by Ivy Brooke
The exposition of the assembly already brought her into better spirits, especially when she allowed it. Her friends all talked in anticipation of their performance, and even some who were not a part of it had caught word of it and voiced their interest, or at least their curiosity. Finally, the time came. Chairs were provided for all to sit and watch. Those involved were seated facing the spectators with their books open. Imogene raised her violin and bow to play a prologue melody as the first scene opened. As the play progressed, Imogene could not help smiling at her scheme as her friends read the roles of sonnet-spouting Athenians. Then came time for her reading as Puck. At first, her voice was hollow and wavering. With all eyes on her, she was afraid of being thought ridiculous.
She had an opportunity—while Nell was reading the famed "Over hill, over dale..." speech—to glance out at the audience. All seemed to be enjoying the performance; only a few faces showed little or no interest. But there were two faces she was very surprised to see—those of Mr. Archer and Clarice. Clarice was sitting in the back of the room, glowing with delight, and Mr. Archer stood directly behind her. She was almost struck dumb, but her ears caught the silence after Nell's speech, and she took up her cue. It did not take long for Puck's words to become her own, and she soon forgot herself and all observing. Her voice cackled with mischievous glee through the still room as her spritely alter-ego declaimed the history of Oberon and Titiana's quarrels. Near the scene's end, she thought she could hear laughter. Stealing another glance out, the audience appeared lit up, and even Mr. Archer was displaying a flicker of a grin, and his eyes betrayed that he had laughed.
As Imogene provided the music for another scene, she felt a little dizzy and shaky. Though now it was not because she was nervous, but enthralled. She never felt such excitement as reading a role before an audience and hearing how they enjoyed it.
At the play's end, all applauded, then came forth to congratulate them all on their performance. Many remarked to Imogene how they enjoyed her rendition of Puck. She noticed a few people standing aside whose side-glances displayed disapproval—her mother's among them—but she did not give any of it a second thought. Instead, she turned her attention to Mr. Phillip and made her way to him. Before she could reach him, however, she was prevented by Clarice and Mr. Archer, whom she had nearly forgotten about.
"That was wonderful!" Clarice exclaimed.
"I am sorry you were not in it," Imogene attempted to apologize. "If I had known you were going to be here, I would have given you a role."
"We did not know ourselves that we would be here, but the Cole family invited us to attend with their party."
"I am glad they did." And though she truly was glad of it, she also felt very awkward since her parents had not invited the Archers and was worried how it made the two think of her. She thought of making up an excuse, such as a fault with the mail delivery, but decided it would only increase the awkwardness.
"You did very well," Mr. Archer spoke up.
"Thank you, sir," Imogene smiled.
"I particularly enjoyed the line ‘Lord, what fools these mortals be'."
"That is a favorite of mine, too. I am glad you enjoyed it."
Imogene then heard her name being called. Turning around, there stood Mr. Phillip, beaming. He took her hand, and she tried not to blush.
"That was fantastic!" he said. "I cannot remember a time I have more enjoyed. We must do it again sometime."
"Then, sir, I challenge you to choose the next play and cast."
"An intriguing proposition; I shall take it up." He then noticed the Archers standing with them. "And you both must be cast in it."
"I think I would be too afraid, Mr. Cole," Clarice said, feeling nervous by just thinking about getting up in front of all those people.
"We will think about it," Mr. Archer answered.
"I would also desire to get my brother in the cast," Mr. Phillip thought aloud, "but I daresay I shall need some help in persuading him. Come assist me in the task, Imogene."
Trying to avoid facing Mr. Cole, she said, "If he will not be persuaded by his brother, I fail to see how he may be persuaded by me."
"You underestimate your own charms, Ms. Cartwright. If a professional actress and accomplished musician such as yourself tells him to be in a play, he must not refuse."
Caught up in his playfulness, she relented; "Such flattery is unnecessary, sir (though not unwelcome). To send you to your brother alone with such a quest would be ungenerous."
