The Constant Heart (14 page)

He chortled triumphantly. 'I knew you would agree. The fact is that if we're to get away with last night's escapade, you will need to have met my parents. It wouldn't do at all if it came out that they did not know you, when we were all supposed to have dined together.' He slanted a glance at Rosina. 'Who knows, we might even have another outing. We could visit the Crystal Palace or even Cremorne Gardens again, if you so wished.'

She searched his face to see if he was joking, but Harry's expression was innocent of mockery. Forgetting everything that had passed between them, Rosina allowed herself to dream. This might be her only chance to see him again – the mystery man who had quite literally swept her off her feet into that first waltz. She realised that they were both staring at her, waiting for her answer, and she shrugged her shoulders. 'I wouldn't mind. It might be fun.'

Sukey leapt up from her chair, and seizing Rosina round the waist she danced around the room. 'We got away with it last night, Rosie. We could easily do it again.'

'Shall I tell my mother that you accept her invitation to afternoon tea?' Harry smiled indul-gently as Sukey twirled away from Rosina and collapsed onto a chair.

'Yes, please.' Sukey clasped her side, giggling. 'Now I've got a stitch, and it's all your fault, you bad man.'

'Rosie?' Harry turned to her with a question in his eyes.

Slightly dizzy, her thoughts filled with the prospect of seeing the pirate again, she smiled and nodded. 'Thank you, yes.'

'Splendid. I'll come for you at three o'clock this afternoon. Now I must go about my business. Good day, ladies.'

As the door closed behind him, Sukey let out a squeal of delight. 'Isn't that exciting, Rosie? He must like me after all. I used to think it was you he wanted, but he made such a point of asking me to meet his mother; maybe there's hope for me. What do you think? After all, you know Harry much better than I.'

'I think he would be a fool if he did not see what a wonderful girl you are.'

'And do you think his mama will approve of me?'

'How could she not, Sukey?'

The Gostellows' mansion was set in the middle of a terrace of five-storey town houses. The red bricks had long ago been dulled to dark brown by soot and city dirt. The carved oak front door had developed the patina of age, but the brass door furniture was polished to a high shine, and the lion's head door knocker almost growled at them as they waited on the top step. An aged retainer opened the door, shielding his rheumy eyes against the sunlight with a gnarled hand.

'About time too, Potter,' Harry said impatiently. He stood back to allow Rosina and Sukey to enter the entrance hall. 'Show the ladies to the drawing room.'

Rosina could feel Sukey shivering, and she gave her arm an encouraging squeeze. Despite the warmth outside, the house had a morgue-like chill. Potter hobbled across the black and white marble floor, and his hands shook as he reached out to grasp the porcelain doorknobs. He looked so old and frail that it seemed wrong to allow him to wait on them. Rosina had to curb the desire to rush over and help him, but she thanked him kindly as he opened the double doors and ushered them into the drawing room. It took her eyes a few moments to become accustomed to the gloom. The heavy velvet curtains were half drawn across the tall windows, and the ornately carved mahogany furniture loomed up out of the shadows like predatory monsters.

'Mother,' Harry said, approaching the pale-faced woman who was reclining on a sofa in front of a desultory fire. 'May I present Miss Rosina May and Miss Susan Barnum?'

Margaret Gostellow raised a lorgnette to her eyes and looked them up and down: for all the world, Rosina thought, like an auctioneer inspecting a couple of pieces of sale goods. She curtsied, as it seemed the correct thing to do in the circumstances. With a nervous giggle, Sukey copied her.

'Please be seated,' Margaret said in a weak voice. 'You're making my neck ache with staring up at you.'

Harry pulled up two chairs. 'You mustn't tire yourself, Mother.'

Sukey gave him a grateful smile and sat down, but Rosina did not feel comfortable in this oppressive atmosphere and she remained standing.

'It's all right, Harry. I'm feeling quite well this afternoon.' Ignoring Sukey, Margaret gave Rosina an appraising look. 'So you are Ellie Carpenter's daughter.'

'You knew my mother, ma'am?' Rosina's knees seemed to have turned to jelly at the unexpected mention of her mother's name, and she sank down onto the chair.

'We were at school together.' Margaret smiled for the first time. 'It seems like yesterday when we were pupils at Miss Harbutt's Academy for Young Ladies.'

'I never knew her.'

'She was a lovely girl. It was such a shame that she became entangled with the wrong sort of man, and then she married beneath her station. I believe she was quite happy with your father, although, naturally, we did not see much of each other after the wedding.'

Rosina opened her mouth to defend her father, but Margaret seemed to have lost interest in her. She raised her lorgnette again to peer at Sukey. 'And you, Miss Barnum. You are welcome in my house. I don't hold the sins of the fathers against the children.'

Harry coughed and cleared his throat. 'I don't think we need to go into that, Mother.'

Sukey's lips trembled. 'I – I don't understand.'

'Doesn't the child know about her father's reputation, Harry?' Margaret's eyebrows formed twin arcs of surprise. 'Well, it would all have come out in time, I suppose.'

Sukey leapt to her feet. 'Perhaps I should not have come? I don't know what you're talking about, ma'am. But I can't stay here and listen to bad things about my dada.'

'Oh, sit down, you silly girl. It's ancient history, and it really doesn't concern you.'

'Mother, please,' Harry said hastily. 'Can we change the subject?'

