The Lost Sapphire (23 page)

Several smaller rooms were filled with dozens of round tables set with starched white tablecloths and napkins, glittering silver and crystal glasses. Each table had a centre piece of golden candles and sweet-scented roses in blood red and snow white. At the far end of the main supper room, set on a table, was a massive ice sculpture inspired by the onion domes of Russian churches. It was surrounded with delicate pastries, fruit and petits fours.

‘Doesn't the ice sculpture look wonderful?' Violet asked.

‘All the decorations are marvellous, Vivi,' said Imogen. ‘I just
knew
you'd do a brilliant job.'

‘We're very much obliged to both of you,' said Audrey. ‘We couldn't have done it without you. Tonight will be a huge success, I just know it. But now we'd better join the reception line to welcome our guests.'

A long queue of motor cars had pulled up at the steps of the Town Hall, dropping off guests. The men were dressed in white ties and tailcoats, the women in long ball gowns in a rainbow of jewelled colours. In the foyer, uniformed waiters took the guests' coats and top hats. Each lady wore a dance card on a string, with a small pencil attached, so she could write down the name of the gentleman to whom she was promised for each dance.

At 8.30 pm the orchestra began playing a Viennese waltz. Immediately the dance floor was filled with dozens of couples of all ages, swirling around the room. Other guests watched from the side and the galleries above. Violet's dance card was quickly filled, and she twirled and jazzed nonstop with a succession of amiable young men.

At ten o'clock, Madame Belinskaya took the stage
to perform a number of passionate gypsy songs to huge applause, followed by Madame Lopokova, who danced an exquisite ballet solo.

Aleksandr, Stepan and Ivan ran onto the stage dressed in baggy black trousers, black caps, white shirts, red sashes and swords. The three Cossacks performed the acrobatic
hopak
dance – leaping, twirling, sword-fighting and shouting with joy. The finale was their fast and furious display of high kicks from a squatting position, which had the audience cheering and clapping. This was followed by a
balaika
performance. Violet applauded harder than anyone, beaming with pride. The Russian entertainment had been an outstanding success.

The orchestra struck up the opening chords of the
mazurka
. Seven Russian couples promenaded out onto the ballroom floor. The men, including Stepan, Ivan and Aleksandr, wore white tie and tails, while the women, including Tatiana, Katya and Anastacia, wore vibrant evening gowns in cerise, orange, cobalt, cyclamen and raspberry with matching long satin gloves.

The crowd pressed back against the ballroom walls to give the dancers space.

Nikolai appeared from somewhere in the throng, now changed into a white tie, tailcoat and vest. He bowed low in front of Violet and extended his hand.

‘May I have the pleasure of this dance?' he asked with a mischievous smile.

‘But Nikolai … I can't dance the
mazurka
properly. I'll spoil it.'

‘You'll spoil it if you
don't
dance. You know it looks better with eight couples.'

Violet glanced around, looking for a way to escape. ‘But –'

‘I dare you,' Nikolai challenged.

Violet finally relented, taking Nikolai's outstretched hand, and together they promenaded out onto the ballroom floor to join the others.

The dancers formed two circles of four couples each, bowing and curtseying to the partner on either side. Then the joyful dance began. Hand in hand, everyone galloped clockwise. With a lively clicking of heels and stamping of feet, they changed direction to counter-clockwise. The colourful skirts flounced and swirled. Nikolai guided Violet through the dance so that her steps were sure, even when she thought she'd forgotten what came next. Violet felt light and graceful as she floated in his arms.

Nikolai went down on one knee and Violet danced around him. Too soon, the music slowed and the partners bowed and curtseyed to signify the end of the performance. The audience clapped, then the orchestra swung straight into a popular foxtrot.

The audience surged into the middle of the ballroom. Violet moved to leave the dance floor, but Nikolai took her hand. ‘Just one more?' he asked, and then whisked her away.

The male singer began to sing the familiar words to ‘Angel Child'.

