Voices in a Haunted Room

The men joined us. David came over and sat beside me. Jonathan was engaged in conversation with Lord Pettigrew and Dickon. I saw Fiona smile rather tremulously at Harry.

I whispered to David: “We shall soon be able to retire. I’m tired.”

“Yes. Journeys are so exhausting.”

My mother joined us. “You look a little tired, Claudine,” she said anxiously.

I guessed that I must have looked strained. I found the situation an uneasy one. Jonathan’s cynical marriage to Millicent, and in the background of my mind was the thought of Evie Mather’s melancholy.

“I think I will suggest to Lady Pettigrew that we go to bed,” said my mother.

She did and it seemed that the others had the same idea, for after good nights were said the company broke up.

I sat brushing my hair at the mirror and from the bed David watched me.

He said: “What do you think of it ... Jonathan and Millicent?”

“Oh, it’s the perfect marriage, isn’t it-uniting the family interests?”

“But that is not really what marriage is about, is it?”

“I should imagine that it is exactly what quite a number of them are about.”

“Millicent seems contented enough, and so for that matter does Jonathan.”

“David, did you notice Harry Farringdon?”

“You mean with that girl, Fiona Browning?”

“Yes.”

“H’m,” said David. “He seems to have taken a fancy to her.”

“Do you remember how he was with Evie Mather?”

“I remember ... yes.”

“I thought something might come of that.”

“Marriage, you mean?”

“Well, I am sure that was what Mrs. Trent hoped for.”

“I’ve no doubt she did. Evie won’t have much coming to her and the Farringdons are rich.”

“I’m sorry. Poor Evie. She’s a nice girl. And now it looks as though Fiona Browning ...”

“Oh, I wouldn’t count on that. Harry never seems to be able to make up his mind.

There have been many girls like that in his life. I’ve seen it happen before. It’s serious ... while it lasts ... but it doesn’t last and some other charmer comes along. Harry will need a big push into matrimony. He’s that sort.” He yawned. “Come on. I’m getting sleepy.”

I blew out the candle and got in beside him.

David did not go to the rehearsal; nor did Dickon. I sat with Gwen Farringdon at the back. Fiona came in late and sat with Harry close by.

Lady Pettigrew was in command and it was amusing to see her hawklike eyes on the Reverend Mark Pollick, who had a will of his own and was very definite as to bow matters should be conducted in his own church.

Lord Pettigrew walked in with Millicent on his arm. I saw Jonathan rise and they stood before the Reverend Mark with Lady Pettigrew audibly commanding Millicent to stand up straight and speak up.

It was really rather funny and as my mother said, unnecessary.

The music, chosen by Lady Pettigrew, was very stirring. The choir had been assembled to sing the anthem, and as the music filled the little church, I saw Harry Farringdon take Fiona’s hand and they turned their faces towards each other and smiled.

I thought: It is all over for you, Evie.

And I wondered how deeply she had felt for him. Evie was not a girl who betrayed her feelings. There was something secretive about herjust as there was about her sister.

Evie might have been more realistic than her grandmother and could have known that the Farringdons would not willingly have agreed to a match between her and Harry; and yet on the other hand, if Harry had been sufficiently in love, I was sure John and Gwen could have been persuaded to give way to his wishes. Now he was behaving with Fiona as, not long ago, he had with Evie.

We went back to the house, all talking about the wedding rehearsal and saying how beautiful the music was. Lady Pettigrew exuded satisfaction, so I presumed she was sure everything was as it should be.

When we were at dinner that evening Lady Pettigrew said she had something to tell us, and she thought this was the moment to make the announcement.

“A little bird has whispered to me,” she began in a somewhat coy manner quite alien to her usual forceful utterances, “that we have a matter to celebrate.”

There were exclamations of surprise at the table.

“Fiona and Harry ... My dears. God bless you both. You have guessed. Fiona and Harry have become engaged to be married. Is that not charming? I know John and Gwen are absolutely delighted and so are Fiona’s parents, because they have all told me so. Dear Fiona, your happiness ... and yours too, Harry, but that goes without saying ... for what is Fiona’s will now be yours ... and yours hers.”

All raised their glass and Harry and Fiona sat close together, their hands clasped, looking faintly embarrassed but undoubtedly happy.

“It seems that weddings are infectious,” said Dickon.

“It must have been that lovely ceremony in the church which made them feel they wanted it to happen to them,” said my mother.

Then once more everyone drank the health of Fiona and Harry.

Afterwards when I was in the drawing room with the ladies while the men were drinking their port at the table, I found myself next to Gwen Farringdon, who was looking very pleased.