‘We’ve begun,’ Jay said. ‘Now all is permitted until dawn.’
‘Anything?’
‘Yes.’
‘So go and ask Lady Catherine — or should I call her Katie? — for a dance.’
‘You should not call her Katie. It may be permitted but that does not mean it is wise.’
‘Coward.’
‘I admit it. Besides, I want nothing more than to talk to you. “I would not want to choose for wealth and not for perfect love.”’
It was a quotation, of course, but not entirely spoiled by the fact that Rosie didn’t notice. In fact, Jay realised with a start, it was just as well she didn’t. The story was of the starving man given a choice between a pig and a beautiful but foolish woman. In the end, after much anguish, he chooses the pig to feed his family, uttering the words as he sends the woman away. Not the best of compliments.
‘What’s this party in aid of? This Festivity, I mean.’
‘It is the fifth Festivity of the rule of Lady Catherine. It marks her accession.’
‘She has it every year?’
‘She should, but Henary tells me that for the last two years she cancelled it. The harvests were bad, and she said it would be better to leave the food with those who needed it.’
‘Good for her.’
‘Not everyone thought so. Some considered it a scandalous break of tradition. Gontal made a fuss about it.’
‘Did you think it scandalous?’
‘I know nothing about it. Only what Henary told me an hour ago. Anyway, the music will begin soon. Let us walk until then.’
‘What about food? I’m starving.’
‘Later.’
The Festivity was magical beyond imagining. Much of the grounds had been taken over and the paths were lit with torches which cast a soft, reassuring light over the hedges and bushes. All around were gaily coloured pavilions and tents, which contained food and drink or music and dancing. Some were put up by guests, for it was a grand thing to have your own tent for such an occasion. At one point a tall masked man bowed deeply to Rosie, leaving her confused about how to respond.
‘Should I have done something there?’ she asked when they had walked past.
‘You should have curtsied back,’ Jay said. ‘It is safe to do so for a while longer. As you did not, he undoubtedly thinks you are haughty and proud. You have humiliated him, and the only good thing to say about it is that there was no one around to watch.’
‘Oh, I’m so sorry! Let’s go back and I’ll apologise. It’s just that he reminded me a little of that horrid man I met in the forest.’
‘That would make things worse. What man?’
‘Before I came across you. There was this man. I said hello and we talked, but then he ran off. It wasn’t important, I suppose, but he was really rude. I didn’t like him in the slightest. Do you know how sometimes you can dislike someone the moment you meet them? And what do you mean, young Jay, when you say “safe to do so for a while longer”?’
‘After night has properly fallen and the stars are out, if you curtsy back to a man you become his companion for the next hour.’
‘Goodness. What for?’
‘To do whatever you wish to do. It’s not a promise of marriage or anything, if that’s what’s worrying you.’
‘I’m glad to hear it.’
‘Best to forget about it now. Explaining why you didn’t respond might take all night. Besides, I am supposed to keep you close.’
‘Are you indeed?’
‘Yes. Henary gave me strict instructions.’
‘Did he? Then you can tell Henary from me that I don’t want him choosing my companions any more. I suppose if it wasn’t for that you would be off with someone else. I’m sorry you have to spend time with me. You must find it a terrible imposition.’
‘No, no, no. Dear Rosalind, I can think of nothing better. I am the luckiest man in the world. Do you think I would be able to accompany a woman of such beauty otherwise?’
She grunted, slightly mollified by the completeness of his apology. ‘I’m sorry. I am a long way from home. Please remember that every time I make a mistake.’
They walked without speaking for a while, until Jay said softly, glad to be able to move on to a new subject, ‘Look, we are at the lake. Shall we take a boat?’
They had indeed arrived at a small jetty which jutted out into a broad lake that had been illuminated by torches on tall poles in the water. On the lake already were half a dozen boats, drifting or being rowed slowly towards the centre. They had lanterns in the rear and were covered in brilliantly coloured cloths.
‘Would you join us, young couple?’ cried a man standing upright in one of the boats. ‘We have space for two more, and I’d welcome another pair of hands.’
‘Gladly, sir, thank you,’ Jay said, and he steered Rosie towards the water. ‘Do you mind?’ he whispered. She shook her head and allowed herself to be handed into the boat, where she sat next to a large woman at the front.
‘The best evening to you,’ said this woman cheerfully. ‘What a splendid occasion this is. I present myself as Renata from Cister. That is my husband, Beltan. Are you comfortable? I do hope your young man is better with boats than mine is. Otherwise we are going to go round in circles and get seasick. Do you care to introduce yourself, my dear?’
All this was delivered in a torrent of good humour that rather reminded Rosie of Mrs Hamilton, the old lady who ran the bed and breakfast for students down the road. She also would begin a conversation with about twenty questions.
‘My name is Rosalind,’ she said, aware of the fact that she was beginning to think of it as her proper name. That reminded her of the young man in the forest again. Of his look, his eyes, and the tingled confusion in her stomach. ‘This is Jay,’ she added.
‘Excellent! Young, tall and strong. That’s the way I like ’em. Master Jay! Pick up that pole and pay the price of youth, if you please.’
Jay laughed and did as instructed, or tried to. In truth, he wasn’t very good. Rosie, who had been taken punting once or twice and had watched students from the river bank, wanted to jump up and show him how it should be done, but it would ruin her clothes and might not be the right thing to do. ‘Make sure the pole goes down fast and straight,’ she called out. ‘Otherwise you’ll push us sideways.’
Jay flushed. ‘It’s just that I’ve seen it done before,’ she said, as she worried that she had humiliated him in front of strangers. ‘Try it.’
Annoyed he might have been, but he followed her advice and soon the little boat was skimming across the surface, with both Renata and Beltan applauding loudly from their cushion-covered seats. ‘Bravo, young man,’ they said. ‘Now could you manage to stop?’
Jay figured it out eventually, and they took up a position close by a sort of pontoon floating in the water. On it was a solitary man and a jumble of what were obviously musical instruments.
‘Just in time,’ someone from another boat called. ‘The music begins in a few moments.’
‘Who is singing?’
‘Aliena, the student of Rambert.’
Beltan gave a laugh of astonishment and delight. ‘Is that the truth, now? This is wonderful, wonderful!’ he cried. ‘We may just have time for some food as well. Tie up the boat, young man, and come and sit with us.’
He patted the seat beside him and then leant forward to open the hamper beside his legs. ‘Chicken! “Bread, wine, fruit and sweetmeats! Come one and all, and eat your fill!”’ he cackled.