The Pride of the Peacock (34 page)

Isa chuckled.

“She recognizes it,” she said.

I looked up and caught joss’s eyes on me. He was watching me intently.

I stammered: “I thought it had a look of the Harlequin.”

“It is the Harlequin.”

“Oh… It’s certainly very beautiful.”

“Pick it up,” commanded Isa.

“Hold it in the palm of your hand. I know you love it. I saw by the way you looked at it before. Ifs a beauty. I reckon it’s one of the finest I have.”

“You are very fortunate to have such a stone,” I said.

“I have to thank my very good friend …” She was smiling at Joss, and I felt such cold anger in my heart that I was astonished at myself.

“Your… very good friend ?” I said.

“Dear joss! He knew how I coveted it. He gave it to me, didn’t he, Ezra?”

“It was a generous gift,” said Ezra complacently.

“How… interesting,” I said.

I put it back on the black velvet and hoped my fingers were not trembling with the rage which consumed me. I was shocked and angrier than I have ever been.

I glanced at Ezra. He did not seem in the least perturbed. How should a man feel when his wife accepted expensive gifts from another man?

The same as a woman would feel when her husband bestowed those gifts on another woman?

I heard myself say coolly: “So you acquired it after all. I know you wanted it badly.”

“I always get what I want, don’t I, Ezra ?”

“It seems so, my dear.”

“You certainly have a most interesting collection. Has it taken you many years to amass it?”

“Not really. Only since I came out here and married Ezra. Fifteen years or thereabouts, isn’t it, Ezra ?”

“Such a short time?” I said, pointedly implying that I thought it might have been longer, which was a feeble barb compared with the blow she had just delivered. I could see that Joss was amused by the asperity in my voice. I hated him.

The collection was put away and I thought: The object of the visit is over. We sat awhile and as I listened to their talk and now and then managed to join in, I kept seeing Isa’s tiger eyes and the smouldering response I fanced I detected in those of Joss.

It was a great relief to go down to the stables where Ezra took a fond farewell of Wattle, and then we rode back to ^ Peacocks.

I was deep in thought and tried to keep aloof from Joss, but he rode beside me and insisted on walking our horses. 01 “You’re silent,” he said.

Tou should have warned me that we were going there. 1 “I thought it would be a pleasant surprise. Isa made us very w welcome, didn’t she?”

“Especially you.”

Well, she has known me for a long time. “

“And very well, I imagine.”

“Oh, we’re very old friends.”

“And she must be grateful to you. You give her such wonderful presents.”

“It’s rather a beauty, isn’t it?8 J< ” I can agree with that. “

“Something has occurred to me. Is that rather pleasant little retrousse nose somewhat out of joint ?”

“What do you mean ?”

“You show such stem disapproval.”

“I thought it was an odd thing to do.”

w . “

“Did you want it? You did rather fancy it, I know, and now you are beginning to learn something through the good offices of Jeremy Dickson, you can recognize opal when you see it. ^ You should have asked me for it. Who knows, I might have been persuaded to give it to you.”

, “Unlike that woman, I have no wish to take expensive gifts from you.”

“Yet you seem rather angry because I gave it to her.”

“And what of that … so-called husband of hers?”

“He doesn’t really mind any more than my so-called wife does… or so I thought. I may be wrong.”

“I think it was a very foolish thing to do.”

“Why? She wanted it. She appreciated it. What’s wrong with giving people things they want ?”

“It seems to me very … unusual … to give someone’s wife such a present and then ask your own wife … who knew nothing about it … to applaud your action.”

“I didn’t ask you to applaud my action. What action of mine have you ever applauded?”

“It’s most unconventional.”

“We can’t always observe the conventions out here.”

‘you are that woman’s lover. “

He was sUent.

“Are you?” i demanded.

“We have to be conventional, don’t we? Now it is considered right not to divulge the secrets of others. That’s the only reason why I don’t answer your question.”

“You have answered my question.”

“And you have shown me clearly that you disapprove of my actions. But have you any right? You don’t want me. You have rejected me. Can you take me to task if I look for affection elsewhere?”

I turned to look at him. His eyes were lowered in an expression of resignation. He was mocking me. When had he ever ceased to mock me?

I could endure no more. I started to gallop.

