‘You look lovely today, cousin,’ he remarked quietly. As he spoke I looked down into the hall silently praying that someone would be there, but the whole house seemed silent.
‘Why thank you, Jared,’ I replied making a move to descend, but I was prevented from doing so by Jared turning me to face him.
‘Come with me cousin Silvia, for I have something that I wish you to see.’
As he spoke Jared took a firm grip on my arm and led me along the corridor towards the attic stairs taking no heed of my protestations.
‘Will you please release me, cousin,’ I almost shouted in vain hope that someone would hear. We had stopped in front of the last door on the left, looking at the door I felt a sense of impending gloom.
‘This, cousin, is the master bedroom, which if you choose to marry him you will share with my brother.’ So saying he turned the brass handle on the door flinging it wide open and dragging me in, only then did he release the strong grip on my arm. And while it was my chance to escape I could not help but stand transfixed to the dark wooden floor and look around me.
The large room held no warmth, the dark blue heavy curtains were drawn blocking out any sunlight, the fireplace was built of slate grey-coloured marble and even with a fire burning I could not image it radiating any warmth. The walls were the same blue as the drawing-room which I loathed. A huge dark mahogany wardrobe filled the wall by the window, and adjacent to the door was an equally large matching four-poster bed carved with grotesque faces.
I stared at it quite forgetting Jared’s presence until he spoke, his voice breaking into my almost mesmerised thoughts. ‘So cousin, does this little scene thwart any plans you may have of marrying Gareth for the sake of Darkwood? For this is Darkwood in truth, where our grandfather slept and ruled this house and all its occupants with a rod of iron.’
As Jared spoke I could feel myself trembling, but was it with fear or anger? I was outraged at the way Jared had brought me here, but at the same time grateful that he had shown me this hideous room.
There was no way that I’d sleep in this room as it was now, everything would have to be altered from the colour of the walls to the bed. Jared stood to one side of the window, walking swiftly across, I drew back the curtains with defiance as sunlight streamed in making little difference. I had no intention of telling this cousin how I felt about anything for to do so would only serve to raise his hopes.
As I looked at Jared’s face I could see the cruel twist of his mouth, so like the one I had seen in the portrait of our grandfather, Samuel, a trait Jared had obviously inherited, and wishing to get away from him as much as the oppressive room, I picked up my skirts and ran back along the corridor, not stopping until I reached the bottom of the staircase.
Taking a few deep breaths to calm myself I looked back towards the staircase, but thankfully Jared had not followed. At this moment Aunt Rachel’s voice startled me.
‘Silvia dear, where are you going?’ she enquired in her soft voice.
‘To Culmoor Church as it is a beautiful day and I wish to go out for a while.’ I smiled as I spoke trying to control the tremor in my voice caused by my experience with my aunt’s youngest son.
‘I cannot let you go unchaperoned Silvia, I would join you myself, but I have a visitor calling later. Leave it until tomorrow when I can accompany you.’ Her request was reasonable, but I was stubborn.
‘I’m sorry, Aunt, but I have set my heart on going now. As Mother is indisposed I will take Pru.’ These words obviously pleased her.
‘That will be much more in keeping. We have a guest for dinner this evening, so please don’t linger longer than necessary dear. I like to make Estelle feel welcome when she visits.’ At Aunt Rachel’s words my heart sank. I had hoped not to see the lovely Estelle again until my marriage to Gareth.
‘Has she no-one to accompany her?’ I asked as sweetly as I could.
‘No dear, unfortunately she is all alone in the world since her mother died.’ Aunt Rachel’s voice was almost wistful being one to gather lonely people to her bosom and care for them.
‘She is extremely pretty, I’m surprised some young man hasn’t whisked her to the altar before now.’ My voice held the interest I felt and I waited for my aunt’s reply which stunned me somewhat.
‘Estelle has eyes only for Gareth, and until you and he are married she will not look beyond him.’
The startled expression on my face must have shown for Aunt Rachel tried to pacify me. ‘But that doesn’t mean that Gareth returns her affection, quite the contrary.’ Little did I know that later that day I would recall my aunt’s words.