"Excuse me while I borrow Ms. Cartwright from you," Mr. Phillip told the Archers as he led Imogene across the room to where his elder brother sat. He was staring into space, his dark eyes very severe.
"Henry," Mr. Phillip began, "Ms. Cartwright and I have the idea of putting on another play, and we insist you join in the cast this time." Mr. Cole only looked up at them, silent. "It is your turn, Ms. Cartwright."
Imogene was hesitant to begin. Mr. Cole seemed to genuinely be paying attention, which she did not expect, and it made her nervous. "Your brother has told me," she began, "that you are an excellent reader, sir. We would all greatly benefit from your talent, I am sure."
He remained silent, and his eyes suddenly flit to the front door. An older gentleman had just entered, one Imogene had never seen before. Mr. Cole rose immediately, dismissively told Imogene that he would consider the idea, then quickly made his way out the back door.
Mr. Phillip seemed amused by his brother's abrupt departure. "I did not expect we would frighten him away with our scheme. Excuse me while I retrieve him before he leaves altogether."
"Perhaps you should," Imogene bid, more alarmed than her good-humored friend.
Mr. Phillip went off to find his brother, and Imogene's eyes remained on the gentleman who had just entered. He had a wolfish appearance with short silver hair. His expression would almost snarl, yet when he smiled, he was nearly the most handsome man in the room, then only to darken again in an eye's blink. He was scanning the room, but halted when he caught Imogene staring at him. She immediately turned away to find her friend Jane who had been helping herself to some punch.
"By the door," Imogene whispered without ado, "that gentleman who just entered: Do you know who he is?"
Looking over, Jane nodded. "That is Mr. Ashcroft."
"And how do you know him?"
"My father and he were very good friends; they grew up in the same neighborhood together."
"He does not seem to be a...well-tempered sort of gentleman."
"I should think not. In recent years—I forget how long ago exactly—he and father had a falling out. I cannot remember the particulars, but it had something to do with father choosing to move into the country. I believe Mr. Ashcroft thought it beneath him to associate with country society."
Imogene watched as he continued to search the room. "Do you suppose he is looking for your father?"
"Perhaps. I cannot understand why he would, though; he has been resolved against my father for some years now."
"Perhaps he has another acquaintance," Imogene speculated.
At that moment, Mr. Phillip returned to Imogene's side. "My brother would not be recaptured; he left. Jane, I am sure you would not be afraid of our scheme."
"Scheme, sir?"
"For another play. You will join Imogene and I, of course."
"Of course. Which play this time?"
As they continued to discuss the play, Imogene excused herself from their company and tried to navigate nearer to Mr. Ashcroft. He noticed her and approached her.
"You were just speaking to Mr. Cole, were you not?" he asked.
Almost afraid of provoking anything, Imogene took his meaning as Mr. Phillip Cole. "Yes, sir, Mr. Phillip Cole." He was about to clarify, but she prevented him; "I do not believe we have met. I am Imogene Cartwright. My younger sister Emmeline is the guest of honor here."
"And I am Patrick Reginald Ashcroft, miss. But I was not talking about Mr. Phillip Cole; I meant his older brother."
"Oh, Mr. Henry Cole?"
"Yes, where is he now? I desire to speak to him."
"I am afraid he left, sir."
"I see." He looked around the room once more to confirm her statement. "How long has he been in town?"
"He has only been here for the assembly, I understand."
"I see." Without even saying "good evening", Mr. Ashcroft left. As she watched him leave, she tried to fix his image and his name in her memory, Patrick Reginald Ashcroft. It was then that she realized his initials matched those found on the letter for Mr. Cole.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
That night, as she laid down to bed, it all became clearer. Mr. Ashcroft disliked Mr. Cole because he was a high society man living in the country. But it still did not quite make sense—there was no way for Mr. Ashcroft to blackmail him as suggested by the letter; all who knew Mr. Cole knew about his country residence. But just the same, he seemed to think he had the power to blackmail him, and Mr. Cole seemed to fear that power. There had to be more to the situation.
