Menfreya in the Morning (24 page)

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Menfreya in the Morning

Victoria Holt

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Bevil’s career began to obsess me as it did him. I was delighted to find that, although he was ambitious—he dreamed of Cabinet office and the ultimate prize of the premiership— he really had the good of his constituents at heart and was determined to make himself as accessible as possible. This meant a great deal of hard work; there was a constant stream of people to see, a tremendous amount of correspondence; and although William Lister was very efficient, there were many ways in which I could make myself useful

I was happier than I had ever been.

It has always astonished me how changes come into one’s life. The gradual change becomes acceptable, but sudden shock, presenting itself without warning to shatter the existence so completely that nothing will ever be the same again, makes me uneasily aware of the perpetual uncertainties of life.

That is what happened to me on that April morning. There were wild violets under the hedges and cowslips in the meadows, and I was waking every morning to find my room full of sunshine and the sound of the waves as they slowly advanced and retreated in a steady, soothing rhythm.

It was BeviTs day for receiving people in his Lansella chambers, and I was alone that morning as he had work to do there with William Lister. I went down to deviled kidneys and bacon which were in a chafing dish on the sideboard. Breakfast was from seven-thirty till nine at Menfreya, and this morning, as neither of my parents-in-law were down and Bevil had already left, I was alone. I was studying the papers carefully when one of the servants brought in the letters and laid them on the table.

I glanced at them, and the handwriting on one of them made me catch my breath.

Gwennan’s!

I slit open the envelope. There was a Plymouth address at the top of the letter. I read:

“Dear Harriet, This is like old times, isn’t it? I expect you’ve been wondering what has been happening to me all this time. I am about to satisfy your curiosity, if you still have it and want it satisfied. This is between us two. I want to see you first and in secret Will you come to this address either today or tomorrow. I shall be here. There is a condi-

tion. You must eome alone and tell no one. I hope you w ill. I rely on you.

Gwennaii.

“P.S. It’s easy to find. When you come out of the station turn right, then turn left as far as you can go. Turn right again and you’ll see it. No. 20. I shall be waiting.”

She knew then that I was at Menfreya; she knew that I was married to Bevil, for the letter was addressed to Mrs. Menfrey. I was thankful that I had been alone when I received it

As I walked through those streets, which grew more and more squalid with every step, I was being prepared for what I should find. Number 20 was a three-storied house in the final stages of decay. The front door was open, and as I stepped into a hall an old woman called out to me. She was sitting in a rocking chair in a room on the right, the door of which was wide open. I saw a line of washing in the room and several children in ragged garments.

“I want Mrs. Bellairs,” I told her.

“Right at the top,” she said.

I felt sickened as I mounted those rickety stairs; it wasn’t the smell; it wasn’t the obvious dirt and poverty; it was the fear of what I should find when I opened that door beyond which Gwennan was waiting for me.

I knocked. I heard her voice, with the lilt in it which was so like Bevil’s.

“Harriet So you came … you angell”

“Gwennan.” I stood there staring at her. Where was my beautiful Gwennan with the scornful, flashing eyes, the springing, tawny hair, the Menfrey look? In her place was an emaciated woman, so gaunt that it took me some seconds to assure myself that it was Gwennan. Her body was wrapped in a dressing gown that might once have been gay. I noticed it was torn in places.

I could have wept at the change hi her since I had last seen her. I wanted to hide from her the horror in my face, so I drew her to me and held her fast

“Oh, Harriet … you sentimental creature! You always were, I knew it”

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“You had better tell me everything,” I said. “Where is Benedict Bellairs?”

“I don’t know.”

“So you’ve left him?”

She nodded. “It was the biggest mistake I ever made, Harriet, when I ran away with him.”

“So it went wrong?”

“Almost from the start. He thought that I had money of my own. He’d heard of the Menfreys … old family … traditions, and the rest. And then … I brought nothing.”

“So you found your marriage was a mistake and …**

“It wasn’t exactly a marriage. I thought it was, but he was married already. I was a simpleton, Harriet. It didn’t take much subtlety to deceive me. I went through a form of marriage … but he didn’t even commit bigamy for my sake. It was a friend of his who played the parson. Another actor, so he did it rather well.”