As they wove through the crowd, Violet glanced over Nikolai's shoulder and saw Imogen dancing with Tommy. Imogen threw her head back and laughed at something he'd said. The joy on her face was infectious.

Violet smiled up at Nikolai. ‘I'm so very glad you came to Riversleigh.'

Nikolai looked serious as he thought for a moment. ‘You know what, myshka? I'm very glad too. The old world and the old ways are dying. I think the new world and the new ways are filled with endless possibilities.'

Nikolai spun Violet around in a pirouette. The ballroom revolved around her in a golden glow of candles, chandeliers, roses and shimmering gowns. The singer crooned: ‘Do you love me too?'

Violet laughed – who knew what joys and troubles the future might hold? Whatever else happened, she felt sure that her life would always be full of adventures. And Nikolai would hopefully be by her side through them all.

Riversleigh, modern day

The sun beat down from a clear, blue sky. Lorikeets squabbled over the bottlebrush in the shrubbery. The fairy wren and his brown mate were building a dome-shaped nest of grass, threaded through with spider web, almost hidden by the undergrowth.

Marli and Luca were working in the gardens at the rear of Riversleigh. Luca was trimming the box hedge, wrestling it back into shape. Marli was weeding the stone urns along the western terrace, thinking about the dilemma swirling around in her head: Dad had lost his job and wanted to bulldoze the old house and build apartments.

The phone in her pocket rang, interrupting her reverie. Marli checked the screen. It was her friend Evie, calling from Brisbane. She answered the phone, walking down the path towards the river, away from Luca's noisy brush-cutter.

‘Hi, Evie,' said Marli warmly.

‘I haven't heard from you for a while, so I thought I'd give you a call,' Evie said.

‘How's it going up there?' Marli asked. ‘Have you been having a great time?'

Evie snorted. ‘I wish! It's been deadly boring and stinking hot for the last few days. I don't feel like doing anything much but lying on the couch in the air-conditioning and watching TV.'

‘How's Tess? Have you been to the beach?'

‘Okay, I guess,' said Evie, sounding annoyed. ‘We went to the beach last week, but we had a bit of a fight so she's been hanging with Ruby. They just walk around the mall all day.'

Marli stood on the shady bank of the Yarra River, a cooling breeze ruffling her hair. Down below, two rowers in a narrow skiff shot across the water, leaving ripples in their wake. From here, Richmond on the opposite bank was completely hidden by a grove of thick trees. Marli felt a long way from her old life.

‘That's not much fun,' Marli said sympathetically. ‘Maybe you should just give her a call?'

‘What about you?' Evie asked, not sounding particularly interested. ‘Are you still having an awful time with your dad?'

‘No, it's been great, actually.' Marli thought for a moment. ‘I told you about the boy I met, Luca. We've been having an awesome time exploring the old house and finding out about the family who lived here. And Dad and I are getting on much better now.'

‘Oh,' said Evie. ‘That's good.' There was another pause.
‘Anyway, I better go. Charlie's coming over to watch a movie soon. I'll catch you later.'

‘Bye, Evie. Say hi to the others for me.'

Marli put the phone in her pocket and walked back up the path towards Riversleigh. Evie's call made her see things differently.
Nothing much seems to have changed back home
.
I thought they'd all be having an amazing time, but Evie sounds bored and annoyed.

She walked across the lawn towards the terrace. Luca finished trimming the hedge and turned off the brush-cutter. He wandered towards her and gazed out over the sunken rose garden, breathing in deeply.

‘Did you fertilise the roses?' asked Luca, wrinkling his nose.

‘Nope,' Marli replied, turning to check.

‘Well, someone has tipped bags of cow manure around the rose garden. And if it's not you, then I'm guessing Nonno might have had something to do with it.'

‘Mmmm.' Marli pushed her silver bangle up her arm. ‘So then, was it you who planted the seedlings in the kitchen garden?'

Luca shook his head and laughed. ‘Wasn't me. I suspect Nonno just couldn't help himself. He must have discovered the side door unlocked.'

