The Christmas Rose

by Dilly Court

  ‘The father was a married man, very wealthy and prominent in parliamentary circles. He arranged for his surgeon to take care of me and that, as they say, was that. I’m not proud of myself, Rose.’

  ‘Does Seth know about this?’

  ‘I told him everything and he says it makes no difference. We talked and talked, and I’ve never felt so comfortable with a man in my whole life. I want my family to accept him, as he has accepted me. I don’t want to go back to the old Cecilia, who didn’t care about anyone or anything. It was love at first sight for both of us, Rose.’

  ‘If what you say is true he’ll understand why you need to have dinner with your family, Cissie. If he can’t allow you one evening to celebrate your brother’s freedom then he’s not the man you think he is. It’s your choice.’

  ‘I suppose you’re right, and I will speak to him.’ Cecilia gave her a searching look. ‘On the other hand, you seem to be very concerned about Eugene. Is there something you’re not telling me, Rose?’

  ‘I don’t know what you mean.’

  Cecilia leaned closer. ‘Are you in love with my brother, Rose?’

  Chapter Nineteen

  Rose was unaccountably nervous as she dressed for dinner that evening. Her fingers shook as she fastened the tiny silk-covered buttons on her gown, but Cecilia seemed oblivious to the feelings of anyone other than herself. Her warbling soprano echoed loudly off the marble walls as she sang in the tub, and steam billowed from the marble-tiled bathroom in heavenly scented clouds. The joyful sounds stopped abruptly and Cecilia appeared in the doorway wrapped in a fluffy cotton towel.

  ‘What time is it, Rose? I don’t want to be late going down to the dining room.’

  Rose glanced at the clock on the side table. ‘You have half an hour to get ready. Unless you want to keep your beau waiting.’

  ‘Oh Lord, I’d better hurry. I’ll need you to help me with my hair, Rose. Where is Hebony? I want to get dressed.’

  ‘You sent her to Mr Mallinson’s room with a billet-doux.’

  ‘It was not a love letter,’ Cecilia said hastily.

  ‘I wasn’t criticising you, Cissie.’

  Cecilia allowed the towel to fall to the floor and she reached for her silk chemise, slipping it over her head. ‘I know you think that dinner this evening should be about family because it’s Gene’s first night of freedom, but Seth is my guest and he has as much right to be there as you do.’

  Cecilia’s harsh words hurt, perhaps more so because there was an element of truth in them, and Rose bit back a sharp retort. She had never been so conscious of her tenuous position, being neither friend of the family nor an employee. The family had treated her with nothing but kindness, and she had been pleased to accept their hospitality. Her original reason for travelling to Egypt was becoming blurred in her mind: finding Max had become secondary to rescuing Eugene, and competing for the headlines in London had evolved into a burning ambition. Rose gazed into the mirror with a sigh – she no longer recognised the elegant young woman who looked back at her with a question in her eyes. Rose Munday, the girl who had travelled halfway round the world for love, had been lost somewhere in transit. The experiences of the past few weeks had left her confused, but emboldened. The person she had become was ready to fight for what she wanted, but whether it was success in a field dominated by men, or winning the love of the man who had captivated her thoughts and dreams, was a question that she could not answer.

  ‘Rose, come and give me a hand. I’ll have a few words to say to Hebony when she shows her face. I need you to lace me up.’

  ‘Yes, of course.’ Rose went to her aid, putting everything else from her mind. Tonight was all about Eugene, and she would sit very quietly and only speak when spoken to.

  The atmosphere between Elizabeth and Desmond was tense when Rose and Cecilia joined them in the dining room, but within minutes of his arrival Seth won over Cissie’s parents. He included Rose in the general conversation, but she was careful to keep her responses neutral, and she found her attention straying. Eugene was supposed to be there, but he was already late, and she wondered if he had been detained at the barracks for some reason best known to the authorities. The evening would be a complete disaster if the guest of honour did not appear, although neither Cecilia nor her parents seemed to be worried. Cissie was positively glowing and had never looked more beautiful.

  ‘It doesn’t look as if Eugene is going to make it for dinner,’ Desmond said casually. He raised his hand to summon a waiter. ‘We’d better order.’

