Country Cousin

by Jacqueline Gilbert

  She nodded, still gazing out in front. ‘My youngest sister, Dorothea.’

  ‘What has she to do with it?’

  ‘Well, you see, Edward, I’m awfully sorry, but she’s walking towards us now,’ Eleanor informed him, fatalistically calm.

  Edward turned his eyes slowly from her face to the direction of her gaze, and watched the small figure coming along the Crescent towards them, looming in and out of the ring of light, her velour hat hanging limply with the wet, her plaits sticking out at a comic angle. Her step was sturdy and strong, the lateness of the hour seeming not to bother her. Every now and again she would pause, search for a number, and carry on. In one hand she held her school satchel, and in the other, her violin case.

  ‘This is your sister Dorothea,’ stated Edward, just as calm.

  ‘Dodie for short.’

  ‘Who you thought fast asleep in her little bed in Yorkshire?’

  ‘Uhuh.’

  His lips twitched imperceptibly. He slowly wound down his window and waited as the approaching figure came abreast of them.

  ‘Good evening, Dorothea. If you’re looking for Eleanor, she’s here.’

  Dodie stopped instantly at his voice and peered uncertainly into the Jensen. Seeing her sister there, her face at once broke out into a wide smile, the freckles standing out sharply in the eerie light.

  ‘What luck! Hullo, Nell. I bet you’re surprised to see me!’

  ‘She’s not surprised at all,’ remarked Edward, with his usual drawl. ‘Why should you think that?’

  ‘Oh, Dodie,’ breathed Eleanor despairingly, ‘what are you doing here?’

  ‘I have the feeling it’s going to be a long story.’ Edward’s voice was resigned. He opened the car door and got out. ‘We shall be more comfortable inside,’ and taking Dodie firmly by the hand, walked her up the front steps, his key poised ready for the lock.

  Eleanor followed, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  ‘I do desire we may be better strangers.’

  William Shakespeare

  Eve Mansel passed some hot buttered toast to her unexpected guest and frowned worriedly.

  ‘So you decided to come to London and take the music examination without telling anyone,’ she stated, trying to be phlegmatic about the whole affair and failing abysmally.

  ‘Thanks!’ Dodie accepted the plate with unconcealed pleasure. ‘I’m absolutely famished—this is great!’ she exclaimed fervently, tucking in with relish, and then realising that some sort of an answer was expected, nodded and added serenely: ‘Yes, that’s right. I knew Nell would help me this end.’

  Eleanor was torn between a mixture of amusement and exasperation. What an evening this was turning out to be! She looked broodingly at Dodie. Her young sister was wearing a pair of pyjamas and an enveloping red dressing-gown, both belonging to Vanessa. The red, combined with Dodie’s carrot shade of hair, made a bright splash of colour among the subdued greens and beiges of the Mansels’ lounge where they had finally congregated.

  The first half an hour after Dodie’s abrupt arrival had been filled with explanations, through which Edward had organised things quietly and efficiently, treating Dodie, whom he called Dorothea, with a dry kindness. Then Vanessa and Hugh had arrived on the scene and finally Eve.

  Edward then allowed his mother to take over, retiring to the background, not saying much, but, Eleanor thought bleakly, he must have been thinking plenty! She reflected that this latest Ferrers episode couldn’t have come at a worse time, on top of everything else that had happened that evening. She still cringed when she remembered the icy contempt in Edward’s voice as he proclaimed in no uncertain terms his opinion of her behaviour, especially relating it to his parents’ hospitality. And now this hospitality was being offered unreservedly and with great kindness to another member of her family, sinking her deeper into remorse.

  There was absolutely no doubt that since unburdening herself to Edward of Kate’s troubles, distressing as it had been, the weight of those troubles had been considerably lightened. Dictatorial and arrogant he might be, but he was also a strength to lean on. There were so many inconsistencies in Edward’s make-up that it was difficult to form an opinion that lasted for any length of time. Her eyes turned in his direction. Seated on her far right, he caught the movement and held her glance ... and smiled.

  Eleanor drew in breath. Maisie was right! He did indeed have a lovely smile, when it was a genuine one, like this, and not as so often the case, a mockery of one. It transformed his face completely, and with the smile, right out of the blue, came the dimple. Not a fat, rounded dimple usually associated with roly-poly babies, rather a lean, sleek one—but a dimple, nevertheless, changing a face usually austere and remote into one almost sweet and little-boyish! It was a revelation, and each time she was privileged to see it she was aware of a lightening of her spirits and a desire to grin idiotically back.