‘No matter, I must find Pru for time is pressing,’ I said wishing to change the course of the conversation.
‘You do that and I shall arrange for Matt to convey you in the pony and trap.’ She turned to go and then turned back. ‘By the way, Silvia, there is a letter for you. It is on the chest by the front door, enjoy your outing.’
At Aunt Rachel’s words I hastened over to the chest, picking up the letter. I could see it was Grace’s handwriting. Just as I was about to climb back up the staircase, Dotty was scurrying across the hall, and seeing me she dropped a curtsey. ‘I’m sorry Miss, I’ve been sent to light the fire in the drawing-room,’ she explained.
‘Before you do, Dotty, could you please find my maid, Pru, and ask her to get herself ready to accompany me. I will meet her in the hall in a quarter-of-an-hour,’ I asked, turning to the drawing-room, intent on reading my letter. I preferred not to go upstairs just in case I encountered Jared once more. Dotty didn’t answer, but scurried off in search of Pru.
Sitting on the settle in the cold drawing-room I eagerly opened Grace’s letter which read,
My dearest Silvia,
I am truly sorry to impart bad tidings, but I find I cannot join you this week as planned. My mother is so ill I just cannot leave her at present. I know this will cause you some distress as indeed it does me, but as soon as Mama is stronger I will join you, for I am so longing to see you and Darkwood. Have you set a date for your wedding? Please write soon with your news.
From your loving friend,
Grace.
I read the letter several times, tears springing to my eyes. So Grace would not be here to talk to as I had so hoped and above all else I had no bridesmaid, but I understood that Grace could not leave her sick mother.
When I left the drawing-room, Dotty already had a fire springing to life in the hearth. Pru was waiting for me in the hall dressed in her light brown moreno dress which accentuated the colour of her red hair.
‘Miss Silvia, what are we about? I have so many tasks to perform and your mother is quite put out that I should have to leave her.’ Pru chattered on hardly allowing me to explain, which I managed to do as we stepped out into the warm spring sunshine and Matt assisted us into the pony and trap.
As we bowled along the narrow lane, I looked back at the house. In the spring sunshine the building looked quite appealing and I caught sight of the bridge which led into the wood beyond. I was soon to be a married woman and no longer under my late grandfather’s spell. I would one day very soon venture into the wood and see for myself if it was inhabited by ghouls and goblins.
The thought of Samuel brought to mind the master bedroom at Darkwood and my thought was to speak with Gareth about it at my first opportunity.
Nearly all the way I could see the church perched on top of the small hillock. As we reached the bottom of it I could see the steep path winding its way through the grass and idly wondered how Mother would manage to walk up to the church on my wedding day. As Matt helped me alight on to the path, Pru made to follow, but I stopped her from doing so. ‘Please Pru, sit in the sunshine and rest for I wish to go alone.’ I coaxed her and could see she was somewhat relieved, as to climb anything was not Pru’s favourite pas-time.
As I made my way slowly up the uneven path, I realised it wasn’t as difficult as I had imagined. Nearing the gate I took a look back at the
view behind me. The whole landscape was a field stretching into the distance where I had a glimpse of the sea merging into the blue sky. Passing through the gate, the church loomed up towards me. My thought was that very soon I would walk this way dressed in my wedding gown.
As I walked around the side of the church to the entrance I could see that the view from here was the same on all sides, grass lay each side of the granite building and one solitary seat stood against the surrounding wall. I stepped out of the sunlight into the dark porch and was glad Pru had the sense earlier to lay a shawl around my shoulders which I pulled tightly around me as I felt suddenly cold.
Lifting the latch on the heavy door and pushing it enough to allow me to pass through, I stepped on to the cold granite slab floor. It was lighter in here for the sun slanted through some of the small plain windows set high in the outer wall, casting rays intermittently across the brown, well worn pews.
The interior of the church was far smaller than I had imagined. Making my way slowly down the aisle I looked up to the colourful window above the altar. It was then I noticed out of the corner of my eye that someone was sitting in the front pew, a man, who had obviously not heard me enter.
I made to retreat, the skirts of my dress catching on the pews as I turned to retrace my steps.
