Freya's Quest (5 page)

Rupert closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep, snoring loudly.

Janis gave the same recital again, with most of the same mistakes as the last time and a few new ones as well.

When she had finished, I gave her a round of applause and came over to her side. ‘That was good.’

‘No it wasn’t. Mother’s right. But I like to play anyway. It winds her up, if nothing else.’

‘I see. And how long have you known Dylan?’

‘Oh,’ she replied, smiling. ‘I’ve known him most of my life. I’m his late wife’s elder sister.’

THE DINING ROOM was the grandest room in the Lodge, with its dark oak-panelled walls and intricately carved grotesques on the exposed beams of the ceiling. Medieval weaponry hung from the walls and suits of armour guarded the huge fireplace at the far end. Above the sculptured mantelpiece was the stuffed head of a white hart with imperial antlers.

Veronica was out on the terrace beyond the arched French windows, parading herself in front of Rupert. He looked bemused and stubbed out his cigar on the stone balustrade. I watched her for a while, trying to understand her. I was still too disturbed by her earlier behaviour to want to engage with her now.

I felt very inferior when she approached, with Rupert tagging along behind. I was still wearing the same set of clothes I’d arrived in. She had fashioned her hair and was wearing an off-the-shoulder gown, with a fox fur around her neck.

She looked me up and down and muttered under her breath, turning her back on me and taking a large puff from a cigarette through an ebony holder. Then she brushed her hand over Rupert’s shoulder to remove the dandruff on his jacket.

‘Really Rupert, you need to look after yourself better if you want to claim my daughter.’

‘Oh, please do leave off. We’re not at one of your charity balls. You’re making me more nervous.’

‘Why so tetchy? Isn’t it going well?’

‘She’s very off with me and won’t say why. Frankly, my dear, I think maybe I should’ve kept up with Lady Jennifer. I might have better luck with her…. And her father’s a banker as well, and seems to like me.’

‘Poppycock. You can do a lot better than one of Dylan’s cast-offs!’

She turned around and gave me a glare, then wandered over to the fireplace, smoking aggressively.

Dylan entered, and his jovial mood broke the awkward atmosphere. He was dressed only in jeans and a sweatshirt. This casual attire reassured me.

‘Hope everyone’s getting along OK?’

No one answered, but I came across and hugged him.

‘Where’s Janis?’

‘She’ll be along shortly,’ Rupert said.

Dylan began to talk, attempting to draw everyone together, as we all stepped out onto the terrace. Before long, his charismatic charm and gift for a good story soon had us all enthralled. Even when Janis meekly arrived she was immediately brought into the conversation and she brightened up at once. Dylan had effortlessly become the centre of attention, and I began to realize this was exactly how he liked it.

‘I’m expecting another guest, by the way,’ he said.

‘Who?’ Janis asked.

‘Wait and see.’

Veronica turned her nose up, but made no comment.

‘That’s great, Dylan,’ I said.

‘Should’ve been here by now.’ He looked at his watch. ‘Well, I think we’d better make a start. Can’t keep Yasuko waiting any longer.’

As we began to leave the terrace, a distant hum came through the woods, gradually getting louder. A motorcycle scrambled onto the open lawn from a rough track. The rider was dressed in black. Mud spewed behind the rear wheel as the bike churned up the grass. Then it rode up the steps onto the ramparted lawn directly below us.

Even Veronica was lost for words.

The rider braked hard, locking the back wheel, so the bike would skid sideways in order to impress. The rider kicked down the stand and dismounted.

The tinted black visor of the helmet flicked up. ‘Hi, Dylan!’

I couldn’t believe it was a female voice.

She pulled off the helmet, pushing her long, jet-black hair over her head.

‘Oh, it’s only Emily,’ Janis said.

‘My God, Em. Motorbike! Leathers! This isn’t you!’ Dylan exclaimed.

Veronica stood perplexed and her mouth gaped open.

Emily sat back on the saddle, taking a cigarette packet out of her top pocket. She spat out her gum and placed a cigarette between her lips. ‘Well, Dylan, this is the new me.’

‘Smoking, too!’