  With a start Eleanor found that the dimple had gone and the lift of a quizzical brow made her realise that she had been staring. She turned with relief as Eve Mansel addressed her.

  ‘Eleanor, my dear, do you think it too late to ring your parents?’ and her good hostess looked anxiously at the clock and then back again to Dodie, who was sitting with complete unconcern, drinking a glass of milk.

  ‘There’s no need,’ asserted that young madam calmly, ‘everything’s arranged. I’m thought to be visiting my best friend. They won’t be worried. I’m at Jane’s,’ she added ingenuously to Eleanor.

  ‘Dodie darling,’ Eleanor said helplessly, ‘what a harebrained scheme! Anything might have happened to you and it would have been Monday before anyone would have realised.’

  ‘Well, thank goodness nothing has happened,’ soothed Vanessa philosophically, ‘and Dodie’s arrived here, safe and sound, though rather wet.’

  ‘I don’t see why we have to telephone at all,’ put in Dodie, a ring of milk round her mouth. ‘If I’m supposed to be at Jane’s...’

  ‘But you’re not at Jane’s,’ replied Eleanor firmly, ‘and we’ll ring tonight, I think, Mrs. Mansel, if you don’t mind. Just in case they’ve accidentally found out.’

  ‘Very well, my dear, I’ll go and do so now,’ and Eve went purposefully from the room.

  Dodie, her face full of resignation, muttered: ‘Blow!’

  ‘If you do mad things then you must accept the consequences,’ Edward said repressively, but Dodie obviously saw something not apparent in face or tone because she gave him a quick grin and finished off her milk.

  ‘Have a biscuit, Dodie,’ offered Vanessa sympathetically. ‘Take two, they’re chocolate.’ Dodie, after a quelling look from Eleanor, took one.

  ‘You say your music teacher felt you should enter for this exam?’ asked Hugh with kindly interest. ‘If you pass, I gather this enables you for a scholarship to the college?’

  ‘Yes, if I pass,’ agreed Dodie heavily. ‘That’s why I kept it a secret. I can’t possibly go unless I get a scholarship and there’s no point in fussing now if I don’t get through.’ She shrugged. ‘Even if I pass I don’t know whether I’ll stick with music as a career. Anyway, I had enough money saved up for the train fare, and I knew Nell would sort things out for me.’

  ‘Good old reliable Nell,’ murmured Edward.

  ‘What time is this exam tomorrow?’ asked Eleanor, ignoring Edward and moving the plate of biscuits out of reach.

  ‘Half past one,’ answered Dodie reproachfully, turning a cautious face to Eve Mansel as she came back into the room.

  ‘Did you get through?’ asked Eleanor and Eve nodded, looking relieved.

  ‘Yes, I spoke to your father, who happily knew nothing. We kept explanations short and to the point. I’ve said we’ll send her home on Sunday, and your father will meet you.’ This last was addressed to Dodie, who asked with exaggerated unconcern:

  ‘Did Daddy ... well, did he seem cross?’

  ‘Not in the least,’ answered Eve dryly. ‘He
appeared well used to dealing with errant daughters.’

  Vanessa crossed to sit by Hugh who had picked up the violin and was studying it. ‘How about giving us a tune?’ she suggested, plucking the strings with a slender finger.

  ‘Really, Vanessa, the child must be tired,’ protested her mother.

  ‘I’m not a bit tired,’ declared the incomparable Dodie, wiping her hands expressively down the front of the dressing-gown. ‘What would you like?’

  Eleanor was acutely aware that her sister was playing to the gallery, but after taking a swift look round the room and seeing that they were all enjoying her immensely, decided to let her carry on.

  ‘Make it something short,’ she said warningly, ‘and then you really must go to bed, Dodie.’

  ‘Play something you’re doing tomorrow, Dorothea,’ encouraged Edward, leaning back and resting chin on hands, and as Vanessa curled up beside Hugh on the settee and Eve seated herself on a high-backed chair by the door, a resigned Eleanor sat rather reluctantly on a small stool by the fire.

