Lament for a lost lover

“I tell you everyone loves a play. What did Lady Eversleigh whisper to you as we left the table? Don’t bother to tell me. I heard. ‘How glad I am that you brought your friend.’ “ For the moment she was Lady Eversleigh and I laughed again. Of course no harm was done. Of course everyone was going to have a better time because Harriet was with us.

I shrugged my shoulders.

“So now you see reason. I think our play should be Romeo and Juliet.”

“You are ambitious. Isn’t that going to be the most difficult one to do?”

“I like a challenge.”

‘Should you like to be challenged as to the authenticity of the story of your life?”

“Don’t carp. We’re going to do Romeo and Juliet. “

“With a cast of six!” Not the play in its entirety, of course, and there are others ung. Scenes from it cleverly linked to make a whole. It’s pos-1 e to do that, you know. It is what is done all the time. I see Edas Romeo.”

I was silent. I had been trying not to think too much of Edwin but he kept intruding into my thoughts.

I had never seen or even imagined anyone so attractive. He was so good-looking, so poised; one felt he would be in command of any situation. When he had looked at me and given me that rather crooked smile, I had felt a glow of pleasure. When he had touched my hand, I felt a tremor of excitement. I wanted to be near him, to listen to what he had to say. I knew I was too excited to sleep and this was mainly due to Edwin.

“Do you?” Harriet persisted.

“Do I what?”

“You’re not asleep are you? See Edwin as Romeo, I said.”

“Oh, yes ... I suppose so.”

“Who else? That Charles Condey? He hasn’t half the charm. Or Lucas. He’s far too young.”

“Romeo wasn’t very old, was he?”

“He was an experienced lover. Yes, it will have to be Edwin.”

I did not answer and she went on: “What did you think of him?”

“Think of whom?”

“Oh, wake up, Arabella. Edwin, of course.”

“Oh, I thought he was very ... pleasant.”

“Pleasant!” She laughed softly. “Yes, I suppose you could say that. I believe he is most attractive in every way. He’s the heir to a great title and if they should regain their estates ... and they should and more also if the King is restored to the throne ... he will be very rich indeed.”

“You have discovered a great deal.”

“It slipped out here and there and I pieced it together.”

“Ingenious!”

“Not in the least. Just plain reasoning. Charles Condey is not without means either.”

“You have done your work well.”

“I just use my ears and eyes. Mademoiselle Charlotte is enamoured of Condey. I think there may well be an announcement.

 we were told it was a family gathering tonight. Well, that is significant, don’t you think?”

? perhaps.”

“Poor Charlotte, she is hardly the world’s most attractive worn-an is she?”

“How could she be when you have seized that title?”

“How discerning of you.”

“Not particularly. I thought it was the message you were conveying at the table and after.”

“You are a little sour tonight, Arabella. Why?”

“Perhaps,” I replied, “I am tired. I should like to sleep, you know. It has been a long day.”

She was silent.

Sour? I thought. Was she right? Was I thinking that I wanted Edwin to like me, to be interested in me; and I wondered if it would be possible for him to notice me very much when there was such a dazzling creature as Harriet about. The next day everyone talked of nothing but the play. Harriet called a meeting in the morning and we all discussed how we should set about the project. Oddly enough she had the script with her. “I always take a few with me when I visit, because if people show themselves to be interested, I am ready,” she explained. So she had planned this. I saw it clearly now. She had led the conversation that way during dinner, she had come prepared. Sometimes she astonished even me But she had certainly fired their enthusiasm. Lady Eversleigh was delighted, for I could see that Harriet had taken the burden of entertaining her guests completely from her shoulders.

Other guests would be arriving over the next few days, and en they did we would put the proposition to them, and if any ?em would like to join in, they could do so.

the “Romeo and Juliet” would be difficult’ Harriet admitted, but if they could do it, it would be like a touch of home to the exiles, and she was sure it would be more welcome than some light French farce. We should have to work, of course. We should have to learn our lines, but as the play would be very much abridged, that would not be such a great task except for the principals. She smiled at Edwin. “You must be Romeo,” she said, and there was admiration in her gaze.

‘”O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art though Romeo?’” he said. “That’s all I know of the words.”

“Then,” I said, “You will have a great task before you.”

“We shall have a prompter,” soothed Harriet.

“I’ll be prompter,” volunteered Charlotte.

Harriet looked at her coolly. “Perhaps that would be a good idea. Though we do need so many players, there are not many female roles.”