The Silk Vendetta (6 page)

“You were there. Did Sir Francis go to Villers-Mure very often?”

“Very rare did he come.” “And you came back with him. I never really understood that. ”

“Oh …it was an opportunity … and since I come this is mv home. I work with Sallonger … St. Allengere no more.” “There is so much I do not understand.” She took my face in her hands and looked at me tenderly. “There is so much most of us do not understand, cherie.’” In due course the house settled to normality, and all through that summer the subject of Julia’s coming out dominated the household. The season usually lasted from Easter until August, and so Julia must be ready by the spring. The Countess of Bal-lader came to stay for a week or so to assure herself, I supposed, that Julia would be worthy of her tuition.

She was a tall woman of imposing presence and one was immediately impressed by her vitality. I gathered that the Earl had been some thirty years older than she was and that he had died five years after their marriage—leaving her little but her title. Her auburn hair seemed a little brighter than nature had intended it to be; her sparkling eyes were a deep shade of green;

and although she was employed by the Sallongers to launch Julia into society, she implied that it was a great favour she was be stowing upon them.

Miss Logan said that the Countess was dubious about con-cerning herself with a family engaged in Trade; but no doubt she needed the money; and as Sir Francis was a rich man there had been no doubt in Miss Logan’s mind that the Countess would take on Julia. Miss Logan assumed a new importance. She had been lady’s maid to a Duchess at one time and she talked about Her Grace as though she were some sort of goddess. I used to hear her discussions with Miss Everton and I listened whenever I could without being detected.

The Countess had several sessions with Lady Sallonger, Sometimes we were there—Julia, Cassie and I. I noticed the Countess’s big green eyes surveying us speculatively. At first she was inclined to bully Lady Sallonger but she soon realized that she had a worthy adversary there. Lady Sallonger had enjoyed a long period delegating responsibility to others and now she gently slid that onto the Countess’s shoulders. They talked of balls … the lists of guests … the clothes. Julia would have to learn to walk more gracefully: her curtsy needed attention. The Countess would have to be sure that she was going to make a success of Julia’s entry into society before she would undertake her debut.

“I have had success with all my girls,” she announced.

Lady Sallonger smiled and said how fortunate she was to have her health. If only she herself were stronger. She even had the Countess bringing a cushion for her back, and picking up her fan which she had a habit of dropping at certain moments.

I was quite amazed and excited by it all.

I said to Cassie: ‘ ‘In two or three years it will be your turn.”

Cassie shuddered.

“I suppose it won’t happen to me,” I went on. “I shall have to find a husband for myself if I want one.”

“You’re lucky,” said Cassie.

“It’s a long time yet for you, and you will have learned all about it from Julia when your turn comes,” I told her soothingly.

There was a great deal of activity in the workroom. Julia was often there for fittings.

” Mightn’t the things you make be out of fashion by next year?’ ‘ I asked Grand’mere.

”I do not give such great thought to fashion,” replied Grand ‘mere. “I take what suits. Mia needs frills and ribbons … and that is best for her. I shall make for Julia … not for fashion. If only it were you … what a dress I would make!” “It won’t ever be me. I’m only Lenore remember, not Miss.” Then I wished I hadn’t said that because she looked sad and vaguely frightened, so that I felt I wanted to comfort her. I put my arm about her and held her close to me. “It would be wonderful if…” she began. “lf what?” I asked.

But she would not go on. I knew her well and I guessed that she was worrying because I was not to have a season, and she was wondering how I was going to find a rich and handsome husband.

It was that summer when Drake Aldringham came to The Silk House. From the moment he came he seemed to change everything. We had heard that Charles was bringing a friend home for part of the vacation. Philip arrived first. He knew of Drake.

” It’s a great feather in Charles’s hat that he got Drake to come,” he said. ‘Why? ” we all wanted to know.

“Why?” cried Philip almost indignantly. “This is Drake Aldringham.”

“What is so special about him?” asked Julia excitedly, for since this talk of her coming out she was becoming very interested in young men which I supposed was natural as soon she would be on show to try to lure one of them into marrying her.

