"You led yourself to believe."
She ran out of the room. It was not easy to slip back into the salon unseen. Genevra and Lucie had noticed her entry. Genevra came to her and kept close to her for the rest of the evening. Genevra, the child of St. Giles's, felt protective towards the girl from the Convent.
Fenella drank a cup of chocolate before she slept. Polly brought it and sat on her bed watching her drink it. "You're worried, Madam dear," she said. "Rubbish!" said Fenella.
"Is it that couple in the Bed? They'll never get children. A hundred beds such as ours would be no use to them." Polly giggled. "Fifty guineas a night! One of these days someone will ask for his money back."
"It rarely fails, Polly. You know that very well." "It will to-night. And what if one of these reformers gets busy on you, ducky? What if they start talking about fraud?"
"Don't be silly, you insect. As if I can't look after all reformers." "Well, we have been in trouble at times, you know." "And got out of it. Now, Polly, three of the best men of law in this country are my very close friends. Politicians are my friends. Everybody who has any power is my friend. They would not wish any scandal to upset our little world of delights, would they? If there were a scandal about our Bed, they wouldn't be able to come here, would they? So there will be no scandal. It is not that which worries me.
"Oh, so there is something worrying you?" "I'd tell you if I could trust you to keep your mouth shut." "Don't worry. I'll find out for myself. Is it our little French Melly? I thought there was something strange about her after the party was over. She'd been crying too, and Genevra was looking after her as though she was Mary and the other her little lamb."
"A young man came here to-night. He's upset her. He mustn't come here again. He's up to no good."
"What about letting one of the others look after him? Kate's latest hasn't been after her quite so much lately. Every week his longing for our Katey grows weaker. Poor Katey, she's going to need a consolation prize."
"I wish it were possible. He's charming, but I don't think he'll be satisfied with anyone other than the girl on whom he's set his heart." Polly grimaced. "And has Melly set her heart on him?" "Our Melisande is a good girl, Polly Kendrick; and she knows his wife. Otherwise . . . I'm not sure. But I've got to be sure. Polly, we've got a job to do. Her father sent her to me to be married, and I've never yet failed anyone who entrusted his child to me. We've delayed too long over that girl. I'm fond of her. I wanted to keep her with us for a bit. But she's got to be married . . . soon. Then this blue-eyed cavalier won't be my affair. I'm afraid of him—he's so charming. Polly, he's formidable!"
They continued to discuss Melisande and the night's uninvited guest. They laughed and talked about the couple in the Bed of Fertility; they went over the chances of Genevra's marrying her lord; and they ended up by mentioning certain young men who would be eager to marry Melisande, for the adequate dowry her father would provide, together with her undoubted charms, would make her an excellent match.
Melisande saw Fermor frequently after that night. He presented himself at the house three or four times a week, and, although Fenella told Polly, every night after such occasions, that she would command him to discontinue his visits, she never did so. She found handsome young men charming, and handsome young men in pursuit of beautiful young women irresistible.
"When we have Lucie married," she told Polly, "our next marriage shall be Melisande's."
"Always providing," put in Polly, "that little French Melly don't elope with her lover beforehand. Even you, Madam dear, might find it hard to marry her off if she was to do that."
"Nonsense!" said Fenella to that, but she was uneasy. She added: "I must do something about the child at once."
She comforted herself that it would be useless to ask Fermor to stay away, for he would find other means of seeing the girl.
She sent for Lucie.
Lucie was a good girl who had never given any trouble. Why was it that Lucie was the one of whom Fenella was the least fond ? She could rely on Lucie; if all girls were like Lucie there would be little to worry about. She was now calmly going into a marriage of convenience, sensibly realizing that, after the ceremony, she would enjoy a status hitherto denied her, wisely not looking too high—as that absurd and adorable Genevra was doing—but taking the sensible way to security.
Dear Lucie! thought Fenella hypocritically.
"Lucie, my dear," she said. "I want to have a little talk with you. It is about Melisande."
