The adulteress

Lottie laughed and said: "You are not to make fun, Cousin Dickon. She's very good"

"And you like the good?"

"Of course I do."

"Oh ... I'm desolate. That means you don't like me."

Lottie pursed her lips and nodded, which sent Dickon into fits of laughter.

I could see he was charming Lottie; in fact he set out to charm everybody, even Madeleine Carter.

He certainly gave out an air of absolute joie de vivre. He was enormously interested in Eversleigh ... as he had always been, but now that he was older and I suppose was able to compare the estate with that of Clavering, his interest was even greater. I was glad that he talked so enthusiastically to Jean-Louis, which seemed to do my husband good. I was grateful to him for that, but all the time I was watching Jean-Louis for some sign that the pain might be returning.

Christmas morning was bright and sparkling with frost on the roads and the rooftops, but by midday the wintry sun had melted it and as the wind had dropped it seemed quite mild. Lottie and Miss Carter went out riding in the morning and Dickon accompanied them. I heard their laughter and looked out of the window to see them ride by.

I was glad that Miss Carter was with them. I was sure she would keep even Dickon in check. Last evening he had called at Grasslands. I had expected he might stay late into the night but to my surprise he returned to Eversleigh after about an hour of his leaving. I wondered whether Evalina had not been at home.

I shrugged my shoulders. If he were going to resume that liaison it would keep him out of the house perhaps.

The carol singers came to pay us their usual visit. The riders were back by then. I knew they would be. Lottie would never allow them to miss the carols.

We all joined in and it was Lottie who helped to pass round the punch and the cake.

Jean-Louis was well enough to be brought down to the hall. I watched him closely for the first sign of the pain, in which case I decided I would give him a dose of laudanum and have him taken back to his bed. But he sat there smiling and his eyes scarcely left Lottie unless it was to look at me.

I sat beside him for most part of the time, watching him anxiously.

He knew it. He said: "Don't worry, Zipporah. If I need a dose I'll ask. Now forget it."

So I tried to and I joined in the carols and took the punch which Lottie brought to me.

"You must have some, papa," she said. "It will do you good."

She brought the goblet to him, drank from it, smiling at him, and then handed it to him.

I heard him murmur: "Bless you, dear child."

We had eaten and the festivities had begun. The great hall was crowded. The farmers on the estate, with their families, had come according to tradition and they would all join in the dancing when the fiddlers started to play. I had been right in my prophecy that they would come if the rewards were sufficient and they were pausing between dances to drink their punch.

The Forsters came with Charles and the farmers on their estate, as did the one or two from Grasslands; for Eversleigh was the manor house and the custom for years had been that everyone came to dance at least one measure at the Court on Christmas Day.

Evalina arrived looking happy in a rather secretive way. I saw Dickon watching her but she seemed to be unaware of him. Jack Trent was with her.

I danced with Charles Forster. He was no great dancer— very different, I thought, from Dickon, who won the admiration not only of my doting mother and his own but that of the whole company by his cavorting. He took no one partner for the evening but danced with a different one every time, which was what would be expected of the host. I realized with vague annoyance that he had taken on that role. I was touchy. Of course he did. He was one of the family and Jean-Louis was unable to perform the duty.

Charles talked of Jean-Louis and said how pleased he was to see him in the hall.

"Do you think I was right to have him carried down?"

"Indeed I do. The more normal the life he leads the better."

"I couldn't have borne it if he had been ill tonight."

"He's in one of his quiet periods, I can see."

"I do wish they would continue."

"They might, and the longer time between each attack the better. When he is free of pain he has a chance to regain a little strength."

"It is such a comfort that you are near."

He pressed my hand. "It's a comfort to me to be of use."

We were smiling at each other and I was only half aware of Dickon's flashing past with Evalina.

Charles returned me to Jean-Louis and stayed to chat with us. Jean-Louis told him how much better he felt. "The laudanum seems to give me strength," he said.

"What it does," said Charles, "is give you a respite from pain and that helps to build up some resistance to it."

"Then it's good for me."

"In small prescribed doses, yes. I am sure Zipporah has told you you must never exceed the dose."

"She guards the bottle like a dragon breathing fire."

"That's as it should be," said Charles.

Evalina came up and said: "I want to ask you something."