Portrait of Jonathan Read online

  She locked the precious letter from Jonathan in the drawer of her bedside table. She smoothed her hair back from her forehead and regarded herself in the looking-glass. Already, there were distinct changes in her appearance since she had left England. She had lost her pallor and her complexion was now smooth and glowing. Her figure, once so childish for her age, was now softly blossoming into young womanhood, though her naturally tiny waist was the envy of many of the plumper girls in the school who laced themselves ever tighter to assimilate Lavinia’s slender proportions. She had learnt to dress her hair into various fashionable styles, for, although she would no doubt have her own personal maid when she returned to ‘Avonridge’, as Madame said, ‘We do not want to be at the mercy of a maid for the elegance of our appearance, do we?’

  But still the brown eyes staring back at her were filled with a sadness not easily understood by others. She sighed and turned away. Superficially, she was happy enough here, but as with each passing day she grew towards womanhood, so the love in her heart for Jonathan changed from girlish adoration or infatuation, into a deep and lasting emotion, whether or not it would or could ever be returned by him.

  Lavinia decided to make little of her life at the school in her future letters to Jonathan, hardly mentioning her friend, Phillippa. She pressed him for more details of his ship, which course was wise on her part, for no other subject could tempt such lengthy letters from the reserved Jonathan. He referred, often, but always guardedly, to the increasing antagonism between the Keldon Line and their rivals who, though Jonathan avoided actually writing their names in full in his letters, Lavinia knew to be the Line run by Lord Myron and Lord Thorwald in which her own father was also engaged. As the building of the steamship progressed, Lavinia heard of the strict security measures her grandfather, Lord Melmoth and his two sons were taking to safeguard their ship. Why, wondered Lavinia, pausing in reading a letter from Jonathan, should it be necessary to have a guard patrolling day and night near the ship?

  A week later, a letter from Giles gave her the answer, and at the same time taught her several things, not only about the seriousness of the rivalry between the Companies, but also about Jonathan himself.

  ‘Dear Vinny,’ Giles wrote.

  ‘Jonathan has asked me to write to you—though I was on the point of doing so on my own account. He has had to rush off to Blackwall as we’ve run into a spot of bother. I believe you know that rivalry between our two Companies has grown, and their antagonism is directed towards our new ship. Well, as a security we have been guarding her, but honestly, I don’t think any of us thought they would stoop to this! Vinny, the new ship has been sabotaged. Fortunately no one was hurt, but the ship is badly damaged and it will take weeks or months probably, to repair. So you can guess how we’re all feeling here. Jonathan has gone there and I think he plans to stay on the spot at least until things have quietened down.’

  Lavinia paused. So Jonathan has rushed off immediately to guard his beloved ship with no thought for his own personal safety. And it had also meant that he was too busy to write to her and had asked Giles to do so instead. Lavinia sighed. How many times did Jonathan—unwittingly—break her heart?

  Chapter Seven

  It was eight weeks and three days after Giles’ letter telling her of the sabotage to the steamship before Lavinia received a hastily scribbled note from Jonathan.

  ‘My dear Vinny,’ She was surprised to see this instead of Lavinia.

  ‘Forgive me, my dear, for not having written and for having asked Giles to write to you in my stead. I hope you will understand the desperate urgency of the situation in which we found ourselves at that time. I know Giles will have acquainted you with as much detail as he was able to put in a letter—and you will no doubt also have heard further from your grandfather—so now, suffice to say that although the ship was badly damaged we have been able to repair it and are now proceeding with the normal building, though some months behind schedule. But this is not a serious problem. The only real worry now is the possibility of a re-occurrence of the sabotage. But all we can do is to take every precaution and hope nothing more will happen.

  ‘We have another problem, Vinny, with which perhaps you can help us. We want a name for our brand new ship. We had thought of the “Mélanie” after your grandmother, but how do you feel about us calling her the “ Lavinia”? All the family—including your grandfather—are in full agreement with my suggestion, and all we need now is your approval.’