“Gwennan!’*

“You look shocked. I read about you in the papers. ‘Daughter of Lansella’s late M.P. marries the present Member. Miss Harriet Delvaney, daughter of the late Sir Edward, was married to Mr. Bevil Menfrey, M.P. for Lamella and district.* So, Harriet, you got your wish then. You always wanted Bevil, didn’t you?”

I nodded.

She smiled rather sadly. ‘Tell me what happened when I leftr

The same Gwennan I Her own affairs were always more interesting than those of others, and she made no attempt to hide this.

“Consternation,”

“III bet there was. And Harry?”

“He was heartbroken.”

“Poor Harry! He would have been a good husband to me.”

“What happened after this … mock marriage?”

“I became ‘with child,* as they say.**

“You have a child?”

“It’s for that reason that I’ve asked you here really. Tm sinking my pride for him.”

“Where is he?”

She went to a door and opened it. In a small room was an old wicker basket, and in this a child lay asleep. He was

pale-faced and not very clean, but he had the Menfrey tawny hair, and I recognized him as one of them.

“Benedict,” she said gently.

“Benedict Bellairs,” I added.

“Benedict Menfrey,” she corrected me.

“Of course.”

“It’s a difficult situation, Harriet”

I agreed, “Why did you ask me? Tell me everything, Gwennan.”

“I asked you because you’re one of the family now and I expect more help from you than the others. I want to come back to Menfreya, Harriet. I can’t stand this life any longer. And I want him brought up at Menfreya,”

“Well, of course you’ll come back.”

“And how explain … ?”

“It could be done. You’ve lost your husband, so you’ve come home. It’s a delicate situation but could be arranged.”

“I wouldn’t come unless they wanted me.”

“But, Gwennan, of course they’ll want you. You belong to them.”

“Dear old Harriet. You’ve got such nice thoughts. Harriet, we real Menfreys—not those by marriage—may not be so land. I want to come back. I want my baby to come back. But I don’t want any recriminations. I don’t want any grudging admittance.”

“You want them to kill the fatted calf for the prodigal daughter?”

“No. I want to come back … and I want you to arrange it And I want Benedict to be known as Menfrey. I want to forget there was ever such a person as Benedict Bellairs.”

“But the boy is named after himl”

“Well, we were together when he was born. It was only afterwards … when I didn’t get well again … that things really went wrong between us.”

“When you didn’t get well again? You’re fll, Gwennan. You dont look …”

“I’m no beauty now, you mean. IVe been through hard times, Harriet”

“I can see it. Tell me what’s wrong, Gwennan.”

**Oh … nothing that the sea breezes can’t cure.” ,,!*What are you doing now? How are you living?” ; fine shrugged her shoulders.

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“Oh, Gwennan, you must come back with me,” I cried in horror.

“We’d look well walking together, wouldn’t we? The M.P.’s wife, the lady of elegance, and what I’ve become.”

“I can’t leave you here.”

“I want you to go back and tell them that you’ve seen me. I want to be invited back to Menfreya. I hoped I would never have to do this, but I am doing it now.”

“Ill go back at once. But you should come with me Gwennan. I hate leaving you here.”

She shook her head.

“You’re coming back with me,” I insisted.

“When Bevil or my father comes to fetch me, Harriet**

“I shall go straight back, and they’ll be here today.”

“Will they, do you think?”

“Of course they wilL I shall insist.”

“You, Harriet?”

She laughed.

I emptied my purse, leaving myself just a few shillings I might need on the return journey, and I was angry with myself because I had not brought more with me.

I kissed her and left her.

“Ill see you soon,” I said.

I ran to the station, and while I waited for the train I sat thinking of her hi a hundred different scenes. Gwennan on horseback riding through the lanes about Menfreya; at the Chough Towers ball; going into Plymouth to be fitted for her wedding dress. I could not bear to remember her as she bad been and think of her as she was now.

How long that journey seemed, and when I arrived at Uskeard, as I had not known what time I should return, I had to take the local train to Menfreystow and then walk back to Menfreya.

