The Weight of the Crown
Page 30
CHAPTER XXX
HER FRIEND, THE QUEEN
Jessie sat listening in a vague way to a girl who sat chatting by herside. She had not the least idea what the girl was saying, nor, indeed,had she any clue to the identity of the speaker. The talk was a littleconfidential, and was evidently the continuation of some confidencebegan at another time. Jessie nodded and smiled, and by instinct lookedsympathetic at the right moment.
"And what would you say to Reggie under the circumstances?" the girlasked. "It isn't as if George had behaved badly, because he reallyhasn't, you know. Vera, you are not listening."
Jessie laughed in a dreamy kind of way. The whole thing was gettinghorribly on her nerves now. She felt how utterly impossible it would beto keep up much longer. She was utterly tired out; she longed forsomething to inspire her flagging strength. She began to understand whymen drink in certain circumstances. But she was just equal to theoccasion.
"I am dead tired, I am half asleep," she said. "And my head is racking.Ask me again, my dear, when I am capable of a coherent thought or two.And as to Reggie, why, what can you do better than trust your ownwoman's instinct. Have I not always thought that----"
But there was no reason for Jessie to prevaricate any further. Relievedat last from her onerous duties, Lady Merehaven was crossing the room.There was no chance of escape so far as Jessie could see, the guests haddwindled down to a comfortable number including the Queen of Asturia.She would have to wait so long as the king chose to play bridge; itwould be folly to leave him there. Lady Merehaven came and dropped intoa seat by Jessie's side.
"My dear Ada, money is bid for you," she said to the confidential girl."Your father is positively fussing for you in the hall. He saidsomething about an early excursion on the river to-morrow."
The girl rose with a pleasant little laugh and kissed Jessie. Evidentlythere was some very clever friend of Vera Galloway's. As she flittedaway Lady Merehaven turned to Jessie.
"I have heard the most extraordinary idea suggested to-night," she said."I understand from your uncle that the idea emanated from PrinceMazaroff. He said that you were not yourself, but somebody else. Itsounds very Irish, you know, but there it is. My dear child, how paleyou are. Short-sighted as I am, I can see how pale you are."
"I have a dreadful headache," Jessie said unsteadily. "What did theprince mean?"
"Really, I have no idea. I could see that he was very annoyed aboutsomething. He told some queer story to the effect that there was a girlin a Bond Street shop who was the very image of you. The only distantbranch of our family whose women are remarkably like ours are theHarcourts. But I understand that they have disappeared altogether. It isjust possible, of course, that one of the girls might have come down toservice in a shop. Have you heard anything of this?"
"I have been told so," Jessie said boldly. "Ronald Hope told me. Butwhy should you trouble?"
"My dear, this is rather a serious business. You heard what happened toCountess Saens. You heard what the countess's maid said. There is nodoubt that this girl, who is so very like you, actually committed thatrobbery. I am going to ask your uncle to enquire into the matter. Weshall have the police arresting you for a swindler or something of thatkind."
Jessie suppressed a tendency to burst into hysterical laughter. It wasfortunate for her that somebody called Lady Merehaven away at thismoment, or Jessie's laughter had turned to tears. She crept away throughthe little room where the bridge players were deep in their game intothe conservatory beyond. The king was still playing, and behind hischair was a dark, military looking man with a stern face. It was quiteevident that he was on guard over the royal presence. Jessie's moodchanged when once she found herself alone. She felt sad and desolate andlonely and utterly beyond her strength. She placed her aching headbetween her hands and the tears ran down her cheeks.
For a time she wept there quietly. Her eyes were still misty with tearswhen the noise of rustling skirts attracted her attention. She wiped herface hurriedly, but it was too late to take away all traces of emotion.And as the tears were brushed from the long lashes, Jessie saw the queenbefore her.
