The Pride of the Peacock (45 page)

But how well she had concealed her animosity, with her humility and her constant expressions of her desire to help me. It did not seem possible that she could be so devious, but I had come to the conclusion that there were really two Mrs. Lauds-the housekeeper eager to please and help run the house smoothly, and the madwoman whose mind had become deranged When the fascination of the Green Flash had caught her and made her its prisoner.

I was sorry for Jimson and Lilias, but Jeremy was about to comfort Lilias, and Jimson seemed to find a certain solace in his work.

And when Joss and I decided to go Home, it was due to the Green Flash.

I had talked this out with Joss and it was one of the matters over which we were in disagreement. There were, of course, many matters over which we disagreed and somehow that gave a stimulus to our life together.

Joss used to laugh when we argued fiercely.

“Well, I always knew I must expect fireworks from you,” he said.

“Fireworks make such a glorious blaze,” I retorted. Tou must admit they’re exciting to watch. “

“I always enjoy them,” he answered.

“And they make the occasions when we do agree extra good.”

Of course everyone in the town was waiting for bad luck to strike us.

There’ll always be legend attached to that stone,” I said.

“Naturally, it’s unique.”

Joss liked to take it out and look at it.

“You’re getting obsessed,” I accused him.

“Nonsense. There’s only one thing in the world I’m obsessed with.”

And that? “

Tou know very well it’s you. “

“Oh Joss,” I cried, ‘you say such marvelous things sometimes.

Obsessions can be momentary, though. They often don’t last. “

There you are. Never satisfied. “

“Well, there was a time when you were obsessed by Isa Bannock.”

That was before you came. Everyone was obsessed by Isa. I fell in love with her when I was sixteen . in common with everyone around here. “

“But you continued with the affair.”

“She seemed to expect it.”

“And you gave her the Harlequin Opal.” F “Ah, but only to spite you.1 hap ” Sometimes I hate you. Joss Madden. 2 son “I know. It makes the times when you love just marvelous.” out He was serious suddenly.

“Forget Isa. It’s over. I behaved as I tur did because you wouldn’t have me. You scorned me … scorned the Peacock. Peacocks don’t like that. They get I s;

spiteful. “

That was the cruel lest thing you did . to give her the tw Harlequin.

”

bli “I’m going to make up for it. I’m giving you something more valuable. The Green Flash.”

No, Joss. “

“Yes, you’ll forget that Harlequin incident then. I’m going to relinquish my share. Ifs yours. Ifs a thousand times more cc valuable than the Harlequin.”

“I’ve been meaning to speak to you about the Green Flash. I’m frightened of it.” te “You 1 Frightened of a stone?”

“Yes, I am. It ruined my mother’s life. It changed mine. n Ezra died for it. Tom Paling nearly died … and so did I.2 ” You’re not going to let all that talk upset you. “

“I’m not thinking of myself, but my family … I won’t run a risks. There are some things which are too predous to be put in jeopardy.”

Me? The child? ” E I nodded.

He was moved, I could see, so he laughed at me, half derisive, half tender.

“So what da you propose to do ?” he asked.

We’re taking the Green Flash to London and we’re presenting it to a geological museum there. People will be able to see it and marvel at it and I’ll cheat the evil in it because it won’t belong to anyone.

”

“So you’re resigning all claim of my gift to you?”

Tour gift to me. Joss, is not a stone. It’s much more than that could ever be. “

“Do you know,” he said, ‘you’re getting sentimental as you grow up. “Do you mind that?”

How can I when you’re making me the same? I wanted my baby to be born in Oakland Hall and it was a whim Joss was ready to humour. I knew Ben would have been pleased. Joss was his son and there would be a new line to

^^^^^^^”^^^^^ add to the genealogical tree in the hall which had always intrigued him. Mr. Wilmot and Mrs. Bucket thought this right and proper.

Oakland had not changed. Why should it because I had been to Australia and fallen in love and come near to death, when it had stood for hundreds of years and had no doubt witnessed as many tragedies and comedies?

