The pool of St Branok

"My dear child, it gives you an opportunity to meet people. I know some girls suffer torments. They fear they will prove unattractive and nothing is more likely to make them so than that. I want you to go into all this in a carefree way. I've talked about it with your father. We certainly don't want you to feel you are up for auction. Just enjoy the parties and if by chance you meet someone whom you think you can love, we shall be delighted. But don't let it worry you. It will just give you a chance to go to places and meet all sorts of people. Whatever happens we have each other, don't we? You've always been happy at home."

I put my arms round her and kissed her.

"I am sure Aunt Amaryllis meant that with Helena, but I suppose she didn't tell her. And I think Uncle Peter might have expected a good deal. I am lucky to have you and Papa."

"I think we are lucky too. Your father thinks Jack will do a good job at Cador when the time comes."

"Oh Heavens ... that's years and years away."

"Yes, please God. But what I want you to know is that we are here ... as long as you want us ... no matter what."

I had an impulse to tell her then of that incident which now seemed so long ago. I wondered what her reaction would be. It was almost irresistible ... but not quite. She would be disturbed, worried. It would make me different in her eyes—not her innocent daughter any more. I could not do it. I did not want to disturb her. She was so happy in her cozy family cocoon. I could not spoil it with the grisly tale. So I said nothing.

Grace was very interested to hear of my proposed season.

"I hope I shall be able to take part in it," she said.

"My dear Grace," replied my mother, "everything will be taken care of."

Grace's face fell and my mother went on quickly. "Oh, I am sure you will be most useful. You have a style ... an elegance ... You could advise about clothes. Of course there are court dressmakers and people like that."

"I understand," said Grace. "But I should like to help if there is anything I can do. I get rather lonely and it would be so exciting."

"There will be a great deal of preparation," said my mother.

"I am sure you are going to enjoy it," said Grace.

I was not so sure, but I promised myself that I would not attempt to look for a rich husband. I would make a turn-about of the whole procedure; and instead of being up for auction, I should inspect the gentlemen and if I did not like them, be they marquesses or dukes, I would refuse them. I laughed at myself. As Mrs. Penlock would say, "Opportunity would be a fine thing."

But one could not enter into such an undertaking without thinking rather seriously about marriage. I remembered the two passions of my younger life: Jonnie and Ben. This was different. Those had been childish fancies. I had seen them both as heroes. I did not think that Ben was quite that. Jonnie might have proved to be one, and he would always remain one in my eyes because he had died before his claim to the title could be disproved. And in any case, I dramatically told myself, he had become another woman's husband.

Grace and I rode over to the Pencarrons'.

"What a lovely old house this is," she said.

"Oh yes," I replied. "The Pencarrons have done wonders with it. My father said it was almost a ruin when they took over. They call it Pencarron Manor now and the mine is Pencarron Mine."

"They must be very rich."

"I suppose so. I believe the mine is very profitable and my father said Josiah Pencarron has other interests in the Duchy."

Morwenna came running out to meet us.

She had grown a little plump and she had the rosy complexion of a country girl and little confidence in herself. I could never imagine why. She had a kindly nature and her parents were devoted to her—especially her father. I should have thought his almost besotted devotion might have made her quite conceited.

Mrs. Pencarron once told me that it had been a great disappointment to him that they had no son ... until the day when Morwenna was born.

"She came rather late," she said. "I'd thought I was too old to get a child. But she is all the more precious for that. Father said he wouldn't change her for twenty boys."

Morwenna was delighted to see Grace. She liked her. But then Morwenna liked everybody.

We went into the hall. It was essentially Tudor with enormous oak beams supporting the vaulted ceiling. The linen fold paneling on the walls had been painstakingly restored at great cost.

The staircase at one end of the hall had carved banisters decorated with the Tudor rose. There were arms on the wall ... but of course not the Pencarrons'.

Josiah had imitated one or two features of Cador's, and we were amused by this—and flattered.

He was ostentatiously gratified of his rise in life and although he would have greatly liked to have been born into the gentry he was proud that, by his wits and good sense, he had been able to live like one of them.

My father said it was most commendable for a man to have come so far; he had the greatest respect for him.