Marli liked Luca's grandfather very much and didn't mind him discovering their secret. She felt sure that he would be an ally in their scheme to bring Riversleigh back to its former glory.

‘Dad is taking Didi for a meeting with the lawyers today to sign the papers and pick up the keys,' Marli said, perching on a marble bench. ‘He asked me if I wanted
to go with them, but I said you and I had already made plans.'

‘That's exciting,' Luca replied and sprawled beside her. ‘Then I guess we won't officially be trespassers anymore.'

Marli frowned at him. ‘But Dad has lost his job and plans to bulldoze the house and build apartments to make money – I wish I could change his mind somehow.'

Luca thought for a while. ‘Perhaps you have to convince him that there are other ways to make money,' he suggested. ‘Like restoring the house and running it as some kind of business.'

Marli mulled over this for a few moments. She thought about some of the beautiful historic houses she had stayed in when she was travelling in Ireland with her mum. Some were run as guesthouses, restaurants, conference centres and beautiful wedding venues. She and Mum had been to a gorgeous wedding for one of Mum's colleagues, which was held in a castle in the Connemara. Her mind started to buzz with possibilities.

‘Riversleigh could be a beautiful guesthouse, or a wedding venue, or a tea house, or anything! But how can I convince Dad?'

She thought of the house the way she liked to imagine it in the old days – full of light and love and beauty. Not cursed and forgotten.

‘I have an idea, Luca,' Marli said, her voice pitched high with excitement. ‘Why don't we have a party to celebrate the house returning to the family? We could invite Dad and Didi, and your grandparents, and your family. All of us have a link to Riversleigh.'

Luca looked at Marli in confusion. ‘What did you have in mind?'

‘We'll have to work hard, but we have a few hours.' Marli began outlining her plan.

Just before they began, Marli texted her mother: Say yes to job, Mum. Let's move to Melbourne!

The sun still shone warmly in the early evening. Marli waited out the front of the wrought-iron gates of Riversleigh. Beside her on the footpath was a calico bag, and inside the bag was the fragile peacock hatbox that held Violet's treasures. Marli swayed impatiently from foot to foot.

Dad and Didi were running late. Her muscles ached and she was tired, but it was a good tiredness. The day had been spent shopping, cleaning, moving furniture and scheming with Luca. They had taken Didi and Nonno partly into their confidence to help pull off the great surprise.

Now she was freshly showered and changed into her best summer dress. For once she wore her hair out long and wavy, gleaming copper and gold in the sunlight. She saw Dad parking his car on the roadway and ran forward to meet them.

‘Hello, Dad, hello, Didi,' she cried as they climbed out of the car, giving them both a hug and a kiss.

‘Hello, Marli-myshka,' Dad said. ‘You're all dressed up. What's the occasion?'

Marli exchanged a complicit glance with Didi. He, like Dad, was wearing a dark lounge suit and tie from their meeting with the lawyers.

‘I thought tonight should be a celebration,' Marli said. ‘To celebrate getting the keys to our very own, long-lost, abandoned and possibly cursed mansion.'

Dad turned serious at the mention of a curse. ‘We found out something very surprising about that today, but we'll tell you later. Perhaps we can go out for dinner after we've looked over the place?'

Marli laughed. ‘We'll see.'

‘I brought my toolkit,' Dad said, getting it out of the back of the car. ‘Apparently the house is all boarded up and there's no electricity or running water. I brought a torch as well.'

The three walked up to the gate, with its stone-topped pillars and nameplate. Marli carried the peacock hatbox.

Dad flourished a big set of keys. ‘Well, here goes.' He unlocked the padlock that fastened the chain around the metal barricade and dragged it away. Then, using another key, he removed the padlock on the tall wrought-iron gates.

Dad gestured to Didi. ‘Perhaps you should have the honour?'

‘Let's do it together,' Didi suggested.

The three of them pushed against the huge gate. It screeched in protest, the rusty hinges moving for the first time in a decade. They slipped through the opening and into the front garden of Riversleigh. Dad closed the gate behind them, stopping to gaze at the house, in all its faded grandeur.