  Dodie looked at her in surprise. ‘It’s no good sitting there, Nell. I need you to play for me,’ and she set the music on the piano, received the violin from Hugh and waited expectantly. Eleanor gave a laugh and crossed to the piano where Dodie proceeded to tune the violin from its pitch. Eleanor quickly studied the piece before her and, fairly satisfied, turned to look at Dodie, who gave a confident nod in return, and they began. At the end Dodie received a round of applause and, to Eleanor’s relief, Eve rose briskly to her feet, saying:

  ‘That was lovely, Dodie. We’ll cross our fingers for you tomorrow. And now it’s bed. Come along, child, even if you aren’t tired, you should be. Mrs. Hickman has made up the bed in Eleanor’s room for you.’

  At the door, Dodie gave composed goodnights all round, and a lingering look in Eleanor’s direction, which prompted her to say hastily:

  ‘Yes, I’ll be up.’ As Eleanor folded away the music and replaced the violin in its case, she heard Edward say to Hugh:

  ‘What’s the child like? She seemed good to me, but then I’m no judge.’

  ‘Neither am I,’ parried Hugh. He looked at Eleanor consideringly. ‘I think she has talent, certainly has a feel for the instrument, and it’s not the easiest of things to play.’

  ‘It’s difficult to make decisions at fourteen, and to be successful one has to be so dedicated,’ she replied soberly.

  ‘Dorothea seems capable of being single-minded if the desire takes her,’ observed Edward dryly, and Eleanor reluctantly laughed.

  ‘I’d better go upstairs or she’ll not sleep,’ she said, and left them, meeting her hostess on her way down.

  ‘What an extraordinary child—all that energy!’ Eve exclaimed. ‘She’s waiting for you, Eleanor, but I wouldn’t stay too long talking, she really is tired. You’ll be able to have a long chat together tomorrow.’

  ‘How kind you’ve been, taking it like this,’ said Eleanor gratefully. ‘I can’t thank you enough.’

  ‘Nonsense, my dear, I love having Dodie here.’ Eve placed a hand on Eleanor’s shoulder and smiled her pleasure, eyes pensive. ‘Just as I love having you. I’m so glad...’ She broke off and patted her gently, saying again with more emphasis: ‘I love having you with us,’ and giving her a brief, surprising kiss on the cheek, continued on her way down.

  Dodie was sitting up in bed, waiting. ‘I say, Nell, what a super place this is! All these heavenly carpets! And what a fantastic car you were in—I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw you. I timed my arrival spot-on, didn’t I?’ She eyed her sister warily.

  ‘Oh, Dodie, what a menace you are!’ exclaimed Eleanor, breaking into a laugh, and Dodie grinned her relief and threw her arms round Eleanor’s neck.

  ‘I know I am, Nell, and I’m sorry. I knew it was a daft thing to do the minute I was on the train and had time to think about it, but it was too late by then. Oh, well, it’s done and they don’t seem to mind me being here.’ She released Eleanor and carried on nonchalantly: ‘I could see how you felt about the whole thing, so I did my best to be ... entertaining. I thought I brought it off rather well, didn’t you?’

  ‘Yes, you horror, you were quite a hit,’ laughed Eleanor, pushing her down beneath the covers and tucking her in. ‘Now get some sleep or else you won’t play well tomorrow and the whole escapade will have been wasted.’

  ‘Nell, who is Hugh?’

  ‘A friend of Edward’s.’

  ‘He’s nice,’ affirmed Dodie sleepily, ‘but I like Edward best.’

  Eleanor waited a moment, but as nothing more seemed to be forthcoming, she closed the door quietly behind her.

  Hugh met her with a drink as she re-entered the lounge. He nodded in the direction of the threesome by the fire. ‘There appears to be a family consultation, so we’ll sit here and amuse ourselves.’

  Eleanor smiled and sank into the deep cushions, realising how tired she was. ‘Did you enjoy the concert?’ she asked.

  ‘Yes, it was good. A pity that you and Edward couldn’t have joined us, I’m sure you’d have enjoyed it.’

  She shot him a quick look, feeling her cheeks redden at the implication that she had been with Edward all evening, but before she could say anything Eve bore down on them, her face wreathed in smiles.

  ‘My dear Eleanor, I’m so pleased!’

  Eleanor’s eyes flew to Edward who was leaning against the mantelpiece, a drink in his hand and no help in his face.

