Portrait of Jonathan by Margaret Dickinson Page B

considers it unnecessary for a girl to be educated—though I can read and write legibly,’ she added, anxious not to disgrace herself immediately in his eyes. ‘And l-love sketching, though I do it in secret. Papa and Mama do not approve and Roderick laughs at my efforts. You—you w-won’t tell them, will you?’ Her brown eyes were pleading.
    â€˜No—no—I won’t tell them.’ There was a strange catch in Lord Rowan’s voice. Even though Lavinia had said all this without a trace of self-pity for she had merely stated the situation as it was, she little realised how pitiful it sounded to her listeners.
    â€˜I know a lot of places in London. Giles took me driving—and the docks and the clippers and even the new steamship—Jonathan t-took me.’
    â€˜Well, now, it seems that your education during the past week or so in the hands of these two fine young men has improved,’ Lord Rowan teased, and Lavinia blushed. ‘But I am going to suggest taking you away from them.’
    The look of misery which came to Lavinia’s face could not help but wring the hearts of all in the room.
    â€˜You mean—I m-must go home?’ she whispered.
    â€˜Home with me, I mean, back to Warwickshire.’ ‘To “Avonridge”,’ her face brightened a little, ‘for a holiday?’
    â€˜No,’ Lord Rowan touched her hair gently. ‘No, not for a holiday—for good. I want you to make your home with me, if you would like to do that.’
    â€˜Like it—like …’ But she could not go on for tears of happiness choked her.
    â€˜There, there,’ he soothed, putting his arms about her. ‘Are you so averse to the idea?’
    â€˜Oh no, no,’ she cried fiercely, throwing her thin arms about his neck and holding on to him so tightly as if she would never let go. ‘It’s the most wonderful thing that could ever happen.’
    Her words ended in an emotional squeak, so overcome was she by her good fortune, and everyone in the room laughed, though kindly thus relieving much of the drama of the moment. Lavinia, through her tears, laughed too and burled her head against her grandfather’s shoulder, smiling happily to herself.
    So it was settled between them, her parents being considered a secondary problem. In fact, Lord Rowan paid a swift and unexpected visit to his son’s dwelling, putting forward the proposition and extracting agreement from the spluttering Gervase and the nervous Sarah, and leaving before they had time to retract their consent.
    Lavinia seemed perfectly happy to make the break with her parents and brother without even seeing them again and this, to Lord Rowan and the four members of the Eldon family, whilst pitiful, served to emphasise the misery she must have suffered under her parents’roof. No doubt the last act of their misuse of her—using her as a pawn in a tactical game with Lord Myron—had severed any bonds between Lavinia and her parents.
    A few days later, Lavinia left ‘ Eldon House’ with Lord Rowan to journey to her new home in Warwickshire, her only belongings being the clothes given to her by Lady Melmoth and a few sketches. Although Lavinia already loved Lord Rowan dearly, she could not help but regret leaving ‘Eldon House’—the kindly Lord and Lady Melmoth, the gay Giles and, of course, Jonathan, whom least of all she wished to leave. She was heartened by the fact that Lady Melmoth pressed her to come and stay with them again any time she felt so inclined, and also to hear Lord Rowan giving open invitation to the Eldons to visit ‘Avonridge’.
    The journey was long but of infinite interest to the girl and Lord Rowan was amused by her obvious delight in the countryside and all the sights and sounds which were so unfamiliar to a city-dweller.
    They made the journey leisurely enjoying frequent stops and an overnight stay at about the