“In the first place he’s an Aldringham,” said Philip.

“What’s that?” asked Julia.

“Do you mean to say you have never heard of Admiral Aldringham? That’s Drake’s father.”

“Is he very grand?” I asked.

“Well… not more than he can help.”

That seemed noncommittal. It was difficult to get more out of Philip.

The visit was discussed at tea that afternoon. I poured out tea and Philip carried his mother’s cup to her. “Thank you, dear,” she said. “A little more milk … and I will have a piece of bread and butter. And have they sent honey? Is it clear or thick?” It was thick. “Oh dear, send for the clear … and put the rug round me, will you Lenore. I know the sun is shining outside but it is chilly in here.”

When the clear honey had been brought and toyed with and I had replenished her cup Lady Sallonger mentioned the coming visit.

“When did you think Charles and he will be here, Philip?” she asked.

“I don’t know, Mama. They were going walking in the Lake District. There are several of them but I think very soon Charles will be home with his guest.”

“I look forward to meeting him. I am sure he is most excellent. The Admiral’s son … Isn’t there an Aldringham in the government?”

“Oh yes, Mama, that’s Sir James, Drake’s uncle. They are a very notable family.”

“Drake! What an extraordinary name!”

“It sounds like a duck,” I said irreverently.

“It might be other things besides. What about the great Sir Francis Drake? As a matter of fact that is who he is named after.”

“Fancy being named after a great hero of the past. It would make you feel you had to live up to all that glory.”

“One thing,” said Philip, “you would not be expected to defeat the Spanish Armada. There’s another meaning. Drakon. It is an old English word. Draca; and the Latin, of course, is Draco. Dragon.”

“How learned you are.”

“I looked it up.”

”Because of your Drake?”

“I thought it was interesting.”

“I wonder what he will be like,” said Julia.

“A great sea captain … or a dragon?” I suggested.

Cassie said: “He’s probably very mild and meek … not a bit like Sir Francis Drake or a dragon. It often happens that people are not like what their names suggest.”

“You’ll be surprised,” said Philip. ” Lenore, do bring me one of those jam tarts,” said Lady Sallonger.

I obeyed.

“Oh … it’s raspberry. I do like black currant. I wonder if they have any black currant.”

This was the usual practice so I rang and Grace appeared. Soon she returned with black currant tarts.

I smiled as Lady Sallonger took one which I was sure she would only nibble. If it had been black currant in the first place she would have wanted raspberry. But I expected they were accustomed to her vagaries in the kitchen.

I was almost certain that we should be disappointed when Drake Aldringham appeared. Then I began to wonder whether he would come at all. Charles had not said when he was arriving and as the days passed we gave up expecting him.

Charles came back alone. There was real dismay. We had heard so much about Drake Aldringham that we were patiently awaiting him. Charles said Drake had had to go to spend a few days with an elderly aunt and was coming to The Silk House as soon as he could get away.

Charles had changed. I was always amazed to see him and Philip when they came home; they seemed to grow so fast and to change with it—particularly Charles. He was quite grown-up now; he walked with a swagger and drawled faintly. He was playing the part of a worldly young gentleman. I was faintly amused. I saw his eyes following Grace with some appreciation. I heard Miss Logan say to Miss Everton that she would like to know what he got up to … or perhaps it would be better not to know.

Miss Everton sighed and said: “They don’t remain young long.” She spoke with feeling. I imagined she was thinking they would not be needing her at The Silk House much longer.

Philip was very different from Charles—much more serious, I thought Charles was not very interested in the family business—or ever would be. But he was enormously interested in the female form.

Once, to my horror, I caught his eyes on me as though he were considering … what? I could not imagine. But I did not like that seering glance and I felt myself growing hot under it.

I was in the garden where I used to sit with Grand’mere and I was alone, hoping that she would join me as she often did at this hour. I heard footsteps and looked up expecting her. But it was a young man.

He was very tall and very fair … quite good looking in a Nordic way. When he saw me he smiled pleasantly. “Oh, I say,” he said, “I hope I’m not intruding.”

