Nobody’s Darling

  ‘I know that, Father. But it isn’t a matter of money with me, and well you know it. I do actually enjoy running this household,’ she argued. ‘Besides, how else would I fill my days?’ Even as she spoke, Cicely realised she had foolishly opened the way for him.

  ‘Like any other young woman,’ he replied meaningfully. ‘Meeting people of your own age, and taking an interest in what goes on outside your own four walls.’ He had long been concerned with her growing reluctance to leave this house.

  ‘Do you really mean me to attend these hateful little gatherings that take place in the drawing-rooms of aged dowagers and busybodies with nothing better to occupy their minds?’ There was contempt in her voice. ‘Really, Father! Can you see me attending these frivolous women’s groups? Meetings of frustrated old women who assemble for afternoon tea and indulge in the latest gossip? Perhaps you feel it right that I should exhibit myself? Perhaps you want it known that I might be “available” if the young man is “suitable” enough?’ He had touched on a delicate issue, and she resented it.

  He was mortified. ‘Oh, dear me! Dear, dear me!’ He would have got out of his chair and pacified her, but was still held by her angry blue eyes. ‘You misunderstand me, my dear,’ he said lamely. ‘I didn’t mean to imply anything, and well you know it.’ He hated himself for being so clumsy. Oh, he couldn’t deny that he would have liked his daughter to be courted by some ‘suitable’ young man. And, yes, it was true that he would like to see Cicely mixing with people of her own calibre. And if, during the course of her social activities, she was introduced to members of the opposite sex – then so long as they met with his approval there wouldn’t be anyone more delighted than himself. He had long felt that his daughter was in danger of becoming a hermit in this house, a spinster who would end her days all alone. The thought was a source of sorrow to him. Besides, what man didn’t ache for a grandson? Especially when that man was a man of property, who craved a male heir to carry on the family name.

  ‘I know,’ she murmured, her mood suddenly subdued, ‘I know you didn’t mean anything. But we’ve gone over all this before, and you know my own views on the matter, Father. I’m happy as I am. I’ve never found it easy to make friends, and though I happily carry out my duties as hostess in this house, I have no love of socialising in other people’s drawing-rooms. You’re right. Perhaps I should be thinking about young men, and becoming a wife before it’s too late. But I will not deliberately go out looking for a husband, and I will not be paraded from house to house in the hope that I may meet this “suitable” young man. If I’m to be a spinster, then so be it.’

  She saw the hurt in his eyes and her tongue was stilled. In her heart, she knew how desperately he wanted her to be wed and to provide him with an heir. She went to him then and murmured softly, ‘Oh, look, I’m sorry if I’m a disappointment to you, Father. I’ve always been painfully shy amongst strangers outside my own home. It doesn’t worry me though,’ she lied, ‘I really am content in my own company.’

  ‘Whatever you say,’ he muttered reluctantly. Although secretly he clung to his hopes of walking her down the aisle, and one day holding his own grandson in his arms.

  Relieved, she kissed the top of his head. ‘Anyway, I have you.’ she said warmly. ‘And I have this beautiful old house to live in. What else would I need?’ The truth was, she was not altogether happy and realised he must sense that. There were times when she was incredibly lonely. Days when, if it wasn’t for Ruby’s friendship, the hours would seem like a lifetime. It hurt her to know how concerned her father was, and though she knew he was well-meaning, his words always struck home. Didn’t he realise there were times when she ached with loneliness? But then, how could he know of her longing for love and motherhood? Yet, she could not change the way she was. The very idea of sitting in some archaic and dingy drawing-room, sipping tea and being scrutinised by a gaggle of old and curious women who revelled in other people’s business was enough to give her nightmares. Apart from her father, she had only one other real friend in all the world. That friend was Ruby. And thinking of her now brought Cicely back to her purpose. ‘Father,’ she began carefully, reaching out and taking the guest list from his tray, ‘I said there were no problems. In fact, there is just one.’

  ‘Oh?’ He sat upright and turned his face up to her. ‘Then we had better deal with it, don’t you think?’

  Placing the sheet of paper on the desk, she told him, ‘If you cast your eyes down the guest list, you’ll see that the men outnumber the ladies.’

