and kissed her. I was longing to read the letter and did not want to do so until I was alone, but as she had asked me to talk to her I did not feel that I could leave her immediately.
‘It’s wonderful,’ I cried. ‘Everyone gets what they want! And you are happy aren’t you, Mother? You truly love him, don’t you?’
‘I have always loved Gerard.’
‘It’s so romantic … one of those “and they lived happily ever after” endings. It’s nice to know they do occur sometimes.’
‘We intend to be happy … after all these years. And, Lottie, this will be your home, you know.’
I frowned. ‘Well, I suppose so really. But I shall visit my relations in England. I suppose my grandmother will be at Eversleigh with Dickon’s mother.’
‘They will not be able to tear themselves away from him, and Eversleigh is a big house. They need not get in his way.’
I was smiling. It was all working out so happily. I would go to Eversleigh and he would be there. I was clutching his letters in my hand and it was difficult to stop myself tearing it open.
Perhaps she understood my impatience for she said: ‘Well, that is what I wanted to tell you.’
‘Dear Mother,’ I replied, ‘it is lovely to see you here. It is the most exciting and beautiful place you could imagine. I love it. And it is wonderful that you and the Comte are going to be so happy.’
‘He is so fond of you. He was delighted with you as soon as he saw you.’
‘I like him, too. Good night, Mother. I’ll see you in the morning. There is so much to talk about.’
‘Good night, my child,’ she said, ‘and always remember that everything I have ever done has been for your good.’
‘I know that. Good night. Sleep well.’
Then I was gone.
As soon as I was in my room I slit the envelope. Dearest little Lottie [he had written],
When you read this Eversleigh will be mine. It was like a miracle. Prince Charming appears out of the blue and whisks your mother off to his romantic castle and she leaves Eversleigh to me.
Isn’t that exciting? I often think of you and our little romance. It did amuse you, didn’t it? Our little game of pretence? We tried to forget that you were only a child and I must admit that at times you did not seem so. But facts are facts. You are going to live in France now. You will meet interesting people, for I believe Monsieur le Comte leads a very colourful life. I am so pleased that you will have such a wonderful time.
I shall soon be installed in Eversleigh with my mother and your grandmother. It is a family house, isn’t it? Generations of the Eversleigh clan have lived here … so even when I marry they won’t be moving out. I dare say that will be fairly soon. I am really so much older than you, Lottie, and it is time I was settled—especially now that I have Eversleigh and new responsibilities.
My blessings on you, dear Lottie. I hope you won’t forget the pleasant times we had together.
Dickon.
I read it through again. What did he mean? There were three facts which kept going round in my head. Eversleigh was now his. I was a child. He was going to marry soon.
It was all over then. Dickon no longer loved me, no longer wanted me. He wrote as though what had been between us had been some game of make-believe.
I began to see it all very clearly. It had been Eversleigh he had wanted. And now that he had it I had no place in his picture of the future.
I had never felt so miserable in the whole of my life. I threw myself on to the bed and stared up at the tester.
It was over. There was no need now for Dickon to marry me to get what he wanted.
So … he had jilted me.
The Procuress
T HERE WAS GREAT EXCITEMENT throughout the capital and indeed throughout the entire country because of the royal wedding. The people seemed to have forgotten their grievances and were growing excited at the prospect of all the fetes and entertainments which would be planned to celebrate the great occasion. The weather was
‘It’s wonderful,’ I cried. ‘Everyone gets what they want! And you are happy aren’t you, Mother? You truly love him, don’t you?’
‘I have always loved Gerard.’
‘It’s so romantic … one of those “and they lived happily ever after” endings. It’s nice to know they do occur sometimes.’
‘We intend to be happy … after all these years. And, Lottie, this will be your home, you know.’
I frowned. ‘Well, I suppose so really. But I shall visit my relations in England. I suppose my grandmother will be at Eversleigh with Dickon’s mother.’
‘They will not be able to tear themselves away from him, and Eversleigh is a big house. They need not get in his way.’
I was smiling. It was all working out so happily. I would go to Eversleigh and he would be there. I was clutching his letters in my hand and it was difficult to stop myself tearing it open.
Perhaps she understood my impatience for she said: ‘Well, that is what I wanted to tell you.’
‘Dear Mother,’ I replied, ‘it is lovely to see you here. It is the most exciting and beautiful place you could imagine. I love it. And it is wonderful that you and the Comte are going to be so happy.’
‘He is so fond of you. He was delighted with you as soon as he saw you.’
‘I like him, too. Good night, Mother. I’ll see you in the morning. There is so much to talk about.’
‘Good night, my child,’ she said, ‘and always remember that everything I have ever done has been for your good.’
‘I know that. Good night. Sleep well.’
Then I was gone.
As soon as I was in my room I slit the envelope. Dearest little Lottie [he had written],
When you read this Eversleigh will be mine. It was like a miracle. Prince Charming appears out of the blue and whisks your mother off to his romantic castle and she leaves Eversleigh to me.
Isn’t that exciting? I often think of you and our little romance. It did amuse you, didn’t it? Our little game of pretence? We tried to forget that you were only a child and I must admit that at times you did not seem so. But facts are facts. You are going to live in France now. You will meet interesting people, for I believe Monsieur le Comte leads a very colourful life. I am so pleased that you will have such a wonderful time.
I shall soon be installed in Eversleigh with my mother and your grandmother. It is a family house, isn’t it? Generations of the Eversleigh clan have lived here … so even when I marry they won’t be moving out. I dare say that will be fairly soon. I am really so much older than you, Lottie, and it is time I was settled—especially now that I have Eversleigh and new responsibilities.
My blessings on you, dear Lottie. I hope you won’t forget the pleasant times we had together.
Dickon.
I read it through again. What did he mean? There were three facts which kept going round in my head. Eversleigh was now his. I was a child. He was going to marry soon.
It was all over then. Dickon no longer loved me, no longer wanted me. He wrote as though what had been between us had been some game of make-believe.
I began to see it all very clearly. It had been Eversleigh he had wanted. And now that he had it I had no place in his picture of the future.
I had never felt so miserable in the whole of my life. I threw myself on to the bed and stared up at the tester.
It was over. There was no need now for Dickon to marry me to get what he wanted.
So … he had jilted me.
The Procuress
T HERE WAS GREAT EXCITEMENT throughout the capital and indeed throughout the entire country because of the royal wedding. The people seemed to have forgotten their grievances and were growing excited at the prospect of all the fetes and entertainments which would be planned to celebrate the great occasion. The weather was
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