Midnight had struck for Cinderella. There was no glass slipper, and her prince had failed her. Tonight she would be back in Hawthorn Lodge, a drudge, unpaid and—yes, and unappreciated! Well—one could at least give her something else to think about.
“Listen, honey!” said Vivian, leaning across the table. “I’ve been wondering lately what to do about the future. Mine, and yours too. I hadn’t meant to speak of this till I was back at Hawthorn Lodge—but you might just as well be doing some thinking too, over the week-end. Then when we get together next week we can pool the results ... You can’t go on as you’ve been doing since Daddy died, toiling seven days a week for a ridiculous pittance and precious little thanks! Wouldn’t you like to train for something that would make you independent of the family, and give you a life of your own, and a career? You know how I would love to give it to you!”
Valerie hesitated for a moment. Then she said, rather apologetically, “It’s sweet of you—it’s dear of you to think of it! But I’m afraid I just don’t feel cut out for career girl. I haven’t got a business head. I would be useless in an office! Housekeeping and cooking are the only things I really like, you see—the only things I’m any good at.”
“But darling, no one mentioned offices or business! Your talent is for domestic things, so obviously the thing for you would be a training in domestic science. And if that’s what you’d like, then you shall have it—all the interest and fun of training in the job for which you have a bent. And when you’re qualified, you should be able to get a very good job at a very good salary. And when you marry, better still, for you’ll be cut out for a model wife!”
“I shan’t—” Valerie was beginning, but she broke off, for if she said, “I shall never marry,” Vivian might suspect how much she minded about Rory and might even guess how much he meant to her. And anyway it was beside the point. So she said instead, “It does sound a wonderful idea! Only I do feel rather frightful to be even considering taking so much from you, when you’ve just given me this wonderful holiday. It seems so greedy—”
“According to the Bible,” Vivian reminded her, “it’s more blessed to give than to receive. And that’s been my experience. And as I’d rather give to you than anyone on earth, I hope you won’t deny me the blessing by refusing to accept!”
“How could I, when you put it like that! But none the less I do feel grateful from the bottom of my heart.”
Vivian, feeling that the atmosphere was tending to become a trifle emotional, said briskly, “Well, be grateful if you like—but don’t you dare to feel ‘beholden’ to me, that’s all, for it would ruin everything! Remember that it’s pleasing me as much as you, or more. I wonder if it will be difficult to get a vacancy next term in some domestic science college whose diploma is worth having?”
“I suppose I’d live in, wouldn’t I?”
“Not necessarily. If you trained in London, or at that famous place in Edinburgh, we might share a flat, and I’d take on some voluntary job. There must be plenty of them going begging, and I can’t live in useless idleness for ever! I must begin to shape a new life for myself, instead of drifting on without an aim or object.”
They agreed that Valerie should say nothing of their plan on her return to Hawthorn Lodge. Far wiser to postpone telling the family of their decision until Vivian had rejoined her, and they had investigated all the pros and cons, and every detail had been cut and dried.
And so, when Valerie was sitting an hour later in the northbound train, it looked as though the life ahead of her was going to change its drab, monotonous pattern for a new one, an exciting one, one that held all sorts of possibilities. She knew that if it hadn’t been for meeting Rory, if she had never known of his existence, she would have been overjoyed, enchanted by the turn events had taken.
Reason told her that one day she would again know happiness, that the dull pain numbing her would gradually ease its grip, the bleakness in her heart thaw slowly to a gentler clime.
But instinct paid small heed to reason, arguing with passionate despair that for her Rory and happiness were the same, so that without the first she could not have the second.
Struggling at last to turn her thoughts towards a more cheerful trend, the memory of something Vivian had said during their discussion over breakfast echoed in her mind.
“I must begin to shape a new life for myself, instead of drifting on without an aim or object.” The memory of Vivian’s courage roused her own. If Vivian can do that, so can I! she told herself. Miserable people blight the happiness of everyone around them. I won’t become a blight. I’ll find some sort of satisfaction somehow in my work and—in just living—or die in the attempt!
She would forget Rory. She would put the past behind her and with Vivian’s help build something good out of the future. So deciding, she took up her paper, but in spite of all her resolutions it was not the printed page she saw, but a shapely dark head set on broad flat shoulders and a pair of merry grey eyes smiling at her in a thin, tanned face.
CHAPTER EIGHT
As it was Saturday, Robert and Harold had been playing golf together in the afternoon, while Monica and Janet had gone to see a film. But they were all back in Hawthorn Lodge soon after five, gathered in the big communal sitting-room to listen for the sound of Valerie’s arrival.
Presently they heard the taxi drawing up outside, and then the front door opening. After giving her time to pay the-driver, they all flocked out to welcome her, very pleased to have her back.
“Have a good time? We’ve missed your cooking!”
“Did you enjoy yourself? It’ll be nice to have a hot meal in the evenings, now you’re back!” her brothers greeted her, pecking automatically at her cheek in turn.
“My goodness! What a lovely suit! It must have cost a pretty penny!” exclaimed Monica enviously.
