Above Rubies (17 page)

Merry wanted to ask why he should dictate to her, but she felt too miserable to speak, and could only nod dumbly. She was too numb even to cry. Benjamin found her ... shameful. She sat very still, not wanting even to catch sight of herself in the mirror. Reluctantly she answered the telephone, to find that it was Mr. Grant, the estate agent. He said he wanted to see her, and made an appoin
t
ment.

Later, at tea-time, Mrs. Cameron tried to tempt her with some tender roast chicken.

“Mr. Benjamin hasn’t stayed long anyway,” she remarked, and Merry shook her head, thinking of the brief, stormy interview. “No, our Isa saw him pelting off for the station again after a visit up to Rossie House. She says he was in a bad mood, too, for he never even looked at Cailleach, and he always has time for that wee dog. Got real fond of him after you saved him from the tinkers.”

That seemed centuries ago, thought Merry sadly. Those days seemed like another world.

“I haven’t seen her for a week or two myself,” said Merry. “She’s such a dear wee dog.”

“Then why don’t you pop over to see Isa this afternoon?” pleaded Mrs. Campbell. “I’ve got some things to send ower to her, and ye could do wi’ a wee walk. Isa would fair welcome you. She’s nearly eaten anybody who had a word to say against you, and that’s a fact.”

Merry considered, then lifted her chin. Why not? Her conscience was clear, and she could look anyone straight in the face.

“Why not?” she asked. “I’d like that, Mrs. Cameron.”

“That’s a good girl,” beamed the older woman.

It did Merry good to have a rapturous welcome from Cailleach, when she arrived at the Campbells’ cottage, and for Isa, too, to welcome her with open arms.

“Come away in, Miss Merry. I’ve been fair wearyin’ to see you again,” she said. “Our Bessie gives me all the news, but it’s not the same as seeing you. I’ve been baking, too, so we’ll just get the kettle on and have a wee cup of tea.”

“That will be lovely, Mrs. Campbell,” sighed Merry, while Cailleach tried to make up her mind whether to settle on her knee or lick her ears and chin.

“She’s full of energy today,” said Merry, trying to settle the little dog.

“Och, she’s been fine ever since her fright,” said Isa, “as though she can never be grateful enough to be back home. She’s easily frightened by anything strange.”

Merry nodded. She knew how the little dog felt. Soon she too would be changing her way of life, going into something strange, and in spite of all that had happened she knew that her heart was still in Kilbraggan.

As though in answer to her thoughts, Isa Campbell turned quickly to look at her.

“We’ll be right sorry if you go away, Miss Merry,” she said, with customary directness. “I could have cried when our Bessie told me. And all
thanks
to our own kith and kin, too
...
Jeanie Lumsden. She got a warming up from me, I can tell you!”

“The circumstances weren’t Jeanie’s making,” said Merry quickly. “It
was ...
it was ... just an accident.”

“Well, all right-thinking folk in Kilbraggan will not stand by and see you insulted, Miss Merry. That we’ll not! You’ll see.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Campbell,” said Merry humbly. “It’s done me good to come and visit you.”

“Have another bit of cake, then,” coaxed Isa delightedly, and Merry did.

She walked home from the Campbell’s feeling much cheered, till she passed the Cot House again. Where was Benjamin now? Anyway, it didn’t matter. He hadn’t even told her he was sure she was innocent of theft. He’d only been angry at her story.

The following evening Mrs. Cameron showed an unexpected visitor into the
sitting-room, where Merry was quietly reading.

“Nigel
!”
she cried, leaping to her feet.

“Hello, Merry,” he grinned sheepishly. “Sorry I haven’t had time to come before.”

Her chin lifted a little.

“Please sit down, Nigel,” she said politely. “Would you care for some sherry
?
”

“That would be very nice,” he told her, and
she poured a glass with hands which trembled slightly.

“I don’t know how to begin to apologise,” Nigel went on awkwardly. “Father wants to come and see you, too. He’s very sorry he
...
he ever accused
you...”
He broke off with embarrassment.

“It was understandable,” said Merry, feeling slightly bewildered. “I gave him the ring back without
... without explanation.”

Nigel nodded and bit his lip.

“Why didn’t you say it was Sylvia?” he asked, a rough note in his voice.

Merry eyed him searchingly, feeling a pang of sympathy when she saw the look of sadness in his eyes. She was still bewildered. How did Nigel know it had been Sylvia?

“How did you know?” she whispered.

“She ... she telephoned, and owned up,” he said heavily. “I’m going to see her tomorrow. I ... I was beginning to care deeply for her, but this has confused things. She behaves like a child at times.”

“She must be growing up, when she has owned up like this,” said Merry gently. “I must say I hadn’t expected her to do that.”

