The Heiress (6 page)

‘Oh, he'll expect a great deal, if I know Charles,' Jeanne said sarcastically. ‘Tell me one thing. Does he love you?'

‘No.' Anne drew near her mirror and picked up a big swans-down puff and began powdering her throat and shoulders. ‘But I think he will in the end. I'm gambling everything on that. And now you must forgive me, Jeanne. Marie-Jeanne, come and begin dressing my hair, please. I'll see you later at the reception.' She blew her friend a kiss.

As Jeanne went to the door, the little maid held it open for her; she turned round and shook her head.

‘Anne, I think you're mad. If he does anything to hurt you … I'm going to have a few words with my dear brother. Until later!'

Charles had been given his own suite of rooms at Charantaise and he was waited on by the de Bernard servants, all of whom hated him because he cuffed them and swore at them; they took the intolerable arrogance of their own aristocracy for granted; the valet expected to be kicked on occasions by his master, but all the servants at the Château resented this foreigner who ordered them about like dogs. But he was obeyed and he was feared; he was the future master of the Château and everyone in it. When he married the Marquise he would inherit her power over them all. He could have the servants thrown out to starve, dispossess the tenants of their lands, hang them for theft or refusal to obey an order. A lackey tried to stop Jeanne at the outer door.

‘Monsieur is not to be disturbed, Madame. Those are his instructions.'

Jeanne gave him a look which quelled her own servants and had silenced her own husband on occasions.

‘Get out of the way. I am Monsieur's sister.'

Charles was lying on a couch reading when she walked into his bedroom.

‘I told that oaf outside I was not to be disturbed,' he said. ‘This household needs a lesson in obedience; I'll take a cane to him for letting you in here.'

‘Oh no, you won't,' Jeanne said. ‘You'll control your temper and pretend that you're glad to see me after all this time. You might at least get up!'

‘I have no intention of getting up,' Charles remarked. ‘I've spent the morning hunting with my charming fiancée and I'm tired. Why don't you go away?'

Jeanne walked over to him and sat down.

‘I want to talk to you, brother, and you're going to listen to me. Put that book down or I swear I'll knock it out of your hand!'

‘Poor de Mallot,' he mocked. ‘Fancy being married to a bad-tempered bitch like you, Jeanne. Thank God my wife will know how to behave with me after we're married.'

‘You're not married yet,' his sister snapped. ‘That's what I want to talk to you about. Why are you going through with this? Have you any feeling for Anne at all?'

‘What feelings am I supposed to have? It's a marriage of convenience, surely you know that.… Don't you approve of me as a husband for her?'

‘I know about your debts and the scandal you've caused,' she answered. ‘As for approving of you, I think you're beneath contempt. Why did you agree to marry Anne—wasn't there another rich woman you could victimize?'

‘She was our parents' choice,' Charles retorted. ‘You should blame them, not me.'

‘I have no influence with Father; all he's thinking about are the estates in Scotland. If they weren't being restored to us he'd have let you go to the Bastille and rot there! All I'm concerned about is Anne. I've just left her.'

‘Ah,' he swung his legs to the ground and sat up. ‘And what has she said to bring you here like an avenging angel—has she complained of me. How miserably disloyal—I see it's not only the servants I shall have to discipline.'

‘She's in love with you,' Jeanne said slowly. ‘That's what has horrified me more than anything. Did you know that, did you know she loves you?'

‘It depends what you mean by love.' He grinned at her. ‘I imagine I compare rather better as a lover than these country idiots she's been accustomed to. Does that answer your question, my dear sister, or must I elaborate?'

‘I don't want to discuss her feelings,' Jeanne interrupted. ‘I want to find out about yours. You don't care for her at all, do you?'

‘What a boring little provincial you've become,' he mocked. ‘Care for her … I'm marrying her because I have no choice. After that she can go to the devil!'

‘I see.' Jeanne stood up. ‘That's what I suspected. What are you going to do after you're married?'

‘Go back to Versailles as quickly as possible. She can stay here. I shan't interfere with her; she can amuse herself as she pleases. It'll be an admirable arrangement. She won't suffer anything from me if she's sensible.'

