Read Online The Flood-Tide by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Cynthia Harrod-Eagles
Tags: Fiction, Historical
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but then, he has never known horses, the way we do. And I don't think God would let anything true and brave and faithful perish, do you?’
Charlotte did not answer, and in a moment Jemima pushed the damp hair from her forehead, kissed her, and stood up. The eyes followed her up, and Charlotte said in a voice shy with unaccustomedness, 'You look very pretty, Mama.' Jemima smiled down at her, and turned away. As she reached the door, she heard her say, almost too low to heard, 'I don't think I'd want to go to Heaven, if there were no horses there.’
*
Jemima enjoyed the ball. Though she was past forty, she was still pretty, and had a lively eye and a neat figure, and was evidently considered young enough to be asked to dance every dance, though some she refused for decency, in case there should be not partners enough for the young women. When she sat out, she enjoyed looking round the great ballroom, with its magnificent chandeliers and its mirrored wall, modelled, it was said, on Versailles, and its little gilt chairs and sconces. It had all once, for a little while, been hers, but she had never felt ownership of it, of the graceful house called ‘Vanbrugh's Little Gem'. To her it always seemed to belong to the woman for whom it was built, the Countess Annunciata, whose portrait by Wissing hung over the fireplace at the end of the ballroom.
Jemima had met her only once, just before her death, when she was an old, old woman, but she remembered that interview vividly. Annunciata had given her, in her will, the magnificent diamond collar, gift of King Charles II, much to the annoyance of her granddaughter who had expected to have it herself. Jemima had thought then, 'I am her real heir,' though she had not entirely understood the thought. But it had turned out to be true. She had become, in her turn, Countess of Chelmsford, and mistress of Shawes, though she had not kept it long. But she saw now that it was in being mistress of Morland Place, and guardian of the family as Annunciata had been before her, that she was truly Annunciata's heir.
‘If you would not think it improper to dance with a married man, would you come to the set with me?' Allen's voice broke her reverie. Jemima shook herself and smiled.
‘A fig for convention. Let us shock them all,' she said, putting her hand in his.
‘You were very pensive, my love,' he said as they stepped to the bottom of the set.
‘I was thinking about the old Countess,' she said.
‘Annunciata? Yes, she does seem particularly present here,' Allen said, smiling round as if she stood behind him.
‘I don't think she would like the Fussells much, do you?' Jemima said, behind her fan.
‘Nor the Chelmsfords,' Allen grinned. 'She was an exceedingly particular old lady. But I must say I find them very good sort of people. Lady Ann has been overwhelming me with her gratitude on behalf of her son, which has extended beyond poor Charlotte to a sort of generic virtue. We are all heroes by contamination. She is determined to show her gratitude, as is your brother.'
‘And what form is this gratitude to take?' Jemima asked, amused.
‘They beg leave to honour Flora's wedding with their presence, to offer Shawes for the wedding party, if we want it, and to have Flora and Thomas stay at Chelmsford House when they are in London. Lady Ann offers to chaperone Flora, and to introduce her at Court, and to have her to stay for as long as she likes when Thomas is gone to sea.'
‘All very well for Flora and Thomas, but what of Charlotte?' Jemima asked.
‘Charlotte was mentioned at the very beginning of the conversation, but was soon swallowed in the general flood of gratitude. Now here is the part that needs a decision, my love: young Horatio is to go to Eton in January, and Chelmsford offers to do all the right things in order to send William there as well.'
‘William!' Jemima said, aghast. Allen nodded.
‘Yes, my own reaction was the same. But, you know, it may be that we protect
Charlotte did not answer, and in a moment Jemima pushed the damp hair from her forehead, kissed her, and stood up. The eyes followed her up, and Charlotte said in a voice shy with unaccustomedness, 'You look very pretty, Mama.' Jemima smiled down at her, and turned away. As she reached the door, she heard her say, almost too low to heard, 'I don't think I'd want to go to Heaven, if there were no horses there.’
*
Jemima enjoyed the ball. Though she was past forty, she was still pretty, and had a lively eye and a neat figure, and was evidently considered young enough to be asked to dance every dance, though some she refused for decency, in case there should be not partners enough for the young women. When she sat out, she enjoyed looking round the great ballroom, with its magnificent chandeliers and its mirrored wall, modelled, it was said, on Versailles, and its little gilt chairs and sconces. It had all once, for a little while, been hers, but she had never felt ownership of it, of the graceful house called ‘Vanbrugh's Little Gem'. To her it always seemed to belong to the woman for whom it was built, the Countess Annunciata, whose portrait by Wissing hung over the fireplace at the end of the ballroom.
Jemima had met her only once, just before her death, when she was an old, old woman, but she remembered that interview vividly. Annunciata had given her, in her will, the magnificent diamond collar, gift of King Charles II, much to the annoyance of her granddaughter who had expected to have it herself. Jemima had thought then, 'I am her real heir,' though she had not entirely understood the thought. But it had turned out to be true. She had become, in her turn, Countess of Chelmsford, and mistress of Shawes, though she had not kept it long. But she saw now that it was in being mistress of Morland Place, and guardian of the family as Annunciata had been before her, that she was truly Annunciata's heir.
‘If you would not think it improper to dance with a married man, would you come to the set with me?' Allen's voice broke her reverie. Jemima shook herself and smiled.
‘A fig for convention. Let us shock them all,' she said, putting her hand in his.
‘You were very pensive, my love,' he said as they stepped to the bottom of the set.
‘I was thinking about the old Countess,' she said.
‘Annunciata? Yes, she does seem particularly present here,' Allen said, smiling round as if she stood behind him.
‘I don't think she would like the Fussells much, do you?' Jemima said, behind her fan.
‘Nor the Chelmsfords,' Allen grinned. 'She was an exceedingly particular old lady. But I must say I find them very good sort of people. Lady Ann has been overwhelming me with her gratitude on behalf of her son, which has extended beyond poor Charlotte to a sort of generic virtue. We are all heroes by contamination. She is determined to show her gratitude, as is your brother.'
‘And what form is this gratitude to take?' Jemima asked, amused.
‘They beg leave to honour Flora's wedding with their presence, to offer Shawes for the wedding party, if we want it, and to have Flora and Thomas stay at Chelmsford House when they are in London. Lady Ann offers to chaperone Flora, and to introduce her at Court, and to have her to stay for as long as she likes when Thomas is gone to sea.'
‘All very well for Flora and Thomas, but what of Charlotte?' Jemima asked.
‘Charlotte was mentioned at the very beginning of the conversation, but was soon swallowed in the general flood of gratitude. Now here is the part that needs a decision, my love: young Horatio is to go to Eton in January, and Chelmsford offers to do all the right things in order to send William there as well.'
‘William!' Jemima said, aghast. Allen nodded.
‘Yes, my own reaction was the same. But, you know, it may be that we protect
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