The pool of St Branok

Dear Morwenna. She was disturbed; she wanted to go on with the easy country life just as much as I wanted to escape from it. However, there was no doubt that she felt relieved because I should be with them.

A few days before we left there was a letter from Amaryllis:

I am so looking forward to seeing Angelet and dear little Rebecca ... Morwenna and Justin, too, of course. It will be lovely to have them close. We are having her house made ready for Angelet but of course she must stay here as long as she likes ... as she must know.

What do you think? Ben has come home. He is very rich now. Peter is so amused ... and I think proud of him. He said he wouldn't come home until he struck gold and my goodness, he has kept his word. Peter says you can trust Ben to do everything in a big way. He's sold the mine now. I think he has probably had the best from it and he intends to stay at home! "No more roaming," he says. "I've had enough." He has bought a beautiful house, not far from this one—but his is more grand. There will be a lot of entertaining done, for what do you think? He is going in for politics. Peter thinks that is highly amusing. I wish they were on the same side. You know Peter supports the Conservatives and Matthew is a highly respected member of government in that party when it is in power. Ben is ranging himself with the Liberals. We have some lively conversation here as you can imagine. I must say it has all been very exciting since he came back. Ben is that sort of person. One can't be dull in his company.

I am rather sorry for his poor little wife. Dear Lizzie, she is such a pleasant creature ... so good really, but not in the least suited to all this. She is a little simple. I don't think she can be very happy although she adores Ben and is very proud of him. But how she'll stand up to what he's planning, I don't know. Helena will tell you what it is like being a parliamentary wife. But Helena has managed to throw herself into it ... and Peter of course has done a great deal to further Matthew's career. He would of course for Ben but it will be difficult their being on opposite sides of the fence as it were.

One thing I'm glad of is that Grace has taken to Lizzie and Lizzie to her. It's a very good thing. Grace has made herself into a sort of chaperone ... helps her choose her clothes and things, bolsters her up. In fact, I think she is making herself invaluable to both Lizzie and Ben. I think Ben is grateful to her. It's good for Grace, too. I think she is a little lonely sometimes. It has always been my opinion that she would like to marry again. After all, it is so long since Jonnie died. She has mourned long enough. But no one has turned up yet. So this looking after Lizzie has been a blessing to Grace as well as to Lizzie herself.

I am so looking forward to seeing Angelet and Rebecca.

My love to you all.

While my mother was reading the letter I was thinking of Ben ... back in London, his mission accomplished.

I was a little apprehensive at the prospect of seeing him again but that feeling was quickly suppressed by an immense excitement.

Arriving in London we went first to the house in the square where we were greeted warmly by Aunt Amaryllis. Rebecca and Pedrek were duly admired and put to bed in the old nursery. There were two little beds, side by side for Amaryllis thought that as they were in a strange house they should be together in case they woke up in the night and were frightened. We had brought Annie with us and Morwenna had May, Pedrek's nursemaid. They would probably go back to Cornwall in due course when the nannies were engaged.

Justin and Morwenna were staying for the night. I was to remain until I was ready to go into my house.

It was wonderful to see them all and I was feeling better already. Helena and Matthew arrived with Geoffrey; Peterkin and Frances came too, and just as we were going in to dinner Ben came with Lizzie.

As soon as I saw him, looking taller and extremely healthy, his eyes against his bronzed skin even more blue than I remembered, I told myself that, knowing he was here, I should not have come. In Cornwall I had tried to put him out of my mind; but I should be quite unable to here.

"Angel," he said. "How marvelous to see you!"

"Thank you, Ben. And Lizzie, too! It is good to see you, Lizzie."

She smiled at me shyly and I kissed her.

"I did not expect you to be home so soon," I said.

"I intended to come at the first possible moment," he answered.

"Aunt Amaryllis did tell us that you would be here."

"So you decided to come and take a look at me?"

"Well, actually I had already decided to come. It was only a few days ago that I heard you were here."

"Well, here we are together at last."

We went in to dinner. Uncle Peter, a little more silvery at the temples, but as distinguished as ever and looking extremely young for his years, was at the head of the table, beaming at us all; Aunt Amaryllis with her gentle unlined face at the other.