  Lavinia could for the moment read no further for tears of joy blinded her. Jonathan did think enough of her to wish to name his new ship—for she had always thought of it as his—after her. It was strange, she reflected later when her emotions had calmed somewhat, that such little actions by Jonathan could either cast her into the depths of despair or elevate her to the clouds. Such was the penalty of loving!

  Naturally, she replied immediately to him this time, but because she was so overwhelmed by his gesture, her letter was perhaps a little stilted in her acceptance. She could not put into words all that it meant to her, and of course, it was necessary to hide from him just exactly how much his action did mean to her.

  The year of her stay in France was fast nearing conclusion and only two months remained before she would be sailing home. Her grandfather wrote—as he had done each week since their parting—and spoke of her homecoming.

  ‘We are planning to give you a grand “coming-out” ball, my dear, and Lady Melmoth will present you at Court and attend to all the engagements which you will have in your first Season. Now, about your journey from France—will you mind if I don’t make the journey to fetch you, my dear? The injury to my leg—I told you I had a fall whilst riding—is still rather painful though nothing serious I assure you, but the long journey would not help. Giles has expressed a great willingness to come over and escort you back to England, for I would not dream of having you travel alone. He really is a most likeable young man—impetuous perhaps, but completely trustworthy. I know he will take good care of you.’

  Lavinia frowned. Was her grandfather’s injury more serious than he had hitherto led her to believe? He had made light of the mishap when it had occurred—but now she began to worry about him. She could not, despite her anxiety, help smiling at his words regarding Giles. She remembered their conversation on the boat when she had left England when her grandfather had seen her unhappiness at leaving the Eldon brothers. She wondered now whether he thought that Giles was the object of her affection.

  As far as Lord Rowan’s injury was concerned, she did not know what to do; she could not write and ask him for he would dismiss it entirely, and though she would see him for herself in less than two months that was still a long time to be worrying.

  Lavinia decided to write to Lady Melmoth for she better than the menfolk of the family would understand the disquiet in Lavinia’s mind. But her fears were quelled by the reply which assured her that Lady Melmoth was convinced that Lord Rowan’s injury was not in the least serious—but that he was taking the wise precaution of nursing it.

  ‘I am sure,’ Lady Melmoth wrote in conclusion, ‘that the injury has certainly caused him a deal of pain, but by his appearance I can tell that it is improving steadily now, though perhaps at the time it happened he did minimise the accident to you!’

  So Lavinia began to look forward to her home-going with uninterrupted pleasure. She had acquired a large—she still wondered at times if it were not too large—wardrobe of fashionably elegant clothes. Her whole appearance was altered beyond even her own hopes. She had acquired too the elegance and self-confidence she had once so envied in Lady Melmoth and indeed also in Lady Anthea Thorwald.

  Always foremost in her mind was the question—what would Jonathan think of her now?

  One month: three weeks: two: one—and then the day was here! There was a mixture of happiness and sadness for all the girls were excited at the prospect of returning home and yet having lived together for almost a year, it was natural that frie
ndships had been formed and parting brought the inevitable ‘sweet sorrow’.

  Madame Givelle was high in the girls’ affections and Lavinia in particular felt a deep gratitude to the kindly woman for, of all the girls, Lavinia knew she had learned the most and gained the most benefit under Madame’s guidance. In her wildest dreams she had never really anticipated that she could emerge the self-assured, elegant woman she now was.

  Lavinia dressed with care on the morning of her departure. Her travelling habit was new, the skirt following the latest trend in fashion, being less of the full-skirted crinoline, but flatter in the front and falling to a train. Over this she wore a tight-fitting short coat for it was July and very warm. The coat was royal blue velvet and she wore a matching hat trimmed with white silk ribbons, feathers and artificial flowers. Her hair was drawn back from her face in waves into a cascade of ringlets at the back of her head.

  Lavinia and her friend Phillippa, ready at last, found themselves standing on the steps at the front of the house, awaiting the arrival of Giles and Phillippa’s brother who was coming to escort her home.

  ‘I hope you will like my brother, Lavinia,’ Phillippa Selwyn remarked as they reached the driveway. ‘I am sure he will fall in love with you at once.’

