be worth hiding. And there's always Theodora's income to look into. I expect Thomas is doing that. But we still have to do something about Mama and Monsieur Alaric!'
'Oh yes, I forgot about the locket. She has it back.'
'She never told me!' Emily was angry, affronted by the callousness of it.
Charlotte sat up very slowly and was surprised that her head felt considerably better.
'She didn't tell me either. Inigo Charrington did. It was his mother who took it, and he put it back.'
'Ambrosine Charrington took it? Whatever for? Explain yourself! Charlotte, did you get drunk?'
'Yes, I think I did. On champagne. But that's what he said. I wasn't drunk then.' She explained with care what she could remember. 'But that doesn't mean Mama can go on with her relationship with Monsieur Alaric.'
'No, of course not,' Emily said. 'We'd better do something, and before it gets any worse. I've been giving it some thought lately, and I've come to a decision. We must try to persuade Papa to pay more attention to her, flatter her more, spend time with her. Then she will have no need of Monsieur Alaric.' She looked up at Charlotte, challenging her to argue. She would leave the matter of Ambrosine Charrington and Charlotte's cham shy;pagne to another time.
Charlotte considered it for a moment or two in silence. It would not be easy to convey to Edward the importance of such a course, and the change it would necessitate in his behavior, without allowing him to understand the reason for their concern, the danger of Caroline beginning a real affaire with Paul Alaric- not just suppressed passion anymore, but something that might end up in the bedroom. She frowned and took a deep breath.
'Oh, not you!' Emily said immediately. 'I just want you for moral support, to agree with me. Don't you say anything, or you'll bring on a complete disaster.' '
It was not a time to take issue: defense could wait for a more suitable time.
'When are you going?' Charlotte asked.
'As soon as you have dressed. And you had better wash your face with cold water and pinch your cheeks a bit. You are very pasty.'
Charlotte gave her a sour look.
'And you'd better wear something bright,' Emily went on. 'Do you have a red dress?'
'No, of course I don't.' Charlotte crawled out of bed. 'Where should I wear a red dress to? I've got a wine- colored skirt and coat.'
'Well, put it on and have a cup of tea. Then we'll go and call on Papa. I've arranged it. I know he is at home today, and Mama has a luncheon engagement with a friend of mine.'
'Did you arrange that as well?'
'Of course I did!' Emily spoke with deliberate patience, as if to a rather tiresome child. 'We don't want her coming home in the middle! Now hurry up and get ready!'
Edward was delighted to have the company of both his daugh shy;ters and sat at the head of the luncheon table with a smile of complete contentment on his face.
'How very pleasant to see you, my dear,' he said to Charlotte 'I'm so glad Emily found you at home and able to come, it seems a long time since I saw you last.''
'You have not been home when we have called lately.' Charlotte took her cue without waiting for Emily.
'No, I suppose not,' Edward said without giving it thought.
'We have been quite frequently,' Emily said casually, taking a little roast chicken on her fork. 'And then gone out visiting with Mama. Quite an agreeable way to spend one's time, provid shy;ing one is not required to do too much of it. It can become tedious-the conversations are so much the same.'
'I thought it was an occupation you enjoyed?' Edward looked mildly surprised. He had not considered the matter greatly, merely taken it for granted.
'Oh, we do.' Emily ate the chicken and then frowned at him. 'But incessant female company has very limited pleasures, you know. I'm sure that if George did not offer me his companion shy;ship in the evening and take me to dinner elsewhere occasionally, I should find myself longing for the conversation of some other gentleman. A woman is not at her best unless there is a man she admires to observe her, you know?'
Edward smiled indulgently. He had always found Emily the easiest of his daughters, without being aware that it was largely because she was also the most skilled at judging his moods and masking her own feelings accordingly. Sarah had been too impa shy;tient and, being the eldest and the prettiest, a little selfish, and Charlotte was far too blunt and would talk about totally unsuit shy;able things, which embarrassed him.
'George is a fortunate man, my dear,' he said, helping himself to more vegetables. 'I hope he appreciates it.'
'I hope so too.' Emily's face suddenly became serious. 'It is one of the saddest things that can happen to a woman, Papa, for her husband to lose his regard for her, his desire for her company, his general observance of her well-being. You have no idea how many women I have seen begin to look elsewhere for admiration because their husbands have grown to ignore them.'
'To look elsewhere?' He was a little startled. 'Really, Emily, I hope you do not mean what that sounds like? I would not care to think of you associating with such women. Others might think the same of you!'
'I should dislike that very much.' She was perfectly grave. 'I have never given George the least cause for displeasure with my conduct, especially on that subject.' She opened her eyes very wide and blue. 'And yet, on the other hand, I cannot find it in my heart entirely to blame a woman whose husband has begun to treat her with indifference, if some other man, with pleasant manners and agreeable nature, should find her attractive and tell her so-and she should, in her loneliness, be equally drawn to him-'
'Emily!' Now he was shocked. 'Are you condoning adultery? Because that is unfortunately close to what it sounds like!'
'Oh, certainly not!' she said with feeling. 'Such a thing will always be wrong. But there are some situations when I cannot find it in me to say that I do not understand.' She smiled at him. 'Take Monsieur Alaric, the Frenchman, for instance. Such a handsome man, so beautifully mannered, and such an air about him. Do you not agree, Charlotte? I wondered once or twice if perhaps poor Mina was in love with him and not Tormod Lagarde at all. Monsieur Alaric has so much more maturity, don't you think? Even a touch of mystery about him, which is most compelling. I have often wondered if he is really French. We have only assumed it. Now if Alston Spencer-Brown had been devoting too much of his attention to his business affairs, and had begun to grow so accustomed to Mina that he seldom paid her a compliment anymore, or bothered with any little romantic gestures, such as flowers, or a visit to the theater'-she drew breath-'then Monsieur Alaric would only have to flatter her a little, exhibit the merest admiration, and she would be enchanted with him. He would be the answer to all her unhappiness and her feeling of no longer mattering.'
'That is no excuse-' he began, but his face was noticeably paler and he had forgotten the chicken. 'And you should not speculate about people in such a disgraceful way, Emily! The poor woman is dead and quite unable to defend herself!'
Emily was unperturbed. 'I am not suggesting it as an excuse, Papa. One does not need excuses-only reasons.' She finished the last of her meal and set down her knife and fork. 'Now that poor Mina is dead, I have observed that Monsieur Alaric has found Mama most pleasant and has sought her company to walk with and to talk with.' She smiled brightly. 'Which shows him to be a man of improving taste! Indeed, Charlotte has said he seems most sympathetic. I do believe Charlotte was quite drawn to him herself.''
Charlotte looked across the table at Emily with less than affection. There seemed to be a shade of malicious pleasure in her tone.
'Charming,' she agreed, avoiding her father's eye. 'But I presume that Mama is not in Mrs. Spencer-Brown's unfortunate situation?'
Edward stared from one to the other of them. Twice he opened his mouth to demand that they speak more clearly what they meant. And twice he decided he did not wish to know.
The maid came and cleared away the dishes and then brought in the pudding.
'It has been some time since we went to the theater,' Edward remarked at last, very casually, as if it were a totally new thought. 'There must be something new of Gilbert and Sullivan out now. Perhaps we should go and see it.'
'An excellent idea,' Emily answered, equally lightly. 'I can recommend a good jeweler if you have a fancy to give Mama some small keepsake? He has a most romantic turn of mind and is not overly expensive. I know he has
