my very dearest wish that we shall all live together like one big happy family.”
She took Chiara’s hand and squeezed it warmly.
“Forever, my darling!” she continued. “All together at Rensham Hall!”
Lady Fairfax was smiling at her, but there was an odd look in her shining eyes, which Chiara had not seen before, as if she was hiding something.
But perhaps it was just that she was thinking about her wedding and her life with Lord Darley and she felt that she should not talk too much about this with her daughter.
An odd wild feeling rose up inside Chiara.
She could see the swans in her mind’s eye, early that morning, flying out to the sea and she suddenly wanted to run out of the drawing room and keep running until she could go no further.
And then when she stopped running, she wanted the Count to be there, waiting for her and to hold her lightly and tenderly as he had done when they danced.
“Whatever is the matter, darling? You have such a strange look on your face.” Lady Fairfax let go of Chiara’s hand.
“It’s really nothing, Mama,” and Chiara tried hard to make herself smile.
“My darling, you haven’t fallen for someone, have you? For one of the charming young gentlemen you were dancing with? Please tell me you haven’t!”
Lady Fairfax threw her arms around her daughter.
“I cannot let you go, not just yet.”
It was all so unreal, for as much as she loved her Mama and Rensham Hall, as she heard her mother’s words, something deep inside Chiara wanted to escape more than anything.
“Darling, you must be very tired after last night. I am sure that’s why you are looking so pale. You shall take things easy for the rest of today. We are going to be very busy tomorrow.”
The odd bright look came back into her eyes and once again Chiara felt a deep sense of unease.
“Of course, Mama,” she replied, trying to keep a happy expression on her face. “I shall go and lie down.”
But even though her bed was soft and comfortable and the thick curtains were drawn to keep out the bright light of the spring afternoon, Chiara could not sleep.
As soon as she closed her eyes, everything swam before them and she saw again the swirling candelabra and the Count’s eyes looking deeply into hers as they spun and whirled across the ballroom.
*
The next morning at breakfast, Chiara’s feelings of dread and discomfort were banished by the appearance of a letter for her from Ely.
“Mama!” she cried, as she ran her eyes down the lines of Elizabeth’s neat handwriting. “I am going to be a bridesmaid. Arthur has arranged leave from the Army and the wedding has been fixed. Elizabeth will be so happy.”
“Well, well. And when is this to be? I am not sure I can spare you, darling.”
A cloud passed over Lady Fairfax’s face and she looked suddenly worried.
“It’s very soon, Mama. Oh, and Elizabeth will be going to India. That is why they are getting married so quickly. Arthur has been posted out there.”
“Well – I suppose you will not be away for too long and you must not forget in all the excitement that you have a much more important wedding to consider.”
“Of course not, Mama. I shall be a bridesmaid twice!”
Lady Fairfax then raised her eyebrows as if she was about to say something, but, although Chiara was waiting to hear what it was, her Mama remained silent.
Chiara finished her breakfast and helped herself to a handful of sugar lumps.
She was glad to leave the table and go outside into the fresh sunny morning.
Erebus’s white coat shone brightly and he showed no signs of lameness as he trotted up to the paddock gate to greet her.
She stroked his nose and whispered to him, telling him how happy she was that he was better.
But the peaceful moment was then interrupted by a clatter of hooves on the drive. Two riders were rapidly approaching Rensham Hall and Chiara’s heart sank as she recognised the tall silhouette of Mervyn Hunter.
*
“I cannot believe we will
She took Chiara’s hand and squeezed it warmly.
“Forever, my darling!” she continued. “All together at Rensham Hall!”
Lady Fairfax was smiling at her, but there was an odd look in her shining eyes, which Chiara had not seen before, as if she was hiding something.
But perhaps it was just that she was thinking about her wedding and her life with Lord Darley and she felt that she should not talk too much about this with her daughter.
An odd wild feeling rose up inside Chiara.
She could see the swans in her mind’s eye, early that morning, flying out to the sea and she suddenly wanted to run out of the drawing room and keep running until she could go no further.
And then when she stopped running, she wanted the Count to be there, waiting for her and to hold her lightly and tenderly as he had done when they danced.
“Whatever is the matter, darling? You have such a strange look on your face.” Lady Fairfax let go of Chiara’s hand.
“It’s really nothing, Mama,” and Chiara tried hard to make herself smile.
“My darling, you haven’t fallen for someone, have you? For one of the charming young gentlemen you were dancing with? Please tell me you haven’t!”
Lady Fairfax threw her arms around her daughter.
“I cannot let you go, not just yet.”
It was all so unreal, for as much as she loved her Mama and Rensham Hall, as she heard her mother’s words, something deep inside Chiara wanted to escape more than anything.
“Darling, you must be very tired after last night. I am sure that’s why you are looking so pale. You shall take things easy for the rest of today. We are going to be very busy tomorrow.”
The odd bright look came back into her eyes and once again Chiara felt a deep sense of unease.
“Of course, Mama,” she replied, trying to keep a happy expression on her face. “I shall go and lie down.”
But even though her bed was soft and comfortable and the thick curtains were drawn to keep out the bright light of the spring afternoon, Chiara could not sleep.
As soon as she closed her eyes, everything swam before them and she saw again the swirling candelabra and the Count’s eyes looking deeply into hers as they spun and whirled across the ballroom.
*
The next morning at breakfast, Chiara’s feelings of dread and discomfort were banished by the appearance of a letter for her from Ely.
“Mama!” she cried, as she ran her eyes down the lines of Elizabeth’s neat handwriting. “I am going to be a bridesmaid. Arthur has arranged leave from the Army and the wedding has been fixed. Elizabeth will be so happy.”
“Well, well. And when is this to be? I am not sure I can spare you, darling.”
A cloud passed over Lady Fairfax’s face and she looked suddenly worried.
“It’s very soon, Mama. Oh, and Elizabeth will be going to India. That is why they are getting married so quickly. Arthur has been posted out there.”
“Well – I suppose you will not be away for too long and you must not forget in all the excitement that you have a much more important wedding to consider.”
“Of course not, Mama. I shall be a bridesmaid twice!”
Lady Fairfax then raised her eyebrows as if she was about to say something, but, although Chiara was waiting to hear what it was, her Mama remained silent.
Chiara finished her breakfast and helped herself to a handful of sugar lumps.
She was glad to leave the table and go outside into the fresh sunny morning.
Erebus’s white coat shone brightly and he showed no signs of lameness as he trotted up to the paddock gate to greet her.
She stroked his nose and whispered to him, telling him how happy she was that he was better.
But the peaceful moment was then interrupted by a clatter of hooves on the drive. Two riders were rapidly approaching Rensham Hall and Chiara’s heart sank as she recognised the tall silhouette of Mervyn Hunter.
*
“I cannot believe we will
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