The forgotten house, p.3
The Forgotten House, page 3
Lexie gave Carrie a wry look. ‘Of course I’m not intending to elope. The thought never crossed my mind.’
‘Well that’s a relief. Carrie, stop giving your sister ideas.’ Moira stood and moved to face both of her daughters. ‘I know that James Theroux came to see your father and asked for your hand in marriage. I also know that your father refused.’
Lexie clenched her jaw.
‘If he should propose to you tonight, Alexandra, it is your family duty to say no.’
Lexie scoffed. ‘Family duty? It’s not Victorian times for goodness sake. It’s 1939! Aren’t arranged marriages just a little bit old hat? I’m sorry to tell you Mother, but people marry for love nowadays.’
‘It’s not just an arranged marriage, it’s a forced marriage,’ Carrie chipped in.
Moira shook her head. ‘Anyone would think that you might be a little excited about the prospect of being betrothed to one of the most eligible and handsome bachelors in the land.’
‘I am excited about that prospect. I just have a different bachelor in mind.’ Lexie shot back. She turned and looked defiantly out of the bay window.
Moira continued. ‘Anson is a good young man, you will grow to love him and …’
‘I don’t want to grow to love him.’ Lexie wheeled around, her eyes filling with tears. ‘Mother, I don’t wish to defy you or Father, but surely you can understand that I am in love with someone else; someone who is perfectly suitable.’ Lexie moved closer to her mother. She held her hands. ‘Please talk to Father.’
The two women looked like mirror images of each other.
Moira Taylor shook her head. ‘I’m sorry but I can’t. He is adamant about this. The future is uncertain and he considers this arrangement to be the best thing for both of our families. You could do a lot worse than Anson.’
‘I agree with Mother,’ Carrie said.
Lexie looked at her sister’s reflection in the mirror. ‘Of course you do, Carrie. Then why don’t you marry Anson? He’s not a great intellect and he likes a bit of preening, you would go well together.’
‘Girls, please.’ Moria shook her head.
Lexie turned back to face her mother. ‘But that’s a solution to the problem, Mother, Carrie and Anson can marry and that will protect both families’ interests just as well.’
‘You know that’s not what your father wants.’
‘I don’t want that either!’ Carrie exclaimed.
‘But it achieves the same purpose,’ Lexie stated.
‘Your father wants his elder daughter to marry Anson, as agreed.’
‘Agreed by whom?’ Lexie asked.
‘Let’s face it,’ Carrie cut in. ‘Father wants his business-minded daughter to marry the heir apparent so both fortunes are protected. He thinks I’m flighty,’ she turned around in a huff. ‘Do you think this pink-coloured dress makes me look too young? Lexie’s dress is a much more sophisticated colour … maybe I should change.’
‘What would give him the impression that you are flighty I wonder, Carrie?’ Moira Taylor rolled her eyes. ‘Perhaps a lack of concentration in regard to the subject at hand or running away from boarding school for a week in order to discover who you really are, or the phase when you were going to be a poet and never marry or …’
‘All right, all right, I was young,’ Carrie shot back, finally turning away from the mirror.
‘You were seventeen. It was only last year.’ Lexie reminded her. ‘But still, Carrie has a point. We all have big dreams for a while and if Carrie shows a keen interest in the business, then maybe…’
‘Oh but the business is so boring.’ Carrie rolled her eyes.
‘Hmm.’ Moira gave Lexie a knowing look.
‘You’re not helping yourself.’ Lexie frowned at Carrie.
‘I’m not helping you, don’t you mean? I don’t want to marry Anson. He’s going to be twenty-one in four months' time and then he’s proposing to you. He’s nearer your age. I want you to stop looking at James and hurry up and marry Anson so that James notices me—we discussed all this.’
‘Don’t tell me you want James Theroux too?’ Moira snapped.
Lexie glared at Carrie.
‘Yes,’ Carrie piped in. ‘He was my friend first.’
‘You know only too well, Mother, that if Anson wasn’t on the scene, Father would be pushing me towards James and would be over at Autumn Manor doing business deals with Mr. Theroux,’ Lexie said.