‘Cousin Silvia,’ the voice startled me and I realised I was caught in a beam of sunlight. My heart started pounding as it dawned on me that the voice belonged to Gareth. As I turned around to face him he said, ‘We are of the same mind.’
‘We obviously are, cousin.’ I managed to stammer. ‘I am pleased that I have seen you alone, for there is something I wish to discuss with you.’ As I spoke the words I felt foolish, it was all I could think of to say. Gareth looked at me intently, moving towards me until he was so close I could feel his breath on my cheek as he spoke.
‘And what would that be, cousin? Our wedding perhaps?’ There was a playful gleam in his dark eyes, I noticed that he again wore black which so became him and his eyes glinted in the sun’s ray.
‘Indirectly yes, cousin, for I cannot, no will not, sleep in the master bedroom as it is.’
Gareth’s expression changed at my words, he looked puzzled. ‘And how did you come to view this bedroom, cousin?’ he queried in a quite con-trolled voice.
‘Because Jared had great delight in showing it to me this very morning, in truth he almost dragged me in there,’ I replied, remembering with clarity the whole scene.
‘Did he indeed.’ As he spoke Gareth turned away from me so I could not detect the look on his face, but I knew he was displeased. He turned back to me. ‘We will change it to your liking cousin, for we cannot have you disliking our marital bedroom, can we? Enjoy your look around, ‘tis a pleasant enough place to wed. I will see you at dinner.’ With these words and leaving me speechless he strode out of the church and left me.
A little while later I stepped thank-fully back into the sunshine. Walking across the grass I sat for a few minutes on the wooden seat savouring the warmth of the sun. Thoughts whirled again in my head, uppermost in my mind were three things. An inattentive bridegroom, his amorous brother and the absence of a bridesmaid. As I mulled this over an idea came to me and I hasted back across the grass through the gate down the path to the pony and trap.
‘Home now, Miss?’ Matt asked as he helped me back into the trap next to Pru.
‘No Matt, I wish to call at the vicarage please, wherever that may be.’
No sooner had I said it, Matt was in his seat skilfully steering the pony and us towards the vicar’s abode, which I was to learn was just across from the church.
‘Whatever do you want to go there for, Miss Silvia?’ Pru was beginning to sound like my mother.
‘You will see Pru, I have an idea,’ I said as we stopped outside a double-fronted building similar to Lizzie’s stitching of the house in her sampler, only instead of being red, this one was grey like the church. The whole place on the outside at least was shabby, paint was peeling from the window sills and the black front door.
I waited for an answer to my knock, and after a little time the door was opened by a pleasant looking elderly woman dressed in a royal blue dress covered by a clean crisp white apron. She looked startled to see me and said, ‘Oh Miss, begging your pardon, I expected it to be that young tyke, Jake again, knocking the door and running away, we weren’t expecting visitors, the vicar is out, Miss, I’m afraid.’
‘It’s Isabel I’ve come to see if she’s in, please.’ As I spoke I could hear a piano being played rather skilfully from somewhere in the house.
‘Come in.’ She pulled the door wider to allow me to enter into the shabby looking hall with brown threadbare carpet. ‘I take it you’re Miss Silvia, I remember you as a child I do. As pretty then as you are now, if you don’t mind me saying.
‘Why thank you.’ I enthused. ‘And you are?’ I smiled trying to put her at ease, the piano still playing.
‘Sorry Miss, I’m Mrs Ledbetter, been the vicar’s housekeeper and cook for over forty years. Not the same vicar I hastened to add, I’ve seen quite a few come through that door in my time.’
As Mrs Ledbetter spoke she led me to a door on the right at the back of the hall. ‘Please go in, Miss.’ As I entered the room I could see Isabel sitting at the piano at one corner playing avidly. As soon as she heard me she stopped and stood up, smoothing her hands nervously over the skirts of her dull grey woollen dress. She looked taken aback at seeing me and quite rightly too I thought.
‘You play the piano beautifully, Isabel.’ I spoke truthfully. A glimmer of a smile hovered on her lips and her eyes showed some animation.
