Part 33 (1/2)
”Hmm,” said Eldric.
”My dear Rose,” said Leanne. ”You're quite the artist too.”
Good thing she couldn't go after Rose. Good thing the Dark Muse only preyed on men.
”Rosy Posy,” said Rose, but not to Leanne. ”Briony Vieny.”
”Our names match up,” I said.
”Quite right,” said Rose.
”Our names match up, but the moons don't match up.”
”You are exceedingly correct,” said Rose.
”Did we have a conversation about this before, Rose? When I was ill?”
”Yes,” said Rose.
It had been a conversation about how one might describe midnight. I remember being rather breezy and saying that ten minutes before midnight looked just like midnight. Rose had said that was no good.
”Is the one with the moon straight overhead meant to represent midnight, and the other represent before midnight?”
”It doesn't represent,” said Rose. ”It is.”
”Is it then?”
”You are exceedingly correct.”
But there I stuck. Rosy Posy and Briony Vieny? Babies at midnight?
They oughtn't to be up so late.
”Don't stop thinking,” said Rose. ”Otherwise you won't get well.”
”I'm thinking,” I said. ”But Rose-”
”I prefer Rosy Posy.”
”But Rosy Posy.” I had to make her understand that I was neither ill nor injured. ”How is this going to cure unhappy thoughts?”
”You won't have to think them anymore.”
Twilight crept upon us; we tore into the packet of biscuits. Eldric offered a share to Leanne, but she cared only for the homemade kind. We leaned against the warm boulders. Shop-bought biscuits are delicious! Too bad for Leanne.
”Don't stop thinking,” said Rose.
”Can you give us a hint, Rosy Posy?”
”It's against the rules.”
My attempts to work out Rose's secret felt rather as though I were performing brain surgery by the light of a glowworm. ”I believe you're too clever for us, Rosy Posy.”
I held out my forefinger.
”Yes,” said Rose, touching her finger to mine.
Rose lay back on the perfect picnic quilt. She closed her eyes, but she was still smiling. ”This is how I want to live my life.”
The rest of us sat in silence while mist and moon and moorland worked themselves into a lather of romance. Leanne was doubtless wis.h.i.+ng me and Rose far away. All that lather, but no privacy for a two-person scrub.
”Except I want you to know the secret,” said Rose, her eyes still closed.
”I'm trying, Rosy Posy.”
”Does everyone have a secret, do you suppose?” said Eldric.
”Mine's a mad husband in the attic,” I said.
Leanne laughed. It struck me I'd never heard her laugh before. ”This is not a proper secret,” she said, ”but I don't tell many people, as it sounds hideously conceited. I know I can trust the three of you to understand what I mean to say.”
But there were only two of us now, for Rose was asleep. Her dreaming eyes s.h.i.+fted beneath b.u.t.terfly eyelids. She wanted to be called Rosy Posy. She had an unconscious, of course she did. This is how I want to live my life. How could I ever have doubted she was a real girl?
”I'm not an artist myself,” said Leanne, ”but I believe my gift is working with artists, bringing their works to life. Teasing out of the artist the very best that he can do.”
And gobbling him up! Just look at her-all pearly eyes and come-hither teeth.
”I quite agree,” said Eldric. ”That's clearly your gift.”
How did he mean it? Not, I hoped, in the way Leanne took it. Look at her smile. She thought it a compliment.
”What's your secret, Eldric?” said Leanne.
”The problem I have with telling my secret,” said Eldric, ”is that it's a secret.”
”There's no one you would tell?” said Leanne.
”One person, perhaps,” said Eldric. ”But as there are three of you here, this cannot be the time to reveal it.”
One person, perhaps. Rosy Posy knew how she wanted to live her life. Briony Vieny would like to live hers knowing Eldric's secret.
26.
A Proper Punch I raised my hand to knock at Eldric's door. Go on, Briony; don't be a coward. You have to talk to him again about Leanne.
Go on, knock!