“No,” I replied. “What… do you want? Are you looking for someone?”

”For Charles Sallonger actually. There wasn’t time to let him know. I’ve left my luggage at the house and as none of the family was in I said I’d look round the garden for a while. It’s a lovely spot. I knew it was in the heart of the forest but I didn’t imagine it quite like this.”

“Are you a visitor? You must be …”

“Drake Aldringham,” he said.

”I might have guessed.”

“Are you … Julia?”

“No. I’m Lenore Cleremont.” Clearly he did not know who that was, so I explained: “I live here. I’m not one of the family. My grandmother works here and it has always been my home.”

He nodded. “It’s a most interesting place. Coming here from the station I thought it was magnificent.”

“Yes, I feel that, too.”

“Charles tells me it is the country house. There is a place in London.”

“Yes, in Grantham Square. I have only been there once or twice. Sir Francis… that is Charles’s father… is there most of the time.”

I liked his friendly looks and the fact that his manner towards me had not changed when he had discovered that I was not a member of the family.

“I daresay Charles or Philip will be in soon,” I said.

“I thought of paying my respects to Lady Sallonger but they said she was resting.”

“Oh yes, she would be at this time. She is very delicate.”

He nodded.

”We have been eagerly waiting for you to come,” I told him.

”How nice of you.”

“We’ve talked about you a lot … about Sir Francis Drake and all that.”

He grimaced. “You can imagine what it has been like going round all my life with a name like that.”

“Inspiring, I should think.”

“A little daunting. They are expecting me to go to sea.”

“And you don’t want to?”

He shook his head. “I want to go into politics.”

“I am sure that will be very exciting. There is always some-thing going on … and you are shaping the country’s destiny.”

He laughed. “You make it sound like a great responsibility … but it is rather like that. I’ve always wanted to know what was going on and how we fit into European politics. My uncle has talked to me a great deal. He knows of my ambition.”

“It must be very satisfying to know what you want in life. It enables you to go straight for it. So many people are undecided.”

“Very often one has to deal with opposition.”

“But that makes it more exciting in a way. How does one begin in politics?”

“Well, you really start at University. I’m in all sorts of things … debating society and political club. I see a great deal of my uncle. I go to the House and see him there. It gets into your blood. I read the newspapers and form my opinions about what is going on. I discuss it with my uncle, who encourages me in every way. I’m lucky to have him. It’s so thrilling to learn of these things. People are apt to shut themselves up in little cocoons. They know what is happening in their immediate circle. They know the Tay Bridge was destroyed. They know Gladstone had defeated Beaconsfield and is in power. They know Parnell is being tried for conspiracy. But they don’t really know what is going on in Africa. What I mean is they don’t know why. I’m talking too much. You must forgive me. I get carried away.”

I said: “I’m very interested. I am sure you would make an excellent politician.”

Just at that moment Grand’mere came into the garden. She was looking for me.

“Grand’mere,” I said. “This is Mr. Drake Aldringham. He has arrived and there is no one to receive him.”

She came towards us. She had great dignity. One would have thought she was mistress of the house.

“We have heard so much about you,” she said. “I am sure Charles will be quite put out that he was not here to greet you.”

“It was my fault,” he said. “I should have let him know, but I thought it was quicker just to come.”

“So you have been received by my granddaughter.”

“Yes, we have been having a very interesting conversation. But I’m afraid I was talking a great deal about myself.”

“That is the sign of a good politician,” I replied, and he laughed.

We sat down by the pool and I went on to say: “Mr. Aldringham has been telling me about his ambitions, Grand’mere.”

We talked about the forest and he said he had been very eager to see The Silk House. It was such an unusual name. One would expect it to be made of silk … if that were possible.

“You know of course that the Sallongers are the biggest manufacturers of silk of the country,” said my grandmother. He did not know, but he was interested and I told the romantic story of the Huguenot St. Ailengeres coming to England and becoming Sallongers. “They had to leave everything they possessed,” I said, “and all they could bring with them was their knowledge of silk.”