Victoria Holt (12 page)

Most of the girls were crazy about horses and waiting impatiently for riding times—especially Charlotte Mackay who was the best horsewoman of them all. Teresa did not say, but I guessed, that she herself was not so eager and was, in fact, a little scared of the horses.

I went first to Teresa who introduced me to Caroline with an air of pride because she already knew me. I was pleased to see how relaxed she was in my company. If all the girls were as easy to understand as Teresa, my task would present few difficulties.

“We’re glad you’ve come, Miss Grant,” said Caroline. “Teresa was telling me all about you and my father is very pleased that we are going to have social training.”

“I am sure you will profit from it, Caroline,” I said in my best schoolteacher manner. “You’ll keep your room tidy and there must not be talking after ‘lights out.’ I have explained that to Teresa.”

“Oh yes, Miss Grant.”

“Well, good night, Caroline, and good night, Teresa. I am sure you are glad to have your room-mate back.”

“Yes thank you, Miss Grant,” said Teresa smiling shyly at me.

I was sure I had an ally in Teresa.

The next visit was not quite so harmonious and I was a little dismayed to find that the whisperer I had noticed was one of my girls—in fact she was the Honorable Charlotte Mackay, tall, rather gawky, though she might grow into gracefulness, sandy-haired with a quantity of freckles and scanty eyebrows and lashes. Her companion was Patricia Cartwright, the banker’s daughter. Patricia was small and dark and I guessed would not be a troublemaker on her own but might well respond to Charlotte Mackay’s influence.

Neither of the girls was in bed. Patricia Cartwright was seated at the dressing table brushing her hair; Charlotte Mackay was sprawling on her bed fully dressed.

She did not rise when I entered though Patricia stood up rather shamefacedly.

“Hello,” I said. “Charlotte Mackay and Patricia Cartwright. I am looking in to see you all before we retire. I am sure we shall get along very well together if you keep your rooms tidy and remember that there must be no talking after ‘lights out.’”

“Mademoiselle never complained,” said Charlotte Mackay. So I gathered Mademoiselle Dupont had occupied my room last term.

“Then I am sure I shall have no need to either.”

Charlotte and Patricia exchanged covert glances—a habit which irritated me as it implied a suggestion of conspiracy between them against me.

“Good night,” I said firmly.

“Oh, Miss er…” began Charlotte.

I felt I should have told her to stand up when addressing me, but was unsure whether it would have been wise at this stage to insist on that. The last thing I must show was uncertainty, but I did not want to begin by declaring war on this girl whose manner betrayed a certain bellicose attitude toward authority.

“Yes, Charlotte?”

“Last term I shared with Eugenie Verringer.”

“Oh, I see. This term she is with her sister.”

“We wanted to be together this term. We planned to be together.”

“I am sure you will get along very happily with Patricia.”

“Patricia was with Fiona.”

“Well, it will be a little different this time.”

“Miss Grant,
I
want to be with Eugenie and Patricia wants to be with Fiona.”

I looked from one to the other. Patricia did not meet my eyes and I knew she was being forced into this by Charlotte Mackay.

“I can’t see any reason why we should be changed,” went on Charlotte.

“Miss Hetherington doubtless can.”

“You’re in charge, Miss Grant. It is for you to say. It’s nothing to do with Miss Hetherington.”

I was angry. I knew that she was baiting me as some young people did when they thought they had a weakling to deal with. I could understand why Teresa was uneasy when she talked about Charlotte. I had no doubt that Charlotte was a bully—and I would not have bullying while I was in charge.

“Will you please stand up or sit up properly when addressing me. It is impolite to loll on your bed like that.”

“Not how they do in Schaffenbrucken,” said Charlotte with a sly smile.

I went to her, seized her by the arm and forced her to sit up. She was so taken by surprise that she did so.

“Now,” I said. “I want you to understand. We shall get along well together while you behave correctly and in such a manner becoming to a young lady. You will occupy the rooms which Miss Hetherington has assigned to you, unless it is her wish to make changes. Do you understand? Good night and remember no talking after ‘lights out.’”

With a feeling that I had won the first skirmish I went out and into the room occupied by Gwendoline Grey and Jane Everton. They were sitting up in bed and had evidently been listening. Their eyes were round with wonder.

