The adulteress

"Eversleigh is a fine estate," I said. "You should see it. Jean-Louis often talks of you. He says you were the best man they'd ever had or were ever likely to." I decided to plunge: "Could you come back to us, James ... ? There's a pleasant house ... everything you could want."

He shook his head. "I won't beat about the bush," he said. "I'd be glad to. I often think of the good times we used to have. Jean-Louis and I always saw eye to eye. Something I don't do with my cousin ... but even at Eversleigh I might see him ... Dickon."

"He hasn't been over yet. It would be very rarely. We're quite a way from each other."

"I wouldn't trust myself. He could come over any time. No ... I'll stay where I am. I'm safe there. It's not ideal. I'll make no bones about it. If it weren't for him I'd be there like a shot. Well, come to think about it if it weren't for him I'd never have gone."

"James," I said, "you don't know how badly we want you."

"I want to come ... but no. Not with him likely to turn up at any time. It wouldn't do, Mistress Zipporah, and that's flat."

"I wish I could persuade you."

"Wouldn't be any need for persuasion but for that one thing. Hetty couldn't bear to see him either."

"She's got over all that."

"Never will completely. But we manage. He's right out of sight and that helps to put him out of mind."

"Jean-Louis was so sorry he couldn't see you. We did wonder if you knew anybody."

"Well, that's something I might do. I could hear of someone. I'll keep my ears to the ground and if I find a suitable man ... I'll have him down there in no time."

I saw that it was the best I could do.

"I wish you could see Jean-Louis. He'd be so pleased. Why don't you come and stay with us for a few days? I assure you that there would be no possibility of your meeting Dickon. They are considering coming for Christmas but that's way ahead."

He hesitated and said he would think about it.

"The journey only takes two days... . Not a lot of time really. Do think very seriously about it, James."

He did and at length decided that he would accompany us.

I was delighted, although my scheme had failed. I don't know why I had felt that I had to come to London to see James. I had been convinced that something good would come out of it, and the good must be that he would come back to us.

The Forsters, who had taken a liking to James—and he to them—were very pleased to hear that he was going to travel back with us. "First, though," said Isabel, "we must remember that we were having a jaunt to London and we must take advantage of the opportunity to do those things which we could not do at home.

"Charles," she said, "you know how you always liked the theater. What if we all went to Drury Lane?"

Everyone agreed that that would be an excellent idea and accordingly I found myself seated in the stalls with Charles next to me, enjoying every moment, for it was a privilege to see the great Garrick perform. Charles, who had evidently been an ardent theatergoer at some time, was very knowledgeable about the stage. He told me that the best performance he had ever seen was that of Peg Woffington playing with Garrick in the Beaux' Stratagem.

"Alas," he said, "she is no more, though only a few years ago she was striding across the boards full of vitality. A great actress, and she and Garrick, you know, were lovers. It was believed they would marry. It was a surprise to us all when he left Peg for that foreign dancer ... Eva Maria Violetti."

Much of his melancholy had lifted. I had noticed that when we had driven through London. He pointed out certain landmarks to me almost with pride. I thought: This was once his home and he loved it.

I was carried away by the play and the players and I sensed that my enthusiasm pleased him. He said: "I once knew actors ... I was a great theatergoer in my young days. Mind you, it's a hard life. They look so pleased with themselves when they can win the approval of the audience that you'd think they hadn't a care in the world beyond that. The reality is somewhat different."

I said: "Surely you were never on the stage?"

He gave a sudden laugh. "Me? Good heavens, no." Then the mask seemed to slip over his face and his mood changed. I longed to know what had happened to him to make him so withdrawn, for I was sure something had. I was intrigued because I had at times been aware of a different man peeping out from behind the mask. I wanted to bring out that man. I was burning with curiosity to know more about Charles Forster.

We walked back through the streets to the inn.

"Safe," said Derek, "because there are so many of us. There are plenty of pickpockets about after dark."

Charles took my arm as we walked along the narrow street, not only to assure me of his protection but to keep me free of the mud which was splashed up as the coaches rattled by.

I felt very happy that night; even though my mission in getting James to come and act as manager had failed I could not despair and I was delighted that he had agreed to come back with us.