The Black Swan

All that eligibility, you know. So don’t be too obvious.”

She laughed. “I don’t know why I tell you all this.”

“I do. You’ve got to talk to someone on this all-absorbing subject.”

“What subject?”

“You, of course. My dear Belinda, you are obsessed by Belinda... and naturally expect everyone to be the same.”

“Oh, shut up. I am going to ask mon pere to invite him over again. Or perhaps we can go riding over to the Comte and see him then.”

“Do that. I am sure ton pere will agree.”

“I’m going now.”

“Good night. And good luck in the campaign.”

She went and I got out of bed and locked the door.

We did not have to go looking for Sir Robert. He rode over the next day. Belinda sparkled. It was even better than she had thought.

Jean Pascal was amused and Sir Robert was pressed to stay to dejeuner, an invitation he was delighted to accept.

Belinda chatted animatedly all through lunch while Jean Pascal looked on benignly.

I presumed from his demeanor that he approved of Sir Robert as a prospective son-in-law. Later we all walked in the gardens together and Jean Pascal talked quite knowledgeably about the flora and fauna of the neighborhood, to which Sir Robert muttered and murmured his appreciation, but I was sure his thoughts were elsewhere. Belinda was radiant, and when at length our guest left-most reluctantly-it was with an invitation from Jean Pascal to call whenever he felt inclined to do so. I guessed the next visit would not be long delayed. Nor was it.

The next day he came again.

I was walking in the grounds which I loved to do. They were so beautiful and because of the many shrubs and trees and the copse one could be shut away from the chateau and enjoy a pleasant feeling of solitude.

My thoughts were wandering. I was thinking of Joel, for he was never long out of my thoughts; then I fell to wondering whether this obvious attraction between Belinda and Sir Robert would result in an engagement. I heard footsteps. They were coming toward the copse. I was certain they belonged to Jean Pascal and decided to emerge into the open, as I felt reluctant to be alone with him in the copse. I quickly made my way in the direction of the lake.

He called to me and I paused, looking back.

“Lucie, I was hoping to catch you,” he said. “I saw you walking this way. You love the grounds, don’t you?”

“They are very beautiful.”

There was a seat under one of the trees. He indicated it and we sat down. “I wanted to talk to you,” he said.

We sat side by side. I had moved away from him as unobtrusively as I could, because he had sat too near.

“What do you think of this Sir Robert?” he asked.

“I think he is a very pleasant young man.”

“Belinda seems to think so, too.”

“Belinda is ... impressionable.”

He laughed. “You are not, I am sure.”

“Not as Belinda possibly.”

“Do you think anything will come of it?”

“I don’t know.”

“I think it would be rather a good idea. He seems eligible.”

“That’s the word I used to Belinda.”

“So you have been discussing it. She seems to like him, wouldn’t you say?”

“Whether she likes his eligibility or his personality I am not sure.”

“Don’t the two go hand in hand?”

“Not for some, I imagine. But I am inexperienced in these matters.”

“Lucie, you amuse me. And I think you are wiser than you make out to be.”

“I do not make out anything. I am just as I am.”

“And may I say I find that delightful.”

“It is good of you to say so.” I looked at the watch pinned on my blouse. “There is no great hurry,” he said. “We can talk awhile and still be in time for dejeuner.”

“You are concerned about Belinda?” I asked.

“No, not really. I think she can take care of herself. I just wanted to know what you think of this... shall we say whirlwind courtship.”

“You think it is a courtship?”

“Well, we have our English gentleman... and the English are said to be an honorable race.”

“Do you believe in generalizations?”

“No. But Sir Robert seems to fit the mold.”

“Yes. I am sure he is honorable.”

“Then I think we may have a match on our hands.” .

“And that pleases you?”

“It does not displease me.”

“Then I suppose you will give your consent?”

“I have a notion that Belinda is one to act as she wishes and would not be concerned with the consent of others.”

“You are her father. I am sure she would want your approval.”

“She would like it, but if she made up her mind and my wishes do not accord with her desires, she would dispense with such a formality. Don’t think I would blame her. I like her spirit. She has plenty of that. She is, after all, my daughter.”

“Then you must feel very happy about what is happening.”

“I am not unhappy.”

“It will save you a great deal of planning for her future, I daresay.”

“I suppose you are right. I have already discovered all I can about Sir Robert. There is my good friend the Comte. I could learn more if this becomes a serious matter. But what I know already is in his favor.”

“Well, this seems a wonderful piece of good fortune for Sir Robert... and for you.”