Miriam had a child now.

“She’ll live to rue the day,” said my grandmother.

My grandfather was a little bolder than he had been, and the whip with which my grandmother had scourged him had lost some of its sting since I had brought Oakland back to the family in a way, and because Xavier had now married Lady Clara and was managing the Donningham land.

My grandmother was quite respectful to me and most interested in the child who was to be born at Oakland-a gesture with which she entirely agreed. She even took to Joss after the first few skirmishes. I think she recognized some power in him which it would be impossible even for her to subdue.

She used to say: “Well, he received a large part of his education in England,” as though that made him acceptable;

and the fact that he had brought Oakland back to the family made him almost admirable in her eyes.

My son was born on a mellow September day in the vaulted chamber where my ancestors had made their first appearances.

This was the culmination of my happiness. I sat up hi the big four-poster bed and looked out on those lawns which had mellowed for hundreds of years and I had a feeling that I had come home; and yet I was well awaos that nothing was half as important to me as the rich and full life I should live with my husband and son.

Joss came and looked at the baby, marvelling at the tiny creature as though he couldn’t believe he was real. Then he turned to me.

“Ifs good, eh ?” he said.

What? ” I asked.

‘life,” he answered.

“Just life.”

“Ifs good,” I agreed, ‘and going to be better. 8 “Who can be sure of that ?” he asked.

“I can.” I retorted.

“And I will. ” Victoria Holt

The supreme writer of the ‘gothic romance, a compulsive storyteller whose gripping novels of the darker face of love have thrilled millions all over the world.

The House of a Thousand Lanterns

Bride of Pendorric

The Curse of the Kings

King of the Castle

Kirkland Revels

Menfreya

Mistress of Mellyn

On the Night of the Seventh Moon

The Queen’s Confession

The Secret Woman

The Shadow of the Lynx

The Shivering Sands

Fontana Books

Victoria Holt also writes as

Philippa Carr

The Witch from the Sea The Miracle at St. Bruno’s The Lion Triumphant The first three novels in a series that will follow the fortunes of one English family from Tudor times to the present day.

Fontana Books

Jean Plaidy

“One of England’s foremost historical novelists.”

Birmingham Matt

Daughters of Spain The Princess of Celle Murder Most Royal Queen In Waiting A Health Unto His Majesty The Thistle and the Rose The Haunted Sisters The Sixth Wife St. Thomas’s Eve The Three Crowns Gay Lord Robert The Queen’s Favourites The Captive Queen of Scots The Spanish Bridegroom Here Lies Our Sovereign Royal Road to Fotheringay Lord The Murder In the Tower The Prince and the Caroline the Queen Quakeress Beyondthe Blue Mountains The Daughter of Satan The Goldsmith’s Wife

All available in Pan Books

Fontana Books

Fontana is a leading paperback publisher of fiction and non-fiction, with authors ranging from Alistair MacLean,^ Agatha Christie and Desmond Bagley to Solzhenitsyn and I Pasternak, from Gerald Durrell and Joy Adamson to thel famous Modem Masters series. |

In addition to a wide-ranging collection of internationally! popular writers of fiction, Fontana also has an outstanding reputation for history, natural history, military history,| psychology, psychiatry, politics, economics, religion and| the social sciences. |

All Fontana books are available at your bookshop or| news agent or can be ordered direct. Just fill in the fonaj and list the titles you want.

FONTANA BOOKS, Cash Sales Department, G.

P.

O.

Box| 29, Douglas, Isle of Man, British Isles. Please send purchase! price, plus 8p per book.

Customers outside the U.

K.

send| purchase price, plus lOp per book.

Cheque, postal or money! order. No currency.

NAME (Block letters) ADDRESS

While every effort is made to keep prices low, it Is sometimes necessary increase prices on short notice. Fontana Books reserve the right to show n retail prices on covers which may differ from those previously advertised in < text or elsewhere.