“Gwendoline. Jane,” I said. “Tell me which is which. Ah. I see. I am looking in to make everyone’s acquaintance as we shall all be together for this term. I am sure everything will be comfortable if you remember the simple rules. Well, good night, girls.”

“Good night, Miss Grant,” they said.

Pleasant girls, both of them, I thought; but I was still uneasy after my encounter with the Honorable Charlotte.

I went to my room and to bed. It was nine o’clock, the time ordained by Miss Hetherington for “lights out.”

I lay waiting. I quite expected to hear the sound of voices from Charlotte’s room. To my surprise there was silence; but I had an idea that the war was not yet won.

***

The next morning the Verringer girls arrived. Miss Hetherington sent for me to meet them in her study. I thought this was a little unwise and it surprised me that Daisy should have done it, for it must have made the girls feel that they were of special importance.

“Ah, Miss Grant,” said Daisy as I entered, “here are Fiona and Eugenie Verringer. They have just arrived.”

Fiona came forward and took my hand. She was a tall pretty girl with flaxen hair and hazel eyes; she had a pleasant smile and I liked her, which surprised me, as I was expecting the worst from a connection of Jason Verringer.

“Good morning, Miss Grant,” said Fiona.

“Good morning,” I replied. “I am pleased to meet you at last, Fiona.”

“And Eugenie,” said Daisy.

I felt a quiver of alarm. She was so like him. She had very dark hair and large lively dark brown eyes. Her olive skin had the smoothness of youth and her face was long; she reminded me of a spirited young pony. There was something rebellious about her; it was in her springy dark hair, her wide eyes and her firm chin. She might have been his daughter rather than his niece.

“How do you do, Eugenie?” I said.

“How do you do, Miss Grant?”

Both of the girls were dressed in black. Fiona’s became her fair hair. Eugenie needed brilliant colors.

“They are joining us late,” said Daisy, “because of the unhappy event which took place at the Hall.”

“Oh yes,” I said, looking at both girls. “I’m sorry.”

“There’s no need to be sorry, Miss Grant,” said Eugenie. “It was what is called a happy release.”

“Death is always sad,” I said.

Daisy frowned. She did not like the conversation to stray from the conventional.

“Well, my dears,” she said, “you may go to your rooms. There is a little change this term. You are together.”

“Together!” cried Eugenie. “The last time I was with Charlotte Mackay.”

“Yes, I know. This term you are with Fiona.”

“I don’t want to be with Fiona, Miss Hetherington.”

“Oh come, my dear, that’s not very polite, is it?”

Fiona looked slightly disconcerted but Eugenie went on: “Oh, please, Miss Hetherington. Charlotte and I
understand
each other.”

“It is arranged, dear,” said Daisy coolly, but there was a glint in her eyes which should have been obvious to Eugenie.

Eugenie, however, was fearless, and she was not afraid to speak out. “Well, it is not the law of the Medes and Persians, is it?”

Daisy smiled very coldly. “I can see, dear, that you have been paying attention to Miss Parker’s lessons. She will be gratified. However, you will remain with your sister this term. Now go to your rooms and Miss Grant is going to stay here with me as I have something to say to her.”

The girls went. I thought, That is the way to treat Miss Eugenie. Victory for Daisy.

When the door shut on the girls Daisy raised her eyebrows.

“There is always trouble with Eugenie,” she said. “Fiona is such a good girl. You will have to be firm with Eugenie and Charlotte Mackay. Did you have any trouble last night?”

“A little. Charlotte was rather truculent.”

“The Mackays are. It’s a title of only two generations. The family has never really grown accustomed to being members of the nobility and have to remind people of it at every turn. I should have thought by now they would have got used to it. What happened?”

“It was this matter of sharing with Eugenie Verringer.”

“They are two troublemakers. Last term they shared. Mademoiselle was quite incapable of keeping order. That is why I have taken her away from that section.”

“And given it to me…a newcomer!”

“I thought you would be able to deal with it, Cordelia, after all your training at Schaffenbrucken.”

“That has a lot to answer for.”