Emily grimaced, flipped her gold-plated lighter, and lit the tip of her cigarette. She took a long drag for maximum effect. She puffed out a couple of smoke rings towards him. ‘Yeah. And you lot better start getting used to it! Anyway, you used to smoke thirty a day yourself.’

She bounded up the steps to our level. She kissed Dylan on the cheek. ‘Thanks for the invite.’ Then she nodded at Rupert and turned to shake my hand. ‘You must be Freya. I’m Emily….Emily Faversham. Nice to meet you.’

Veronica coughed. Emily ignored her so Veronica coughed again, more irritated.

‘What’s wrong, Mother. Don’t you like the new me!’ Emily said, mimicking Veronica’s pretentious voice.

Veronica glowered at her, but still couldn’t find any words. I couldn’t suppress my giggles.

Dylan guided us back into the dining room, where candles and fresh flowers decorated the long oak table. Dylan sat at its head, in the only chair with arms. Janis and Rupert sat one side and Veronica the other. Emily and I found ourselves at the other end of the large expanse.

Yasuko came into the room, carrying a silver tray with the starters. She came back some time later with the wine. Rupert was through his first glass before Yasuko had finished serving the rest of us, and beckoned for a refill.

Veronica clicked her fingers. ‘Take this away, Yasuko. The avocado’s not ripe enough.’

Yasuko bowed and nodded, maintaining her mask-like expression.

‘Seems fine to me,’ Emily said. The rest of us concurred.

Yasuko took Veronica’s dish away anyway and returned to the kitchen to attend to the next course.

Dylan broke the embarrassing silence by changing the subject. ‘Why the new image, Em.?– you’ve always been so strait-laced.’

‘Well, I’m fed up with Mum dictating what I can and can’t do.’

Veronica tutted and her face grew with anger.

‘And you for that matter. I’m eighteen now. I can do what I like.’

‘Why the interest in motorbikes all of a sudden? You’ve always hated them.’

‘Mum has, I haven’t….Got myself a new biker boyfriend.’

Dylan choked on a prawn. Rupert tried to come to his assistance, but Dylan waved him away.

‘I don’t think you’ll go down too well at Oxford dressed like that,’ Janis said.

‘Couldn’t give a shit!’

‘Oh, language please.’ Veronica said, trying to remain calm.

‘I’m not going. University’s for shitheads.’

‘Please!’ Veronica banged her fist on the table. ‘Just you remember. You may be eighteen, but as long as you are living under my roof, I can still bend you over my knee and give you a thrashing! I could do it now and in front of everyone.’

‘I’d like to see you try!’

‘Really!’ Veronica threw down her napkin. ‘Can’t you do something, Dylan?’

Everyone else sat in silence, although I detected a sly grin appearing on Janis’s face.

‘Let’s all calm down, shall we,’ Dylan said. ‘Now, Emily, you’re being foolish. All that work to win the scholarship. Why don’t you take a year out?’

‘No! My mind’s made up.’

‘Not if I have anything to do with it.’ Veronica shot her a savage stare.

‘You’ve got no control over me any longer. I’m leaving home.’

Veronica looked dumbstruck.

‘Where’ll you go?’ Dylan asked.

‘With my boyfriend and his mates. They’re a good crowd.’

‘There’s always a place for you here, you know.’

‘What? With all your fancy women about? – No offence, Freya, but I’m sure you two’ve already fucked.’

I could feel myself flush.

‘That’s enough, Emily! Are you doing this to spite me?’

She was taken aback. Her jaw dropped and she clutched at her chest. ‘You’re so vain, Dylan! The world doesn’t just revolve around you, you know, even if you like to think it does.’

This unsettled him. He sat back, deflated.

‘Look, Dylan, I’m sorry. You know Mother’s riled me up the wrong way for months and you haven’t helped me. And if you think I’m changing back to that “cute little girl”, think again. You ain’t seen nuthin’ yet!’

‘What
do
you mean?’

‘Don’t look so worried, Dylan. Just wait and see.’ And she burst out in hearty laughter as Yasuko returned to clear the table.

‘Oh, this is getting too much.’ Veronica shifted in her chair, unsettled.

‘Well, you’ve brought it on yourself,’ Emily continued. ‘You’re still trying to dominate Janis and she’s thirty-six. I’m not hanging around that long so you can ruin my life as well.’

