Anna of Strathallan (18 page)

Sophy said, 'Victoria must be our other bridesmaid, of course I've already asked Anna. Yes, Philip, I'd got that far before you arrived. Calum will be best man. How about Ian for the groomsman?'

Philip said, 'Have a heart! Give Anna a bachelor, not a married man. One good turn deserves another.'

Anna said, 'You dare! Ian will do very nicely. I've had best men thrust at me before. At a wedding in Fiji. It was so obvious what my best friend was after. It made me go off this chap before I met him. I just loathe matchmakers!'

They all doubled up. Philip said, in gasps, 'Oh, Anna, you're
so
funny.
You
saying that, the arch-matchmaker of all time! Well, it all sounds fine to me, though I'm in such a state of happiness, if you proposed old Barney for the groomsman I'd probably say yes. Mother will be most relieved to find we've got it down to the last detail. Of course it could be that by then Victoria will have to be a matron of honour. How about it, Calum? Any date fixed yet? Or should we make it a double wedding?'

Calum said quietly, 'That's over to Victoria. I told her some time ago I'd leave the date entirely to her. She knows what commitments she's got in her job. But before we go over to your place, Philip, Sophy's got to have some coffee and some oat-cakes. She didn't even finish her dinner and she's had a lot of excitement. Make it quickly, Anna, while I ring Victoria and tell her to take the others over to Kowhai Bend.'

Sophy said, 'And ring your parents too, Calum, they must be in on this. Oh, your poor mother, Philip ... an engagement party at a moment's notice, and her cake-tins are probably at a low ebb. It always happens that way.'

Calum said, 'Oh, Mother'll take stuff over. So will Kit.'

Sophy and Philip drove off. Calum said, 'Leave your car here, Anna. We can drive over tomorrow and pick it up. Come with me.'

She shook her head. 'No, I'd rather take it. I'll follow you because although I know the way to Kowhai Bend from Strathallan, I don't from Crannog.' She looked up at him and in the light from the street lamp outside, thought he looked a little strained.

'Tell me, Calum, I'd rather know. One could drop a brick otherwise. When Philip caught back a name tonight - about his mother - was it my father who let her down?'

He hesitated, but not for long. He reached out and took hold of her cold hands. 'It would be silly to lie. Yes. But then Henry Sherborne was waiting. It doesn't have to matter to you. Nobody, least of all Grace Sherborne, is going to think any the less of you because you're Alex's daughter.'

Anna said, 'No, I could never have told from her manner to me. She's really sweet. But—' she caught her lip between her teeth for a moment, to still its trembling, then went on again, steadily, 'But it does hurt to know one's father caused so much unhappiness. That's something you can't possibly understand, Calum. Because you've had a secure family life.'

He said patiently, 'Oh, Anna, have you forgotten Blair?'

She had. 'Oh, Calum, your brother. But surely he couldn't have done such havoc as my father did?'

He said, 'He was the middle brother. Older than me. Havoc? He was engaged to Victoria. He just cleared out. Can you imagine what that does to a girl? She'd got as far as planning a home. You know she's an interior decorator, don't you? Even though she hadn't the experience she has now, she was still mighty good. She dreamed day and night of the home they would make together. She planned to have them take over some old place and do it up. Then Blair just cleared out. Left a note saying he wanted to see the world, not be tied down to domesticity.

'He roamed the world, spent longest in Canada, then went to Britain. He finally married there. My mother still yearns after him. But she was very happy when Victoria and I became engaged. And don't you think it will mean a lot to Grace Sherborne that Alex's girl brought her son and the girl of his heart together, when the rest of us failed dismally. Even though she'll only know you spurred Sophy on by making her jealous. Not that you thought I loved Sophy. You're right in saying Victoria shouldn't know. She's suffered enough doubts in her life.'

Anna returned the pressure of his hands. He caught the gleam of tears in her eyes. 'Oh, Calum, you've a genius for making things look right for me. Just like you warmed my frozen feet that night. I felt chilled to the bone just now when I realized my father had treated Philip's mother badly. But now I feel all warm again. And you did it by telling me your own private family anguish. Did you —' Oh, no, she mustn't ask had he always loved Victoria. She began again. 'You said it made your mother very happy when you and Victoria became engaged. You mean she wanted Victoria as a daughter-in-law?'