‘Well, maybe, but it’s not the case. So resign yourself to the fact that in a few months' time, you will be engaged to Anson Howell,’ Moira said.
Lexie leapt up from the bay window. ‘Resign myself to marrying a man I don’t love and don’t want to be with to keep you and Father happy?’
‘For the sake of your family,’ Moira added. ‘For your family’s future.’
‘You know very well, Mother, our family fortune would be just as safe if I married James. This is all about deals done and Father giving his word.’ Lexie’s voice wavered. ‘It’s a shame he doesn’t care a little more for my happiness than he does for his friendships.’
‘That’s not true, Alexandra, he loves you.’
‘Did you marry for love, Mother? Were you truly in love with Father or did you do your duty?’ Lexie asked.
‘What a silly question.’ Moira said and looked away.
Chapter 4
Dressed in full evening attire, James and Frank Theroux cut impressive figures as they stood framed in the doorway of Autumn Manor. One after the other, a fine collection of automobiles made their way up the long driveway. The air was buzzing with the excitement of another ball at Autumn Manor in the last days of Summer. Standing beside his father, where his mother had once stood to greet their guests, James scanned every arrival for the only face he was interested in, that of Alexandra Taylor. He caught his father’s amused look every now and then and frowned in return.
‘She’ll be here, she’s a lady. You can’t rush a lady,’ his father said between greetings.
James sighed. ‘What do they do in that dressing room? How long does it take to put on a dress and shoes?’
‘It’ll be worth it, mark my words,’ Frank Theroux answered as he reached out to welcome the pastor making his way up the entrance steps.
‘Grand evening for a gathering, Frank,’ the pastor nodded.
‘We couldn’t have chosen better,’ Frank agreed looking at how the colours of the estate were bathed in a golden glow as the evening light dimmed. He shook the pastor’s hand and pointed out a few of his parishioners who had already arrived and were mingling inside. Frank returned to his post.
‘Watch out,’ James muttered as Millie Ashcroft, thin, lively and loud, alighted from a grand Alvis sports coupé.
‘You watch out,’ his father whispered. ‘She’s had her eye on you since you were five years old.’
James turned on the charm. ‘What a lovely automobile, Millie.’
‘How kind of you to say so,’ she retorted with a smirk, ‘but I don’t like those cars with no top, it messes my hair,’ she flattened down her red wavy hair to no avail. ‘I don’t see the need for fresh air while you are driving.’
‘You look lovely, Millie, just splendid.’ Frank greeted her, picking up the compliment that James had failed to give.
Millie’s face softened. ‘Thank you, Mr. Theroux, as do you. You both look splendid.’ Her eyes lingered on James as she passed between the two gentlemen and headed in to the party.
James exhaled.
‘Really, James, save the compliments for the ladies not the cars,’ his father teased. ‘Have I taught you nothing?’
James chuckled. ‘Evidently not. Anyway, I can’t get into any trouble if I compliment the cars. It is swish though.’
‘Beautiful piece of machinery,’ his father agreed. ‘We’d better join the party now. We’ve been out here long enough and door duty is mostly done. No doubt you’ll spot Alexandra when she arrives.’ Frank turned to move inside.
Begrudgingly, James followed.
*****
Moira Taylor rose from her dressing table, satisfied with the results of her grooming. She glanced at an old timber jewellery box on the dresser, stopped and ran her hand over it. Opening the lid, she could smell the muskiness of the red velvet interior. She caught her reflection broken in three frames of mirror inside the lid. She ran a finger over a royal blue pouch and then gently lifted it. Untying the ribbon, she slid a large silver locket out onto her palm. It had been a while since she had opened the locket, but she was always conscious of it in the room.
She pried apart the two sides to find her own faded photo on one side. Years old now—I was a beauty, she conceded. On the other side was a handsome man in his early twenties with a charming smile that could still stop her heart. The man, this man, whom she had watched marry someone else was never far from her thoughts. The pain was still raw, even after all the years that had flown by since they spoke words of love to each other. But she had done her duty and her children would benefit from that.