‘Thank you,’ she replied demurely.
‘I’m sorry, but George is out.’
‘It’s you I’ve come to see, Isabel. I would like you to be my bridesmaid.’ These words provoked a response, one hand flew to her mouth and her eyes opened wide with pleasure. I could now see they were a startling blue, cornflower blue I thought, as I left the house with instructions that I would call for her at ten o’clock next morning. My intention was to turn this moth into a lovely butterfly.
6
While Pru helped me choose a dress for dinner that evening, my mother walked in and without ceremony sat down in the armchair. She looked tired I thought, and was obviously not joining us for dinner as she was not suitably attired.
‘How are you feeling?’ I enquired solicitously.
‘No matter how many powders I take my head still pounds, but it will pass,’ she replied with some optimism. Pru tells me you called at the vicarage today. May I ask why?’
‘Not to cancel the wedding, Mother, if that’s what you are thinking.’ I laughed, and continued to select a suitable gown.
‘Well, thank the Lord for that at least. So why did you visit?’ she asked.
‘To ask Isabel if she’d be my bridesmaid, and she very graciously agreed.’ As I spoke I picked out my most daring dress, a creation of lemon coloured silk with a scooped off the shoulder neckline. Small cream coloured flowers decorated the hem and the short puffed sleeves and pointed bodice. My dilemma was should I wear it or not. As I thought of Estelle my mind was made up.
‘Silvia, I’m talking to you,’ my mother’s voice interrupted my thoughts as I handed the dress to Pru. ‘Why ask Isabel when you have the lovely Grace?’
‘Grace cannot come,’ and I handed Mother the letter which she perused while Pru helped me dress. Sitting at the dressing table I clasped cream pearls at my neck and Pru fashioned my dark hair, bunching it up at the back and covering it with a pale lemon snood to match my gown.
As I stood up my mother looked me up and down and then got up with Pru’s help. Before leaving the room she asked, ‘Why Isabel? Why not Estelle?’
There were many reasons I wasn’t about to ask Estelle, but didn’t wish to go into that with Mother. ‘Because I wish to help Isabel see the beauty in herself. Under that plain silent exterior there is a lovely young woman fighting to
get out. She just needs some feminine advice, and tomorrow when I take her to Caroline Peacock in Tavistock we shall see what beauty lies beneath.’ I said all this with the hope that this would be an end to it, but my mother had to have the final word.
‘The real reason Silvia, I know it and you know it, is that you feel that you cannot compete with the lovely Estelle. I shall come with you on the morrow, enjoy your evening.’ As mother left I looked at Pru, exasperation on my face.
‘Don’t take any notice Miss, it’s her head. I know your reasons are as you say, you have a kind heart. Now you’d best get down to dinner.’
Pru’s words cheered me and I walked along the corridor with a spring in my step. As I started to walk down the stairs I heard voices to my right. Looking over the banister I could see Gareth and Estelle looking as lovely as ever in a pale pink gown.
Her words drifted up to me, ‘Don’t marry her, marry me dear Gareth,’ she pleaded.
‘I cannot Estelle, I have told you so many times,’ Gareth replied.
‘May I ask why? No, I will give you the answer, it’s because of this house, isn’t it. You aren’t marrying Silvia, you are marrying Darkwood.’ Her voice rose with each word. I waited with baited breath, what would be my cousin’s reply?
‘Keep your voice down please, Estelle. It’s true I love this house, it is part of me and my desire to own it is strong, but it isn’t the reason I can’t marry you.’ Gareth’s voice was firm.
‘Then kiss me at least, Gareth, for I have so much longing for you.’ So saying, she reached up to his face with her hands, but Gareth held her at arms’ length, gently pushing her away.
‘I cannot do that either, Estelle. Forget me, think of me only as a friend.’ His voice was soothing like a father to a child.
Miss Benedict stamped her foot and pulled away from him. ‘You won’t marry her. I promise!’ She almost screamed at him.
This is where I must continue my progress down the stairs, I thought. The conversation I’d just heard was most interesting and proved Aunt Rachel to be correct this morning. Gareth looked up as I reached the bottom of the staircase.
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