Nigel stared moodily into the fire, and shook his head.

“She only did so because Benjamin Brendan made her,” he said quietly. “He came to see us in a towering rage on Monday, and asked if none of us had any brains or wits enough to see that you couldn’t be dishonest if you tried, and were obviously covering up for Sylvia.”

“Benjamin did this?” cried Merry, her heart beginning to thud with excitement. Benjamin had cleared her name ... Benjamin!

“He raged at us all, then said if we wanted it from the horse’s mouth, we could have it, and took the train from Carlisle. This morning Sylvia telephoned and spoke to Father, then to me.”

Nigel was silent for a long moment, and Merry watched him, not daring to breathe.

“She sounded
...
different,” he said, “and said if we wanted to ... to prosecute or anything, she would take her medicine. She
...
she said she hadn’t any excuse to offer.”

“It was just a silly, stupid impulse,” said Merry, but she knew that it meant a great deal more than that to Nigel.

“Be kind to her,” she begged impulsively, as she went with him to the door to show him out, and he looked down on her small, vivid face and smiled gently.

“You’re a dear and wonderful girl, Merry, and I’m a fool,” he said softly. “Sometimes one sees the right path when it’s too late.”

She tilted her head inquiringly, but he only smiled again, obviously not intending to offer an explanation.

“Goodnight, my dear. Are we forgiven?” he asked.

“Of course you are,” Merry told him, and he bent and kissed her swiftly before swinging off down the drive. She watched him go, and looked at her watch, debating. Was Benjamin home now? Was it too late for her to go and see him when every instinct wanted to take her to the Cot House, to thank him for believing in her?

She came back in and shut the door gently. It was too late, but time now seemed to stretch before her into eternity. She now felt so close to Benjamin that she could reach out and touch him beside her. They had all their lives ahead of them, and she could wait patiently for tomorrow. Mr. Grant was coming in the morning, shortly after breakfast, but she would see Benjamin after lunch
...
unless he came to see her first!

The morning brought no sign of Benjamin, though Merry hummed happily as
she put on a well-fitting tweed skirt and soft cashmere sweater before Mr. Grant came at ten.

The tall, grey-haired estate agent looked very pleased with himself when Mrs. Cameron showed him into the sitting-room, and Merry rose to meet him with a smile. She’d been having second thoughts about selling the house, now that her innocence had been proved, and she no longer felt an atmosphere of suspicion around her. Yet the whole affair had been distasteful to her, and she felt as though Rossie House seemed to tower over her. Besides, she was very much aware of Benjamin close by, at the Cot House, and felt that she wanted to see him before making up her mind.

She explained all this to Mr. Grant, as gently as she could.

“Please don’t think I’m shilly-shallying,” she pleaded. “It’s just that
...
well, things have been rather upset recently, and I’d like to feel more settled before I finally make up my mind to sell Beau Ness.”

Mr. Grant pursed his lips.

“I’m very sorry about that, Miss Saunders,” he told her. “Very sorry indeed. As I said before, houses like this one just aren’t easy to sell, and it’s very gratifying to be given a substantial offer for it, very gratifying indeed. I don’t know if our client would be willing to wait a long time while you make up your mind. I doubt if you’re likely to get such a fine offer from anyone else.”

Merry also bit her lip, wishing she could think a little more clearly.

“I wonder how long he would give me,” she said tentatively.

“I could let you know, of course,” Mr. Grant told her. “I could see him before I leave Kilbraggan. He lives in the village here.”

“Lives here?” echoed Merry, a frown between her eyes. Who, in the village, could afford to make such a good offer for her house?

“May I know who has made this offer?” she asked, her voice suddenly cool and practical.

Mr. Grant hemmed and hawed for a moment.

“Well, I haven’t been asked to keep the buyer’s name private,” he said at length, “so I don’t suppose it will do any harm to tell you. It is Mr. Benjamin Brendan.”

Benjamin! Benjamin wanted her house! That meant he must want to get rid of her!

“Thank you, Mr. Grant,” whispered Merry dully. “I ... I’ll have to let you know ... about ... about selling to Mr. Brendan.”

“Think over what I’ve said, Miss Saunders,” Mr. Grant told her briskly. “It’s an excellent offer. Good morning. Write or telephone when you’ve made up your mind.”

“Good morning,” said Merry chokily, feeling her legs trembling beneath her. “Please don’t bother to see Mr. Brendan till you hear from me.”

She wouldn’t just move out and let Benjamin live here. It would be bad enough to go away and leave Beau Ness behind her, but to leave them both together. That would be too much.

She would have to go and see Benjamin, and know exactly how things stood. She would go after lunch.

