Lament for a lost lover

“The warmth of your welcome wrapped itself around me “ he replied, which might have been another way of saying that the bedclothing had not been very adequate, which I could well believe Madame Lamotte came down with the three children to whom she was telling the story of one of the plays in the company’s repertoire She greeted me effusively and declared that all her life she and entire troupe would remember with pleasure their visit to Chateau Congreve. Their eyes widened with delight when they saw the food, and Monsieur Lamotte declared that they would partake of it at once.

“We are ready, loins girded, like the children of Israel. Alas, there is a sadness in our hearts. I know that you would extend your hospitality to us for another night ... and I will tell you this dear lady, part of me hoped to see a blizzard blowing that we might be forced to fall once more upon your kindness. Inclination dear lady. But there is duty. If we do not reach Paris on time, what of those who are waiting to see our play? They are expecting us. We are booked, lady, and every true actor would rather disappoint himself than his public.”

I found myself replying in similar vein. I deeply regretted their departure. I should have been happy to entertain them longer, but of course I understood the need for them to move on. They had their work and we were grateful indeed to have been given such a dazzling example of it, which we would never forget... As they were about to sit at the table Madame Lamotte said: “Where is Harriet?” I had, of course, noticed her absence, for she was the first one I looked for. Any moment I had been expecting her to descend to the hall.

Madame Lamotte was looking at Fleurette, who shrugged her shoulders. “I woke her up, just as I was coming down,” said Madame Lamotte. “She should be here by now.”

I said I would go and tell her that they were ready to eat. I went to the room which I had assigned to the women and saw Harriet, who was lying on the bed. She looked just as beautiful in the morning as she had in candlelight. Her hair was escaping from a blue ribbon with which she had tied it back and she was in a low-cut bodice and petticoat.

She smiled at me in a way which I felt had some meaning but I was not sure what.

“They are waiting for you,” I said.

She shrugged her shoulders. And held up her foot. “I cannot put it to the ground,” she said. “I could not walk on it. What am I going to do?” I went to the bed and gingerly touched the ankle which was faintly swollen. She grimaced as I did so.

“It’s sprained,” I said.

She nodded.

“But on the other hand you might have broken a bone.”

“How do I know?”

“In time you will. Can you stand on it?”

“Yes, but it’s agony.”

“Madame Lambard has lots of remedies. I could ask her to look at it. But I do know one thing and that is that you should rest it.”

“But ... we have to move on. What is the weather like?”

“Cold but clear. There’s no more snow ... just a thin layer of yesterday’s on the ground. Nothing to stop travelling.”

“They will have to move on. There’s the engagement in Paris.” Her lips curved into a smile. “Mistress Tolworthy ... would you ... could you possibly be so good as to let me stay here until I can walk properly? Let me explain. I sing and dance on stage ... as well as act. You see, if I hurt my foot through not taking care now, my career could be ruined.”

I felt a sudden wild excitement. The adventure was not over. She was going to stay ... the member of the troupe who excited me most.

I said quickly: “I should never turn anyone away who needed our helped.” She reached out her hand and I went and took it. I held it for a moment, looking into her strange but beautiful face.

“God bless you,” she said. “Please let me stay awhile.”

“You are welcome,” I replied smiling, and my pleasure must have been apparent. “Now,” I said briskly. “I will call Madame Lambard. She may well know what has happened to your foot.”

“I slipped on the stairs last night’ she said.

Yes I thought, when you were quarrelling with Fleurette.

“It is most likely to be only a sprain. I will tell Madame Lambard.” I went down to the hall where they were eating quantities of bread and bacon and drinking ale.

I said: “Mistress Main has hurt her ankle. She is unable to walk. I have invited her to stay here until she is able to do so. You need have no fears that we shall not look after her.”

There was a deep silence at the table for a few seconds. Fleurette could not hide a secret smile and Jabot kept his eyes on his tankard of ale. Madame Lamotte rose and said: “I will go and see her.”

I went into the kitchen and said to Jeanne and Marianne: “Mistress Harriet Main is going to stay on for a few days until she is fit to rejoin her companions. She has sprained her ankle.”

Their faces lit up with pleasure. The kitchen seemed a different place; the fire seemed to glow more brightly.

The adventure was not over then.