‘You ungrateful girl. I’ve given you everything!’

Emily scoffed.

‘Yes, Emily, you’ve certainly had more than I have,’ Janis said, a mournful expression passing across her face. ‘But I’ve got my own life now, with my rock-climbing school, thank you very much. Mother has little influence over me now.’

‘How can you say that, when she’s trying to marry you off to Rupert?’

‘Now, now. I’ve said nothing about marriage,’ Rupert muttered, drowning his bashfulness with another swig of wine.

Janis sat in silence, her head bowed.

‘What do you know, poppet. They’ve been getting on fine.’

‘No, they haven’t, Mother. Janis told me so herself only yesterday.’

Janis looked up, startled, and put her hand up as if begging her sister not to continue.

But Emily carried on regardless. ‘I’m sorry, Rupert, but she finds you a drunken fool. And useless in bed. Despite all those silly saucy songs you sing!’

Rupert shuddered, spilling his glass, yet too shocked to pay any attention to the developing stain by his left elbow.

‘Get a cloth, Yasuko,’ Dylan said, and she scurried away.

Rupert didn’t deign to answer Emily directly. ‘Really, Dylan, what’s happened to her? She used to be such a nice young girl.’

‘I’m sure she’ll grow out of it soon.’

‘Hello, I’m still here, you patronizing bastards!’

‘OK, point taken, Em.,’ Dylan said, holding up his hands.

Several minutes of silence ensued, everyone using Yasuko’s serving of the main course as a useful distraction. Yasuko gave a short bow and retreated to the side of the room as we all began to tuck into the food.

‘Oh, Yasuko, this steak’s too rare.’ Veronica spat out her mouthful in disgust. ‘You must know I like it well done by now. I’ve been here often enough.’

Yasuko had moved forward again and was busy wiping up Rupert’s mess.

‘Don’t keep me waiting.’ She held up the plate.

Yasuko took it and marched off to the kitchen. There came a faint sound of breaking crockery.

‘Rupert is a gentleman,’ Veronica continued, trying to steady herself. ‘He has a good income. Just right for Janis.’

Janis continued to say nothing, so Emily intervened again on her behalf. ‘If Rupert is that wonderful, maybe you should marry him yourself!’

‘Don’t jest, Emily!’ Veronica retorted angrily. ‘You know your father was the only man for me!’

‘Oh, I do wish you wouldn’t live so much in the past. He’s been dead for years! Get over it.’

‘Really, Emily, that’s too much.’

‘Yes, it is, Emily,’ Dylan said. ‘Stop now, before you create any more damage.’

‘Surely, darling, isn’t that why you invited me?’

Dylan stared at her in amazement. He dropped his knife, which clattered onto the table.

‘Anyway, Dylan, you’re just as bad. I’m not prepared to stay living under the shadow of my dead sister any longer, even if you are!’

Dylan’s face fell.

‘I just can’t compete.’

‘Nor can I,’ Janis said, backing her sister and speaking her own mind for the first time.

‘OK, so Sera was special….’

‘An artistic genius.’ Veronica said, suddenly calming and her face becoming radiant as she remembered her lost daughter.

‘So you keep saying….Relentlessly.’ Emily frowned. ‘And I can take that. And that she was more beautiful. But stop trying to make me follow in her footsteps. I’m not
her
!’

‘Yes. A genius and very beautiful. You were too young to know,’ Veronica said, glowing more brightly.

Suddenly, it occurred to me that the ghost of Seraphina hung in the room with us. That she, and not Dylan, was the greater influence.

‘Maybe,’ Emily commented. ‘But not any more. She’s long dead!’

‘That’s enough, Emily!’ Dylan looked furious.

‘Come on, Freya,’ Emily said, taking my hand. ‘Let’s get some fresh air.’

I resisted her tug at first, but Dylan nodded his approval, looking relieved that Emily was going. We left the room, leaving Dylan to remonstrate with Yasuko about the food.

Emily guided me down the steps to her motorcycle. ‘Come on, let’s have some fun,’ she said, straddling her bike and kicking up the stand. ‘Here, you better take this,’ offering me the helmet.