‘And there we have our situation in a nutshell. Both of us have our feet firmly planted in the place in which we feel comfortable. But why are you worried, John? You can come here regularly. You shall not miss the boys growing up.’
‘I would rather be dead than do so. And what of you, sweetheart? Has the arrival of the twins filled the emptiness in your heart?’
She turned to him and he held her close, both arms round her, smelling the glorious scent which she carried with her everywhere, unique to her and her alone.
‘Yes, it has. They are the gift of my middle years. They shall have everything that it is in my power to give them.’
‘But you’re not to spoil them.’
‘That I will never do.’
And he knew it was true. She had too much fire, too much strength to let her boys turn into idle wastrels. John’s thoughts went briefly to the scrapping pair in The Blackamore’s Head — George Beauvoir and Freddy Warwick — and thought what a couple of useless fellows they were, particularly George, whom the Apothecary considered to be extremely obnoxious.
Elizabeth misread his silence. ‘You don’t believe me, do you? I can assure you that I will keep them under control.’
Thinking of her first child, Frederico, and his terrible end, John decided that it was his duty to do all he could to assist in the bringing up of his twin sons. But the perfume of Elizabeth was in his nostrils and the delight of her was in his arms. So he did what any red-blooded man would do and kissed her warmly and lengthily, and temporarily forgot about everything else.
The next day Sir Gabriel and Rose moved into Withycombe House. The first thing Rose did was rush to the nursery where she discovered James and Jasper awake, looking at her with their blue eyes which were already turning to a somewhat darker shade.
‘Oh, you two imps,’ she said, as she leant over their cribs, ‘how I love you and how I shall always love you, even if you go far away from me.’
‘Why? Are they thinking of leaving the country?’ asked Sir Gabriel, who had mounted the great staircase grandly with much use of his cane, which he had tied with two blue ribbons as a token of his esteem.
She turned to her grandfather and winked. ‘Who knows?’ she said, giving him her special smile.
Sir Gabriel did not believe in any such nonsense as second sight, but for all that he could not resist his granddaughter, whom he loved with all his heart. Now he put his hand in hers and let her lead him to the two cribs in which lay two identical babies. Sir Gabriel bent over them and one — he never knew which — stretched up a minute hand and pulled at his immense wig.
‘Oh Jasper, how naughty,’ said Rose. ‘You must be more respectful to Grandfather.’
‘How did you know that was Jasper?’ Sir Gabriel asked, astonished.
‘I didn’t. But it worked, did it not?’
And they both watched as the tiny fingers disentangled themselves from the horsehair and returned to lie peacefully on the blanket.
Sir Gabriel shook his head. ‘What fine, fine boys. I never imagined such a thing possible.’
‘Why was that, Grandpapa?’
He looked a trifle embarrassed. ‘These matters should not be discussed in front of little girls.’
‘I see,’ she said, and the very tone of her voice told him that she knew as much as he did about the whole affair.
John spoke from the doorway. ‘For the first time the four most important people in my life are all together.’
Rose raised her finger to her lips. ‘Hush, Father. Mrs Elizabeth would be most upset if she heard you.’
John glanced guiltily over his shoulder. ‘Well, she’s not in earshot. And you know perfectly well what I mean, Rose. It is a wonderful moment for me to see all my family in one room. So what do you think of them, Father?’
‘I think they are strong, healthy lads and one day will do you great credit, John.’
‘Shall we go downstairs and drink their health?’
‘What a splendid idea. Lead the way.’
But after they had gone Rose sat on a nursery chair and started to croon a strange little lullaby and, unbelievably, the twins began to join in. Not crying but making small sounds to echo their sister’s. Eventually, all three of them fell asleep, and that was how the nursery maid found them. The boys quite peaceful in their cots; Rose, red hair spiralling round her head, curled up in the chair, a smile on her face as she dreamed.
Eleven
A wonderful fortnight ensued, during which the Apothecary spent as much time as was possible with his daughter Rose. It was now high April and the weather typical of the season. Bright, cheerful but boisterous breezes blew amongst the trees, followed by vivid showers. The great house, which stood tall above the River Exe, had rain beating against the windows one minute and the next was full of brilliant sunshine, while rainbows arched high over the river.
John, very much aware that shortly after her birthday at the end of the month Rose would be going to boarding school, determined to make her his favourite companion for these last few weeks that they had together. So while Elizabeth was busy with the twins and Sir Gabriel snoozed in the afternoon sunshine he took her out walking or riding on her pony, while he struggled along beside her on one of Elizabeth’s fiercesome mounts. Thus they many times came to the sea and it was then that John taught his daughter how to swim, she battling hard against the persuasive current, the Apothecary holding her securely round the waist but loosening his grip slightly on each occasion. One day when she was concentrating fiercely he let go altogether and she swam for about a yard before she realized that he was no longer holding her and began to flail. But from that time on it was a question of practice, and Rose soon mastered the technique and swam along beside him quite happily. She somehow seemed to ignore the cold, which John found quite piercing, though she emerged on to the beach chatter-toothed and shivering, her thin little body pale, her hair flaming in the sun.
Sir Gabriel meanwhile spent most of the day when awake playing with the twins — that is, when he was allowed into the nursery by the two fierce women who had control of the place. In this way he was rewarded by their first smile — James’s a day before Jasper’s — and rushed off to fetch Elizabeth to see, whirling through the house, leaning heavily on his great stick. She came back with him and James smiled again, a sight which reduced her to tears before she picked him up and made much of him, handing Sir Gabriel the other twin to hold on his lap, a fact which made the old man weep as well. So everyone was crying when John and Rose walked in, a situation which soon changed to general laughter and happiness for the entire family.
It was a slight surprise to the Apothecary, therefore, when Sir Gabriel said one evening, ‘It is time I was getting back to Kensington, my boy.’
‘Is it, Sir?’ asked John, his svelte eyebrow rising. ‘Why?’
‘Fact is, I am being missed. I am frequently a card partner to Lady Bournemouth and she has written to me in quite anxious terms demanding to know when I am returning. Apparently she is playing with Lord Whatlington, a terrible old bore, and she is most persistent to have me back.’
John smiled, picturing this elderly card school and feeling terribly grateful that his father was still applying his mind to it and, moreover, was treasured by its other members. He found himself praying that Sir Gabriel would die in his sleep and not have to wait for death as he grew iller and iller, gaunt white face staring at him from between the sheets.
‘So I thought I would ask Irish Tom to drive me back in two days’ time.’
John stared at him. ‘But who will go with you?’
‘I shall travel alone, dear boy. What’s wrong with that?’
‘I don’t like the thought of it. In fact I shall accompany you, Sir, if that is agreeable to you.’
‘But you are needed here.’
