Part 15 (1/2)
Charlotte said, ”I've been thinking ... I believe it would be better for the Swanns to stay on the sidelines for the moment.”
”I'm not sure I understand,” Alice said, leaning against the gate.
”Ceci said that Hugo was ogling Daphne; that was the word she used. It doesn't really mean anything, does it? Men ogle women all the time.”
”That's true ... you said you thought it was love at first sight, though,” Alice remarked, giving her a very direct look.
”Yes, because Ceci said Hugo had a look of longing on his face. Maybe I shouldn't have jumped to conclusions.”
Alice bit her lip. ”I understand, but you know she can't get involved with him on any level, Charlotte, not in her condition. My G.o.d, what if he somehow found out ... discovered our secret? That would be disastrous!”
”You're up at the house all the time, handling the clothes, and I shall be there more often. Charlie asked me to do some secretarial work for him. We'll just have to keep our eyes wide open, Alice, and mostly focused on Daphne.”
”Yes, you're right. It's the only thing we can do really.”
A reflective look crossed Charlotte's face, and she said quietly, ”When I had a problem, or David had a problem, and we couldn't solve it, he'd just shrug and say, Life usually takes care of itself.' And in this instance, I suppose we must have that same att.i.tude. Let's just leave it alone, and let life take care of itself.”
Alice reached out, touched her arm affectionately. ”That's right, we just have to wait and see what happens. You could be right, maybe it was love at first sight. Then we'll be in a pickle, won't we?”
Charlotte shook her head. ”Not necessarily,” she murmured, and gave Alice a knowing look.
Twenty-six.
Felicity knew within the first few minutes that the supper dance was going to be a great success. First her three eldest daughters, and then her two sons, had exclaimed about the beauty of the rooms in the South Wing, as they arrived in the pale green drawing room. And now Hugo was doing exactly the same.
”I don't know how you managed to do it, but you've turned the green drawing room into a fantastic garden, Felicity,” Hugo said, glancing around. ”It's quite magical, Charles, isn't it? And so are the other two rooms.”
Her husband smiled, nodded, and looked pleased, but made no comment, because he knew as well as she did that she had not had anything to do with it.
Swiftly, Felicity explained, ”I can't take any bows, Hugo, and neither can Charles, for that matter. Hanson and Mrs. Thwaites had the foresight to clear the three main public rooms. They moved some pieces of furniture into various bedrooms, and then the gardeners took over. They brought in the plants and flowers that bedeck this room, the pink dining room, and the blue drawing room as well.”
”And that room looks fantastic, too, Mama,” Guy interjected. ”It never occurred to me that it could be turned into a ballroom. But it works perfectly. It's just the right size. Now we'll know for the next time.”
Felicity smiled. ”Thank you, but as I said, I can't take any accolades this time.”
Diedre had been glancing around for a moment or two, and now she said, ”I love the way this room looks, Mama. It's like a ... painting, yes, that's it. All the colors work together. The pink peonies, the white roses, the blue delphiniums and foxgloves all blend well together. It's very artistically done. I didn't think Bill Swann had that kind of talent. I know he's the head landscape gardener, but this is...” Her voice trailed off when she saw her father staring at her curiously, and frowning.
Charles said, ”Bill is a good head gardener. However, this room was created by someone with genuine artistic ability. Charlotte Swann built this gorgeous indoor garden, as she often used to do for my father when he was alive. I suddenly remembered that the other day, and Charlotte got to work immediately when I asked her. And you're correct, Diedre, it is like a painting.”
”Oh my goodness!” Daphne exclaimed, and they all followed her gaze, saw Dulcie standing in the doorway in her nightgown, her face covered in chocolate, and her hands as well.
”I've come to the party,” she said, and smiled at them.
Felicity took a step forward and stopped, looking down at the lavender chiffon gown she was wearing, thinking of the chocolate on her child. Then she shook her head as she saw DeLacy make a move to hurry to Dulcie. ”Don't go to her,” she said.
”We've either got the greatest escape artist in the world, or we need a new nanny,” Charles exclaimed, glancing at Miles. ”Go and find Miss Carlton, please, and ask her to come for Dulcie.”
”Why don't I just take her to Nanny?” Miles suggested.
”Because somehow she'll manage to get chocolate all over your white s.h.i.+rt and tie,” Charles explained, and shook his head, wondering how Dulcie had found her way to the South Wing.
At this moment, much to everyone's relief, Maureen Carlton, the nanny, appeared, looking fl.u.s.tered and upset. ”I'm so sorry, your ladys.h.i.+p,” she said, addressing Felicity. ”I turned my back for a moment and she managed, somehow, to vanish. I'm so very sorry. Really so sorry.”
”It's all right, Nanny,” Felicity answered in a low voice. ”But I think it would be a good idea to scoop her up right now, and take her back to the nursery. Guests are about to arrive at any moment.”
”Yes, m'lady,” the young woman answered, and swept Dulcie up into her arms; she disappeared as fast as she could.
It was Hugo who broke the silence when he started to chuckle, and soon they were all laughing.
”Thank goodness you didn't go and pick her up, DeLacy,” Miles said. ”Your rose chiffon frock would have been ruined.”
The thought of another ruined frock made DeLacy wince, and she remained silent. The ink-stained white dress would haunt her forever.
Hugo said, ”One must admit, she is rather adorable, though.”
Charles laughed. ”True. And I must admit, I dread to think what she will be like when she's fifteen, and not five.”
”Still a little madam, I've no doubt,” Diedre muttered.
Great-Aunt Gwendolyn, who was standing next to her, whispered, ”Sshhhh, sshhhhh,” and drew her across the room toward a bank of lilies.
Hugo heard Diedre, and he quickly jumped into the conversation, when he said, ”I must compliment you, Aunt Gwen, you do look wonderful in your royal purple tonight. So do all of you, ladies. Very beautiful indeed.”
His eyes lingered a moment too long on Daphne, who was a s.h.i.+mmering sliver of sea colors, in an extraordinary evening gown made entirely of blue, green, and turquoise beads. Her beauty was incomparable.
Suddenly feeling self-conscious, he walked swiftly across the room to Felicity, and took hold of her hand, kissed it. ”You're as lovely as you were sixteen years ago. Charles is an awfully lucky man, Felicity, awfully lucky indeed. How I envy him.”
She smiled, and touched his arm in an affectionate manner, then answered in her low, soft voice, ”Thank you, Hugo. You always were very gallant, and hopefully you'll meet a fine woman one day who will become a lovely companion, and your wife perhaps.”
”I hope so, yes.”
At this moment Hanson arrived, accompanied by two footmen.
Charles looked across at him questioningly. ”Are the guests arriving?”
”Yes, my lord, they are. And all at once, it seems.”
Felicity sat with Lady Gwendolyn on a sofa at one end of the blue sitting room, which had been transformed into a ballroom.
Furniture had been moved around so that it encircled the room. It was set against the walls, and the large Persian rug had been removed to reveal a wood floor. An array of potted palms, flowering shrubs, and urns of flowers gave the room a garden feeling, as in the pale green drawing room and the rose-pink dining room.