He said slowly, 'She never said just that, but she always thought that if Blair had married her, he might have settled down. He would have, too, because Victoria's got what it takes. She's a real home-maker.' His voice held pride, admiration.

'Then I'm glad it had a happy ending. And, if Blair is married now, too, I expect your mother feels better about him?'

'Yes, in a way. He seems to have realized at last that he'd have to stick to one job, one line. He was fast becoming a jack-of-all-trades, master of none. He's gone back to farming. Not his own farm, but he works on a model dairy and health food farm in Surrey. It used to be a stately home. They keep it going and make it pay by going in for this specialized production. Blair got interested. He never cared for sheep. He lives in the village surrounding it. Most of the workers do. Houses are provided. He's got two children. Mother's dying to see them. We'd like her to go over, but she won't leave Dad. He'll retire from the Hydro in a year or two and they'll go then.

'Blair's been writing home more regularly lately, and more warmly. He was such a casual beggar. I think being a family man must suit him. He writes reams about the kids now. But he never mentions his wife. It makes Mother uneasy. Shortly after Blair married Yvette a friend of Mum's went to Britain and visited them. Mum really pressed her to tell her how they were managing. This friend finally confessed Yvette was a flibberty-gibbet. Mother said drily, "Well, perhaps that's the type he deserves. If he'd got someone as unselfish as Victoria, he'd have leaned on her all his life." Now we're inclined to think this is what has happened. He writes a lot about his work now. He really likes it. He wasn't on even speaking terms with hard work before. Well, let's off and make merry. I'll make sure you're tailing me all right, Anna.'

Her thoughts weren't of Sophy and Philip. They were with what Calum had left unsaid. Had Calum been glad when Blair had left the field to him? Or had it been later, when Victoria had got over the first bitter sense of loss, that Calum had found he loved her?

She had the vague idea that her grandparents didn't wholeheartedly approve this match. What had Grandy meant when he'd said Calum needed someone to spar with verbally? Strange comment that. Surely it was better if sweet harmony flowed between a man and a woman? Or was it? Mightn't it be a little like a dewless morning? Like an egg without salt? On which romantic thought she saw Calum turn in at the gate-posts of Kowhai Bend, looked beyond to see lights coming in that direction. That would be the three from Strathallan. Calum's folk would take a little longer. They had to come from the Roxburgh Hydro Village.

Well, Anna, this is it. It's been quite a day. Just imagine, even twelve hours ago you had no idea Calum Doig was engaged to Victoria Sherborne! You're always a bridesmaid, never a bride. Oh, who cared ... there was more to life than love and marriage.

E
VERYONE
laughed because Philip's mother kissed Anna first, then the engaged couple. 'Well,' said Grace Sherborne, 'Philip said on the phone that the whole thing was due to Anna. She seems to have the knack of making people happy.'

Anna laughed, , flung out her hands, said deprecatingly, 'Oh, please don't. It makes me feel like a Belladonna. And I never did like that child.'

They all looked puzzled. Then Calum said indulgently, 'You're at it again, Anna-the-addled-one, you mean Pollyanna. Belladonna is a drug. Or a lily. Beats me how you achieve the results you do, you mixed-up creature.'

She flashed round on him, grinning. 'You get addled too ... you called me a battledore and you meant a shuttlecock!'

His eyes were alight with laughter, remembering. 'So I did, it's one up to you!'

Suddenly Anna caught a strange look on Victoria's face. She was looking at Calum as if seeing him in a new light. Then slowly she began to turn, to look at Anna. At least Anna was sure that was what she was going to do. Anna turned swiftly away and said to Kitty, 'I'm getting the credit for it, but at first I had my wires crossed too.' She said it in a low tone, under cover of the congratulatory chatter going on. 'I may sound as if I've played Cupid, but believe me, I nearly goosed the whole thing by being so blind, so addle-pated. I'll tell you later. Not a word to anyone else.'

It was a very happy gathering, informal and heart-warming.
Anna
felt part and parcel of this community now. Dermid and Judith Doig came in, added their quota to the general rejoicing. Anna had thought of them as a fun-loving couple, hospitable, out-going types. Now, with a more intimate knowledge of the way they'd worried over Blair, she saw lines of patience and a little sadness beside their mouths. Mouths were so revealing. But it was only in repose that you could notice it. She sat down on the arm of Deimid's chair. He slipped an arm about her. 'Don't fall off, lassie. From what my son tells me, you've been prime mover in this.'