"Yes, Madam?"
"She is very like you, I always think. Her position is similar, and it would give me great pleasure if you took her under your wing. I should like to see her as happily settled as you will be. I want you to make a special friend of her, talk to her about your coming wedding. Polly shall take you both to look over your new house. You see, Lucie my dear, girls like Genevra and Clotilde could so easily put wrong ideas into the head of an impressionable girl."
"I will do all you say, Madam."
"Andrew Beddoes is a friend of your future husband's, I believe."
"They know each other because they are in the same profession."
"It would be rather pleasant if the friendship were cultivated. You and your charming Francis, Melisande and Andrew."
"Why yes, of course."
"I should like it all to come about naturally . . . romantically."
Lucie smiled. She was grateful to Fenella. Some might cavil at the darker side of the activities which went on in this house, but it was an establishment like no other, Fenella was a woman like no other. She helped girls who found themselves in unfortunate positions; naturally her methods must vary according to the girls. When she was securely married, Lucie would wish to sever all connection with Fenella Cardingly's establishment; until that happy day, she was ready to obey Madam Fenella.
"I shall do my best," said Lucie. "Melisande is quite unlike the other girls. Being convent bred she is very innocent. Marriage with Mr. Beddoes would be good for her."
When she had gone, Fenella said aloud: "Dear Lucie!"
Her conscience was salved. There was no need to worry about that
charming young man. Let him come to the house as his father had.
Melisande's future was about to be happily settled.
Polly, the chaperone, escorted the two girls out of the house. She knew that he would be waiting. He was always popping up, she told Madam. Madam only laughed when she was told. He was so charming, she said.
Lucie was saying to Melisande: "I am so glad you are coming with me. The others . . . they're not serious. And at times like this it is pleasant to have a friend."
"It is good of you to let me come," said Melisande. "I hope you will be happy, Lucie. Oh, I do hope that."
"Why not? I shall have everything I want. Mr. Grey will rise in his profession. I shall see to that." Lucie's face under the large bonnet was serene. Prim, Genevra called it. Not prim, thought Melisande, but contented. Melisande sighed. Lucie would never act in such a way as to bring disaster to herself.
"Gome along, my dears," said Polly. "It's a sharp step to our Lucie's new home, and Madam won't expect us to be too long away. My goodness gracious me, who's this ?"
He came forward bowing. "Three ladies . . . out alone! You must allow me to be your escort."
Lucie was shocked; she looked at him coldly. "We are well chaperoned, thank you, Mr. Holland."
"I'm here to look after the young ladies," said Polly. "I'm as good as any gentleman."
"Better!" he said, giving her one of his winning smiles. "I know it; you know it; the young ladies know it. But does the rest of the world know it? My dear Polly, your size belies your valiant heart, and I shall take it upon myself as a duty to accompany you."
Polly clicked her tongue and shook her head. Fermor took Lucie's hand and kissed it. Lucie softened. After all, she thought, what harm can come of it in the street ?
He then took Melisande's hand and kissed it. He kept it in his and sa
id: "A guardian apiece. What could be better than that?"
Lucie could only walk beside Polly.
Melisande said to him as the other two stepped ahead: "You are not wanted. You know that. Have you no pride?"
"On the contrary, my pride swells to enormous proportions when I consider how much I am wanted. Polly dotes on me; so do you. As for the prim little Lucie, I have such belief in my powers that I think I can melt even her stony heart."
"I wish you would not come to the house so often."
"You would be hurt if I did not."
"I should be happier if you did not."
"But you think often of me, you must admit."
"I often think of Caroline. Is she very unhappy?"
"She is well and happy, thank you."
"Unaware of your conduct?"
"She can have nothing to complain of so far. Melisande, let us have done with this bantering. Let us be ourselves, say what is in our minds. I am in love with you . . . you with me."
"No!"
"I said, let us tell the truth. Promise me to answer one question truthfully. Will you, or are you afraid to do so?"
