Solstice at Stonewylde (30 page)

‘Of course, you’d have to visit Italy and France to see the best examples of those Renaissance gardens. When the weather’s a bit warmer, maybe March or April, we could go and visit if you like. We could spend a month or so in Europe, travelling and touring. What do you think?’

‘Oh yes!’ she exclaimed, completely forgetting that if Yul were successful, that would be an impossibility. ‘I’ve never been abroad before.’

‘What? Oh Sylvie, in that case, we must start soon! We’ll go wherever you want, wherever takes your fancy. We’ll look at the globe in my office when we get back. We can visit such wonderful places …’

And then, at that precise moment, surrounded by the order and symmetry of the formal Italianate garden with its raked gravel and perfect hedges, Sylvie started to think seriously about what a life with Magus would actually be like; life with a very wealthy man who could go anywhere and do anything, and wanted to share it all with her. Life with a man who could have any woman he wanted, but who believed she was unique.

Sylvie knew she had something Magus wanted more than anything else in the world. It was something he couldn’t take away from her, but would have to accept in small portions every month, something he was prepared to coax from her. She knew that it was painful and debilitating to channel the moon magic for him, but would it be worth enduring that pain in order to keep a man like him in her thrall? Would it be worth the sacrifice in order to live like a princess?

S
ylvie awoke the next morning and stretched in her bed, luxuriating in the knowledge that there were no more lessons to face for a while. The pressure was off. After weeks of being ostracised and ridiculed by her peers, nagged and censured by the adults, ignored by her mother, it was heaven to be spending time with someone who actually appreciated her company and found her delightful. She hopped out of bed eager to start the new day and wore her black outfit again, unable to bear the thought of her scruffy old clothes. Holly had been right – how had she stood looking so awful? What must Magus have thought of her floral skirts, bobbly old jumpers and woolly socks? Hopefully today the courier service would deliver some of the new things they’d ordered. Her heart jumped with excitement at the prospect and she decided to go straight to his rooms now for breakfast. After all, she must keep her side of the deal.

But as Sylvie left the bathroom and made for the door, her mother emerged from her bedroom in a dressing gown. The pregnancy, now in the last months, had suddenly become hugely apparent. The bump was enormous and Miranda had gained weight everywhere, her arms and legs puffy with extra flesh and fluid. Even her face seemed bloated, and her beautiful chestnut-red hair had become quite lank and lifeless. Gone was the sparkle and vivacity of her early pregnancy, to be replaced by a heavy dullness. Sylvie felt sorry for her. It must be awful carrying that great bulge around and feeling so ungainly.

‘Are you going down to breakfast?’ asked Miranda, shuffling across the sitting room in her slippers to draw the curtains. Sylvie nodded, pausing by the door, eager to be gone.

‘Hold on a minute and I’ll come down with you. I feel a little more able to face the world now.’

‘That’s good, Mum,’ said Sylvie, her heart sinking. ‘That’s really great news. But I can’t … I’m sorry; I’m not going down to the Dining Hall. I’m having breakfast in Magus’ rooms.’

Miranda frowned at her.

‘Has he sent for you? I didn’t hear a knock.’

‘No, but … he said he wanted me to keep him company until he’s better. He’s ordered me some winter clothes and that was the deal.’

‘I see. So he’s arranged for you to miss a whole year of school just so you can prance about in new clothes and keep him amused, has he?’

‘No Mum, it’s not like that. He says I’ve helped to make him better. I must go – I promised.’

‘And what about me, Sylvie? I’d really like to have you with me as I go downstairs and face all those people again. I’m dreading their looks and comments. They must’ve all guessed what’s happened and I feel so humiliated. I need some support – I thought you’d be happy to help me.’

Sylvie looked away guiltily. She wanted to sip fresh orange juice from crystal glass and talk with Magus; bask in his warmth and appreciation. She certainly didn’t want to walk into the Dining Hall next to her heavily pregnant mother with everyone staring and sniggering. Miranda was right, gossip was rife, and Sylvie really didn’t need any more aggravation. Not now that everything was so rosy.

