He was wheedling now. 'Fine food and serious conversation.'
His teeth were porcelain white and very regular against the deep-water tan. She felt the corners of her own mouth tugging upwards, and he saw the change in her and pressed his advantage. I may have further news, some further plan for Huron to discuss with you. 'That makes it irresistible. ' She laughed outright at last, with surprisingly unforced gaiety that made some of the nearest bystanders glance around at her and smile in sympathy. I will call for you. Where? When? ' He had not realized how attractive she truly was until she laughed. No. ' She laid her hand on his forearm. 'My brother will accompany me, but if you are there I look forward to our momentous conversation. ' She felt the devil in her again, and squeezed his arm, finding pleasure in his immediate response, the way the muscles in his forearm corded under her finger-tips. Wait, she told the coachman and watched the slim tall figure go down the beach to where Black Joke's whaler waited for him.
He was wearing his dress uniform for the visit to his commanding Admiral. The gold lace epaulettes emphasized the breadth of his shoulders and his sword belt upped his waist. Abruptly, she wondered whether his body hair was as blond as the queue that was twisted up at the nape of his neck, and then instantly was shocked and agitated at herself. She would never have harboured a thought like that before. Before what? she asked. herself, and the answer was clear; before that night on Huron. Mungo St. John had much to answer for. Comfortably placing blame where it belonged, she pulled her eyes away from the lithe figure of Clinton Codrington and leaned forward to tell the coachman, Home, please.'
She would not attend the Admiral's ball, she decided, and then she began to recite silently to herself the Christian articles of faith.
However, Zouga prevailed over her good intentions. The two of them shared the open carriage with the eldest, unmarried Cartwright daughter, for it was one of the balmy nights of a Cape autumn.
Cartwight and his wife followed in the closed carriage, in serious discussion for the entire journey.
I am sure he is quite taken with Aletta, Mrs. Cartwright had stated. My dear, the fellow has no fortune whatsoever. 'Expectations, ' Mrs. Cartwright told him benignly. 'I understand he will make thousands from this expedition.
He is one of those young men who will get on in life, I am certain of that. 'I prefer money in the bank, my dear. 'He has created quite a stir, I assure you, such a serious and sensible young man, and so very attractive. It would be quite a feather in Aletta's cap, and you could make a place for him in the firm.'
Every lamp in Admiralty House was lit and a blaze of golden light welcomed the guests. There were coloured lanterns hung in the trees to illuminate the garden.
The marine band in scarlet and gold had converted the open gazebo into a bandstand, and already there were dancers on the open-air dance floor whirling furiously through the opening waltz, waving and calling greetings to the late-comers in the carriages as they trotted up the curved driveway and took their turn to alight under the portico of the main entrance.
Bewigged footmen in household uniform with silken hose and buckled shoes placed the steps and handed down the ladies on to the welcoming red carpet. At the head of the stairs the major domo announced each group in a low throaty bellow. Major and Doctor Ballantyne. Miss Cartwright Robyn had not grown altogether accustomed to the scandalized ripple of feminine interest that followed her entrance to any public gathering here in the Colony. The quick exchange of glances, the nods and murmurs behind covering fans. It still left her with a heightened pulse and a feeling of bitter disdain for all of them. Did you bring your sponge, Sissy? They expect you to hit somebody with it, Zouga murmured, and she shook his arm to silence him, but he went on: 'or to drop your skirts and run up the staircase in your breechesYou are wicked. ' She felt the tension go out of her, and she smiled her thanks at him-in and they were into the throng of uniforms, gold lace on navy blue or dress scarlet, with, here and there, the dead black of evening dress relieved by the high stock and white lace ruffles of silk shirts.
The women's skirts were taffeta and flounced silk over pyramids of petticoats. However, they were at least two years behind the London fashions, for only the most daring ladies had bared their shoulders, and powdered them dead white.
Robyn's own dress made no concession to fashion, for it was years old, the only one that she possessed even vaguely suitable for the occasion. The cloth was wool, the skirt narrow, the bodice adorned with neither seed pearls nor sequins. There were neither ostrich feathers nor diamantines to sparkle in her hair. She should have been dowdy, but instead she was strikingly different.
When she had told Codrington that she did not dance it was because she had never had the occasion, and she regretted it now as she watched Zouga lead Aletta Cartwright on to the floor and swirl away in the graceful dip and turn of the waltz.
She knew that nobody would invite her to dance, and that if they did she would be awkward and untutored.
She turned away quickly, seeking a familiar or friendly face, She did not want to be left standing alone in the crowd. She began bitterly to regret that she had not stood by her resolution to stay away.
Her relief came with such a rush that she could have thrown her arms around his neck and embraced him.
Instead she said evenly, 'Ah, Captain Codrington. Good evening.'
He really was one of the better-looking men in the room, she thought. She could sense the resentment of some of the younger women, so quite deliberately she took his arm as he offered it, but was surprised that he led her immediately through into the garden. He's here! ' he said quietly, as soon as they were out of earshot of the others.
She did not have to ask who, and she felt the little jolt of shock that kept her silent for a moment. You have seen him? 'He arrived five minutes before you did, in the Governor's carriage.
'Where is he now? 'He went into Slogger's study, with the Governor.'
Clinton's face was set and hard. 'The fellow flaunts himself.'
A servant approached them with a silver tray of champagne flutes.
Robyn shook her head distractedly but Clinton took a glass and drank it in two gulps. The devil of it is that nobody can touch him, ' he fumed.
When the evening turned chill, the Marine band moved on to the orchestral balcony above the ballroom floor and punched out the dance tunes with a bouncing martial air that set the dancers spinning and prancing.
One dancer stood out above the others, not merely because of his physical height. When the others hopped and