“Steady,” he called.

“Where do you think you’re going? You’ll be lost in the Bush if you go that way. Just follow me.2 So I followed him back to Peacocks.

I went straight to my room. I felt wretched and angry at the same time, and I tried to feed my anger because it was the only way to soothe my wretchedness.

He’s in love with Isa Bannock, I thought. Of course he would be. She’s feminine and attractive. She’s everything that I am not and she’s his mistress.

I lay on my bed and stared up at the ceiling.

I dislike him, I told myself. He’s arrogant and conceited, heartless and ruthless. He’s everything that I hate.

“Peacock,” I muttered.

“Nothing but a peacock flaunting your glory.”

But the flashing light of the Harlequin Opal had revealed something to me. I wouldn’t face it. At least I was trying not to, but how stupid that was. Why should I be so angry? Why should I care so much? Because I must face it because I knew it was true. I was either in love with him or fast getting into that terrifying state. It had taken his devotion to another woman to make me face up to what had been slowly revealed to me. I had so far refused to see the signs when I had looked for him, felt that certain exhilaration in his company which I could not find elsewhere. Why hadn’t I been wise enough to understand the true nature of this excessive hatred?

At least now I faced the truth. I was in love with Joss Madden, my own husband, and it made no difference to me what fresh revelations I discovered. He was everything that I should have thought I would most dislike in a man and yet I had to fall in love with him 1

2is

u
u*. iv. muu, & ocuu by ui^adl. Oil^llAjr* I was. Perhaps one sometimes is in love. 3 b I had been in my room for more than an hour considering this extraordinary situation which had burst upon me when o there was a knock on my door. I called: “Come in,” and Mrs. Laud entered.

I “Oh,” she said, ‘you are resting. “

w “No. I had not changed. It was so hot out today and we gi had ridden quite a distance.”

“Mr. Madden mentioned that you had taken luncheon with ^ the Bannocks.”

“Yes.”

h “I believe their cook is very good.” b Tm sure she is. The food was delicious. “

“I had come to speak to you about the treasure hunt.” J< “I heard of it for the first time today.”

“I had thought Mr. Madden must have mentioned it. It’s an o: event which takes place every year. Mr. Henniker started it because he felt they were getting restive. He used to talk to me a great deal.” w “Do tell me more about the treasure hunt, Mrs. Laud.”

“Well, clues are made up and we make believe that the house is a desert island. The treasure is two opals of some value which have been found during the year. The servants ^ make up the clues and place them. They’re very simple. Mr. Henniker used to think that it was good for the servants to have a part in it. They think about it for the whole year. It t keeps their minds busy.” w “It’s interesting.”

“I help them, of course, because I don’t take an active part, though Mr. Henniker used to insist that I did sometimes.” She y smiled reminiscently.

“So that part of it will be taken care of, but I wanted to discuss other arrangements with you. There’s w always been a buffet supper and the guests have to be asked. ffi Formal invitations are sent out. We like it done some time in advance because it gives people time to anticipate.” w “Who comes to the treasure hunt ?” n “All the heads of departments and people in the higher u positions. There would be about sixty or seventy of them. w Then a few days later there’s a different sort of celebration w for the other workers. There are contests and prizes. Mr. II Henniker used to say: ” Bread and circuses are necessary to ^ keep the people happy. ” He was full of sayings.”

“I dare say you could arrange all this witfloul any neip from me, Mrs.

Laud. “

“Oh, I thought it only right and proper that you should know how we had conducted it in the past in case you wished to make new arrangements.”

“I’m sure I shan’t want to do that. I’m such a newcomer. I’d like to see how this one works and then for the next one if I have any suggestions to make that would be different.”

“I usually send to Sydney for what we need for the buffet. Then we do a good deal of the cooking here in the kitchens of course.1 ” You must please carry on as before. “

“I thought you would know how these things should be conducted … coming from such a good family …”

I looked at her in surprise and she lowered her eyes in the way to which I had become accustomed.

“Mr. Henniker confided in me a good deal. I heard Mr. Madden refer to Oakland Hall and your being one of the Claverings. I knew Mr. Henniker bought the house from them.”

“It’s true I was a Miss Clavering, but I never lived in Oakland Hall.