‘I’m really sorry, Mum. I’ve promised Magus I’ll spend the next few days with him and I can’t go back on that.’

‘I think you’ve spent quite enough time with him lately – he doesn’t own you. We’ll send a message to say you’re busy today.’

‘No!’

‘But you don’t enjoy going there, surely? Not after what he’s done to all of us. You, and me, and Yul.’

‘Well … no of course not, But he isn’t that bad. I mean, I know he hurt you and Yul, but he hasn’t actually done anything to me.’

‘What about Mooncliffe? Have you forgotten what he put you through? Clip’s told me about it and it’s appalling that Magus used you like that. And what about your awful weakness and illness afterwards? If that’s not harming you, I don’t know what is!’

‘But that’s not his fault really – it’s what the moongaziness does to me. He tried to make it less painful for me, but—’

‘Listen to yourself, Sylvie! He’s got you exactly where he wants you, eating from the palm of his hand. You are so shallow! What about poor Yul? I thought you were “in love” with him. Where’s your sense of loyalty?’

Sylvie felt herself flushing angrily.

‘
My
sense of loyalty? Where have
you
been these last few months when I needed you? You’ve neglected me and ignored me, not even noticed when I was upset or frightened or badly hurt, but now you expect me to come running just because you’ve finally realised what a fool you were! You haven’t been here for me since Beltane, Mum, so don’t you
dare
pull that one on me now!

Miranda stood by the window, the morning light unflattering on her puffy face, her mouth bitter. Sylvie was torn between pity and outrage.

‘Well if that’s how you feel, Sylvie …’

‘Alright then! You win – I’ll go and tell Magus you said I must have breakfast with you instead.’

‘No, Sylvie, only if you want to! I’m not forcing you. I thought you’d want to help me and you’d be pleased I’m ready to start picking up the pieces of my life again. I thought you hated Magus as much as we all do, but it seems I was wrong.’

‘No! Well … yes. I mean: I’ve got to know him better over the
last few days and he’s not as horrible as I thought. He really likes me and he’s actually very good company.’

‘Of course he is! Why do you think I fell in love with him? I’m not a complete fool, Sylvie. You know how strong and independent I used to be and I’d never have fallen for him if he’d treated me badly from the start. Magus is charming and flattering and funny while he’s still hunting, but you wait till he’s got his claws into you! Then the charm and flattery evaporate and you realise just how cold and cruel he is inside. You saw it happen to me, Sylvie.’

‘I know, Mum, but—’

‘But you’re arrogant enough to think it’ll be different with you! You think you’re special – that
you’re
the one he’ll change his ways for.’

‘No, Mum, you’ve got it all wrong! I don’t think of him in that way, not like you and all the others do. It’s different, my relationship with him.’

‘Oh don’t make me laugh, Sylvie – of course it isn’t different! You’ve got a crush on him and you’re naïve enough to think he feels something for you. You’re playing with fire, Sylvie – I’ve heard all about Magus now and how he operates. You’re much, much too young for him and he’ll chew you up and spit you out just as he has all the rest.’

‘No he won’t! It’s not like that between us and honestly, Mum, he’s different with me. He can’t do enough for me and he watches me all the time, can’t take his eyes off me. Not that I want anything like that, of course, but he really thinks I’m unique. He said so.’

‘For God’s sake, girl, you’re only fifteen! What on earth do
you
have to interest a sophisticated man like him? And don’t say it’s your pretty face and long blond hair, please! Nubile girls are ten a penny to him and he can – and does – have any girl or woman he wants, here or anywhere else. You’re not that special!’

‘Oh but I am,’ said Sylvie softly, stung by her mother’s diatribe. ‘I’m the only one who can give him what he really needs because I’m the only one who’s moongazy. He’ll do anything for my gift
of moon magic. To Magus I’m more special than anyone else in the world.’

Miranda stared at her daughter, wanting very much to slap the smugness off her lovely face but knowing how bad a move it would be. Sylvie gave her a little smile, and slipped on her black suede boots. She flounced out of the sitting room, shutting the door just a fraction too hard.