  Rose was about to protest when a movement in the doorway made her turn her head. Casting dignity aside, she stood up and waved to Eugene, but Max was close behind him and she sat down again. She had seen that disapproving look many times in the past, although mostly it had been aimed at Jimmy and not her. This time she was the focus of his attention and she knew she had embarrassed him. Eugene, however, was smiling as he limped towards them. He embraced his parents and acknowledged Cecilia with a brotherly peck on the cheek, and she responded by introducing him to Seth. Eugene greeted him cordially before turning to Rose with a genuine smile of pleasure.

  ‘You look splendid this evening, Munday. Have you cabled your story to the paper?’

  ‘Yes, Guvnor.’ Despite the compliment, Rose felt suddenly deflated. She had not expected an ecstatic greeting, but he was treating her as he had when they first met. The fact that she had travelled all the way to Egypt in the hope of finding him alive and well seemed to matter little, as far as he was concerned. She was just a colleague – and Max was still glaring at her.

  ‘I’m being very remiss,’ Eugene said, turning to Max. ‘This brave officer led the rescue party that secured the release of myself and the other captives. May I introduce Captain Max Manning of the 7th Dragoons, a gentleman who has the great good fortune to be unofficially engaged to Munday – I’m sorry, I should say, Miss Rose Munday.’

  Desmond shook Max’s hand. ‘Delighted to make your acquaintance, Manning. I’m greatly in your debt.’

  ‘And I,’ Elizabeth echoed, smiling. ‘We can’t thank you enough, Captain.’

  ‘I hope you’ll join us for dinner.’ Desmond raised his hand to summon a waiter, but Max shook his head.

  ‘Thank you, sir, but I have to get back to the barracks. I have a report to write and I’m afraid it won’t wait.’

  ‘Of course, we understand completely,’ Desmond said genially. ‘However, you must allow us to entertain you properly when time permits.’ He glanced at Rose. ‘I expect you’d like some words with Rose in private before you leave?’

  ‘Yes, sir. Thank you.’ Max held his hand out. ‘Rose?’

  She shot a sideways glance at Eugene, but he was chatting to Seth and seemed to have forgotten her existence. She stood up and allowed Max to escort her from the dining room.

  He waited until they were in the foyer before coming to a halt. ‘I’m sorry, Rose.’

  She stared at him blankly. ‘What for?’

  ‘I was taken aback when I saw you yesterday, and I must have appeared to be unfeeling and even callous, but I had a lot on my mind. This is a dangerous place to be, even now.’ He took her hand in his. ‘I want to say how sorry I am for exposing you to such a trying time in London. I was completely at fault, and I should have made better provision for your arrival.’

  This contrite Max was someone she barely recognised. Even as a child he had found it almost impossible to apologise or to admit that he might be wrong, and now he was standing before her, looking devastatingly handsome in his dark blue patrol jacket, black breeches and leather boots. His hair was bleached almost white by the sun, and his eyes were a startling blue in his tanned face. Rose felt herself slipping back into her childhood adoration of Jimmy’s older brother.

  ‘You weren’t very welcoming when you first saw me,’ she said vaguely.

  He held her hand to his cheek. ‘I know, and I can’t apologise enough. You’re incredibly brave, not to say foolhardy, but I
admire you for it, Rose. Say you forgive me?’ He kissed her hand and the soft golden hairs of his moustache brushed her skin like a butterfly’s wings.

  ‘Of course I do, Max.’ She withdrew her hand gently, but she could still feel the imprint of his lips. ‘I saw Jimmy in Alexandria,’ she said, gathering her thoughts with a concerted effort.

  ‘Really? What was he doing there?’

  ‘He was in hospital.’ Rose tempered her words with a smile. ‘But he’s all right now, Max. He was on the mend after contracting typhoid. I dare say he’s back on board his ship.’

  ‘Trust my little brother to do something stupid.’ The old arrogant Max returned for a few seconds, but then he relented. ‘Poor old Jim. I’m truly glad that he’s all right.’

  Rose stood stiffly, clasping her hands together. ‘What happens now, Max? What do you want me to do?’

  ‘I want you to return to London as soon as humanly possible. Who knows what’s going to happen in this part of the world? I need to know that you’re safe, and you don’t have to work, Rose. I told Carrie to make funds available to you and she was to hire servants to take care of you until I returned. It seems that she left London without doing as I asked, and I’ll have something to say to her when I return home.’