My family became impoverished. That was why they sold Oakland. “

“Oh, I know, but being one of the family I felt you would know how things should be done.”

“I’m not at all sure of that,” I replied.

“I think it would be better to leave this treasure hunt in your capable hands.”

“I’m glad you have no objections to us, Mrs. Madden.”

“Objections I How could I have? You’re so efficient.”

“I mean the whole family of us … living here and enjoying so many privileges.”

“I believe it is what Mr. Henniker would have wished.”

“Oh yes, he remembered us in his will. He was always fond of Jimson and Lilias. They were only children when we came here … Ulias nothing more than a baby. I will always be grateful to him. I was at my wits’ end. Jim-that was my husband-had been so close to me. I had thought it was a mistake to come out to Australia but Jim wanted to.

Then he died and there was I. homeless, penniless and Mr. Henniker came along. “

“It worked out very well, then.”

Tes, it did for all those years. Then he died and I thought there’d be changes and when Mr. Madden came back with a wife. “

Tou were all amazed, I know. But don’t worry. I’m veiy

u^yyj uu4fe AVA uuuu&u Ubu^ AU Au^b uuub AJIWV WA1C1L w G should do without you. “

3 She seemed overcome with emotion and said in a practical b voice:

“Perhaps I could show you the draft of the invitations I’m sending to Sydney to get done. They’re the same every o year.”

“Don’t bother to show me. just go ahead as you always have. I I’m sure that’s best.”

f She looked at me so anxiously that I went on: “I’m really gi more interested in learning the affairs of the Company than running a house, Mrs. Laud.”

“^ ” You’re a very unusual lady. I realize that. I think you are the kind who will master what you set out to do. ” h ” I hope so, Mrs. Laud,” I said. b Then she went and left me with my thoughts.

J< I could not sleep that night. I kept thinking about that moment when Isa had unrolled the case and revealed the o: Harlequin Opal. He had known that she was going to show it to me. He had given her permission to do so. It occurred to me that he had taken me there for that purpose. It was tan tv amount to an act of defiance.

It meant: I don’t care for you any more than you care for me. And yet I fancied he did not like my growing friendship with jeremy Dickson. How dared he resent something so a, innocent when his relations with Isa were far from innocent! And what did Ezra think? Was he prepared to stand aside for Joss because of the power Joss held with the Company? I What sort of husband was he? He seemed equally besotted^ ready to grant her every wish. What was the power she had over them? Hers was an evil sort of beauty. She was what was known as a siren, the sort who would lure men to de. y structfon when all the time they knew that would be their end but they couldn’t resist it. v I was more upset than I would have believed possible, but ^ the revelation was clear. In spite of everything I had allowed myself to be caught up in some sort of fascination. While I ^ hated him, I wanted him to be near me, to take my hands, ri to laugh at me, to thrust aside my resistance. t” What had happened to me?

v If it had not been for Isa . But what was the use of y saying that? Isa was there. She existed. It had taken my i* jealousy to reveal the true state of my feelings.

v I dozed fitfully and dreamed we were all sitting round the table and Isa unrolled the case and showed us the Harlequin Opal.

“Look at it,” she said, and I looked into the fire that extended all across the table and in it I could see pictures. I saw myself and Joss and Joss was saying: “Of what use are you to me? You are no wife. I don’t want you. I want Isa. You are in the way. If you weren’t here the Green Flash would be mine. You’re in the way … in the way …”

I felt his hands about my throat and I awoke calling out.

I lay in the darkness trembling.

It was only a dream, I assured myself. But as I lay in the darkness the thought came to me that the dream was a warning. There was something strange about Peacocks. If Ben had been here it would have been different He would have blown draughts of fresh air through the place, blowing away . I knew’ not what.

How I longed for Ben. I could have explained to him how I felt. The Lauds with their meek un obtrusiveness were pale shadows of people, and it seemed to me that all of them were living two lives-the real one which I didn’t see and the shadow one which I did. Both Jimson and Lilias seemed afraid of their mother . not exactly afraid . protective, was it? I suppose that was natural, and yet. And then as I lay there I heard the sound of footsteps outside my door as I had heard them before. Someone was prowling out there . right outside my door now. I got out of bed and sat on it, watching the door. I had locked it as I always did.