Harper’s Green was in a state of great excitement. It was the most dramatic event since Josiah Dorian had hanged himself in the Bell House stable.
“The things that happen in this place!” said Lily.
“It makes you wonder what’s coming next.”
Aunt Sophie said it was an odd business.
“Why did they have to elope? If he’s all he makes out to be there wouldn’t be any objection. Planning a grand wedding would have been a real tonic to Mrs. St. Aubyn, and I can’t believe that Tamarisk wouldn’t have liked that. It looks a bit fishy to me, as though the gentleman might not want too much probing.”
Gaston Marchmont stayed at St. Aubyn’s with the bride. That was to be until he had sorted out his affairs and they could get a home of their own.
The day after their return, I met Crispin riding back from Devizes. He stopped when he saw me and dismounted.
“Are you sure,” he asked, ‘that you didn’t know of Tamarisk’s plans?”
“Absolutely sure.”
“So she gave you no hint?”
“Of course not.”
He was looking very angry.
I said: “I think she is very happy, isn’t she? It was what she wanted.”
He stared ahead, his mouth grim.
“She is completely ignorant,” he said.
“This is an impulsive act which could ruin her life. She is just out of school.”
I felt my indignation rising. That was what he thought of me. A child just out of school.
“But they are in love!” I said.
“In love!” he retorted scornfully.
“You may not believe it but some people do fall in love.”
He looked at me impatiently.
“If she gave you a hint of what was in her mind, you should have warned me, or someone.”
“She didn’t, I keep telling you, and if she had, why should I have reported it to you? You would have tried to spoil it for them. ”
I walked away. I felt very upset. He did not care for people’s feelings. I had begun to think that he was interested in me only mildly though but I supposed it was only due to the fact that I visited Lucy and Flora Lane. He was still the same man who had said in my hearing, “Who is that plain child?”
I had not seen Rachel since Tamarisk’s return and one afternoon I called at the Bell House.
I found her where I had expected, in the orchard by the stream. I was horrified by her air of dejection.
I sat down beside her and said, “Rachel, what is it?”
“You have heard that Tamarisk and Gaston are married?”
“Everyone is talking about it.”
“I just could not believe it, Freddie. When they went away together”
“I suppose we might have guessed it was something like that.”
She was silent, and I said: “Rachel, were you in love with him?”
I put an arm round her and she shivered.
I went on with sudden inspiration: “And he let you believe …”
She nodded.
“I never thought he was sincere,” I said.
“He talked in that extravagant way to all the girls, or for that matter to Aunt Sophie and Mrs. St. Aubyn. One just knew it didn’t really mean anything.”
“It meant something to us,” said Rachel.
“Do you mean … ?”
“He told me he loved me and all the time it was really Tamarisk.”
“He danced a lot with her at the ball and they had supper together.”
“I thought that was just because …”
“Didn’t you realize that all those flattering compliments didn’t mean a thing?”
“It wasn’t like that, Freddie, not with us. It was some thing serious.
And then he just went off and married Tamarisk. “
“Poor Rachel. You didn’t understand. It didn’t mean anything.”
“It did! It did! I know it did.”
“Then why … why did he marry Tamarisk?”
“I suppose it is because she is who she is. She’s rich, isn’t she? She is bound to be. She’s a St. Aubyn.”
“Well, if that’s the reason, you’re well rid of him. He’s not like Daniel. Daniel really loves you, not anything you can bring him.”
“You talk like an old aunt, Freddie. You don’t understand.”
“I understand that he led you to think he was in love with you and then went off and married Tamarisk.”
She said desperately: “Yes, yes. That’s what he has done.”
“Well then, you are well rid of him. It is Tamarisk whom we should be sorry for.”
“I would do anything to be where she is.”
“Be reasonable. Daniel loves you. You like him. He’ll be a good husband, because he is a good man. Oh, I know he doesn’t dance well and travel around and know how everything should be done in top circles. That doesn’t count for much. It’s goodness … fidelity.”
“Don’t go on like that, Freddie. It’s like some sermon. I can’t bear it.”
“All right,” I said.
“But I’m glad it wasn’t you he married. Actually, I think Tamarisk has made a big mistake. Crispin St. Aubyn thinks so too.”
I have reported it to you? You would have tried to spoil it for them. ”
I walked away. I felt very upset. He did not care for people’s feelings. I had begun to think that he was interested in me-only mildly though but I supposed it was only due to the fact that I visited Lucy and Flora Lane. He was still the same man who had said in my hearing, “Who is that plain child?”
I had not seen Rachel since Tamarisk’s return and one afternoon I called at the Bell House.
I found her where I had expected, in the orchard by the stream. I was horrified by her air of dejection.
I sat down beside her and said, “Rachel, what is it?”
“You have heard that Tamarisk and Gaston are married?”
“Everyone is talking about it.”
“I just could not believe it, Freddie. When they went away together . ”
“I suppose we might have guessed it was something like that.”
She was silent, and I said: “Rachel, were you in love with him?”
I put an arm round her and she shivered.
I went on with sudden inspiration: “And he let you believe …”
She nodded.
“I never thought he was sincere,” I said.
“He talked in that extravagant way to all the girls, or for that matter to Aunt Sophie and Mrs. St. Aubyn. One just knew it didn’t really mean anything.”
“It meant something to us,” said Rachel.
“Do you mean … ?”
“He told me he loved me and all the time it was really Tamarisk.”
“He danced a lot with her at the ball and they had supper together.”
“I thought that was just because …”
“Didn’t you realize that all those flattering compliments didn’t mean a thing?”
“It wasn’t like that, Freddie, not with us. It was something serious.
And then he just went off and married Tamarisk. “
“Poor Rachel. You didn’t understand. It didn’t mean anything.”
“It did! It did! I know it did.”
“Then why … why did he marry Tamarisk?”
“I suppose it is because she is who she is. She’s rich, isn’t she? She is bound to be. She’s a St. Aubyn.”
“Well, if that’s the reason, you’re well rid of him. He’s not like Daniel. Daniel really loves you, not anything you can bring him.”
“You talk like an old aunt, Freddie. You don’t understand.”
“I understand that he led you to think he was in love with you and then went off and married Tamarisk.”
She said desperately: “Yes, yes. That’s what he has done.”
“Well then, you are well rid of him. It is Tamarisk whom we should be sorry for.”
“I would do anything to be where she is.”
“Be reasonable. Daniel loves you. You like him. He’ll be a good husband, because he is a good man. Oh, I know he doesn’t dance well and travel around and know how everything should be done in top circles. That doesn’t count for much. It’s goodness … fidelity.”