“I wanted to talk to you, Priscilla,” she said. “I’m sorry to come at this time but I wanted to be sure of our being alone. Do you mind?”
“Of course not,” I said. “Come in.”
She sat down. “I noticed the ring you were wearing,” she told me. “What happened to it?”
“Leigh made me hide it away.” I did not tell her that when I wore bodices with high necks I wore it on a chain hidden from sight.
She raised her eyebrows and a secret smile played about those mobile lips. She said: “Jocelyn gave it to you, didn’t he?”
I nodded.
“I believe he’s in love with you.”
“Why do you say that?”
“It was rather obvious, and then that day when you came back after the scare with the dogs, I guessed he had said something.”
“I know it must sound ridiculous, but he has asked me to marry him if…”
She nodded, understanding. “It’s very romantic,” she said. “I understand because...”
It was my turn to study her. She burst out: “Nothing like this has ever happened to me before. I have always been wondering how I could ever have gone back to the rectory and now … now I shall be here. I shall be one of you.”
“What do you mean? You are one of us now. We all look upon you as a friend … especially after this which we have all done together.
“It’s strange but this matter … being in danger … conspiring together... it’s done something to us all.”
“To you, Christabel?”
“Yes, to me … and Edwin.”
“You mean you love each other.”
“I love him.”
“Then he loves you, too. Oh, why didn’t I see it? It’s so obvious.”
“As obvious as you and Jocelyn.”
“Oh, Christabel, you look so happy.”
“I am happy. It means so much to me. It is not only Edwin … loving him … knowing he loves me. It’s other things besides. Well, perhaps I shouldn’t think of them but if you had been brought up as I had …”
“I know what you mean. It’s all going to be changed. It’s going to be different for you. You can’t help thinking of that as well as being with Edwin. Has he spoken to you then? Has he asked you to marry him?”
“He has shown me in a hundred ways that he loves me. He has told me so, yes.”
I thought: Edwin is not the sort to take these matters lightly. He is not like Leigh.
If Edwin were in love it would be serious. I had never heard the servants giggling together about his way of life.
“I am so happy for you,” I said. “You will be a sort of sister. Now you won’t have to think of leaving here. Oh, Christabel, I’m so glad you came.”
“It was the turning point in my life.” She laughed, quite joyously. She was quite different from the woman who had come to us not so long ago. It was as though the fasade which she had built up to mask her feelings was evaporating. “And to think how frightened I was when I came here,” she went on. “I remember sitting downstairs and facing your parents …” A shadow crept across her face. “Do you think your parents will accept this?”
I was not sure. I remembered the talk of the Merridew and Egham girls. I wondered what their reaction would be. My parents’ attitude towards Christabel had made me speculate at first. My father had seemed anxious that she should settle in and had been considerate towards her, showing a little more interest than I should have thought was warranted. My mother would always be considerate to anyone who came into the household, but I fancy she regarded her with some suspicion, and I could see she often wondered why my father had brought her to us.
No, I was not at all sure what their reaction would be, but I had no wish to alarm Christabel out of her happiness, which it gave me great pleasure to contemplate.
So I said: “I am sure they will want Edwin to be happy, and Edwin is now of age.”
She seemed satisfied with that and sat talking for about half an hour of this dangerous mission of ours, and we laughed over our alarms and congratulated ourselves on doing rather well.
After she had gone I felt the euphoria die out of me.
I wondered what would be the outcome for us both-Christabel with Edwin who might have to face opposition, and myself who loved a fugitive who was at this moment hiding behind an assumed name.
My parents had returned to the house and as was usual on such occasions there was to be a celebration to welcome them back. Consequently the house was full of the smells of savoury pies and roasting meats. Ellen was bustling around, full of importance.
Chastity came in to help and all was activity.
We were all in the hall to greet them-myself, Carl, Edwin, Leigh and Christabel, who hovered in the background.
My mother embraced me warmly. My father scarcely looked at me but he studied Carl carefully. We were all a little anxious about Carl, although we had warned him to be careful. He could so easily betray what we had done, although he would try not to. His thoughts were now full of the falcon, though, and there was a new interest because Pollux was going to have puppies. I felt the old resentment rising. My father looked so distinguished, so different from all other men; I was so proud of him.
