Brides of Aberdar by Christianna Brand

she created for them.) ‘For myself, mon cher , I do not put so much trust in her. She has behind her some—mystery; well, enfin —something of mysterious. She receives letters—’ She conversed with him about equally in English and French. That she should practise more fluency in the language of her new home was self-evident.
    ‘She has a family. Anyone may receive letters.’
    ‘Yes, but—what becomes of these letters? She well hides them or at once they are destroyed. That is not curious?’
    ‘How do you know this?’
    ‘It is the duty, my dear Edouard, to guard carefully over the institutrice of these young children.’
    ‘For heaven’s sake—not to the extent of enquiring into her private correspondence?’
    ‘But—there is a ring, also, mon cher . With small stones, but the diamond is real and a ruby also and an emerald. Then only un grenat—’
    ‘A garnet. And I daresay an aquamarine?—it must be a “regard” ring,’ said Sir Edward, incautiously. ‘The jewels spell out the word r-e-g-a-r-d.’
    ‘Regard? To look?’
    ‘To think well of. To care for.’
    ‘Perhaps to love? This is a new possession; I think not yet much worn.’
    He looked at her suddenly curious. ‘You must have examined into this very closely? I’ve never seen her wear a ring. How do you know of it?’ And his brow grew dark. ‘I won’t have you, Louise, intruding into Miss Tettyman’s room. She comes to us with excellent recommendations—’
    ‘From a man. Written to us by a man,’ said Madame. ‘Signed Charles B. Arden.’
    ‘Because Lady Arden was too unwell to write herself. Now, once and for all—there is nothing whatsoever to suggest that she is not a perfectly proper and well-conducted young lady and always has been. She came to us more or less directly after being employed from a young age in the Arden family. Whatever her past, it has clearly been blameless. Leave her alone.’
    ‘Oh, certainly, my dear,’ said Tante Louise. ‘An angel of virtue no doubt, and as you say, straight from the employment of Sir Charles Arden. I have look him in the book. Sir Charles Bell Arden. The father of her pupil. It is in the book!’
    Engraved on the inside of the ring—three tiny letters. C.B.A.
    Fortunately, Tante Louise, could not ride a horse and Miss Tetterman, as has been said, despite the scar, had professed herself able and willing to do so. To the undisguised astonishment of Madame, a well-fitting habit was produced and, mounted on a neat little bay cob, Mees would trot out with the children, Hil in easy familiarity accompanying them, and the inevitable scatter of little white dogs. And a day came when Sir Edward on his own beautiful Royalist, meeting them on the hillside path across the stream from the Manor, settled himself down to ride alongside them. Hil with a word dismissed himself. ‘If you’ll take charge, then, Squire, I could be seeing about those cattle in the third meadow.’
    ‘I wish you would, Hil; it would save me a wearisome ride.’
    ‘Owain will take the horses then, when you return.’ Hil, she had observed, never touched his cap to the master or called him Sir; it was always just ‘Squire’ and a little jerking half-bow as though to say, ‘You and I very well know my situation here.’
    Now seemed a God-given opportunity to mention her misgivings regarding Hil’s familiarity with the little girls. ‘You go on ahead,’ said Miss Tetterman to her charges, ‘and see who will reach the fallen log first. Only mind!—no more than a canter, or the winning won’t count.’ To their father she said, fishing for an opening: ‘Hil must be a great help to you, sir, on the estate?’
    ‘I couldn’t manage without him. My father died when I was a child. When I came of an age to manage my own estates, Hil came to me and he helped me with it then as he helps me now. But the time seems to have come when I need more than that. I seem not able to do any of it. At my age! I am still a young