  Lavinia laughed. She had told no one, not even Phillippa, of her affection for Jonathan and so that no one would suspect she had always indulged in the chatter of ‘match-making’.

  ‘I am sure, Phillippa, that with all the other girls here, he will never notice me. He will be mesmerised with so many eligible females at once.’

  ‘Ah, but don’t forget we are to travel to England together. You’ll have plenty of time to ensnare him with your charms, whilst I shall enslave Giles Eldon.’

  ‘Oh no—if anyone is going to enslave Giles, it will be me—I have prior claim, don’t forget,’ Lavinia teased her friend.

  ‘Then that leaves me with no one,’ Phillippa replied, pretending to pout. ‘Are you really attracted to Giles, Lavinia, you’ve not said?’

  ‘He’s very kind and very good-looking,’ she replied guardedly. ‘But shall we say more of a brother to me.’

  ‘There you are then,’ Phillippa waved her slender hand, ‘you don’t want him yourself, but you won’t let me have him. Really, Lavinia, you’re …’

  But her remonstrations were cut short as Lavinia interrupted her friend with a cry of delight.

  ‘Here’s Giles,’ and as a carriage drew to a halt, she hurried forward to meet the tall figure stepping down from it.

  ‘Giles! Giles!’

  The young man looked around and his eyes came to rest upon the girl hurrying towards him. Lavinia saw the puzzlement on his face turn to surprised wonderment.

  ‘Vinny—Vinny, is it really you?’

  As he took her outstretched hands in his, she laughed delightedly, but could not resist teasing him.

  ‘Giles—have you forgotten me in only a year? Shame on you—you wound me, sir!’

  ‘Forget you! Never, Vinny, but you’ve changed so—grown up. You’re lovely— beautiful’

  ‘Nonsense, Giles,’ she laughed.

  ‘It is not nonsense,’ he murmured, continuing to gaze at her as if he could not believe the picture before his eyes.

  ‘Good grief,’ he exclaimed as he began to recover from his surprise, which Lavinia realised was genuine, ‘it hardly seems possible—just wait till old Jonathan sees you!’

  The smile faded a little from her face as Giles touched upon the subject closest to her heart—even she dared not put into words the hopes she cherished.

  ‘Come,’ she said putting her hand on his arm, ‘and meet my dear friend, Phillippa Selwyn.’

  Lavinia noticed the startled look in his eyes, but he remained silent as she led him forward to meet her friend. The formal introductions over, there was an awkward pause. Giles seemed ill-at-ease and unwilling to meet Phillippa’s eyes, although he answered her questions politely enough.

  ‘Did you have a good journey, Mr Eldon?’

  ‘Yes, Lady Phillippa, I thank you.’

  Another pause.

  ‘I understand we are to travel back together—the four of us,’ she continued.

  ‘Four?’ Now he looked at her questioningly.

  ‘Why yes, my brother, Francis too. He should be here any moment.’

  Giles stiffened visibly and could not hide a fleeting frown.

  ‘Why, Mr Eldon, are you not agreeable to the arrangement? Do you know my brother?’

  ‘I …’

  Giles was, however, saved the embarrassment of answering her direct question, for at that moment the subject of thier conversation approached.

  ‘Phillippa.’

  ‘Francis—at last, I thought you had forgotten to come.’

  They greeted each other casually with none of the affection which had been underlying the greeting between Giles and Lavinia.

  Phillippa made the introductions.

  Lord Francis took Lavinia’s hand in his, kissed the tips of her fingers and gazed into her eyes.

  ‘Enchanting,’ he murmured.

  Lavinia smiled politely but she was not taken in by what she was sure was flattery.

  As Phillippa introduced Giles, the two men eyed each other warily.

  ‘So, the younger Eldon, eh?’ Lord Francis Selwyn raised a quizzical eyebrow. ‘We’ve never met, but no doubt you’ve heard of me, eh?’ He laughed.

  ‘I have,’ replied Giles shortly. ‘Good morning, Lady Phillippa. Come Lavinia …’

  ‘But Giles …’ she glanced helplessly at Phillippa who seemed as puzzled as Lavinia.

