Saraband for Two Sisters

“People often come to see him. But you have come far. »

“I have come from London. My servants are at an inn. I left them with my baggage and rode out to see if I could find the Priory. You have made my quest easy. »

“I am pleased. My brother will talk to you. He knows a great deal about the Company.”

“That’s interesting. May I introduce myself? I am Gervaise Pondersby. »

“I am Bersaba Landor. I have a twin sister, Angelet. She and my brother will be very pleased to see you.”

I pictured their astonishment when I rode in with this elegant stranger. I was grateful to him, for he had made me forget temporarily the hurt Bastian had inflicted on me. The Priory came into sight.

“A charming place,” said Gervaise Pondersby. “So this is the Landor home, is it?

And how far from the sea?”

“Five miles.”

“I had expected it would be nearer.”

“Five miles is nothing much,” I answered. I told him that the house had been built with stones from the ruined priory as we rode up the slight incline and into the courtyard.

We had been seen and I imagined the consternation that had caused: Bersaba arriving home with a gentleman from London!

I shouted to a groom to take our horses and when we stepped into the hall Fennimore was already there with Bastian. I would not look at Bastian but spoke to Fennimore. “I met this gentleman on the road. He was looking for Trystan Priory. He has business with Father.”

The bow was elegant as he said, “Gervaise Pondersby at your service.” ‘Why, Sir Gervaise,” cried Fennimore, “my father has often spoken of you. Welcome to Trystan. Alas, my father is not here at this time.”

‘Tour sister told me so. But I believe he is not far from home.”

“He will be back in a few days. May I present my cousin, Bastian Casvellyn?” Bastian bowed. I thought, “He seems awkward beside this man,” and I exulted in the fact.

“I pray you come into my father’s private parlor. I will send for refreshment. »

“I will take a little wine and perhaps you can give me more exact information as to when your father will return.”

“I can send a messenger to Plymouth to tell him you are here,” said Fennimore. I was rather proud of my brother because he did not seem in the least overawed by the stranger.

As Fennimore led him away I ran upstairs. Bastian ran after me but I was fleeter than he.

“Bersaba,” he whispered.

“I have nothing to say to you,” I hissed over my shoulder.

“I must explain.”

I sped on, but he came after me and caught up with me in the gallery.

“There is nothing you can say to me,” I told him. “It is I who must say to you, Congratulations.”

“You must understand, Bersaba.”

“I do understand. You have asked Carlotta to marry you. That’s clear enough, is it not?”

“I can’t think how it happened. Bersaba, I love you.”

“You love me so much that you are going to marry Carlotta. Oh, that is perfectly clear.”

“It was a moment of madness. I don’t know what came over me. I was sort of bewitched.

That’s how it is, Bersaba. You must understand. When she is there…“ Every word was like a knife in my heart. I wondered how such a simple man as Bastian could inflict such pain.

I pushed him from me. “Go to her then. Go to your witch. I promise you this. You’ll be sorry... sick and sorry.”

Then I turned and ran and I reached our bedroom. I was thankful that Angelet was not there. I locked the door. He was outside tapping on it, whispering my name.

“I must explain, Bersaba.”

Explain. What was there to explain? Only that she was irresistible. He wanted her.

He was ready to thrust me aside for her.

“Go back to her,” I whispered venomously. “Go back to your ... witch.” Fennimore immediately sent a messenger to Plymouth to tell my father of Sir Gervaise’s arrival, and while he was taking wine my brother persuaded him that he would be more comfortable at Trystan Priory than at the inn and he begged him to come with his personal servants and baggage and rooms would be made ready for him. Sir Gervaise graciously accepted the invitation, but would not come until my father returned.

At supper everyone was talking about Sir Gervaise, and I explained how I had discovered him when out riding and was immediately reprimanded for riding alone. “You know our mother says you are always to have the grooms with you,” said Fennimore. “It was willful of you to do that while she was away.”

“I’m not a child any longer, Fennimore,” I said sharply.

I knew Bastian was looking at me, and that he blushed a little remembering our unchildlike behavior I was sure. He sat next to Carlotta and I was aware of the spell she had laid on him. He was hurt and bewildered by what had happened to him, which was just the way he would be if he were bewitched. But he could not keep his eyes from her; I saw his hands reach out to touch her. How I hated them both; and I must sit there and pretend that nothing was wrong.

Carlotta said, “He seemed a very courtly gentleman. I saw him when he left-but from a window.”

“He will return when my parents are here,” said Fennimore, “and then I expect he will stay for a few days.”