Gossamer Cord

“Yes,” said Matilda firmly. “It was a wonderful rescue, and I’m proud of you, Gordon.”

I caught the old man’s eyes. I could not read the expression there. He said: “Well, my dear, we are all happy that we have not lost you. It will be a warning to you. Don’t take risks with the sea.”

“I shall be very careful in future, I assure you.”

Dorabella said: “I feel exhausted by all this. I shall have my meal in bed and Violetta must have hers with me. I want to get used to the idea that she is safe. Otherwise I shall have nightmares.”

Dorabella looked very pretty, sitting up in bed with her hair falling about her shoulders.

She demanded to know everything, for she was sure there was more than I had told the others.

“Fancy Gordon,” she said. “One doesn’t see him exactly in the role of gallant knight, does one?”

“He was very practical.”

“It’s so romantic.”

“You should have seen us climbing the cliff. Most inelegant, I am sure, and far from romantic.”

“Now, Vee, of course it was romantic. Damsel in distress, gallant young man rides by.”

“He was walking.”

“It was like Sir Lancelot.”

“I did not know he ever rescued anyone from drowning.”

“Well, one of them must have done. And what was he like? He must have been different. He’s always so aloof…what did he say?”

“We talked a bit.”

“What about?”

“Nothing very much really.”

“You can’t be all that time sitting on a ledge talking about nothing much. Come on, tell me, or I shall be very cross and that is bad for my condition.”

“He told me a little about his childhood before he came to Tregarland’s and how, when he was a boy, he explored the cliffs, which was a great help to us then, and how he would really like a place of his own.”

“A place of his own?”

“Well, he only works here, doesn’t he?”

“What does he want a place of his own for? He runs this one.”

“It will be Dermot’s in due course. A man such as he is, who cares about the land, would naturally want his own place.”

“He didn’t…er…make any approaches?”

“Approaches? Gordon? What do you mean?”

“Well, a man and woman in those circumstances…barriers come down and all that.”

“You are talking about Gordon Lewyth. Your mind runs on one thing. I am not the frail little piece of femininity that all men wish to protect. I am plain, no-nonsense, usually able to look after myself.”

“It did not seem like it this afternoon. He does like you, I’m sure. Even if he didn’t before, he will after this. People always like those whose life they save. Every time they look at them they are reminded how wonderful they were and how the saved one must be eternally grateful.”

I laughed.

“Where were you going anyway?”

“I was coming back to Tregarland’s.”

“Naturally. But where had you been?”

I hesitated. I did not want to tell her I had been with Mrs. Pardell. I was still not sure how she felt about Annette. Perhaps I would tell her later…choose my moment. To talk about the death of her predecessor might upset her in her present state.

“Oh, just for a walk,” I said.

“And what about this Jermyn man? You haven’t seen him yet.”

“No.”

“Well, you usually do when you come here.”

“Perhaps I will.”

“Do you know, Vee, you are a dark horse. Grim Gordon risks his life for you. Then there are secret meetings with the family’s enemy. That’s two of them. I believe you are a femme fatale.”

“Oh, no. That is your role.”

“We are really one. You know that. We are different, of course, but that is because we are one person. I used to think that the foolish side was myself and the sensible side you. But not after this afternoon. Who was silly enough to get caught by the tide? I shall taunt you with that throughout our lives, whenever you put on one of your superior acts. When did I ever do anything so foolish as that?”

“I’ll consider it. I am sure I shall be able to come up with something.”

She put out her tongue at me and laughed. She was so happy and I knew it was because I was safe and back with her.

She went on: “I am longing to hear more of the enemy.”

“You are thinking of that silly old feud. Jowan Jermyn is not an enemy.”

“He will have heard by now of your adventure. News travels fast here. We may be something of a backwater, but our communication service is superb. I have discovered that lots of people here are related to each other—many sisters and cousins are working for the various people around. So news is circulated quickly. Most things we do are recorded as soon as they take place. We are all living in glass houses, so that adventure of yours on the cliffs will be headline news, or would be if they had newspapers. Mr. Jermyn will know of it by now and gnashing his teeth because he was not the one to make the gallant rescue.”

“What nonsense!”

“Promise me you’ll go and see him tomorrow…when I am having this ridiculous rest of mine…you go to the meeting place and see if he is there. You must promise me. In my condition I have to be humored.”

We were laughing again.

“And when you come back, I want you here with me…to tell me every detail.”

I promised.