*****
‘Let’s go!’ Carrie exclaimed with impatience. ‘You look lovely,’ she told Lexie for the hundredth time.
‘I’m coming.’ Lexie turned one more time in front of the mirror. ‘Go and hurry Mother up and stop bothering me. And order the car,’ she called after her.
Lexie checked her appearance for the last time, left the room and descended the stairs. Her father paced at the bottom of the staircase.
Lexie braced, anticipating a lecture. ‘Are you sure you won’t come, Father?’ she asked.
‘I’m very sure, thank you. And Alexandra, I don’t want your company monopolised tonight by that Theroux boy. Anson will be there and I expect you to be civil and to treat him with the respect that is due to a future husband. I want you back by …’
Lexie cut him off. ‘Mother is with us. I’m sure we will be fine.’
He grunted a reply and strode off to his office.
Lexie sighed and called one more time to her sister and mother.
*****
James found himself wedged between Agnes Blake and Alice Wheatley, both single, and attractive young ladies. Agnes was flirting outrageously and was onto her third champagne by James’ count while Alice was playing cool and aloof, which suited him fine. His eyes kept darting to the terrace, where he expected to see Lexie any minute.
‘And so, James, will you enlist?’ Alice asked.
‘Alice how morbid you are,’ her friend scolded. ‘No talk of that tonight. Tonight is just for fun, don’t you agree James?’
‘Oh come, Agnes, we can’t talk of balls and gowns all night. How very dull,’ Alice sighed.
‘Ladies, please excuse me,’ James cut in. He saw Moira Taylor making her entrance through the open doorway, which meant Lexie should be right behind. ‘Enjoy yourself tonight won’t you?’ he said not taking his eyes from the terrace.
Lexie was not with her mother. He went out across the terrace and down the front steps. He strode past the group at the fountain, avoiding a play fight with Edward Mann who did his best to dunk him, straightened his jacket and kept walking. He still could not see Lexie, so he turned back towards the house. His father had already ensconced Moira Taylor into a group and then James spotted Carrie as she wandered onto the terrace to join a younger group trying the punch fruit mix and covertly adding a little champagne that they were not allowed to have.
He increased his pace and then he saw her; she entered the house alone, turned to laugh at a comment from the group Carrie was with and turned back, her eyes seemed to be seeking him out. His heart raced.
*****
The music began to swell—Ain’t We Got Fun—Carrie hummed the tune as she sipped her drink on the terrace. A shrill of laughter distracted her; Carrie recognised the exaggerated attention-seeking laugh of its owner, Anna Howell.
Anna waved and Carrie returned the salutation. Surrounded by suitors, Anna, with her fashionable dark, wavy hair trailing over her shoulder and wearing a fitted, chiffon cream dress was riding it out as always, continuing to move in the right circles as if nothing had happened since the Great War. Her family was recession-proof, as was Carrie’s. They would be sisters-in-law within the next year if Lexie did as she was told and married Anna’s brother, Anson; it had been planned since their birth, although no one had foreseen the Great War would change everything. The family estates were being divided up and sold off with so many resultant smaller holdings appearing in their place.
Carrie thought about her future brother-in-law—Anson was charming, ambitious and wealthy. Why couldn’t Lexie be happy marrying Anson and keep her mitts off James! Carrie stewed.
As a waiter passed, she reached for a glass of orange juice in a flute with a wedge of orange and mint perched on the rim. Carrie turned to look over the expansive gardens and saw him, James Theroux, at home in his grounds. He was walking towards her, smiling, aloof and striking: his bow tie already undone and loose around his neck, his dark unkempt hair falling over his eyes. Carrie sighed, struck by his handsomeness. Mrs. Carrie Theroux, Mrs. James Theroux, she rolled the words over her tongue and then she realised he wasn’t smiling at her. Behind her Lexie had walked out onto the terrace. A light breeze lifted Lexie’s dress and she smoothed it down with one hand and walked towards James, as he came quickly up the front steps.