  ‘Really?’ He was glad that the previous subject had been brought to an end. It always unnerved him when Cicely took offence at his innocent words. His daughter was everything to him and he would never knowingly hurt her. Gratefully, he brought his attention to the matter in hand. He was puzzled. ‘I thought you’d rectified that particular matter? Wasn’t that the reason we decided to extend the Arnold invitation to include his daughter, Teresa?’ He frowned as a thought occurred to him. ‘Oh dear, she’s turned down our invitation?’

  ‘No, no,’ Cicely was quick to assure him. ‘Along with her father and brother, Teresa Arnold has accepted the invitation.’ She was cautiously leading up to an issue much more important to her, and her stomach was nervously fluttering. She had convinced Ruby that everything would be all right, but now, she wasn’t sure whether her father would put paid to their well-laid plans. ‘All the same, it means the numbers are uneven.’ she persisted.

  ‘Well, it’s too late to do anything about it now,’ he sighed. ‘This only bears out what I’ve been saying about you having far too much responsibility. And you’ve always been so meticulous in the past.’

  ‘It isn’t too late, and I do have a solution. You see, Father, the numbers were not an oversight.’

  ‘Not an oversight?’ he repeated, his face wreathed in frowns. ‘Then perhaps you had better explain?’ He was obviously puzzled.

  ‘I have invited a dear friend, and she’ll be seated beside me if that’s all right with you, Father?’

  His eyes widened in surprise. ‘A friend?’ he exclaimed. ‘Oh, my dear, that’s wonderful!’ He grabbed her hand and feverishly patted it. ‘Who is she… this friend? Wherever did you meet her? Does she come from a good family? And why haven’t I been introduced?’ The last question was delivered with a mildly disapproving stare.

  ‘My goodness!’ Cicely exclaimed. ‘All these questions. I met her here, in this very house, and yes, she does come from a good family. As for your being introduced – well now, there was no need for that. You see, she’s well known to you already, Father. In fact, you see her every day.’ She was beginning to enjoy her little game, especially now that she had him at a disadvantage. All the same, she was still anxious about how he would react when he realised it was Ruby who was going to be seated beside her at the dinner table, instead of waiting on it as was her normal place in this house.

  He stared at her then. The smile had gone from his mouth and his eyes grew darker. ‘How can I possibly see her every day, as you say?’ he asked cautiously. Already he was growing suspicious. She didn’t answer straightaway, and he asked again, ‘Cicely, who is this young lady?’

  Swallowing hard, she stood up straight and met his eye with dignity. ‘It’s Ruby,’ she answered.

  In an instant he was on his feet. ‘Ruby?’ His astonishment was obvious in his expression and in the low disbelieving voice in which he uttered Ruby’s name. ‘Are you telling me that you want Ruby Miller… a servant in this house… to attend as a guest this evening?’

  Convinced that she was just jesting with him, he forced his mouth into a nervous smile, but it fell open when she answered his question with a brave nod of the head and a bold remark that caused him to fall back in his chair. ‘Ruby is very dear to me, Father. And I’m determined she will be there. If you exclude her, then you exclude me.’

  There then followed a heated discussion during which Jeffrey Banks argued the order of things in society, pointing out with g
reat deliberation how Ruby would feel ill at ease in such a situation for: ‘Even you are not altogether happy surrounded by people.’ He went on to talk about protocol, and he made every attempt to persuade her that she was utterly wrong to think such a thing could ever be arranged. ‘What? I could never agree to it. NEVER!’ he stormed. He paced the room with his hands behind his back, and ranted on, stopping every now and then to glare at her. Then he would smile and entreat her to think about the enormity of the undertaking. ‘Never in my life have I heard of such a thing!’ he protested. Finally, mentally and physically exhausted, he fell into his chair. Spinning himself round and staring across at the window, he said in a spent voice, ‘I will not allow it.’

  ‘Very well, Father.’ She turned on her heel and began to make her way towards the door.

  ‘Where are you going?’ He swung round, lurching forward in his chair. ‘What do you intend to do now?’ he asked. When she turned and smiled with frustrating calm she seemed like a stranger to him, and it struck him in that moment that his daughter was made of stronger stuff than he had imagined.