I was about to run into the house when Bevil came riding into the courtyard.

“Bevil,” I cried. “I must speak to you at once.”

“I’ve something to tell you”

He was excited, but my thoughts were so full of Gwennan that I could think of nothing else. He called to one of the grooms to take his horse and he followed me into the house.

“Bevil… come up to our room. I want to talk to you.”

He took my arm. “You’ll never guess. It*s incredible. What do you think, Harriet?”

“Bevil, I must tell you. I’ve been to Plymouth …”

“Harry Leveret. He’s standing against me. What do you think of it? Have you ever heard anything like it?”

“Bevil, I’ve …”

“Of course, I don’t think he’s got much of a chance. But it’s going to be more of a fight than I anticipated. A local man like this … !”

He did not notice how overwrought I was. He could think of nothing but the new situation created by Harry Leveret’s standing against him.

We reached our room. I shut the door and blurted out: “I’ve seen Gwennan.”

That shook him. He stared at me blankly for a few seconds; then he said sharply: “Where?”

“In a squalid room in Plymouth.”

“Good God!”

“She’s got a child.”

“And this… actor?”

“She’s left him. She was never really married to him.”

He was bewildered. I could see him trying to imagine this terrible thing which had happened to proud Gwennan; and at the same time one thought would keep intruding into his concern for his sister. He was picturing her coming back to Menfreya with her child. There would be scandalized comments; his father’s indiscretions would be recalled. “These wild Menfreys,” they would say. “Are they the people we want to represent us in London?” And there was Harry Leveret, waiting, ready to slip into Bevil’s place.

“She’s ill. She wants the boy to be brought up here … as a Menfrey.”

“It can’t be, Harriet!” he said, and his voice was almost a whisper.

“When you’ve seen her, Bevil, you’ll realize it must be.”

*There must be some way out of this. Well take care of her, but if she comes here … with a child and no husband … and a possible election hi view.”

“I know it will be difficult,” I said. “But this is Gwennan.”

“You must leave this to me,” he replied firmly.

I looked at him intently, wondering how well I knew my husband. I was disappointed. I bad thought he would feel as I did, and that was that we must tell the family at once of Owennan’s plight, and we must bring her back to Menfreya Without delay.

168 Menfreya in the Morning

“I will go and see her tomorrow,” he said. “In the meantime say nothing to the others.”

I had to be satisfied with that I was certain that when he saw Gwennan he would be as horrified and moved as I was, and I was sure that Gwennan would soon be home.

It was late the next day when Bevil returned from Plymouth. I was alarmed when he came alone.

I was waiting for him as he entered the house.

“Gwennan…” I began.

“She’s all right,” he said. “You needn’t worry.”

“All right? But…”

“She decided that she wouldn’t come back, after aU.”

“Wouldn’t come back! But…”

“She saw what it would mean if she did. She didn’t want to make trouble. She says that she’s caused enough already. She’ll be well looked after.”

I was suddenly angry. He had been there, talking to her, making her see how her presence might influence bis career. He had made it impossible for her to come back.

“I’m going to see her,” I said. “I’m going to talk to her.”

He shrugged his shoulders. “Don’t you believe me, Harriet?” he asked coldly. He was tired, I could see—physically and emotionally. I understood that Gwennan’s return would not send up the family’s credit in the neighborhood, but it seemed to me that the only thing that mattered was that we should look after her.

“I don’t know what to believe,” I said.

“In that case, rest assured that I have done all I could for her.”

“All you could?” I demanded. “For whom? For Gwennan or the good name of the family, which is so important now with an election pending?”

“For heaven’s sake, Harriet, don’t be a fool! It hasn’t been very pleasant, I can tell you. Gwennan won’t come home. But she will be all right. She’ll have an allowance, and the child will be cared for. You didn’t mention this to my mother? She’d be most upset”

I shook my head.

I went up to our bedroom and sat at the window overlooking the sea. I thought: He was determined not to have her back. He thinks it’s enough to see that she has money. But it isn’t enough. She’s crying out for Menfreya. I thought