All the mystery was forgotten the next morning as the Cartwright family bid good-bye to the newly wed Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Butler. Farewell lasted a whole half hour until the couple finally pried away to their carriage. Imogene embraced her sister before she could climb in.
"I wish you and Mr. Butler every conceivable happiness," she said.
Her sister smiled brighter than she had ever seen, though a tear lingered in her eye. "We are so happy, Imogene; I did not know that I could be this happy. But you will write, won't you? And visit?"
"So long as you promise the same."
"I do promise."
"Then so do I."
Emmeline finally joined her husband in the carriage, and they drove off to their new home. Imogene immediately retreated to her room to write her first letter to Emmeline, but as she sat down to write, she realized that she had nothing new to communicate yet. Instead, she took a stroll outside. She found her father in the gazebo, so she joined him on the bench.
"I am glad it all turned out so well," he said, his arm linked in hers. "And it has made your mother happy, too."
"I am glad too," she sighed. "But are you disappointed with me, father?"
"Why should I be?"
"I have humiliated us all in public, I broke off the betrothal with my cousin..."
"Do not give it another thought, my love. It did not work out with Mr. Campbell, and now you can be free to choose someone else."
"Has mother spoken to Mr. Cole yet?"
"I am not sure, but I had a discussion with her earlier and convinced her that a betrothal was not a constructive approach for you. She has agreed to give you a little more time on your own."
"Thank you, sir."
------
The month passed without worry for Imogene for the first time. Her mother and Anthony were attending assemblies in the city, trying to find a potential wife for him, and Imogene would join now and again to satisfy her social needs. Anthony's feelings were more set on the young Ms. Cole, but since the drunken embarrassment at the ball, she did not want anything to do with him. Mr. Cartwright often visited his friend Mr. Butler senior, and Imogene would go along as well to visit Jane. Both the Cartwrights and Butlers dined with the Coles every Saturday, and Imogene was thrilled to be finally unattached as Mr. Phillip and she spent more time together.
As the following month was introduced, Imogene received an unexpected visit. She was sitting at her desk, writing to Emmeline, when the servant announced two visitors downstairs for her. Folding away the letter, she went down to the drawing room immediately where she found Mr. Archer and Clarice. After initial greetings, Mr. Archer got to the point of their visit.
"Clarice and I take a yearly trip down to Penzance in the summer to visit my friend and celebrate the Golowan Festival with him," he began. "His name is Mr. Christopher Darwin Ashcroft. Have you heard of him?"
Imogene's curiosity was instantly aroused. "I have heard of Mr. Patrick Reginald Ashcroft."
"Oh, his father. His son and I grew up in the same neighborhood; we have been good friends for years. However, he is a widower and does not have any sisters, so we usually invite along a companion for Clarice whenever we visit him. And we have both decided that we would like to invite you to join us."
"Oh, I see..." Imogene certainly did not expect that. And what about the play that Mr. Phillip was planning? He had said at their last supper that he would announce the play and cast choice in a week. Why did they not think to invite Nell, who was nearer Clarice's age? Or perhaps they had, and she was somehow unable to. She hated the prospect of missing the play, but Clarice looked so hopeful. She did enjoy the young girl's company, and besides, she had often heard how wonderful Penzance was in the summer, and she had read about the Golowan Festival, which made her vow to attend it someday.
Somewhat hesitant, she replied, "If my father will spare me, then I would be pleased to accept your invitation."
Clarice's face lit up. "We have already spoken with your father about it, and he consents to it. Oh, I am so glad you are coming! You will love Penzance—it is so beautiful! And Mr. Ashcroft's cottage is right by the sea!"
"We will be leaving in a fortnight," Mr. Archer explained.