He reached for her hand, leaned towards her and kissed her cheek, stopping only to take two glasses of champagne from a passing waiter and to hand one to Lexie.
‘Alexandra’, James raised his glass.
‘James,’ she smiled and touched his glass with her own.
‘I thought you would never arrive,’ James said. ‘I thought your father might have forbidden it.’
Lexie smiled. ‘I did get a departing lecture. But I saw on my arrival that you were in good hands,’ she nodded towards Agnes and Alice. ‘So, I stopped to have a quick word with the Pastor. I’m sure you wouldn’t have been short of company.’
‘Ah, but you are wrong. I was wasting away, distracted, of no social value to the poor ladies at all.’
James turned noticing Carrie for the first time.
‘Hello there, Carrie,’ he smiled. ‘Well, well, the two beautiful Taylor girls, how lucky can a man be?’
‘How lucky indeed,’ Lexie teased him.
‘And beautiful in … what colour is that?’ James admired Lexie’s dress.
‘Champagne.’ Lexie twirled for his benefit. ‘Mother says it is the fashionable colour of the season.’
‘Well if it wasn’t before, it is now,’ James assured her.
Carrie rolled her eyes and turned towards the sound of a scream followed by a splash, the party had moved to the fountain. Turning back, she saw James still staring at Lexie.
‘Now James,’ Carrie attempted to distract him. ‘You know my sister is forbidden fruit.’
Lexie laughed. ‘Am I? Who told you that?’
‘Your fiancé,’ Carrie smirked.
Lexie looked at her unadorned hand. ‘Mm, last time I looked, I was unattached.’ She raised her eyes, challenging James. He smiled, took her hand and pressed it to his lips.
‘We must do something about this naked hand.’ He held her gaze with his intense blue eyes. ‘What a vision you are.’
Lexie blushed and looked out across the lawn.
Carrie bristled. She wanted to scream, ‘Lexie you have Anson. Go away, I want James. I knew him first, he was my friend first!’
Carrie knew she had lost him.
*****
James reached for Lexie’s champagne glass and put it down on the table next to his own. ‘Come for a walk with me? Carrie, please excuse us won’t you?’ He took Lexie’s hand without waiting for a response from Carrie and led Lexie down the front steps.
Off to one side, James saw his father talking with one of the widows from their local church. He caught his eye and his father winked. She wouldn’t be the only woman present at the party with the hope of becoming the next Mrs. Theroux and lady of the house.
They walked down the path, past the fountain where guests lolled in various stages of undress, past the rotunda where the band played It’s De-Lovely and guests danced as if all was well in the world.
‘Did I mention that you look stunning?’ James cast a glance over Lexie’s gown that moved fluidly around her with every step she took.
‘I can’t recall whether you said that to me or some other girl,’ Lexie teased.
‘Are there other girls here?’ James looked around. ‘I didn’t notice.’ He led Lexie off the path and through the green maze of Kenneth’s trimmed hedges that dwarfed them. A timber bench overlooked the lake and the area was deserted; the party had not moved as far as the maze yet. James stopped, spun Lexie around and held her close to him.
He heard her gasp with surprise. James smiled and taking a loose strand of her hair between his fingers, moved the lock from her face. He touched her cheek and then cupped her petite face in his hands.
‘Lexie, I can’t see a future without you by my side.’ He moved to kiss her. He could hear her short, sharp breaths but his eyes never left her lips until he felt the touch of them on his own; he closed his eyes and inhaled her scent, feeling the returned press of her lips on his.
James pulled away slowly, opening his eyes to look into hers. He dropped to one knee, took her small white hand and pressed it between his own. Looking up he smiled and spoke. ‘Alexandra, you have my heart. Will you have all of me? Please do me the honour of being my wife? I offer you all I am and all I can be. I will do everything in my power to make you happy and for the rest of my days on this earth you will be loved and respected. Marry me?’
Lexie smiled as tears ran down her face.
‘Yes,’ she whispered, ‘yes, I would be honoured to be your wife.’
