Mingled With Venom

‘All the same, when you came here ten years ago, you did not expect to find me installed, did you?’

‘Well, no. I hadn’t been in her confidence for ages and I knew nothing about you until she gave me a home.’

‘A thing I’ve always wanted to ask you,’ said Fiona, ‘is why Garnet bought Seawards instead of coming with you to live here. I know madre suggested he should come. Why didn’t he?’

‘He said she would never allow him to go on with his writing.’

‘Oh, but, surely!’

‘No, I think Garnet was right. She would have expected him to dance attendance in return for board and lodging. Now, in a sense, the boot is on the other foot. Blue and Parsifal dance attendance on him, ably seconded, I have no doubt, by Gamaliel. Besides, Garnet and Blue are very fond of one another. Even as children they always said that they would live together when they grew up. They are twins, as I expect you know.’

‘Yes, I do know. Garnet told me.’

‘How I wish he would marry you, Fiona!’

‘Small chance of that with Mrs Bosse-Leyden in the field.’

‘Whatever do you mean?’

‘Oh, surely you know that that affair has been going on for months.’

‘I didn’t know. Really, what with Blue marrying a man who can’t keep her and never will be able to, and their adopting Gamaliel, which, in their circumstances, they had no right to do…’

‘The adoption society must have thought it was all right, or they would never have allowed it.’

‘My dear Fiona, don’t you ever read the papers? These child-care people do the most extraordinary things. But tell me about Garnet and Diana. They must both be mad!’

‘With Garnet I think it’s sheer infatuation. With Diana I expect it’s just to score off Rupert. But what’s all this about your queering the pitch?’

‘If I go to Garnet, as I intend to do, mother will cut us both out of the Will. She can’t stand Diana and she despises Rupert. That leaves you and Ruby, Rupert’s children (possibly) and Gamaliel. I am determined she shall not favour him by taking him up and making a sedulous ape of him.’

‘Why should she, anyway?’

‘Oh, Fiona, you know how she does take up people. Look at you and Ruby! I felt certain last night that she was utterly charmed with Gamaliel and I dare say the youth was fully aware of that. It would flatter any adolescent of his age to be taken up and made much of by a woman as rich as mother.’

‘He did not strike me as a young man whose head would be turned by early marks of favour. I think he is simple and goodnatured and perhaps had his own way of showing gratitude for a very good dinner. Food looms large on the horizons of healthy boys.’

‘Yes, but even if he himself is too inexperienced to cash in (literally, I mean) on his advantages, Parsifal the Parasite is not so naive. That is one reason why I am going over there as soon as I can. Garnet will have to support me and that will settle matters.’

‘You don’t really intend to put a spoke in Garnet’s wheel? But why? He is, after all, your son.’

‘I can’t forgive Blue for marrying Parsifal, who is worthless,’ said Maria, changing the subject slightly.

‘Oh, I don’t think that’s true, Maria. He can’t help being poor.’

‘He is a weakling and a failure. She could have done much better.’

‘I begin to see you as madre’s daughter.’

‘Oh, well, perhaps I do understand mother’s point of view about my marriage. Also, I can’t forgive Blue for adopting Gamaliel. It was her idea, you know. Parsifal had nothing to do with it. I ought to have had proper grandchildren, and obviously there’s no chance of that now. But what about you and Ruby? What do you mean?’

‘If you have indeed queered everybody’s pitch, as you claim, except for myself and Ruby, Ruby’s wishes will have been fulfilled. She is not really after madre’s money as such. What she wants is to complete her music studies and be given her chance.’

‘As a singer?’

‘Of course.’

‘I want to talk to you, Fiona,’ said Romula, coming downstairs at eleven.

‘I thought you wanted these letters to catch the post. They need your signature.’

‘Oh, there’s time for all that.’

‘Very well, although perhaps I ought to remind you that there is only one postal collection each day from the village.’

‘Oh, if that is all, you can drive into Truro this afternoon and post the letters there. An outing will do you good and you could do a little shopping. Perhaps I will come with you and Lunn can drive the car. He has far too much time on his hands. In fact, I am thinking of dispensing with Mattie and getting him to look after the horses as well as the car.’

‘That won’t suit either of them.’

‘Why not? She can still live in his cottage. I should make no objection to that. But I don’t want to talk about the Lunns. Have you spoken to Maria this morning?’