Part 8 (2/2)
”I intend to discard every st.i.tch that I own now,” her cousin went on, ”every single thing, and they are all yours.”
”Thank you, dearest,” Torilla said. ”It is very very kind of you.”
At the same time she could not help wondering what use she would have for Beryl's lovely gowns in Barrowfield. The material would be too fragile to be cut up for miners' wives and their children, although she was quite certain her father would have expected her to do just that if it was possible.
”I shall have new fans, new reticules, new sunshades, new slippers and new gloves!”
Beryl flung herself back against the soft cus.h.i.+ons on the sofa, as she went on, ”I am not being extravagant, Torilla, but sensible! Gallen admires smart and elegant women. In fact I am the only girl, if that is what you can call me, in whom he has ever shown the slightest interest.”
She sat up again, rested her chin on her hand and added reflectively, ”I shall have to be very sophisticated to please him and quite frankly, Torilla, he will be tricky as a husband.”
”What do you mean by that?”
”Judging from his past history he not only has an eye for a horse but also for a pretty woman.”
”Are you really expecting him to be a unfaithful?” Torilla asked in a shocked little voice.
”For goodness sake, Torilla, grow up!” Beryl replied. ”Of course Gallen will have his flirtations as I shall have mine, but I have to be very careful that no one supplants me. I know only too well what women are like where a man as rich and important as Gallen is concerned.”
”Supplants you?” Torilla repeated. ”Do you mean he would run away with another woman?”
”No, of course not! People in our world do not cause scandals of that sort a not unless they are crazy.”
She spoke rather sharply.
Then, as she saw the expression on Torilla's face, she said more gently, ”You always were out of touch with reality, Torilla. What I am trying to say is that if a man is really bored with his wife he can make life very unpleasant for her.”
Beryl's voice was hard as she continued, ”She can be left in the country for months on end with no one but the children to talk to a or he can keep her short of money like that odious Lord Boreham!”
She paused as if remembering His Lords.h.i.+p's parsimony, then finished, ”In fact there are a thousand ways that a wife can be made to feel unwanted and miserable!”
She rose to her feet, as she continued firmly, ”I have every intention of keeping Gallen at my side, but I am not going to pretend it will be easy.”
”If he a loved you,” Torilla said tentatively, ”it might be very a different.”
”He is fond enough of me,” Beryl answered, ”and quite frankly I don't think Gallen has ever been in love with anyone except himself and his horses.”
Again she looked at Torilla's expression and laughed.
”Don't look so worried, dearest! I shall have my fun too. Lord Newall is crazily wildly in love with me. Do you know the other night he produced a pistol and declared that either I must let him kiss me or he would blow his brains out!”
”Did he mean it?” Torilla asked breathlessly.
”I did not take the risk of finding out!” Beryl replied mischievously.
”You mean a you let him a kiss you?”
”Of course I did and very pleasant it was too, if you want to know.”
Torilla opened her lips to expostulate. Then she asked herself how she could criticise Beryl after what had happened on her way South?
”We had better go to bed,” Beryl said. ”Papa is coming home tomorrow and after that the balloon will go up!”
”What do you mean by that?”
”Mama insisted on Papa being with her in London when the announcement of my engagement appeared in The Gazette. They will have been receiving congratulations all today and tomorrow and make no mistake about it, the hordes of callers will arrive here.”
Beryl gave a little laugh.
”It will amuse me to see the people who have criticised me during the past few years now fawning at my feet. They will not wish to quarrel with the future Marchioness of Havingham!”
The two girls went up the stairs arm-in-arm and Beryl came with Torilla into her bedroom.
”I am longing to go on talking to you,” she said, ”but I am sure, dearest, that you are tired, and I must have my 'beauty sleep'.”
She glanced at her reflection in the mirror as she spoke as if to rea.s.sure herself that it was really unnecessary and then she remarked, ”I expect Gallen also will arrive tomorrow and then you will see that all I have told you about him is not exaggerated.”
She kissed Torilla, then opened the communicating door between the two rooms.
”Goodnight, my dear, good little Torilla. I am sorry I have shocked you! We must not forget your bridesmaid's gown when we go to London. I want you to look very attractive, but I warn you, I brook no rivals!”
”As though anyone could rival you,” Torilla replied as she had said to Abby.
”You would be surprised how many people try,” Beryl retorted as she closed the door behind her.
The following day Torilla found that Beryl had not exaggerated when she had said that 'the balloon would go up'. From early in the morning grooms arrived with invitations, letters of congratulation, bouquets of flowers and presents.
Beryl was as excited about them as she had been with her Christmas gifts as a child.
”Read the flattering things old Lord G.o.dolphin says!” she exclaimed thrusting a letter into Torilla's hand. ”He is a ghastly old hypocrite. He has hated me ever since I was fifteen when he tried to kiss me and I punched him in the stomach.”
”It is certainly a very pleasant letter,” Torilla commented quietly.
”Toadying old fool!” Beryl exclaimed.
The presents were disappointing.
”That makes three silver entree dishes already! You would think people would realise that Gallen has the best family silver in England, most of which dates back to the reign of Charles II.”
She pushed the entree dishes aside disdainfully.
”I suppose we can always use them for the dogs,” she laughed.
There were a large number of people to add to the wedding list that Beryl had forgotten.
When the Earl of Fernleigh walked into the salon, it was to find not only lists scattered all over the floor, but also pieces of paper, boxes, presents and several bouquets of flowers.
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