"I am not afraid to answer truthfully."
"If I were free to marry you and asked you, would you marry me ?"
She hesitated and he said: "You promised the truth."
"I am trying to tell the truth. I think I should, but I should be very uneasy."
He laughed contentedly. "That is all I wanted to know. The uneasiness would not worry me. We should not be too easy in our minds, should we? We should be anxious . . . anxious to preserve that which is so precious to us both. Melisande, for once let us not quarrel. Let us pretend that this is our home which we are going to see . . . our marriage which is about to take place. Can you imagine that?"
"Perhaps," she admitted.
Here in the street it was possible to throw caution away. The pleasure of such contemplation surprised her. Here, with him beside her, it was so easy to believe in.
He had slipped his arm through hers. It did not matter. Polly was going on ahead with Lucie. Besides, Polly would only have said: "The daring young man!" and she would have said it indulgently. Like her mistress she had a fondness for daring young men.
He looked down at her; she looked up at him; longing and love was in their eyes. They said nothing. It was wonderful to have such moments as these, thought Melisande; to step right out of the world of reality into the world of the imagination. There was no Caroline in this world; Fermor was himself, yet becomingly different. They were two lovers on their way to visit their new home.
He sang softly so that only she could hear, and the song he sang was wistful and tender, simple and moving:
"O, wert thou in the cauld blast, On yonder lea, on yonder lea, My plaidie to the angry airt,
I'd shelter thee, I'd shelter thee. Or did misfortune's bitter storms Around thee blaw, around thee blaw,
Thy bield should be my bosom, To share it a', to share it a'."
If they could have walked on through the streets of London for ever like that, how happy she would have been!
They turned into that street in which stood the charming little house which was to be Lucie's home, and as they did so suddenly the spell was broken.
It was a moment of horror for Melisande. She had turned, sensing that they were being followed, and so she saw the woman who was walking behind them and might have followed them since they left the house in the square. For one moment Melisande's eyes met a pair of bright malevolent ones. Wenna was in London with Caroline, and Wenna had come to spy on her and Fermor.
She shivered and looked quickly away.
"What is it?" said Fermor.
She looked over her shoulder, but Wenna was not to be seen.
"I ... I saw Wenna," she said. "She must have followed you."
"That old horror!"
"She will tell Caroline that she has seen us together."
"What of it? How could I refuse to escort you and your friends?"
"I don't like her. She makes trouble. She hates me."
"She hates me too. She makes no secret of it. She clings to Caroline like a leech and snarls at me like a bulldog."
"I am frightened of her."
"You? Frightened of an old woman ... a servant!"
"After to-day you must not come to see me any more."
"Let 'after to-day' take care of itself."
They stepped into the hall of the little house. It was in process of being prettily furnished, and Lucie went from room to room in delight, calling attention to the carpet which had been delivered and laid in the drawing-room, asking them to admire the ormolu mirror—Madam Fenella's advance wedding present.
But looking into the mirror, Melisande seemed to see Venna's brooding face looking at her threateningly. She felt that Wenna
228 IT BEGAN IN VAUXHALL GARDENS
had followed her, watched her, seen this love of hers for Caroline's husband trembling on the edge of surrender.
Then she knew that this must be her last meeting with Fermor.
TWO
>3o Lucie was married.
Fenella was pleased. Lucie's wealthy parent was pleased. Lucie was settled in life, and this was another triumph for Fenella. More ladies and gentlemen would put their bastard children in her charge, since the stigma attached to those children made it impossible for them to be launched through the usual channels. Fenella was doing such a useful service.
Fenella, the fabulous, the incredible and the mysterious, might be a product of an earlier era when life was lived in a more colourful manner; but the new era had scarcely begun, and Fenella would flourish for many a day as yet to come.
At the wedding the bridegroom's best man was Andrew Beddoes— a serious, quiet young man who selected Melisande for his attentions and stayed by her side during the drinking of toasts.