‘Come on,' urged Marli, taking them both by the hand. ‘Come and explore Riversleigh. Look how beautiful it is.'

They climbed up the front steps and onto the colonnaded verandah. Dad frowned when he saw the graffiti
scrawled on the front of the house and the timber hoarding prised away from the arched front door. ‘It looks like vandals have been here. I hope they haven't caused too much damage.'

‘Would you like to open the front door, Marli?' Didi asked. ‘That seems apt.'

Marli unlocked the door and opened it wide, eager to be entering the house in the proper way for the first time. Didi and Dad chattered away, trying to guess what each room might have been used for originally.

‘You can tell by the white marble mantelpiece that this was the drawing room,' Dad explained. ‘The feminine rooms had pale colours, while the masculine rooms – the library, billiard and smoking rooms – had the black marble mantels.'

Marli was nearly bursting with impatience as they toured each room.

‘Shall we go up?' Dad suggested, standing at the bottom of the grand cedar staircase.

‘No,' Marli insisted, motioning down the hall. ‘There are more rooms to see on this floor yet.'

‘The ballroom must be here somewhere,' said Didi. ‘My mother said that Dame Nellie Melba sang a concert here in 1915.'

Marli hurried to the rear of the house and flung open the ballroom door.

‘What on earth?' asked Dad, staring around in amazement. ‘How did you do this?'

The ballroom had been transformed. Not only had every surface been polished so that the crystal chandelier sparkled and the parquet floor gleamed, but Luca and
Marli had set up a party. They had rummaged through the garage for ornamental bric-a-brac and borrowed bits of furniture from Luca's family. Old chairs and milk crates with cushions had been set up in various groupings. A long table was set with candles in jam jars and bunches of fragrant roses arranged in old tins. The antique gramophone stood on a tea chest, its brass horn polished until it gleamed. A stack of old records had been placed alongside.

Eight sets of French doors were wide open to let the fresh air and sunshine flood in.

‘So this is what the mysterious surprise was,' Didi chuckled.

‘That's not all.' Marli smiled so wide that her cheeks ached. She led them out onto the western terrace, bathed in late afternoon sun.

While the garden at the front still looked overgrown, the back looked completely different. The lawns were mown, the hedges clipped and the garden beds weeded. It was far from perfect, but it gave an idea of what the gardens must once have been like with pale roses, blue agapanthus and mauve-pink hydrangeas blooming.

‘You certainly have been busy,' said Didi. ‘What a glorious afternoon to see it.'

‘And our guests are arriving,' Marli announced, waving towards the southern wall. Luca led the procession, followed by Nonno and Nonna, Dani, Marc, Lia, Caterina and Siena, all carrying platters, bowls and baskets of food and calling out greetings.

‘I hope you don't mind, Dad, but I used the money you gave me to buy party food for tonight,' said Marli. ‘And Luca's Nonna helped us do some cooking.'

Dad laughed as he looked around in wonder. ‘Young lady, I don't think that even comes close to explaining what you've been up to.'

Marli twisted her bangle. ‘Well, you see, there is something else to celebrate. Mum's been offered an awesome job at Melbourne University, so we're moving down here to live.'

‘Do you mean it?' begged Dad. ‘That's incredible news!'

Dad and Didi both beamed with joy as Marli told them the details. Then she had to explain it all over again to Luca and his family.

All the food was laid out on the table. Marli and Luca had bought prosciutto, mortadella sausage, marinated olives, sun-dried tomatoes, roasted capsicum, creamy brie, fetta and loaves of bread from the Italian delicatessen to make huge antipasto platters. Nonna had made meatballs, her famous
pitticelle di zucchine
, and
arancini
balls made from rice and mozzarella cheese, which were still warm from the pan. Dani had made raspberry
tiramisu
in individual glasses to eat with a spoon, while Marc carried an esky filled with ice-cold drinks.