  ‘Don’t worry, Father,’ she assured him, ‘I shall see that everything is taken care of before I leave for the evening. Of course I’ll return first thing in the morning.’ Her smile grew sweeter, then with a determined flourish she turned her back to him. Her hand was already turning the door knob when he spoke again. And this time he was pleading.

  ‘It could never work, my dear. You must see how impossible it is? Ruby is a splendid young lady, and I do agree with you… she does come from a good home.’ And who should know better than he what a proud and delightful woman her mother was. ‘I have nothing detrimental to say about the girl’s background. But what I am saying, my dear, is that Ruby is a maid and you are her mistress. What I am saying is that her experience of life is far different from your experience of life. Ruby could no more be a high-born lady than you could be a low-born servant. Oh, and what I am not saying is that one is any better than the other… just vastly different, that’s all. No doubt there are those among our guests who lack Ruby’s moral fibre and good manners, and there are as many “undesirables” in higher society as there are in the back streets of any town. I am not denying that for a moment.’

  ‘Well then?’

  ‘The whole idea is unthinkable. Besides, the poor girl would be out of her depth.’

  ‘So you still forbid it?’

  ‘OF COURSE I FORBID IT!’ He sprang from his chair and strode across the room. ‘What in God’s name made you dream up such a fearful idea?’

  Instead of answering his question, Cicely told him calmly, ‘As I say, Father, you don’t need to worry about this evening. Everything will be taken care of, you have my word.’

  ‘Go on then,’ he snapped. ‘Do what you must, because I will not allow such a thing under this roof and that’s an end to it.’ He watched her go. He waited until the door was closed behind her. He scowled, he muttered, and he listened to her footsteps receding further and further. And he knew she had got him exactly where she wanted him, just like she always had. ‘Damn and bugger it!’ he groaned. The irony of the situation made him chuckle. The chuckle became louder, then became a full-bodied laugh which he abruptly stemmed for fear that she would hear.

  He found himself thinking of Lizzie, Ruby’s mother who had been his own salvation when he desperately needed someone to love. In all these years he had not forgotten how he had found solace and comfort in her willing arms. They had made love here in this very house, in the very bed where he still slept. How could he forget what that darling woman had meant to him?

  Even now, in those private moments when he was especially lonely, he had only to close his eyes and she would be in his arms again, that delightful wide-awake face gazing up at him, filling his heart with pleasure. So many years had passed between, so much time, and they had each travelled their own predestined paths. That was the way it should be, and they both accepted that. But he couldn’t deny that there had been murmuring regrets, nor could he deny the fondness he still nursed for Lizzie. Not high passion the way it had been on that first night he had taken her to himself and she had clung to him with all the love a woman can give, but a kind of love all the same.

  In a minute he had flung open the door, his frantic eyes searching the stairway for his daughter. ‘Cicely!’ he called, going forward into the hall.

  ‘Yes, Father?’ She was partway up the stairs when his voice caused her to turn round. She was half-smiling.

  It was a moment before he answered, and when he did, it was with a great sigh. ‘Have you decided to be sensible?’

  ‘No, Father.’

  ‘Where is she?’

  ‘In my bath tub.’

  He winced and sighed again. ‘Has your dresser arrived?’

  ‘Not yet.’

  ‘Does she know the girl? I mean… has she seen Ruby Miller on her previous visits?’

  ‘No. Miss Armitage never goes downstairs. She arrives, attends to me, and then she leaves. Usually I myself answer the door to her.’

  ‘Then you shouldn’t!’ He clenched his fists in exasperation. ‘You must leave that to the servants.’

  ‘Yes, Father.’

  ‘This woman, Miss Armitage – she must not know.’

  ‘She will be told only that Ruby is a friend.’ She sensed his weakening. ‘No one will know. Not even Cook.’

  He snorted. ‘No doubt this little escapade has been planned for some long time?’

  ‘Not really.’ She started forward, her eyes shining with anticipation. ‘Oh, Father, Ruby will make you proud, you’ll see!’

  ‘Enough of that! What you’ve done has made me very angry.’ He waved his hand impatiently, causing her to stop in her tracks. A thoughtful pause while they stared at each other, then reluctantly Jeffrey said, ‘When she’s ready, bring her before me.’

