Midsummer's Eve

I could see from the first that we were going to lose. Her story fitted so neatly; I had to admit that if I had not known my father, if I had been looking in on the case from the outside, I should probably have believed her.

And the verdict. She was telling the truth. She had proved that she was my father's daughter, that his marriage to my mother was no true marriage, and that she was the rightful heiress to Cador.

After the verdict she came to me outside the court.

She said: "I don't want to hustle you. I know how it must be for you. You'll want to take some of your personal things. You're welcome to stay until you find somewhere else.”

"I shall go to London for a while," I told her. "I want to get right away.”

Everyone seemed to understand that.

A gloom hung over the house. The servants were very uneasy. They did not like the idea of a new mistress in the house. I had not realized before how fond they were of me.

Uncle Peter and Aunt Amaryllis arrived. They had come to take me to London and in a few days I left with them.

I did not know what I was going to do. At times I felt a burning anger; at others a listlessness.

I was angry at the reputation they had given my father. I knew that he had been wild in his youth. I knew that he was the father of Tamarisk and it was true that she was the result of a casual encounter, but he would never have deserted a wife and child. He would never have gone through a mockery of marriage with my mother. All the evidence might be against him but in my heart I just knew.

Aunt Amaryllis was very sad. For once she could not think that everything was going right.

Uncle Peter was thoughtful. I knew he was wondering what chance there might be of overthrowing the verdict. He would never accept defeat, of course. But I guessed from his demeanour that, like most, he believed my father guilty of all that had been said against him.

"God help me," I prayed. "If we had never gone to Australia, none of this would have happened.”

Helena greeted me warmly and so did Peterkin and Frances. Since their marriage they were more absorbed in their work than ever. Helena had changed, too. She was a practiced hostess now and had lost a great deal of her reserve. She was pregnant once more and very happy about that. Matthew's book had been published and had attracted the notice that Uncle Peter decided it should. He was going to stand for the election which would shortly take place.

"It makes us all very busy," said Helena. "There is quite a big campaign. Father is putting up the money. He thinks it is certain that Matthew will win the seat.

People know how good he is... after his book.”

She was very sympathetic towards me.

"We followed the case every day," she said. "My mother wanted to bring you here but you had to be there, of course. Father thought it should have been tried in London instead of some little country court. He is wondering whether there could be another hearing.”

She looked at me anxiously and I shook my head. "They've given their verdict. They wouldn't change it. I couldn't bear to go through all that again.”

"But, Annora, do you believe it's frwe?”

"I would never believe that of my father," I said with conviction.

"No," she said soothingly, but I guessed she believed, as all the others did, that he had deserted his wife and child.

"What are you going to do?" asked Helena.

I said with truth: "I don't know.”

"Something will work itself out. You'd always have a home here. I expect Tamarisk and Jonathan would like to see you at Eversleigh ? .. my parents, too.”

"I have to think, Helena. I don't know what I shall do yet.”

Uncle Peter discussed my future with me. He was crisp and realistic as I expected him to be.

He thought it was a terrible calamity to lose Cador. That was what concerned him so deeply.

When I spoke about the damage they had done to my father's reputation he shrugged that aside.

"That won't hurt him now.”

"But, Uncle Peter, you can't believe ...”

He frowned. "I can believe he would have realized he had made a big mistake in marrying that woman and that he wanted to get away from her. But from what I know of him I am sure he would have made some provision for her. It was not his way to steal off and hope to lose himself. That he married the woman ... yes, that's possible. He thought he was out there for the term of his natural life. He adjusted himself. He always liked women. I can see how it happened. But, my dear Annora, how can we be sure? We're wasting time in conjecture. Let's look at the practical side. We have to think about you. Have you any plans?”

I shook my head.

"Of course, I should like to probe into this more fully. I think they have skimmed the surface and come to an easy conclusion too quickly. I should like to get a man out to Australia to look into a few things.”

"She had the certificate. The dates and everything fitted. That was what turned things in her favour.”

"It's cleverly worked out... if worked out it is. But often there is a loophole.”