Bella Poldark (5 page)

'I have three daughters. All their dowries must be secured. I have no money to leave to a grandson.'

Valentine got up. 'I should prefer my son to make his own way.'

'By marrying money,' said George, with a slight sneer.

'Just so, Father. We all have different ways.'

'Then call him George,' said George, 'if it pleases you.'

And be damned, he added, but under his breath.

It was more than three years since Demelza had been in London, and she had rather hoped she would never see it again. She liked the great city, but twice had been terribly unhappy in it. On her very first visit there had been the enmity and then the duel between Ross and Monk Adder ley. Never a more anxious time in her life. Then on her last visit she had had to leave Ross in France, where he was being illegally held as a prisoner-of-war, and no knowing how long before they saw each other again - if ever. Before he came back he had had to send her the news of Jeremy. This time she had Caroline and Bella for company on the tedious coach trip, and this time, which was to be a short stay, they would stop with Mrs Pelham, Caroline's aunt, who insisted they should do this. The little house where Dr Fredericks lived was just off Chancery Lane, three-storeyed, and leaning to one side as if receiving support from the warehouse next door. Christopher Havergal had brought them, and they were ushered by a rather shabby maid into a rather shabby front room with pot plants in the window and diplomas on the wall. A walnut piano in a corner. The quartet were invited to sit down. They did so, but when the door closed Isabella-Rose was on her feet again studying the diplomas. From upstairs came the sound of another piano striking only one note, a middle C. Then a female voice joined in. Starting quietly, it

grew to a crescendo and then faded away to a delicate pianissimo. The piano sounded the next note of the scale, and the exercise was repeated.

'Look, Mama,' said Bella. 'It says here--'

'Shush,' said Demelza, who had picked up the sound of footsteps.

A man came in. He was very short, not more than five feet, tubby, with a mass of grey curly hair cut to the shape of his head, clean-shaven, in a loose collar with an untied white cravat half hanging, a stained purple velvet jacket, striped trousers, small feet in patent shoes. Christopher introduced his guests, though Dr Emanuel Fredericks had met Bella before. He acknowledged this at the end of the introduction by saying, 'And my little Donna.' At which she dimpled. Christopher said: 'Of course you know the object of our visit, Dr Fredericks. Her mother and Mrs Enys have come to discuss with you her daughter's talents and future.'

Dr Fredericks nodded. 'Lady Poldark, I tested Miss Isabella-Rose's voice in a number of ways at her last visit, and I have to congratulate you on possessing a daughter of remarkable talent.'

'Thank you,' said Demelza, wishing almost for the first time that she had lost more of the Cornish accent from her voice. 'Mr Havergal has told me that you think highly of her. I am not sure what that means in - in terms of her future.'

'I am the most exclusive teacher in London. That without immodesty I can certainly claim,' Fredericks said. 'I assure you, my lady, I can pick and choose whom I have as a pupil. I restrict my numbers to ten. I teach only the essential mechanics of the voice. The words larynx or glottis, or other such technical terms, are used sparingly in this house. I seek a natural voice and to enhance musicality. I divide my instruction into three main areas: rhythm, diction and phrasings, and ornamentation. My tuition involves hard work and the utmost dedication. It will take in all about two years for the basic course.'

'And at the end of that time?' asked Caroline. He spread his small white hands with their spatulate finger ends.

'No one can tell. I believe this young lady to have the most natural talent of any of the last fifty pupils it has been my privilege to teach.'

Greatly daring her daughter's displeasure, Demelza said:

'Some people - a few people -- find her voice rather, well, hard.'

'Ah, yes, I can understand that,' Fredericks said. 'The vocal cords are magnificent and surprisingly mature. At times she may even seem to shout. But that is all latent tone, latent talent, an expression of the vigour of youth. That can be trained out of the voice so that the top registers are as sweet as the lower ones.'

'And she is - is what is called a mezzo-soprano?'

'That is so.'

Caroline looked at Demelza, as if aware that hers was not a major role but . . . 'Dr Fredericks, have we your assurance that Miss Poldark has an exceptional voice - or one of exceptional promise? Suppose she comes to you for two years, and at the end of that time she has fulfilled her promise, what then? What might her future be?'

Dr Fredericks again spread his hands.