  ‘Thank you, Father.’ Her smile broadened triumphantly.

  ‘I don’t promise anything.’

  ‘Of course not, Father.’ She went on her way, quickening her steps the nearer she came to the bedroom.

  Ruby’s heart skipped a beat when she heard the footsteps approaching. She had bathed and dried herself though her hair was still a little damp. Now she was seated on the edge of the bed, dressed in the soft clinging undergarments that Cicely had laid out. Somehow it seemed to Ruby that she belonged here. It felt so right. And her sense of well-being only further inspired her to work her way up in the world, so that her family could savour the better things in life.

  Suddenly the door was flung open and there stood Cicely. Ruby had been anxiously waiting to hear what had been said downstairs, but now she didn’t have to ask because Cicely’s face said it all. A tide of joy surged through her as she ran across the room to throw herself into Cicely’s arms. ‘YOU DID IT!’ she cried. ‘Oh, Cicely, how did you ever persuade him?’ She could hardly believe it, and said so.

  ‘Well, you’d better believe it,’ Cicely told her, leading Ruby back across the room to where she swung open the wardrobe door and there, in all its glory, was the magnificent burgundy gown. ‘He wants to see you when you’re ready,’ she said grandly.

  ‘Oh. You mean he wants to inspect me?’

  ‘And if he does?’

  ‘Well, I don’t know.’ Doubts began to creep in. ‘He has given permission, hasn’t he? At least, I thought so from the look on your face when you came back just now.’

  ‘Trust me, Ruby. Everything is going to be fine. Just fine. Miss Armitage will be here any minute, and she must see you first. Here.’ She stooped to the drawer beneath the hanging robe and took out a dry towel. ‘Rub at your hair. It needs to be drier before she can arrange it,’ Cicely pointed out, lifting a hank of Ruby’s rich brown hair and feeling it between finger and thumb. ‘Meanwhile, I’d better make a start on myself. When you stand before Father, I wouldn’t miss it for the world.’

  In that moment the outer bell rang. Without delay Cicely rushed out of the room a
nd down the curving stairway. Through the vestibule window she could see the outline of a woman’s figure, straight and prim, with a tiny round hat atop her head and a bulky bag clutched in her hand. It was Miss Armitage, pamperer to the privileged. ‘Come in, please,’ Cicely said with a wide smile. ‘We haven’t much time. I wasn’t able to let you know, because I didn’t know myself until a few moments ago, but a very dear friend of mine has arrived so there’ll be two of us to be got ready.’

  Miss Armitage was a woman of few words, and gave none now. She merely nodded in that marvellously confident manner for which she was renowned, and in a moment she and Cicely were on their way upstairs to where Ruby was waiting with growing excitement.

  Coming out of the library, Jeffrey Banks saw the two ladies mounting the stairway. ‘Heaven help us all!’ he muttered. Then he dodged back into the library, closed the door and went straight to the dresser where he poured himself a small measure of brandy. ‘I have a feeling I might live to regret this day,’ he muttered, swilling the fiery liquid down his throat, and suffering a coughing fit.

  At precisely twenty minutes to seven there came a polite tap on the door before it was pushed open to admit two young women into the library. ‘What do you think, Father?’ Cicely’s proud glance went from her father to Ruby, and back again to her father. ‘Doesn’t she look every inch a lady?’

  He stared and stared, and at first could not recognise the young woman before him. Dressed in a fine gown of burgundy, and with her thick shining hair rolled into a halo about her elfin face, Ruby seemed like a stranger. And, yes, as Cicely so aptly put it, she was ‘every inch a lady’. More than that, she was incredibly beautiful. Her midnight blue eyes were glowing, her mouth was lightly painted and her hair was without parting, brushed and bouncing and framing her face with deep, earth-coloured waves. At her throat she wore a simple black velvet band. The gown was sheer luxury, the height of elegance, and fitted her figure with perfection. Round sleeves and a waspish waist brought out the curves of her slight figure, and where the silken folds fell gracefully to the hem, the entire effect was breathtaking. She was taller, more mature, astonishingly sophisticated. And he couldn’t tear his gaze away.