He was pleasant and courteous and seemed such a contrast to Fermor that she was glad of his company.
He talked of his friendship with the bridegroom, of their profession, of the luck of Francis Grey, who was as happy as a man could be.
Melisande liked him for his warm appreciation of Lucie's bridegroom.
He talked interestingly of his hopes for the future. Francis was going ahead. Mr. Beddoes was certain that he would succeed with Lucie to help him. In such a profession a man needed a wife, and a wife like Lucie could help so much. There was a great deal of entertaining to be done. Lucie was so poised, so elegant and so modest, and yet completely confident.
"You speak as though you are in love with Lucie yourself," said Melisande.
"No," he said gravely, "not with Lucie." He smiled and said how kind Melisande was to listen to him.
"But I am so interested. I hope you will be as lucky as Francis Grey."
"I hope that too," he said.
After the wedding she saw more and more of Andrew Beddoes.
He came often to the house, where Fenella welcomed him with special warmth. She allowed him to walk with Melisande in the Park with the newly married pair as chaperons.
There were times when they visited Lucie and her husband. Then the men would talk of Law, and Lucie would expound on the delights of housekeeping. It was a pleasant household, and it seemed to Melisande that Lucie had grown more attractive since she had married.
Fermor was angry when he saw what was happening.
Fenella did not deny him admittance to her house. She told herself that it would be good for Andrew to meet a little competition. She and Polly watched his sober courtship and the fiery one of Fermor with amusement and delight.
"It's dangerous," Polly said. "You never know what a young man like that will do. It wouldn't surprise me if he abducted Melly. He's quite capable of it."
"I know. I know," said Fenella. "But he'd have to get her consent."
"He might do that."
"But have you noticed she's changed? There was a time when I thought she was ready to fall into such a trap. But not now. Somethin
g's happened. She's wary. She may have discovered some of his wicked secrets. Depend upon it, he's got some."
"You think she'll take Andrew?"
"She's fundamentally a good girl, Polly. I ought to know. Don't I know girls? She longs for that bad one, and I believe he would have won, but she knows his wife. I feel sure that he's made some mistake somewhere. He must have made love to Melisande before his marriage. It's all very well to be bad, but badness must have some disguise. He's too blatantly wicked. That's his youth, I expect. He's too arrogant as yet and thinks he can get away with anything. He should have waited until after his marriage. Then he could have come along, very sad and dejected and told her his wife didn't understand him."
"That old tale?"
"All tales are new to those who haven't heard them before. He should have made her sorry for him. Melisande is generous; she's all heart. She'll act first and think afterwards. But in behaving as he did he made her think first. She's thinking now. She's thinking hard. And Lucie's working for Andrew Beddoes. Our dear Lucie has no imagination and, like all the unimaginative, she sees others as a pale shadow of herself. She's happy. She's got her home and lawyer. She's got what she wanted. Therefore she decides that's what Melisande must want."
"But something's happened to change Melly. It was that day I told
you about. They walked behind Lucie and me . . . like a pair of lovers. Then, as we went into the house, I noticed she was as white as a sheet. She's been different since then."
"It may be that his wife saw them together."
"What! Followed them! Ladies don't do such things, Madam dear."
"Jealous women do; and ladies can turn into jealous women, Poll, my dear. It was something like that, I'll warrant. Well, it will do Master Fermor good to know that he can't have it all his own way. He's like his father. Men used to be like that when I was young. Hard livers, hard drinkers, hard lovers. Times are changing, my insect. We're getting prim. I shouldn't have been able to start a salon like mine in these days. This young Gladstone is not our sort at all, and he's one of the men of the future. I don't like the virtuous, Polly. They pry. They see evil rather than good. No! Men are not like they used to be. But Fermor's a chip off the old block of mankind. He's of our time . . . not of the coming age. Times are changing a*ad we're sticking, Polly. We don't belong to the age that's just beginning.
It began in Vauxhall Gardens Page 28