"One has to make up one's mind that life never is fair."
"I intend to get something out of it anyway."
"She told me you had asked her for money."
"She would! And why shouldn't she give me something? I helped her. Where would she have been without me? I reckon the noble Earl would not be so keen if he knew he was getting soiled goods."
"Don't be bitter, Janine."
"It's not so much bitterness as sound thinking. She has everything. I have nothing. Well, then, I think it is about time I took a share."
"You will regret this, Janine."
"I am sure I shall not. I want to start a business. I could, I am sure. Making hats. I think I'm quite clever at it. I know someone who has a little shop. If I could find the money I could go in with her. I have to have the money and I don't see why Miss Lavinia Framling should not provide me with some of it."
"You'll need more than fifty pounds."
She looked cunning. "I intend to have it."
"It's blackmail, you know, and that is a crime."
"Would she take me to court? That would be nice, wouldn't it? Miss Lavinia Framling bringing a charge against someone who knew she had an illegitimate child whose existence she was keeping secret. I can see her doing that, can't you?"
"Janine, it is not the way."
"You tell me another."
"I should think you could work ... work and save. You'd be happier that way."
"I certainly should not. In some ways you are a simpleton, Drusilla. The way you've worked to keep that little matter a secret ... and all for her. She's thoroughly selfish. Do you think she would have helped you in the same way?"
"No."
"Then why bother? Let her pay up or take what's coming to her."
She looked fierce and very angry, and I knew there was nothing I could say to divert her.
I looked round the room and she noticed my glance.
"Grim, isn't it?" she said. "You can see why I want to get out of it."
"I do, of course, and I am very sorry. Where were you that night?"
"You remember the Duchess?"
"Yes, I do."
"Her family decided they would take her back. They might have been ashamed of themselves dumping her on Aunt Emily like that—but I think perhaps it was something to do with money. They wanted to have her under their noses so that she couldn't make a will leaving it all to someone else. They didn't trust Aunt Emily. They weren't far wrong on that one. I had to take her home. There was no one else. It was too long a journey to make in one day, so I was to stay the night at the family's stately home. It was a bit different from this, I can tell you."
I nodded.
"So, you see, that's what happened. Everything gone in the fire. The house would have been mine. That was worth something. I could have started some business. But I wouldn't have had to because I would have married Clarence. I'd have been set up for life and now ... nothing. The place wasn't insured. How could Aunt Emily have been so foolish with madmen like George about!"
"But you were lucky not to be there."
"If you can call it luck."
"I've come to ask you to think again."
She shook her head. "No, she's got to pay. She has to give me some of what she's got."
"She doesn't have a large allowance."
"Then I want a share of what she's got, and when she marries her noble lord ..."
"Do you mean you will go on demanding money? You told her that the fifty pounds she gave you would be all."
"Well, it's not. I'm desperate, Drusilla. I'm not going to let a chance like this go by."
"You won't do it, Janine, I know you won't. You'll stop it. Whatever you feel—and I do understand your bitterness—it is wrong."
"It's right for me. It's time someone taught Lavinia Framling a lesson. She always thought she was superior to the rest of us because of that red hair."
"Oh, Janine! Listen. I shall come to see you again. I could take you back with me to the rectory. You could have a holiday with us. We might be able to find some work for you to do. We know a number of people, and if you were recommended by a rector it would be a help. You could stay with us until you found work. Leave this place ..."
She shook her head. "You are good, Drusilla," she said rather gently. "You are worth twenty of Lavinia."
I smiled. "My value has gone up. You told Lavinia twelve."
"I overestimated her. Actually she's not worth anything at all. I'm sorry for this earl. He's going to have a nice dance with her. She's one who can't leave the men alone. I've seen one or two of those in my time."
"I think she may settle down when she marries."
"I know you were top of the class, Drusilla, but you are a babe in arms when it comes to the facts of life."
"Do listen to me."
"I have."
"So you are going on with this ... blackmail."
"I'm going on getting money until I set myself up."
"It's a mistake."
"I'll be judge of that. Did you keep a cab waiting?"
"Yes."
"You'd better go then. He might not wait. He wouldn't believe anyone who came here would be able to pay him. He'll think you've made off."
"He didn't seem to think so and he said he would wait."
"I appreciate what you have done."
"If I hear of anything I shall come along and let you know."
She smiled at me and shook her head.
And that was all I could do at the time with Janine Fletcher, but I did not give up hope.
I avoided telling Polly where I had been. I knew she would have disapproved and told me to keep away. But I was sorry for Janine. I think in a way I always had been. She had had such a strange life; there appeared to have been little affection from Aunt Emily. Janine had been sent to an expensive school because Aunt Emily had had plans for a rich marriage and she must have intended to select one of her clients for her. Poor Clarence had been an ideal young man for the case. Oblivious of what was going on, affectionate to anyone who showed him kindness and rich into the bargain. He was like a puppet to be manipulated, and Aunt Emily had performed the manipulation with skill. And now ... instead of making a desirable marriage, poor Janine was alone and penniless; so she had taken to that most despicable of crimes: blackmail.
I wrote to Lavinia and told her that I had made little headway with Janine. She was adamant.
I could image Lavinia's dismay on reading that letter. She would rage against Janine and perhaps against me for failing to perform the mission satisfactorily. But she had to know the truth.
Polly said, "Is anything wrong, love?"
"No. Why should there be?"
"You seem ... thoughtful. You can tell me, you know. That Dougal ... he seems a bit of a fool to me ... to be taken in by that Lavinia. I like a real man, I must say, one who can see what's what and is not going to make a fool of himself. I think you were a little bit fond of him."
"He is a very charming man, Polly, and clever."
She sniffed. "Bit of a jackass, if you ask me."
"Lots of men fall in love with beauty. Lavinia is really lovely. Going to Court has done a great deal for her and she has some exquisite clothes."
"Men don't marry clothes-horses ... not if they've got any sense."
"Polly, I was not in love with Dougal Carruthers and he did not throw me aside to marry Lavinia. He had never asked me to marry him."
"I thought ..."
"Then you thought wrongly. Lavinia will be a countess. Can you see me as one?"
"Why not? I reckon you could be Queen of England if you wanted to."
"I don't think Prince Albert would think so. And I shouldn't fancy him either ... even if Her Majesty was willing to abdicate in my favour."
"Oh, you!" she said, smiling. "But you know there's nothing you can't tell me."