doesn’t like me, either. I’m not pretty, like her, and I can’t walk. She only loves Edward.”

“I know. You told me that yesterday. Perhaps it’s because you aren’t easy to love.”

“But I am, I am,” Flora said passionately.

Lavinia found her both unlikable and comic. She had the pathos of the very young and intense. She was going to be hurt too often if she lived with such intensity. The sneaking thought came that that was something Lavinia could help her avoid. I could speak from experience, she thought wryly.

“I think your Papa loves you very much.”

“Yes, now he does because he feels he was partly to blame for my accident. He wasn’t to blame, of course. I was showing off. I always have had to, because Papa loved Simon and Mamma loved Edward. I was just in the middle, and only a girl.”

Lavinia willed herself not to have her sympathies touched. What was the use? She would never see Flora again.

“Who is Simon?”

“My elder brother. He’s thirteen, and he’s at school. He’s Papa’s favorite.”

“I think you talk too much about favorites,” Lavinia said. “Well, what are we going to do this morning? Feed the pigeons, then have an ice, then walk all the way down the Merceria to the Rialto bridge and come back by gondola? That way, we’ll pass those wonderful old palaces.”