Saraband for Two Sisters

Senara came and sat with me. She too wept a little and we sat side by side holding hands. I loved her in that moment because of her true affection for my mother. She kept saying, “Thank God. Thank God. It would have killed Tamsyn. This is due to her nursing, you can depend upon it. Her mother’s care has defied the laws of nature. Tamsyn is one of the truly good women in this world.”

She put her arms round me and held me fast “Did I not tell you so?” she demanded.

And I answered, “You did!” And I thought: “You are truly a witch.”

Mab was happy.

“I couldn’t believe Mistress Bersaba could die,” she said. “She’s too sharp for it.” I laughed at that observation. It was with the laughter that is born of relief and happiness because that great black cloud had been dispersed and the skies were blue again.

Carlotta said, “Now you can stop fretting and begin to take a real interest in everything. It’s been exasperating to have you so lukewarm when I take so much trouble to launch you.”

I laughed at her too-the same sort of laughter.

At dinner Carlotta told Sir Gervaise of my adventure.

He was most concerned.

“My dear Angelet,” he said, “that was a most unwise thing to do!”

“I know it now. But you see, it was my purse.”

“You could have lost so much more.”

“It was great good fortune that Richard Tolworthy was at hand. Gervaise, you’ve met him. What do you know of him?”

“He’s a good soldier. He’s had great success in several campaigns.”

“I mean ... personally,” said Carlotta with a trace of impatience.

Sir Gervaise looked thoughtful. “There was something about him. It slips my memory.”

“Oh, do try to think.”

“I don’t know. A somewhat unsociable fellow if I remember rightly. He doesn’t mix in society a great deal. Devoted to his profession, of course, which occupies him. Lost his wife...”

“So he was married.”

“I believe so.”

“How could he have lost his wife if he wasn’t?” said Carlotta with some show of exasperation. “I’m not sure,” said Sir Gervaise. “Perhaps it was something else. However, there was some story.”

I lay awake a long time that night. I was thinking of the rejoicing at home. Bersaba no longer in danger, but very weak still and she would be for a long time. We could bear that. My mother would nurse her back to health and when I went home she would be there.

I slept at last and dreamed that I was at home. Bersaba and I were in the hall and as we sat there a man came in. He bowed and I said, “This is Bersaba, whose life has been saved and, Bersaba, this is Richard Tolworthy, who saved mine.”

And he sat down between us and we were very happy together. I awoke reluctantly from that dream.

The Betrothal

I forgot that unpleasant adventure and thought about the exciting new experiences which were crowding in on me. I could now say to myself I will tell Bersaba that, without the terrible foreboding coming over me that I might never be able to. I could, in other words, be happy and carefree, so I let myself think about the Mallard ball. I was to have a very special ball gown which Sir Gervaise wished to give me -a thanksgiving offering for two happy events, he told me: my escape from the London villains and the recovery of my sister, and he wanted me to be very happy wearing it “Gervaise doesn’t want you to look like a little country mouse at the Mallard ball,” said Carlotta, attempting to douse my pleasure as usual; I replied spiritedly that I thought the reason was that Gervaise wanted to be kind. She shrugged her shoulders. The important thing was the dress. It was to have a rose-pink silk bodice and flowing skirt over a most elaborate cream satin petticoat embroidered in gold thread, and it would be cut very low to enhance my long neck, which Carlotta rather grudgingly admitted had a certain grace. But the immaturity of my bosom would have to be disguised.

Ana, who was making the dresses, whispered to me that that which Carlotta disparaged was in fact my youthfulness, which to many would be very attractive, so I must not be depressed by my immaturity.

“There are many aging ladies who would give a great deal to possess it,” she told me.

I discovered during the making of that dress that Ana was interested in me. She would kneel beside me and encourage me to talk. She liked to hear about Bersaba. “You look so alike,” she said, “yet there is a difference.”

“Most people can’t tell it,” I replied.

“Do you know,” said Ana, “I think I could.”

I told her how Bersaba had gone to the midwife because she was so concerned about one of the servants whose baby was overdue.

“I remember,” said Ana, “she warned us that there was murmuring in the village against my mistress ... and yet ...” She hesitated and I looked at her expectantly and Ana said, “I did not think she was so fond of my mistress.»

“I do not think she was either,” I answered, thinking of Bastian.

“Yet she warned her.”