'A pupil I had last year began with sponsored recitals; then recently she has been engaged as the principal soprano by the Bristol Oratorio Society. Another whom you may have heard of, Christine Smythe, has already sung in

opera and is now in Paris, singing there and receiving further tuition from the great Bernard de Vries. A third has been in Milan in a new opera called Norma. For a young lady with a supremely good voice the world is open.'

Caroline said: 'You refer to ladies. How many of your present ten pupils are in fact ladies?' (Only Caroline would have asked that, Demelza thought.)

'Er - three, no, four. The other six come from relatively humble backgrounds.'

'And these high fees you charge? Are all your pupils charged the same?'

'I have awarded two girls scholarships because their parents are quite unable to find any money at all. They have great promise, and I feel I am paying my own debt to society by giving them free tuition. Only one of these is a singer, the other is a student of the piano. Miss Poldark, if she comes, will no doubt make their acquaintance.'

After a thoughtful pause Demelza said: 'Lieutenant Havergal will have told you we live in Cornwall. It is many miles from London. I think about three hundred. It takes two to three days by coach, and you cannot be certain sure by sea, sometimes shorter, often longer. My daughter is not yet seventeen. She goes to Mrs Hemple's School in Truro and is taught singing by a local teacher, Mrs Hodgson. May I ask the - the ages of your other pupils?'

'Seventeen to thirty-one.'

'My husband and I are not - not anxious to stand in Bella's way. If she really has such a fine voice we do not wish to prevent her from developing it. But in our view she is still so young, and although she boards with Mrs Hemple during the week she has never lived anywhere else but at home--'

'Oh, Mama,' said Bella. 'I have lived in Paris!'

'Yes, yes, but then that was our home. When you -- if you were to live in London you would have to face it alone - or nearly alone. Do you board girls in the house?'

'Yes, my lady. We have accommodation for four, but all these bedrooms are taken at present. Mrs Fredericks would I think be able to recommend someone nearby.'

'I do not think that will be necessary,' said Caroline. 'I think my aunt would be willing to accommodate her, and a groom would escort her daily.'

'I had not thought of such a thing,' said Demelza, in surprise, pleasure and panic. She felt she was on a slope which was getting steeper and on which it was difficult to call a halt. She would dearly have loved Ross to be there to offer some more common-sense observations. Or did she mean objections?

'Mozart,' said Christopher. 'I think--' The piano upstairs was suddenly clearer, as if someone had opened a door.

'It's a sonata,' he said, 'but I'm not sure which one.'

'Number One in C,' said Fredericks approvingly.

'Do you play the piano, Christopher?' Caroline asked.

'Alas, no.'

'I believe that Miss Poldark does,' said Fredericks.

'Well, a little.'

'That is something you must do if you come here. There must be many rests from singing so that you do not strain or tire your voice. And breathing lessons - that before you ever begin. And languages. You must know three or more languages at least well enough to understand them and to pronounce them. And deportment. And acting Demelza looked at her daughter, sturdy and slender at the same time, her eager expression, her clear blue eyes, her luxuriant hair. There were two standards to be passed,not one. If indeed she had an exceptional voice, had she the mental stamina, the determination, the resolution to develop under some stern taskmaster? Had she any real idea what she might be undertaking? Aware of her gaze, Bella looked at her mother and winked. This was the same young lady who during their flight from Paris had charmed a potentially dangerous group of Polish dragoons by playing an old harpsichord and singing the 'Marseillaise' in an old inn in France. It was equally easy to underestimate her. At that inn in St Quentin Demelza had watched her through the bars of the landing stairs, furious at her recklessness and half beside herself with anxiety as to what Bella might have plunged herself into. In long retrospect some of the fury had turned into pride. That her daughter, not yet fourteen, had had the courage to do such a thing: one's heart beat faster even today at the thought of it. She and Ross had bred a girl of exceptional talent, exceptional courage, exceptional self reliance. She deserved the best. Was this the best?