The queen was smiling graciously, but the smile turned to a look ofconcern. She sat down by the girl's side and slipped an arm round herneck. It was one of the soft, womanly touches that endeared the queen toall who knew her. She was all a woman now.
"What is the matter?" she asked. "I have seen too much trouble in mylife not to feel for it in others. And you are so brave and firm as arule. Let me help you; forget who I am. Let me be as good a friend toyou as you have been to me, Vera."
The last word touched Jessie. It seemed horrible to play a part withsuch a woman as this. And yet the night would have been a bad one forAsturia without the guardian girl from Bond Street. Jessie felt a stronginclination to tell the truth.
"I had better not say, perhaps," she said. "And yet you can help me.There is one thing that I dread--and that is to stay to-night under thisroof. Pray don't ask me why, the secret is not all my own. I feel that I_dare_ not stay."
The queen asked no curious questions; there was a phase of temperamenthere that puzzled her. Very softly she took Jessie's hand in hers andstroked it.
"I know that nervous restlessness," she said. "Who better? But then withme every shadow hides an enemy. Even my friends are enemies sometimes.So you dread staying here to-night. Why?"
"I cannot tell you, madame." Jessie said in a low voice. "And yet if wewere elsewhere I might be tempted to speak the truth. Again, I must beout very early in the morning. If you could help me----"
"Help you! Of course I can help you! What is the use of being a queen ifI cannot do a little thing like that? One of my women has fallen ill,and I am rather awkwardly situated. If you will come with me to-nightyou shall take her place. How would that suit you?"
Jessie gasped with pleasure. The whole burden of her trouble seemed tohave fallen from her shoulders. She rose to her feet as if anxious toescape at once. A new colour came into her face. The queen smiled, andpulled the girl down into her seat again.
"You are as impetuous and headstrong as you are courageous," she said."I cannot go yet. There is something still to be done. A message has tobe sent to Captain Alexis, the gentleman who you can see from herestanding behind the king's chair. It is his duty not to allow hismajesty out of his sight. But you need not fear. I shall make everythingright with Lady Merehaven."
"If you only knew what a relief it is to me!" Jessie murmured. "I darednot stay here to-night. I should have betrayed everything. And afterbeing so wonderfully successful so far----"
Jessie paused, conscious that she was saying too much. The queenregarded her with astonishment. A look of haughtiness--pride, somethinglike suspicion, too, crossed her handsome, weary face.
"Evidently there is more here than meets the eye," she said coldly. "Ihave pledged my word, and I am not going to break it now. Possibly youmay have a story to tell me presently."
"I will tell you everything if you will only be kind to me," Jessieexclaimed. "Ah, madame, if you only knew what I had gone through andsuffered for you to-night----"
"True," the queen said hastily and with a change of tone. "I hadforgotten for the moment. Only I hate mysteries. My life has beenpoisoned by them for years. Stay here and compose yourself, and I willsee Lady Merehaven. Then I will send for your maid and give herinstructions what to do. Don't stir from here."
Jessie murmured her thanks. She was only too glad to remain where shewas and get a little time to think. At any rate, she was free from thedread of having to pass a night at Merehaven House. It was all very wellfor her to pose as Vera Galloway when dressed for the part and under theshaded lights. But in the strong light of day in her simple nightclothing, and with her hair free, it would be a miracle if VeraGalloway's maid did not detect the difference.
Jessie lay back and closed her eyes with a blissful sense of freedomfrom danger. Surely it would make no difference if she told the queeneverything? After all, she had done as much fo
r Asturia as Vera haddone, and perhaps more. She had proved her courage and her devotion, andno girl could have done more. Just for a moment Jessie fell into a quietdoze.
She was awakened at length by the entry of a servant, who came with theinformation that the carriage of the Queen of Asturia was at the door,that her majesty desired to see Miss Galloway. There was a new life andstrength in Jessie as she rose to obey the summons.
"Say I am coming at once," she said. "Her majesty is in the hall, Isuppose?"