“Of course it has. It is the reason why you are here. I am confident that you will know how to deal with these recalcitrant girls. Mademoiselle was hopeless. She always is at discipline. Her classes are often in complete disorder, but she is a pretty creature and gentle and the girls are really fond of her. They would never let the troublemakers go too far against Mademoiselle. It will be necessary to take a very firm hand with Mesdames Eugenie and Charlotte. Let them see that you are in complete command and you will subdue them. They are like animals really. You know how they have to be trained. Unfortunately Eugenie is a Verringer and as you know all this belongs to the Verringer estate. What with that and Charlotte’s father’s title, we have two opinionated rebels on our hands. But you will deal with them. Stand firm and never let them get the upper hand.”

“Have I your permission to take what action I feel necessary?”

“Yes. Do what would have been done at Schaffenbrucken.”

“I don’t remember any such situation arising there. Girls there were not wildly excited about titles and estates. Most of them came from families who had had them for generations so they were commonplace.”

Daisy flinched a little and then murmured: “Of course. Of course. Do what you think best.”

“Very well then. I shall be firm and demand discipline.”

“Splendid,” said Daisy.

***

In the common room—which Daisy insisted was called the calefactory—where the staff congregated before dinner—called supper during term—everyone welcomed me and told me how everything was conducted.

It was Eileen who explained to me about Daisy’s determination that we should never forget we were in an abbey, and that was why instead of having a common room we had a calefactory.

“You may if you wish refer to it as the calefactorium. Either term is permissible. It is the apartment which was used by the monks when they wanted to get a little warmth. Poor things, they must have been frozen half the time. Underneath were the flues which gave it a little heat…hence the name. You can imagine them all hastening here when they had a few moments in which to relax, just as we do. There you see history repeating itself.”

“I’ll remember,” I said.

The others talked about lessons and pupils and I was able to have a word with Mademoiselle Dupont.

“Oh,” she cried, throwing her hands into the air. “I am ’appy because I am no longer with those naughty girl. Charlotte Mackay…Eugenie Verringer…they talk and laugh…and I believe ’ave feasts in their bedrooms. The others join them. I hear laughing and whispering…And I pull the bedclothes over my ears and I do not hear them.”

“You mean you allowed them to do that!”

“Oh, Mees Grant, it is the only way. Charlotte…she is the one who will say what is to be…and Eugenie…she is another.”

“If that is allowed to go on, they’ll be managing the whole section.”

“It is so, alas,” said Mademoiselle sadly.

Her expression was one of condolence but she could not hide her pleasure in having escaped.

I was very uneasy, but at the same time I couldn’t help a slight feeling of exhilaration. Perhaps I liked a battle. Aunt Patty had always said I did, although I had never had the occasion to face one with her and Violet. But once or twice over some domestic trouble my fighting spirit had shown itself. “Determination to win a good friend providing you use it only when necessary,” Aunt Patty had said. “But don’t forget such good friends can become enemies, like fire for instance.”

I did remember; and I was going to teach those girls a lesson other than those they would learn in the classrooms.

The routine did not change—Assembly, prayers, supper; and then dismiss.

There was a hubbub in the washing cubicles and after that retirement to rooms and “lights out.”

I had decided to make it a rule that I visited the girls last thing and said good night to them making sure that they were all where they should be and ready for slumber.

I knew there was something wrong when I entered Teresa’s room for she looked unhappy—and I guessed it was on my account. Caroline looked very meek lying in her bed; and I said good night to both girls.

Gwendoline Grey and Jane Everston were also in their beds and although they lay quietly, almost demure, they had an air of waiting.

I went into Charlotte’s room where I knew I should find trouble, and how right I was! Charlotte was in one bed, Eugenie in the other.

I said in a voice which could be heard in all the other bedrooms: “Eugenie, get out of that bed at once and go back to your own.”

Eugenie shot up in bed and I was aware of her angry dark eyes glaring at me. “This is my bed, Miss Grant. It was my bed last term.”

“But not this,” I said. “Get up at once.”

Charlotte was looking at Eugenie urging her to rebellion.

“Where is Patricia?” I said. I looked into the next room. She was in one bed, Fiona in the other. They both looked alarmed.