She twinkled. 'At one stage I was scared Sophy would regard me as the snake in the grass. Philip merely pretended he was taking an interest in me, and Sophy fell into his arms.'

Dermid chuckled. Anna added, 'I only hope it doesn't go to my head. I might start playing Providence and get all Crannog by the ears.'

'Not you. You've just no idea of what you've accomplished by just coming here. Kit and Gilbert are different persons. Kit's got back the spring in her step, and Gilbert can do nothing but talk about you. Before that he thought he was going to fade out of life, with no descendants to carry on at Strathallan. After all, Calum and Ian are not blood relations.'

How sweet they all were! How extraordinary that she'd met with no resentment from anyone.

Dermid continued, 'Just look at Calum. You'd think he'd been responsible. He used to be like this long ago. He and Blair were such pals. He missed him horribly. Oh, well.'

Anna smiled. 'Calum can take a good deal of the credit. He kept parishioners at bay in the most noble fashion, till Philip and Sophy got things signed and sealed.'

It was very late when they got back to Strathallan. The neighbour's daughter they'd got in to babysit with the children was in the little spare room fast asleep. Kitty and Gilbert had laughed all the way home about the mistake Anna had made. Kitty said, 'It was my fault and Philip's really. We assumed she knew the situation. Well, it worked. No, we won't say a word to anyone. As you say, it could make Victoria wonder a little. And it's very hard at any time to know what she's thinking. She's a dear lass, and her first experience didn't give her much faith in men.'

Anna didn't sleep till she heard Calum come in and tiptoe past her room to his. It was more than an hour later. Oh, well, Calum would have had lingering goodnights to say to Victoria ... not only was this the night her brother celebrated his engagement but the first night of her return after weeks of absence.

Life would settle down again. There wouldn't be any more foursomes, that was for sure. At least there would be, but they would consist of Sophy and Philip, Victoria and Calum. The dawn was greying the sky before she slept.

They let her sleep it out. Only Kitty was in the house when she woke. She couldn't believe she'd slept through the accustomed uproar as the twins and Maggie were breakfasted and got off to school; that neither cockcrow nor the bawling of a calf newly parted from its mother had wakened her.

Kitty laughed. 'I crept in and you looked so exhausted I felt it would be downright cruel to rouse you. Matchmaking can be an exhausting business, and often after such excitement, one can feel a little flat.'

Yes, of course. That was all it was, this weight on her spirit.

Kitty went on, 'We've had a ring from Ian. Betty's mother is out of hospital and her other sister has arrived down from Napier to nurse her when convalescent. So they'll be home tonight. I wondered if you'd come across to their house with me, air it and put some flowers in. There'll be baking to do, too, to fill up their tins. I'd been keeping ours full in case they got home soon, but I took it all over to Kowhai Bend last night. But between the two of us, we can whip a few things up quickly. The men are going to be busy, but I wondered if you'd mow their lawns while I cut the edges.'

It was good to be so busy. One couldn't feel quite so - so what? Quite so lost? How stupid, Anna. What have you lost? Nothing that you ever possessed. No, but when she'd thought it was Sophy Calum loved, there had been that faint chance that - Oh, Anna! It had been a forlorn hope at best and not a very admirable one.

Strathallan became a place of wider activities and interests with Betty and Ian back. The children still managed to be underfoot at the homestead a lot and they regarded Anna as their own special property.

Betty said, 'Anna, enough's as good as a feast. You're far too good-natured by far. You hardly ever say no to them whatever they want you to join in. Don't let them impose upon you.'

Maggie came round the corner just then and was most indignant. 'Mum! We don't impose on her. We don't pester either. If Anna's busy, she tells us and we go away. But we always know she wants to come. And she just loves tadpole-ing... just imagine, she'd never gone tadpole-ing in her life. And she likes finding out things and says if it wasn't for us she'd not know half enough about New Zealand. We found some silver-eye nests for her yesterday, hanging under the pine branches, down in the triangle copse. But she was the one who spotted that one was hung with spiderwebs, all the rest were horse-hair. Gee, we'd like to see them doing it with web. How come they don't get all sticky and messed up? We're going to build a hide in the copse next year so we can watch. Anna says we can't now or we'll disturb them.