“I’ve got sausages for supper, nice and quick for you to cook. We’ll want it punctually at seven, we’re all going to a canasta party at the Jevons’,” Janet told her. The housekeeper Vivian had engaged as Valerie’s deputy had offered, before her final departure, to leave a casserole prepared in readiness for this evening’s meal, “So that Miss Valerie won’t have to start in on cooking the instant minute she gets back!” But Janet had refused her kindly meant suggestion, for she and Monica had privately agreed that they must take a firm stand after Valerie’s return, and make it quite clear that they expected her to carry on exactly as she had done before—otherwise, as soon as Vivian returned with her ridiculous idea that they should all join in to help their younger sister of an evening and at week-ends with the washing up, there was no knowing where it might end.
“If we don’t look out, Valerie will be expecting time off, like a paid housekeeper!” Monica had declared, and Janet had agreed, “Yes. We must make it plain that we won’t stand for any nonsense! She’s had a splendid holiday—far longer than we ever get! And now she must make up for it.”
Valerie knew quite well that it was curiosity, not kindliness, that prompted Monica’s offer to help her to unpack.
“Oh, don’t you bother! I can manage quite well, and I needn’t start on supper for another hour,” she said. But Monica lingered, first admiring Valerie’s new cases, then asking how she had got on with ski-ing, all the while staring at each garment as Valerie unpacked it, until finally she could restrain herself no longer, and burst out, “Two dance dresses—Vivian must be crazy! When does she think you’re going to wear frocks like that in Darlingford?”
Valerie would have liked to retort, “I don’t suppose I shall be staying in Darlingford much longer!” but she bit it back, and said instead, “I needed them in Switzerland—I danced a lot, one wouldn’t have been enough.”
Janet popped her head round the door to say, “Oh, Valerie, the laundry has been ruining my overalls, so I’ve saved up all the ones I wore this week for you to do. I haven’t got a single clean one left, but if you wash one after supper it should be dry enough for ironing tomorrow.”
> Before Valerie could answer, Monica burst out, “Just look at all this, Janet! Vivian’s given Valerie a perfect trousseau! Piles of nylon undies—goodness only knows how many pairs of shoes—cashmere twin sets—two dance dresses—that darling little yellow frock—blouses—”
Valerie, hating it, began to cram them anyhow into her drawers and cupboards, but Monica continued with her catalogue.
“Did you ever see such a luscious dressing gown? And what’s that—a cocktail suit—a cocktail suit for Valerie, who’s never in her life been to a cocktail party! Really, it’s too sickening that you’re such a little skinny, Valerie—goodness knows, no one could call me fat, but I could never squeeze into any of your things—and they’d be far more use to me than you!”
Valerie went on putting away her clothes in silence, and the others, having seen all that there was to see, went downstairs to rejoin Harold and Robert, to whom they poured out a description of Valerie’s new possessions.
“It must have cost Vivian a mint of money!” Monica declared.
“And all for things that won’t be any use at all to Valerie in Darlingford—it’s not as though she led a social kind of life!” said Janet.
“H’m. Pity she didn’t put her money into something all the family could have enjoyed—television, or even a new car, if she has money to fling around like that!” said Robert.
Harold said thoughtfully, “I must have a talk with Vivian when she gets back. Look into her investments and that kind of thing. It sounds to me as if she hadn’t got much money sense.”
Robert agreed. “Be better if she’d let you handle her affairs. Women don’t understand that kind of thing.”
This was precisely what Harold had in mind, although he had not liked to say so outright. With an approving glance at Robert he remarked that they must hope Vivian had not been spending capital on Valerie, and that trip they’d had to Switzerland.
“It would be nice to find out what her income is,” mused Monica.
Janet chimed in. “Well, anyway, it’s obvious that she can afford to pay well for her keep, if she proposes to stay here! That would reduce our overhead expenses. You could have a word with her about that, too, Harold.”
“Mustn’t forget that she and Valerie own half this house between them, and according to Father’s will if two of us insist on selling, it must be done,” Harold reminded them. “Have to go carefully—we don’t want to start the pair of them thinking along those lines!”
“Why should they? Valerie has a good home here with us—the very last thing she would want would be to lose it!” Janet protested.
“Well, if she doesn’t she’ll have to mend her ways!” said Monica. “Vivian must be made to understand that though it was all very well for everyone to join in helping Valerie with washing up the supper things, and at the weekends, just while Vivian was on the footing of a visitor, if she’s going to stay for any length of time the whole thing must be put upon a different footing, and Valerie must keep to her routine. After all, she is the housekeeper! Why should we do her work for her? Especially as it’s chiefly Valerie who benefits from Vivian’s money!”
“Vivian did spend a good deal on the household in a general way when she was here,” Robert pointed out, “she was for ever buying pheasants, and mushrooms, and pineapples, and that kind of thing. And didn’t I hear something about a pressure cooker, too?”
Janet retorted, “It would be better if she paid her share. We don’t want charity!”
Harold said, “Time enough to go into all that later, after I’ve had a talk with her about her finances, and offered to handle her affairs for her. Better to get that obstacle behind us first, before we think about the other.”
“If she does persuade you into handling her affairs, she ought to pay you well for doing it! It’ll take up a lot of time!” Monica suggested.