  ‘I enjoy working, Max. I’ll return to London, but I can’t promise to give up my job at the newspaper. I might be wrong, but I think I’m the only woman reporter in the whole country. My name is in print.’

  ‘I’m trying to understand, but it wouldn’t do for you to work when we’re married, Rose.’

  ‘We aren’t even engaged. Not officially, anyway.’

  ‘But you know that I love you, and when I get back to London I’ll buy you a ring, and then we’ll be married. We’ll never be parted again.’

  There was no doubting his sincerity, and Rose did not protest when he took her in his arms and kissed her in full view of the guests and hotel staff. Someone clapped their hands and Max released her with a rueful smile. ‘I’m sorry, Rose, but I couldn’t stop myself. I love you and I know you love me. We’ll be married at the first possible opportunity, but now I really must go, although I don’t want to leave you. You do believe me, don’t you?’

  Dazed and overwhelmed by the sudden turn of events, she could only nod her head. ‘I do, Max.’

  ‘This isn’t the place for a woman, and there’s a rumour that my regiment will return to England in the New Year, so I’ll arrange for you to travel back to London – first class, of course.’

  ‘I feel I should stay here, Max. We need to get to know each other again.’

  ‘There won’t be much chance of that, I’m afraid. I have to escort a reconnaissance party into the desert and I’ll be gone for a few days, but I’ll hurry back as soon as possible. I’m sure I can find someone responsible to be your travelling companion. Leave everything to me.’ He bowed gallantly, and then left her standing on her own in the middle of the foyer as he strode out of the hotel with a swagger in his step.

  Feeling as though she had been caught up in a whirlwind, Rose made her way back to the dining room and resumed her seat at the table. Cecilia was absorbed with her new beau and both Elizabeth and Desmond were hanging on every word that Eugene uttered. He acknowledged Rose with a brief smile without interrupting his monologue. The waiters, moving like ballet dancers, delivered their food and then disappeared until the next course was due. Rose ate very little, but as fast as she drank her wine the glass never seemed to be empty, and by the end of the meal she was so light-headed that she could hardly stand.

  ‘Come on, Munday, old thing,’ Eugene said, chuckling. ‘Let’s get you to your room.’

  ‘I’m quite all right, thank you, Guvnor.’

  ‘Of course you are, and it’s partly my fault. I should have been looking after you better.’ Eugene helped her to her feet.

  ‘Well, really!’ Elizabeth’s disapproving voice echoed in Rose’s head. ‘I do believe she’s drunk.’

  ‘No, I’m not,’ Rose protested. ‘I’m perfectly …’ the word escaped her and she leaned against Eugene. ‘You’ve had too much to drink, Guvnor.’

  ‘That’s the trouble with us newsmen,’ Eugene said with a wry smile. ‘We don’t know when to draw the line. Anyway, I’ll help you upstairs and you can support me.’

  ‘Stop it, both of you,’ Cecilia hissed. ‘You’re embarrassing me in front of Seth.’

  ‘You’re as much to blame, Cissie,’ Eugene said softly. ‘You’ve ignored the poor girl all evening, when you could see that she was upset.’

  ‘I’m not upset,’ Rose countered. ‘I’m very happy. I’m going to London to get married. You’re all welcome to my wedding. It’s going to be wonderful.’ She leaned her head against Eugene’s shoulder and her tears created a damp patch on his borrowed dinner jacket.

  ‘I made a complete fool of myself, Cissie.’ Rose held the damp flannel to her forehead as she sipped the seltzer that Hebony handed to her.

  ‘Yes, you did,’ Cecilia said angrily. ‘You were drunk, Rose. What on earth is the matter with you?’

  Rose passed the empty glass to Hebony. ‘Thank you. That will be all for now.’

  Hebony slipped away as silently as she had come. Rose gazed after her as she left the room. ‘She moves like a dancer. I wish I were half as graceful.’

  Cecilia slumped back against a mound of pillows, covering her eyes with her hand. ‘You kept me awake half the night, Rose Munday. You were talking in your sleep.’

  ‘I’m so sorry. What did I say?’

  ‘I can’t remember, but you were burbling about Max and then you were talking about Maria and a bird of some kind.’