"And...I shall be ready in a fortnight," Imogene replied awkwardly, no better reply coming to mind.
"It is settled, then." Mr. Archer then rose from his seat. "I am sorry to leave so soon, but we are on our way to make another visit."
Imogene felt that he merely wished not to encounter her mother or Anthony whenever they should return. They bid their farewells and parted, leaving Imogene to dazedly watch them go from out the window. Only a moment later, her father entered the room and surprised her.
"Now you will be leaving me, will you?" he asked.
"Yes..." she replied blankly.
"You do not sound as though you are quite willing."
"Oh, no. I think it will be quite exciting, and I am fond of Clarice. I just...I find it somewhat odd that they chose to invite me."
"Although I know that you and Clarice have become good friends, I wondered about it myself. They explained to me that the Cole family are expecting a visit from their aunt and uncle with their children, so they knew not to ask Ms. Cole. Then I myself also speculated that it might bring you out of this disposition you have had of late."
"Disposition?"
"You miss your sister."
It was true that Emmeline's absence had given her a sense of loneliness, and Clarice was almost like a younger sister. She smiled, "You are right. It will be nice to feel like a sister again."
At that, it brought to mind that in her next letter to Emmeline, she should inform her of her travels and promise to disclose the proper address so that they could continue their letter writing even while she stayed in Penzance.
------
Mr. Cartwright was not the only one disappointed at her departure, but also Jane and all the Cole family, Mr. Phillip especially who was so depending on her performing in the Moliere play he had chosen. He had also desired for her to meet his visiting family, and the more he declared how much he would miss her, the more she ached to stay and pacify him. But she would not go back on the Archers, and in a fortnight, the Archers and their carriage came by to escort her and her luggage to Penzance. Imogene tried not to, but could not help falling asleep in the carriage on the way—it was the longest trip she had ever made. But she had the fortune to wake up just as they were to enter into Penzance, and to find Clarice asleep with her head on Mr. Archer's shoulder. She grinned at the sight, and Mr. Archer, who saw she was awake, smiled faintly in return. In the silence, she decided to unearth some conversation.
"What manner of man is young Mr. Ashcroft?" she asked.
"He made his fortune as a privateer," he explained. "He was occupied with it until three years ago—On the day he returned from his last voyage, his wife fell ill and passed on a week later."
"How terrible!"
"
He was quite altered by it, and he vowed never to set foot on board a ship again. But in recent years, he has improved. In his last letter I received, he declared an uneasiness that could only be solved by setting out to sea again."
"He enjoys the privateer life? He must be quite a courageous young man."
"Courageous or foolish, I know not," he said. Imogene suspected it was a joke, but the inflection was so subtle, she could not discern it. "Furthermore, he has tried to convince me to join him in his ventures, but..." Lowering his voice for the sake of his slumbering ward, he continued, "...I promised Clarice that I would not leave her until she is secured with a husband. Even leaving her alone for a few months is unthinkable now."
Imogene had, through many instances, observed the strong attachment Clarice had to Mr. Archer, and he had always taken good care of her. It was indeed too soon to leave her on her own, being just sixteen. "You take great care of her, sir. And I am certain that she appreciates it."
"She is like my own sister, and she often calls me her brother."
"She always speaks so highly of you."
Mr. Archer only flickered a smile, then turned again to look out the window.
------
Not long after, they arrived at a fine cottage overlooking the seashore. Clarice woke upon the halt of the carriage, and as the servants fetched the luggage to their rooms, they met young Mr. Christopher Ashcroft in the parlor where he was practicing at chess by himself. At the sight of Mr. Archer, he sprang up with a laughing smile and went to embrace his friend. Imogene had never seen Mr. Archer smile so wide, nor ever heard him laugh, and when he did has he greeted his friend, he was rather five times handsomer, which left Imogene blushing in spite of herself. Mr. Christopher also greeted Clarice with a kiss on the cheek, then noticed Imogene.