But when Sylvie tapped on the great oak door there was no reply and she didn’t like to go in without permission. Where was he? She stood by the stone arch uncertainly, unsure what to do now. She couldn’t go back to her room, not after the row with her mother, nor could she go down to the Dining Hall for breakfast. She looked down over the staircase balustrade to see if he was in the entrance hall below. She saw the gleam of blond hair and thought for a moment it was him, but it was Martin who looked up. He climbed the staircase slowly, watching Sylvie.

‘Were you looking for the master, miss?’ he asked deferentially, his grey eyes cold.

‘Yes … I thought … I was going to join him for breakfast.’

‘Really? Did he invite you?’

‘No, not exactly, but I thought … oh well, I must have misunderstood.’

‘Yes, miss, you must have. Magus breakfasted some time ago and then went riding.’

‘Oh. I see.’

‘I expect he’ll send for you when he wants you. He’s a busy man and he’ll let you know when he has time for you.’

Sylvie flushed and looked down at her feet. She felt a fool. Martin gave a small smile.

‘Will that be all, miss?’

His meaning was clear and she nodded, moving away from the oak door. She decided to do some work in the library, having nowhere else to go now and unsure if she was still forbidden to leave the Hall. She sat alone in the window seat in the silent room surrounded by thousands of books, bored and unmotivated
now that the intense pressure to complete her coursework was off. She waited all morning for Magus to return and come looking for her. At lunch time she thought about going to the Dining Hall but again didn’t want to walk in and face the huge crowd.

So Sylvie stayed where she was, her stomach rumbling, becoming ever more impatient and frustrated as time wore on. Why hadn’t he sent for her? After all the time they’d spent together recently and the great fuss he’d made of her, his absence felt as if he’d stood her up. Eventually she had enough of hanging around waiting for him and decided to go upstairs and see if one of the luxurious bathrooms was free. She closed the books she’d been reading and stood up, just as the door opened and Holly walked in.

‘Well, well, it’s Queen Sylvie herself,’ she sneered, shutting the door behind her.

‘Leave me alone, Holly,’ said Sylvie. The girl came over and faced her across the antique writing table, head cocked to one side. Her eyes danced with malice.

‘How do you do it, Sylvie?’ she asked. ‘We’re all dying to know. While Magus is away, you’ve got Yul running round after you and secret assignations under the trees in the Village Green. Then Magus comes back and suddenly you’re shut up alone in his rooms all day, and he doesn’t even come out for meals. And now we hear you’re excused from school. What’s your secret? We’d love to know.’

‘I’m sure you would, but knowing wouldn’t help you much, Holly. You’ve either got it or you haven’t.’

Holly’s face twisted dangerously, her cat’s eyes narrowing.

‘You’re a smug little bitch and I hate you! We all hate you!’

‘It’s mutual.’

‘Now that you’re tied up with Magus, I think I’ll pay Yul a visit. Take up where we left off under the chestnut tree.’

Sylvie shrugged, tossing her long silver hair behind her shoulders. She felt good in her svelte black outfit. Better, she could see the jealousy fizzing in Holly’s eyes and smiled.

‘You’ll be wasting your time, Holly, because Yul doesn’t want
to know. He only kissed you because you tried to blackmail him but it won’t work again because he really can’t stand you. I’m afraid he only wants me, Holly, so bad luck.’

‘You wait, you cow!’ hissed Holly. ‘Once Magus gets bored of you I promise I’ll make your life a misery.’

Sylvie laughed, heading for the door.

‘Well don’t hold your breath, Holly. Magus is far from bored with me. Quite the opposite in fact! It’s a pity he likes to keep me all to himself up in his rooms, else you’d be able to see just how special I am to him!’

When Sylvie returned to her room Miranda was nowhere to be seen and she breathed a sigh of relief. Then she noticed a note from Magus on the table asking her to join him for dinner in his apartments at eight o’clock. She was pleased at this, but cross that she’d wasted the whole day moping about and waiting for him. She trooped off down the wing to see if the white bathroom was free.