  ‘Er ... you are?’ she managed.

  ‘Yes, my dear. Edward has just been telling us. How kind of you to offer to help out at the shop. Normally it wouldn’t matter, but we are short-staffed at the moment.’ Eve turned to Hugh. ‘Has Edward told you he’s found premises that will do admirably for Vanessa?’

  Hugh shook his head and looked across to Vanessa, who was standing next to her brother, her usually animated face rather devoid of expression, but on Hugh’s ‘You didn’t tell me,’ she answered airily:

  ‘Oh, I can keep secrets too, you know, and anyway, big brother’s only just confirmed it with me. It’s near the old Covent Garden Market and as I’ll not be far from your stuffy hideout, Hugh, I’ll expect you to drop in on me frequently, so I won’t feel lonely,’ and as Hugh murmured: ‘You? Lonely?’ she tilted her head at Eleanor and added wickedly: ‘What an asset you’ll be to us, Nell. You’ll deal with the customers beautifully. They won’t be able to resist buying after you’ve got them talking about their grandchildren and showing you their photographs. That’s what happened when she helped before. I’m not so sure about big brother, though. You’ll have to make sure he doesn’t bully you.’

  ‘Really, Vanessa,’ her mother said crossly, ‘I’m sure Edward wouldn’t dream of bullying Eleanor, what a thing to say!’ and Eleanor was uncomfortably aware of both brother and sister eyeing her with amusement—the one mockingly, the other teasingly. Before it became necessary to make some noncommittal reply, Eve turned to the mocker.

  ‘Edward, it would be a good idea if you were to take Eleanor and Dodie to the Academy tomorrow.’

  There was the smallest of pauses as Edward regarded the liquid in his glass, and when he spoke, his voice was amiable but smooth.

  ‘I’m sorry, Mother, but that isn’t possible.’

  His mother frowned, fingering the pearls at her neck, a habit when thwarted. ‘Can’t you drop what you’re doing ...?’

  ‘Please,’ began Eleanor desperately, acutely embarrassed, ‘I...’

  ‘I don’t think Felicity would care to be dropped,’ observed Edward gently, looking calmly at his mother and ignoring Eleanor’s interjections. Vanessa began to laugh quietly.

  ‘Oh, I see ... Felicity!’ exclaimed Eve, indecision all over her face.

  ‘There’s really no need...’ Eleanor tried again.

  ‘I shall be happy to go with Eleanor tomorrow,’ intervened Hugh mildly, and Eve turned to him gratefully.

  ‘How kind of you, Hugh. I’ll leave you to make the necess
ary arrangements with Eleanor.’ She walked to the door, saying crossly: ‘Really, Vanessa, I fail to see what’s so funny!’ and after a general goodnight, Eve left the room.

  ‘Honestly! Mother’s the limit!’ gasped Vanessa as the door closed. ‘Your face, Eleanor, was a picture!’

  ‘I still say there’s no need for anyone to come with us,’ Eleanor said, turning awkwardly to Hugh. ‘It would be grand, of course, but...’

  ‘I wouldn’t, miss a day out with Dodie for anything, he answered with his warm smile. ‘We’ll do something afterwards, Dodie might as well get the most out of her trip.’ He glanced at his watch and declared his intention of leaving.

  ‘And I’m off to bed,’ announced Vanessa, following him out. About to say goodnight, Edward stopped Eleanor from doing so by saying quietly:

  ‘I’d like a word with you, Eleanor, if you’re not too tired.

  She hesitated and came back into the room, waiting for him to speak. He took his time, eyeing her for so long that she felt herself colouring.

  ‘You’ll just have to get used to her,’ he said at last in his mocking drawl. ‘I mean my dear mother’s managing ways. You’ll have to get used to them and learn not to be inveigled into doing something you don’t want to do.’

  Nothing could be plainer than that. ‘Your mother’s very kind,’ she said, and he replied dryly:

  ‘Be wary of the Mansels when they’re kind, Eleanor—there’s usually a very good reason,’ and he moved to the far end of the room to switch off the standard lamp.

  ‘Do you always have to be cynical about everything?’ she demanded.

  ‘You call it cynicism, I call it realism. Your rose-coloured view of life scares me to death.’

  ‘And you’d hate to be thought kind, wouldn’t you, Edward?’ she said gently.