Harold had not considered that possibility; none the less it was a pleasant thought. “Well—we shall see what we shall see!” he said.
“If Harold’s going to spend a lot of time dealing with Vivian’s affairs, it’ll mean that Robert has to do more in the business,” Janet remarked to no one in particular. The inference was obvious: if that should happen, Robert’s share of income from the business should be increased.
Robert said nothing, but looked sidelong at his elder brother, who replied pacifically, “That’s a point to be considered too—but nothing’s settled yet, remember!”
“Well, the sooner it is settled after Vivian gets back, the better. Once you let things drift it’s far more difficult to get them on the lines you want,” said Janet briskly.
Valerie worked hard that week-end, for though the temporary housekeeper had been conscientious and hardworking, Janet and Monica had refused to employ her for the number of hours Valerie had told them would be necessary if the house were to be kept really clean, saying that it would be too expensive, so although she had evidently done her best, things were not quite as Valerie liked to have them, and the cake tins were empty.
So she washed and ironed, scrubbed and baked and polished, glad enough to be distracted from her thoughts of Rory. Yet there was no escaping memories, for when she turned the wireless on, by cruel coincidence a melting baritone stole out into the room singing—
“My small, my slim Susanna—”
and though she switched it off at once, it was too late: her heart had already been pierced with pain renewed.
Longing for Vivian’s return, she could have wept when Monday morning brought a telegram to say that after all she would not be coming until the following evening. But the time passed somehow, as time inevitably does, and at last she heard the long-awaited sound of the front door opening, and running from the kitchen found her sister in the hall, glowing in-her dark red fur-lined coat, and somehow giving out vitality and reassurance in that indefinable way she had.
Valerie fell upon her. “Oh—how lovely that you’re back!”
Vivian laughed and hugged her. “Anyone would think, to hear you, that we’d been apart for months!” She tossed her coat down on a chair. “The others back yet?”
“Not yet.”
“And you, I suppose, are slaving in the kitchen?” Without waiting for the answer that she knew to be inevitable, she slipped her hand through Valerie’s arm and steered her whence she came. “I’ll come and keep you company. I can unpack later. Ironing again!”
“Yes. There’s a good deal to catch up on!” Valerie said as she took up the iron.
“Just what you were doing when I walked in, hours before you were expecting me, when I came back from America!”
“Yes. Everything is just the same—except for all my lovely new belongings—and of course the memories of that heavenly holiday in Switzerland! The circle is complete.”
But in her heart Valerie knew all too well that nothing was the same, since she herself was changed so greatly. The inexperienced girl that Vivian had found after eight years of absence was no longer there. In place of her was someone very different: someone who had known the tremulous dawn of love; the rapture of her first kiss; the brief promise of a radiant future, followed all too cruelly by disaster to her dreams; the bitterness of humiliation.
“That circle is complete, yes,” Vivian agreed, “so now the time has come to start another. That’s why I put off coming back until to-day. Now listen! It’s all settled! You and I—” She broke off at the sound of footsteps in the hall. “Tell you to-night,” she said, and then, “Hullo, Hal! Escaped the treadmill earlier than usual?”
“Yes—yes, managed to break away—thought you’d be back about now.”
Nice of him, thought Vivian, touched by what she took to be a sign of brotherly affection. Though she would have liked to go up to her room at once, she went with him when he suggested that they should have a glass of sherry by the fire, this chilly evening.
Harold would have liked to lead up diplomatically to the matter on his mind, but though the others had been warned to keep away, t
here was no knowing how soon Valerie might join them. So without preamble he came straight to the point.
“Now that I’ve got you to myself for once we might as well discuss one or two things I’ve been turning over in my mind. It seems abrupt—but it may be long enough before we’re on our own again!”
Vivian looked at him inquiringly, wondering what was coming next.
“A woman,” Harold told her, “has no understanding as a rule of business matters. Every woman needs a man behind her, making her decisions for her, taking the burden of financial responsibility off her shoulders! ... We haven’t talked, so far, of your affairs. But I’ve been thinking for some time that you might like me to take them over for you.”
Vivian was furious. So the family had decided that it would be a good idea for Harold to take control of her finances, so that they should all know every detail of her private concerns! If that should happen, he would be for ever giving her unsought advice—trying to curb her expenditure on Valerie—telling her she shouldn’t buy her car, even though she could do it out of income, but instead invest the money in some sound securities—interfering—domineering—the idea was quite intolerable!
But she managed to control her feelings, and her manner was as-amiable as ever as she said lightly, “Dear me, Hal—you are behind the times! Some women know as much as men, or more, of business matters, these days! You must remember than in America I had close contact for some years with very wide and very powerful business connections, through Pete. And as I shared all his interests, you may imagine that I learned—well, quite a lot!”
The implication of her words was clear. “I learned more of big business than you’ll ever know, or need to know to run your little family concern.” Too soften it, she smiled at him.
“I wouldn’t dream of troubling you to shoulder my affairs!” she told him. “I manage very nicely on my own. And as you know, I’ve always liked to make my own decisions! Well—what’s been going on in Darlingford for the last five weeks?”
There Will Come A Stranger Page 10