  Rose tossed the flannel aside and sat up straight. ‘I must go home, Cissie. You’re safe here with your parents, and now you have Seth Mallinson to look after you.’

  Cecilia was suddenly alert. ‘Do you think he’s really interested in me? Or am I just one of his conquests, of which I’m sure there are many?’

  ‘I’ve never known you to be unsure of yourself. Are you really smitten?’

  ‘I really think I am. Isn’t it a laugh, Rose? Cecilia Sheldon in love at last.’

  ‘I think it’s wonderful, Cissie.’ Rose swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood up.

  ‘He is rather splendid, isn’t he? So tall and handsome and utterly charming. Mama was really taken with him, and I think Papa liked him, too.’

  Wearing nothing but her fine lawn nightgown, Rose crossed the floor to throw open one of the many cupboards that lined the walls. ‘Where is my carpet bag? Do you think your father would send someone to book my passage home, Cissie?’

  ‘You really are serious, aren’t you?’ Cecilia sat up, staring at Rose with a puzzled frown. ‘Why do you want to run away? I thought you came to find Max. Well, he’s here and he’s the hero of the hour, having rescued Gene. So why do you want to leave?’

  ‘I have to get home for Christmas, Cissie. I promised Sparrow that I would be there, and I left Maria to face everything on her own. I owe it to her to stay away for as short a time as possible.’

  ‘But everything you want is here. Or has Max jilted you? Was that the reason he wanted to talk to you? Is that why you drank so much and lost your senses? Gene had to carry you up the stairs despite his weakened state.’

  Rose seized the shabby carpet bag and pulled it out of the cupboard. ‘Max didn’t break off our engagement. He wants to marry me as soon as he gets back to London.’

  ‘I’m even more confused now, Rose.’

  ‘I told you, Cissie. I came here to find Max and cover the efforts to rescue your brother. There’s no point in staying any longer, and I’m needed elsewhere.’

  ‘I think you should reconsider,’ Cecilia said, frowning. ‘Why not wait a couple of days and think about it.’

  Rose shook her head. ‘Max and I have settled things between us, and Eugene is safe. My article for the newspaper has been telegraphed to the office in London, and there’s nothing left for
me to do here. Besides which, I gave my word to Sparrow that I’d be home in time for Christmas and I’ll do everything in my power to keep that promise.’

  Rose dressed hurriedly and made her way to the dining room, where she hoped to find Desmond on his own. To her surprise she found Eugene seated at their table, but there was no sign of his father. He stood up as she approached, greeting her with a genuine smile.

  ‘You’re up early, Munday. I thought you might sleep until noon.’

  She looked away, uncomfortably aware that she was blushing. ‘I’m sorry about last evening, Guvnor. I don’t know what came over me.’

  A waiter rushed over to pull out a chair for Rose and Eugene resumed his seat. ‘Don’t worry about it, Munday. I’ve been squiffy on a good many occasions.’

  Rose glanced at the waiter, who was hovering at a discreet distance. ‘Coffee, please. Nothing to eat.’

  ‘You need food, Munday.’ Eugene beckoned to the waiter. ‘The young lady will have buttered eggs, toast and honey, and I’d like some more coffee.’

  ‘I’m really not hungry,’ Rose protested.

  ‘You’ll feel better when you’ve had something to eat. You hardly touched your meal last evening.’ Eugene gave her a searching look. ‘Did your fiancé say something to upset you?’

  ‘No, on the contrary. I think I was just tired.’

  ‘So why are you looking so downhearted this morning? I know you, Munday. Something is wrong. You can tell me – I’m good at keeping secrets.’

  ‘You’re a journalist, Guvnor. If I tell you anything I’ll probably find it in your column next day.’

  ‘That was cruel, Munday,’ Eugene said, chuckling. ‘You know how much I value you as a friend.’

  ‘If you’re my friend you’ll help me to get back to London before Christmas. I want to leave straight away.’ She raised her eyes to his and was surprised to see a gleam of what might be sympathy in their amber depths.

  ‘That’s a coincidence,’ he said casually. ‘Because I am about to book tickets on the next train to Alexandria, and on by sea to Brindisi. I have a story to write that I don’t want to send by cable.’