For a moment Jeanne hesitated. As children they had quarrelled bitterly; he had bullied her and jeered at her and many times she had flown at him with her fists and teeth. She was not afraid of him and he knew it. She could afford to lower her pride for the sake of her childhood friend.

‘I've never asked anything of you in my life,' she said at last. ‘Perhaps I should have done. If we hadn't been so strong-willed we might have understood each other better. Charles, will you promise me something?'

‘Certainly. I never keep my promises.'

‘Will you be kind to Anne? She's good and gentle and she really loves you. I beg of you not to hurt her. It isn't much to ask.'

‘You really are fond of her, aren't you,' he said. ‘It must cost you a great deal to say “I beg” to me. I shall promise you nothing, my dear Jeanne. I told you, she can go to the devil for all I care. But if you want to protect her then give her good advice. Tell her to keep out of my way. Then I assure you she'll be safe enough.'

‘Very well.' Jeanne's eyes were very narrow. ‘I've spoken for Anne, now I'll speak for myself. If you harm her I swear before God I'll find a way to have you killed. And you know I mean that.'

‘We're not in the Highlands now,' he reminded her. ‘You might find it more difficult to murder me here than you would in Scotland.
You
should inherit the estates, my dear Jeanne. You're a Fraser to your fingers' ends. What a pity you have Mother's red hair without her looks! Go away now, before I lose my temper and throw you out into the passage. And don't forget to kiss me when we meet in public.'

Half an hour later Charles went down to meet his fiancée and their guests. The lackey who had admitted his sister was still on duty outside the door. He paused for a moment, adjusting the lace handkerchief which hung from his sleeve, and with the same movement brought his right hand up and struck the servant across the face.

‘Next time,' he said, without even looking at him, ‘do what you're told.'

The dinner was over, and even Charles had to admit that it was magnificent. There were a hundred guests seated in the enormous dining-room at two long parallel tables, and fifteen courses were served to them. Quail covered with light pastry, salmon and river-trout, pigeons cooked in herbs and wine, venison and hare and duckling, fruits swimming in brandy, sucking-pig stuffed with chestnuts and apples, sweetmeats and desserts which would have done credit to the King's table at Versailles. The banquet lasted for five hours, and at the end of it Anne and Charles led their guests into the Marble Salon for Madame Louet's recital.

‘I am constantly surprised at how rich you are,' he whispered to her. ‘Such a pity to waste all that magnificence on these provincial bumpkins. How long is this woman going to play?'

‘Until I give the signal. Does music bore you?'

They were sitting together at the head of the salon in two gilt chairs. He had to admit that she was not only beautiful—the dazzling pink dress would have excited the acquisitive Dubarry's admiration—but she also knew how to entertain. When he spoke to her she blushed; he glanced across at his sister and smiled. ‘When I'm bored, my dear Anne, I leave. Give this an hour and no more.'

‘As you wish.' She sat very still, listening to the recital; one or two of the male guests were asleep.

Charles leant towards her.

‘The hour is up,' he said. ‘Stop her before some of your audience break into snores.' Anne gave the signal and led the applause. The harpist came up to them and curtsied.

‘A wonderul performance, Madame,' Anne thanked her. ‘We have been enchanted. There will be dancing in the Long Salon. Be kind enough to join us.'

‘You keep late hours for the country,' Charles said. ‘Hunting half the day, eating and drinking for hours on end. No wonder all your neighbours look so gross. Will we have to go through this again on the wedding night? I'm afraid I may have to retire early if we do.…'

‘When a de Bernard marries, certain things are expected,' Anne said quietly. ‘I'm sure in your own country you had obligations to your neighbours. Ah, Monsieur le Vicomte de Bre—may I present my future husband, Monsieur Macdonald!'

Charles noticed the young man's fair face flush a deep red as he kissed Anne's hand. They bowed to each other and he saw the hostility in the younger man's eyes.

‘My felicitations, Monsieur,' the Vicomte said stiffly. ‘You are the most fortunate man in the world.'

‘So I hear on all sides,' Charles answered. ‘I only fear that my good fortune is ill fortune for others. Anne, my dear, I'm sure Monsieur de Bre wishes to claim you for a dance. I relinquish her to you, Monsieur.'

