Part 14 (2/2)
But Vulcan was quite conventionally garbed, in fact his cravat was as well tied as either of his cousins' and his clothes fitted him just as elegantly.
The difference, Astara thought, was that he gave the impression of being supremely unconscious that they were of any importance.
”Vulcan, my dear, boy!” Sir Roderick exclaimed. ”This is a delightful surprise !”
”You must forgive me, Uncle Roderick, for not calling on you sooner,” Vulcan replied, ”but to tell the truth I have been so busy that it was only to-day I opened your letter. ”
”Better late than never! ” Sir Roderick exclaimed. ”I cannot tell you how glad I am to see you ! ”
”And I to see you!” Vulcan answered. ”I think it must be four years since we last met.”
”Nearer five,” Sir Roderick replied, ”and I almost despaired of ever catching up with you again I”
”Well, I am here now,” Vulcan smiled, ”and it s nice to think that you are in England, and Worfield House is open.”
”As it will always be to you, ” Sir Roderick answered. ”But now, let me introduce you to my Ward!”
Astaras eyes had been on Vulcan's face all the time he was talking to Sir Roderick, and now as it seemed that he noticed her for the first time, she felt the colour rise in her cheeks.
He was completely composed and she knew she had been right in thinking that when he read the letter she had written on Sir Roderick's instructions he had realised who she was.
He bowed and she curtsied. Then Sir Roderick was saying: ”Your two cousins are here, as you see. Both William and Lionel were certain as you did not reply to my letter that you must be in some far-off part of the Globe.”
”No, I was only at Little Milden, ” Vulcan replied. ”How are you, William? ”
He nodded to William, then held out his hand to Lionel.
”We have not met for a very long time, ” he said, ”but I heard that you were decorated at Waterloo. Many congratulations!”
”I was lucky,” Lionel answered.
”I envied you,” Vulcan said. ”It must have been a great experience.”
”It was!” Lionel replied.
His eyes lit up as if he was pleased that Vulcan understood what it had meant to him.
”I thought you were beach-combing somewhere on the Equator!” William said in a supercilious manner. ”The last time I heard of your exploits you were on a cargo s.h.i.+p bound for the East Coast of Africa.”
”That was some years ago, ” Vulcan answered. ”It proved to be quite an interesting journey. ”
”I shall want to hear all about it, my dear boy, ” Sir Roderick said, ”but before we start reminiscing, let me suggest a gla.s.s of champagne.”
The footmen were already in the room pouring the wine into crystal gla.s.ses-which only Astara refused.
With his gla.s.s in his hand Vulcan looked up at the picture over the mantelpiece. Astara watched him, wondering what his reaction would be.
He stared at it for some seconds, then she saw a twinkle in his eyes and knew without saying so, that he understood the inner meaning behind the letter he had received from his uncle.
”'The Judgement of Paris', ” he said aloud. ”I have always liked Van Aachen's paintings. ”
”It is Astara 's favourite,” Sir Roderick said. ”There is no doubt that he was a great technician, but it is not really to my taste.”
Astara waited for Vulcan's reply. Then he said: ”I think he portrays more successfully than most what lies beneath the surface.
Astara felt her heart give a little leap.
He did understand! He did know why she liked that picture better than the others of more repute which hung round the walls.
As if he knew what she was feeling Vulcan fumed and looked at her.
Just for a moment everyone else in the room vanished, they were alone and she was close to him.
Then as Astara was unable to do, he looked away and said: ”I see you have acquired some new pictures, Uncle Roderick. I shall look forward to your telling me about them.”
”There will be plenty of time for that, ” Sir Roderick replied, ”but now dinner is ready.”
It was a strange meal, Astara thought, as they sat in the big Dining-Room making, because they were such a small party, a little island of light.
She found it almost impossible to eat, and was acutely aware of the undercurrents of feeling around the table.
Because of Sir Roderick's obvious delight at seeing Vulcan and the interest he was showing in him William was clearly annoyed while Lionel was, Astara knew, watching her almost apprehensively.
She thought that because he loved her, he sensed that she had an interest in Vulcan which was far from normal to-wards a man to whom she had only just been introduced.
She tried to hide her feelings, and yet it was impossible not to fmd her eyes continually drawn to Vulcan's face, not to listen intently to everything he was saying.
She felt as if they vibrated magnetically to each other across the table.
Astara was sitting on Sir Roderick's right while Vulcan was on the left. William was on the other side and Lionel next to Vulcan As if he was determined that she should attend to him William said in a commanding manner: ”I want to talk to you after dinner.”
”What about?” Astara enquired.
”I will tell you when we are alone.”
She did not reply and because she thought William was being rather tiresome, she deliberately turned to join in the conversation which Sir Roderick was having with Vulcan. To her astonishment she heard Sir Roderick say: ”You must tell me, dear boy, in detail about Harrar.” Astara looked at him in surprise as Sir Roderick continued : ”I am told no white man has ever entered it and lived.” ”Do you mean .. Harrar in ... Abyssinian Somaliland ?”
Astara exclaimed. ”But you cannot have been there!” Her father had told her about Harrar many years ago.
It was the centre, he had said, of the East African slave trade as well as a seat of Moslem. culture.
Strange and mysterious legends abounded about the impregnable city, but although it was a place her father had longed to visit her mother had dissuaded him because even to attempt to enter Harrar was incredibly dangerous.
”Who told you I have been to Harrar?” Vulcan asked Sir Roderick.
”I have my ways of knowing these things,” his uncle replied.
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