Midsummer's Eve

"It seems necessary for a young lady to be launched. You'll have a season of course ... parties and balls and that sort of thing.”

I grimaced.

"Oh come, Annora, you'll enjoy it. You've got to see the world. You can't be shut away in Cornwall forever. One day you'll marry. It's a good idea to meet people first.”

"It seems a bit crude. Helena thought so ... being paraded to show your charms like cattle at a show ... and if you don't come up to standard it must be awful.”

"Poor Helena," said my mother. "She's a nice girl. I sometimes think men are quite stupid. They pass over the girls who would make the best wives.”

"I'm glad Uncle Peter isn't my father. He's too ambitious ... for himself and for his children.”

My mother's mouth hardened in the accustomed way when he was mentioned and I wished I had not brought him into the conversation.

"Yes," she said. "You're lucky. I always thought my father was the best in the world, but you are as lucky in that respect as I was.”

I flung my arms around her. "I know. That's why I'm so sorry for Helena ... though I don't think he has actually said anything. It is just that he is there and everything he does goes right. Papa is wonderful and everything he does is right, but he doesn't make you feel ... degraded ... if you are not so good yourself.”

"He wants you to be happy ... above everything ... and so do I.”

"I know.”

"Do you like Rolf?" she went on.

"Why do you ask?”

"I just wondered. I don't think he's indifferent to you.”

I felt flustered. I stammered. "Yes ... I like him all right.”

"Just that?”

"Oh ... I like him ... very much, I suppose.”

She smiled. "Your father and I like him very much.”

I did not answer and she changed the subject.

At the beginning of June we left Cador. Jacco was to join us later, my father, my mother and I travelled alone. We were to spend a few days in London before going to Eversleigh. We went to the family house in Albemarle Street and the very next day Amaryllis and Helena came to see us.

They invited us to dine that evening-an invitation which we were Alighted to accept.

I thought Helena looked happier than I had seen her for a long time, and I wondered what had happened.

While her mother was talking to my parents she and I slipped up to my room and she was all eagerness to tell me.

"What's happened?" I demanded as soon as we were alone.

"I ... I've met someone.”

"Oh?”

"He's so charming, Annora. I have never met anyone who is so nice and so kind. That's what I like about him. He's not like any other young man. He's gentle ... and I think he doesn't like the social round any more than I do.”

"Who is he?”

"Well, the funny thing about it is that he is really quite important ... or at least his family is. He is young ... younger than I am actually, two years younger, Annora ... but he is so nice ...”

"I know. You said that before. Do tell me more about this nice young man.”

"He's John Milward. Lord John Milward. You've heard of the Milwards?”

"I confess to ignorance.”

"A very important family ... Dukes of Cardingham. Only John is a younger son, thank goodness. That he should notice me is quite amazing. We met at a dance. I was hiding behind some of the plants trying to pretend I wasn't there ... and he came upon me and we talked a bit and discovered that we were both doing the same thing ... trying to look as though we were not there. It was the first time I'd ever enjoyed one of those occasions. It was funny because he said it was the same with him.”

"And you've seen him again?”

"Oh yes. I've seen him at other places and when we're somewhere together, we always find each other.”

"That's wonderful. And what does your father say?”

"He doesn't know. Nobody knows yet.”

"I expect they've noticed you. From what I've heard those mamas with marriageable daughters have eyes like hawks.”

"I do hope they haven't because I don't suppose anything will become of it.”

"Why shouldn't it?”

"He's very young.”

"Your father wouldn't object.”

"Oh no. He'd be delighted. The Milwards are one of the oldest families in the country.”

"You think they would?”

"I don't know.”

"Well, our family is not to be sneezed at.”

"Father is a merchant. Of course the Milwards are notoriously impoverished and I believe my father is very rich.”

"Let not Society to the marriage of wealth and breeding admit impediment.”

"Oh, Annora, it has made such a difference.”

"I can see it has. I do hope all goes well. Won't it be wonderful? I shall look forward to visiting the country seat. You'll be Lady John Milward. Fancy that!”

"I'm so glad he is only a younger son.”

"I think it is wonderful, Helena.”

We joined the others.

I did not mention, even to my mother, what Helena had told me for she had been insistent that it should remain a secret. I just hoped fervently that all would go well with her. She seemed like a different person when she did not seem to be apologising all the time for her inadequacies.

It was rather a splendid dinner party that evening, though it was only a family affair.