He watched them move away, and the old Comte de Bernard came up to him.

‘This is a sad night for that young man,' he remarked. ‘He's been Anne's suitor for years.'

‘So I guessed,' Charles said. ‘I wonder she refused him.'

‘She took my advice,' the old man smiled. ‘I told her to wait for a better. There was not much hesitation about you after you arrived. You've made her very happy, my dear boy.'

‘I'm glad to hear it.' Charles bowed. ‘I'm sure she deserves all the happiness I can give her.'

Anne danced the figures of the minuet, smiling mechanically into the face of her partner, watching for Charles whenever they turned.

‘I wish you happiness,' de Bre said to her quietly. ‘You know I would give anything in the world to be in his place, but I wish you all possible joy.'

‘I know you do,' she said gently. ‘And you will have that joy yourself one day. I pray that you'll find it quickly. Excuse me, my dear Michel, but I think my fiancé is looking for me.…'

She left him as soon as the dance ended. Charles was drinking wine in a corner, making conversation with an elderly lady who claimed to have known his parents when both were visiting France before their marriage.

‘How little your mother has changed,' she was saying. ‘Still as beautiful as ever. I'm surprised you don't resemble either of them more.'

Charles gave her a disarming smile.

‘I'm told I take after my Uncle Hugh,' he said. ‘I beg your indulgence, Madame; I see my delightful fiancée approaching.'

He bowed low over the old lady's hand and kissed it. He came up to Anne and he was frowning; he took her arm and led her towards the door.

‘I'm intolerably bored,' he said. ‘You must excuse me.'

A lackey sprang to the door and opened it wide for them, bowing low as they passed through.

Anne began to walk up the staircase with him; at the entrance to his suite of rooms she touched his arm.

‘I must speak to you, just for a moment.'

‘Everyone wants to speak to me just for a moment,' he sneered. ‘My dear sister came bursting in upon me, just to speak for a moment. Now it's you … What do you want? Do me the favour of being brief. I'm bone weary.'

‘I don't know what Jeanne said to you, but I can guess. What I have to say is brief indeed. We began this engagement in the worst possible circumstances; let us review it before it is too late. Charles, I don't want you to marry me against your will.'

‘And what exactly did you think I was doing, except that?' he demanded. ‘Didn't I make it clear to you that I was being blackmailed into this marriage? What's the matter, my dear—have you decided that you'd rather have your country bumpkin de Bre, after all? Too bad,' he mocked. ‘You agreed to have me and now I've grown used to the idea. I'm going to marry you, my little cousin, whether you want it or not.'

She looked up at him, her eyes full of tears.

‘God help me, I still want you,' she said. ‘Hateful as you are, I can't help myself.'

He put his hands on her shoulders and held her for a moment.

‘You're a fool,' he said quietly. ‘For your own sake I almost wish you weren't. Go down and console that poor rejected suitor; give my respects to my dear parents and my sister. Enjoy yourself, Anne. You walked into this business of your own free will. I'm not going to let you escape from it now. Or from me.'

He turned into his rooms and shut the door.

Charles spent much of the time before the wedding travelling round Anne's estates. The de Bernard tenants at the great Château were well fed and properly cared for; her stewards and bailiffs treated the servants and the estate workers with the consideration due to pedigree animals. Unlike the majority of the peasants, undernourished, sullen, frightened and dirty, the staff were intelligent and trained. Charles had heard a great deal about the poverty of Scotland and the wretched conditions to which the Highland people were reduced by the oppression of the English. As he rode through the French countryside he doubted if anything he encountered on his return to Dundrenan could be much worse than the windowless hovels and half-naked creatures who ran after his coach yelling for alms. It was a country endowed with enormous natural wealth; its soil was productive, its climate superb, but the fields were tilled as they had been three hundred years before; men drew the plough and women sowed and reaped by hand with the crudest tools. There was no proper drainage system; outbreaks of plague ravaged the countryside. What little profit the farmer managed to produce was swallowed up by the extortionate taxes from which his aristocratic master was exempted and by the corruption of the fiscal officers.