'You're so sensitive, Harry. You poor dear boy, I'm afraid you inherited that trait from me.'

Rosina could see that Sukey was close to tears.

In a protective gesture, she slipped her arm around her friend's shoulders. 'I'm sorry, ma'am. But if Sukey is not welcome here, then I cannot stay. It was good of you to invite us to tea, but in the circumstances I think we should leave now.'

'Mother, I think you spoke out of turn,' Harry said, frowning. 'Miss Barnum is a guest in our house.'

'Don't fuss, my boy. You'll bring on one of my heads.' Margaret raised a shaking hand to her brow. 'I'm a semi-invalid, as you can see, young ladies. My constitution is delicate and I have to be careful not to overexert myself. You will stay for tea and we will talk about other things. Ring the bell for Watson, please, Harry.'

Rosina and Sukey exchanged wary glances, but Harry gave them an encouraging smile as he moved to the fireplace and tugged at the bell pull. 'Do sit down, ladies. Watson will bring tea directly.'

Reluctantly they obliged him. Margaret flashed him a doting glance. 'I am so lucky to have a son like Harry.' She turned to Rosina with narrowed eyes. 'Now, my dear, tell me all about yourself.'

Rosina hesitated, not knowing where to begin, but before she could gather her thoughts Margaret had begun asking her questions about her home, her education and her father's business prospects – all of which she answered to the best of her ability. It was, she thought, almost as painful as having her teeth pulled out, one by one. She could have cried with relief when Watson entered the room bearing a tray of tea, which she placed on a table behind the sofa. She was followed by Potter, staggering beneath the weight of a tray laden with plates of tiny sandwiches, toasted muffins dripping with butter, and a selection of fancy cakes. Rosina held her breath, waiting for him either to collapse or to drop his burden on the carpet, but somehow he managed to place the tray safely on the table.

'That will be all, Potter,' Margaret said wearily. 'Watson, you may serve our guests, but I will just take tea.' She turned to Rosina with a feeble smile. 'I have little appetite, my dear. My husband says that I eat like a bird.'

'I – I'm sorry, ma'am.' Rosina could think of nothing else to say as she found herself involved in a delicate juggling act, attempting to balance a bone china plate on her lap and a cup and saucer in one hand, while selecting delicacies from the dishes offered to her by Watson. Margaret sipped her tea and continued the relentless interrogation. Rosina could only wish that Harry's nosey mother would show more interest in Sukey. In the end it was Harry who put a stop to the ordeal by placing his teacup and saucer firmly down on a side table and rising to his feet.

'You must not overdo things, Mother. You know what the doctor told you.'

'You're right, of course, my dear boy.' Margaret signalled to Watson, who had been hovering by the door. 'You may clear, Watson.'

Realising that they had been dismissed, Rosina leapt to her feet. Then, remembering her manners, she thanked Mrs Gostellow for her hospitality. Margaret gave her a wan smile, and she beckoned to Harry.

He hurried to her side. 'Yes, Mother?'

'She might do, my boy,' Margaret said, nodding her head in Rosina's direction. 'With judicious coaching, I think I could make something of her.'

A dull flush suffused his face. 'Try to get some rest, Mother.'

'Anyone would think that I was invisible,' Sukey whispered in Rosina's ear. 'Miserable old bat.'

Rosina stifled a giggle. 'Shh! She'll hear you.'

'I don't care. She's ignored me completely. I was never so humiliated in all my life.'

Rosina sighed. 'I wish she'd ignored me.'

'And I never got to taste one of those scrumptious-looking pastries.'

'I wonder if all that food will go to waste?' On a sudden impulse, Rosina went over to the tea table where Watson was stacking what remained of the food on a tray. There were enough cucumber sandwiches left to give Caddie and her children a good meal, to say nothing of a plate of cakes covered in fondant icing and choux buns oozing with cream. 'Excuse me, Miss Watson,' she whispered, 'but is that food going to be thrown away?'

Watson opened her eyes wide with surprise. 'I suppose so, miss.'

'I know a poor family who would be so grateful for it.'

'I dunno, miss. No one's ever asked to take their tea home with them before.'

'What's the problem, Watson?' Harry had come up behind them.

Rosina glanced nervously at Mrs Gostellow, but she was reclining against the arm of the chaise longue with her eyes closed, and her hand clutched to her forehead as though she was suffering from an acute headache. 'I'm sorry, Harry. It was my fault. I just wondered if I could take what was left of the food to a poor family who live near me.'

'What a strange request.' Harry stared at her for a moment, and then he smiled. 'What a kind girl you are, to be sure. Watson, tip the lot in a paper bag and bring it to the front entrance.'

Watson bobbed a curtsey. 'Yes, sir. Right away, sir.' Picking up the tray, she hurried from the room.

'I'll just make sure that Mother has everything she needs,' Harry said, as he ushered Rosina and Sukey out of the drawing room.

They stood in silence, waiting for him to re-join them. Rosina stared up at the two huge crystal chandeliers that must hold enough candles to last an ordinary family for a year at least. Sukey had a dazed expression on her face as she gazed at the heavily embossed red and gold wallpaper and the gilt-framed oil-paintings that adorned the walls of the sweeping staircase. They both turned with a start as Harry breezed out of the drawing room. 'It is a fine house, isn't it?'

'It is a magnificent house, Harry,' Sukey said in an awed tone. 'And your mother is an extremely handsome lady.'