In the afternoon of the same day they went to see two other experts recommended by a musical friend of Mrs Pelham. The first was a Mr Peter Reumann, who was musical director of the King's Theatre in the Haymarket. They were taken to the back of the theatre to meet him, where a rehearsal room was empty except for half a dozen chairs and a concert grand piano. He was another small man, but slight of build and with an obvious authority. He took Bella to the piano and asked her to accompany him in a few simple tunes. After fifteen minutes he said: 'A quite distinctive voice and noble in one so young. It needs training, of course, and we do not have the teacher or the facilities here for such training. Here you could take small parts very soon but, yes, I understand you are not seeking that - next summer we are considering productions that could offer her an opening. That way she would pick up a great deal; sometimes one can learn so much from others. I know of two young women who have prospered that way. Both of course took private lessons as well. If you change your mind and care to write me in about six months I will be willing to see you again. Can you act, Miss Poldark?'

'I think so,' said Isabella-Rose, all agog at being behind the scenes in one of the great theatres. 'I would want to.'

'Of course, of course. Acting is always an integral part of singing, whether in simple glees or in grand opera. You must appeal to the eye as well as to the ear.' He added to Demelza: 'She has not perhaps got your looks, madame, but she is the right build and already has presence.'

Caroline said: 'You think her voice might be exceptional?'

Reumann hesitated, then decisively: 'Yes, I do.'

'Ideally, where should she go for the best tuition?'

'There is talk of opening a Royal College of Music. At present: Falconer, Fredericks, Alesi, Lotti Schneider. Perhaps those are the best four. If you are aiming merely for operetta, then you could not do better than go to Paris, where there are several excellent people.'

Caroline said: 'We have an appointment with Madame Schneider at five.'

Madame Lotti Schneider, a fair-haired, buxom, handsome woman, said: 'Com' 'ere, meine lebe. Let me look into your mouth. Your throat, my little, it is the instrument on vich

you must play all your life. No? It is 'ere, 'ere and 'ere vence comes the tone, the quality. Come over 'ere to der piano. I see you breathe veil. Now let me 'ear this voice. Gently, gently at first in answer to ze piano, just as if you were soothing a little baby to sleep.'

This was a quiet street, not like the King's Theatre, where even through closed windows one could hear the ramble of carts and carriages. Listening to her daughter's voice following the piano up a note, up an octave, and gradually increasing in volume, Demelza thought: if Ross could hear her now he would realize what an intelligent girl Bella was. She seemed to know exactly what Madame Schneider wanted even though she was being spoken to in a thick German accent. When it was over Lotti Schneider patted one of Bella's hands. 'Dat is very good. Lirico-Spinto is what you may become. You have a daughter of great talent, Lady Poldhu. She should 'ave a splendid future. I would be 'appy to take her - and will do so, but I 'ave to say I am shortly to embark on a concert tour of Europe: Rome, Milan, Vienna, Berlin. When this 'appen my pupils do not 'ave the best attention. Natural, I give exercises to fill up their time with careful study. Do you have foreign languages? French, Italian? I leave London after Christmas and shall contemplate to return at Easter. She could gain much in working with a professional mezzo like me, but dere are drawbacks too.'

Demelza said: 'But you think, madame, dat - that my daughter should go on with her studies?'

'Of a certainty. Oh yes. Oh, yes. Oh, yes. But the voice needs careful 'andling. You must avoid wear and tear. The slower one progresses, the more surely one progresses. Many leap too soon. Of course in my world there is much competition. But dere is always room for another if the talent is dere. I personally, venever I can, sing Mozart. This can be a top singer's salvation -- it helps to stay on der right path.'

'Do you have many pupils?' Caroline asked.

'Two, three only. But dey are not quite pupils. Dey are already singers. But Lady Poldhu, could you come back, return, after Easter? I can teach your daughter a great deal. A year mit me is worth two year mit anyone else.'

In the evening, after a quiet supper, when for once Mrs Pelham was entertaining no other guests, they went into the choices thoroughly: Demelza, Bella, Caroline, Christopher, Mrs Pelham. Demelza said: 'Caroline, you are my oldest friend. Tell us, please, what thoughts you have.'

Caroline rubbed her long patrician nose. 'First, I suppose you have to say that Christopher was right. Not only the teacher of his choice but two others, nominated by Aunt Sarah, have confirmed his opinion. This seems to prove that Isabella-Rose has exceptional talent. They would - could not be generous without good cause. Therefore, if you can afford the fees - and I know Ross can - the likely decision is that she should have a year or more's training to see what progress she makes.'

Christopher said: 'I have already offered to pay the fees.'