Merry looked in her wardrobe after lunch, tempted by a sudden desire to dress up and give herself confidence, but in the end she decided to be sensible and wear her green slacks and anorak. It was a cold day, and she must wear warm clothing, and besides, it was no good trying to impress Benjamin!

He stared at her unsmilingly, when he opened the door.

“Hello, Merry, doing me the honour of a visit? Come in and get a warm by the fire.”

She followed him silen
tl
y, removing her cap and gloves, then flopped down on to the settee, watching him clean a spot of paint off his hands.

“Mr. Grant’s been to see me,” she told him flatly. “Benjamin, why do you want Beau Ness?”

He frowned as he laid down his paint rag, then came to sit opposite her.

“Why are you selling it?” he countered.

“I haven’t made up my mind that I am ... yet,” she said slowly. “After all that unpleasantness ... with the ring ... I felt I wanted to get away. But now...”

“Now everything’s all right again,” said Benjamin, in a hard voice. “Now everyone knows the truth, and Nigel’s forgiven you.”

She looked at him, wondering at his harsh tone.

“I should have thought you’d be pleased,” she said, puzzled. “After all, I’ve you to thank for putting everything right again.”

“Yes, I did, didn’t I?” he laughed. “Didn’t I? I made it all nice and
cosy ...
for Kilpatrick to move in again. For heaven’s sake, Merry, how much do you want me to take?”

She
looked at him with bewilderment. “I ...
I don’t understand.”

“Don’t you? You must be very dim, my dear. Where’s your pride, when you can keep running to
that ...
that
bore
at the drop of a hat, as soon as he lifts his little finger? He can let you be thought a thief, and do nothing to protect you. He can go off philandering with
th
e fair Sylvia, and come cheerfully back again when he finds her wanting ... and you still welcome him with open arms. His conduct is shameful
...
yes, shameful! And so is yours, for meekly taking it all, and for wanting a man who treats you this way instead of realising that you’re worth more than all his damn diamonds put together. ‘Who can find a virtuous woman, for her price is far above rubies’.”

“But I don’t want him!” cried Merry, when Benjamin paused for breath.

“Don’t lie to me, Merry,” he said harshly.

“I
don
’
t
lie,” she retorted, outraged. “It’s you who are jumping to conclusions
...
”

“I said don’t lie,” he repeated, gripping her arm. “I walked over to see you last night, after I got home from Carlisle, and I saw Kilpatrick leaving.
I ...
I saw you kiss
him...
”

He threw away her arm roughly, and she massaged it lightly where it still tingled from the pressure of his fingers.

“You saw me saying goodbye to him,” she said tonelessly. “He doesn’t love me. It’s Sylvia he wants, though he realises there are difficulties. I doubt very much if he’ll marry her.”

“And you just sit and pine
!”

“Why should I?” she asked tiredly. “When I don’t care what Nigel does. I don’t love him. I thought I did once, but I found I didn’t when I fell in love
with...” She
stopped and bit her lip. “... someone else,” she ended.

There was a long silence, then Benjamin spoke to her urgently.
“Who, Merry?”

“It doesn’t matter,” she told him quietly. “You wouldn’t really be interested. I’ll go now, Benjamin. You can have Beau Ness, if you really want it
.
”

As she stood up, he rose, towering over her, and grabbed her by the shoulders.

“Who, Merry?” he demanded
very quietly.

“A
ll
right, since you really want to know. It’s you, Benjamin. Now you really know the sort of fool I am
!”

But the last words were spoken against his shoulder as he just held her and held her, while the clock ticked gently on the mantelpiece.

“Have I been a fool?” he asked at length. “Eaten up with jealousy of Nigel Kilpatrick?
You
...
you said you cared for him when I asked you.”

“I did like him,” she said, her eyes clear and honest, “but I never really loved him. It was always you, Benjamin, only there was Stephanie.”

“Stephanie?” he cried.

“I thought you loved her, you see. She seemed to want you.”

“To tell her troubles to,” said Benjamin, with a laugh. “Surely you must have known she wasn’t my kind of person?”

“How could I?” she asked. “You even seemed to want Sylvia at one time.”

“Sylvia? You thought I wanted Sylvia? I only tried to keep her away from Kilpatrick, just to give you a clear field if you wanted him, even if I thought he wasn’t quarter good enough for you. Merry darling, are you sure you love me?
I ...
I can’t get used to the idea.”

She nodded, her eyes shining, and he kissed her gently, then with deep purpose.

“We can be married soon, can’t we?” he asked quietly. “Oh, and I shall want to buy Beau Ness. That is, if you still want to live there, darling.”

“Of course I do,” she said softly. “I’d live anywhere with you. Why
did
you want it?” she asked curiously.