  As they moved out of earshot, Lavinia said, ‘Really, Giles, that was uncommonly rude of you—how can you be so discourteous to my friend, even if you do not like her brother, which is obvious?’

  Giles said nothing, but she noticed that he was breathing heavily and his lips were pursed with suppressed anger.

  ‘Giles—what is all this about?’

  ‘Vinny—you still care for Jonathan, don’t you?’

  She gasped. ‘You have—it’s not fair to ask me such a question.’

  ‘Very well. But if you do you’ll keep away from the Selwyns.’

  ‘Why?’ Lavinia’s eyes were wide in astonishment.

  ‘Because—because Selwyn is the man Jonathan is supposed to have fought a duel with—over Lady Anthea. It was Selwyn who gave him that scar.’

  ‘Oh no!’ Lavinia’s reply was but a whisper.

  ‘Yes,’ continued Giles bitterly. ‘It must have caused him a great deal of unhappiness at the time—and because of Selwyn, he bears a scar which will never allow him to forget.’

  Lavinia was thoughtful. Now she understood the reason for the strangeness in Jonathan’s letter after she had mentioned her friendship with Lady Phillippa Selwyn. They walked over the lawn in silence. At last she said slowly,

  ‘I don’t believe Jonathan is the sort to bear malice after all this time—and even if he is, his bitterness cannot extend to Lord Selwyn’s sister and it is her with whom I am friendly, not Lord Francis.’

  ‘But she’s his sister—a close relation.’

  Lavinia withdrew her hand from his arm abruptly and turned to face him.

  ‘Do you class all members of a family together, Giles? Do you blame me for what my father and brother have done?’

  ‘Vinny, Vinny,’ he said placatingly, his anger dying as hers grew. ‘That’s different.’

  ‘Of course it isn’t. Phillippa cannot be held responsible for what her brother did years ago, any more than I can help what my father has done.’

  ‘Vinny—I’m sorry—truly I am. You’re right, of course.’ He smiled ruefully. ‘You may have grown up, little Vinny, but it seems that I am as hot-headed as ever.’

  Lavinia smiled, her anger forgotten now beneath his boyish admission of impetuosity. Perhaps she had grown up quickly, she thought, in an effort to bridge the gap of years which lay between her and Jonathan.

  Lav
inia was able to explain away the incident to her friend without giving away the truth.

  ‘Some family quarrel ages ago, Phil, let’s take no notice if they want to be silly.’

  So the two girls agreed to ignore the coolness between the two gentlemen on the journey home. Nevertheless, Lavinia, despite her affection for her friend Phillippa, could not find it in herself to like Lord Francis, Viscount Selwyn. He was handsome, there was no disputing that. But his mouth was small and cruel and his eyes hard. He was slim and straight—like Jonathan—but with a rigidity born of conceit. His face wore a perpetual disdainful expression as though all his fellow creatures bored him. But, if he wished, Lord Francis could exert a charm not easily surpassed. A pretty compliment was ever ready on his lips and his attentiveness towards Lavinia was only interrupted by Giles’ presence.

  Phillippa, finding that some feud existed between her brother and the attractive Giles, shrugged her shoulders philosophically and decided not to try to indulge in a mild flirtation with him. For one thing, she might well suffer the embarrassment of a rebuff for Giles, despite Lavinia’s protestations, could not bring himself to act naturally towards Lady Phillippa, and secondly, her brother would be sure to frown upon it. So she would concentrate upon her arrival in London, which city she planned to take by storm. At least she would do so, she mused, if Lavinia were not such an obvious rival. Her friend was an undoubted rival for the eligible bachelors of Society. Fortunately, there was no jealousy in Phillippa’s nature and she was generous enough to wish for her friend’s success as much as her own.

  Their arrival at Dover was greeted by waiting relations, for there were several other girls travelling back to England, together with other passengers from France. From the deck, Giles seemed to be scanning the crowd below anxiously.

  ‘Whom are you looking for?’ Lavinia asked.

  ‘I thought perhaps—never mind, no—there he is—I thought he’d come,’ he said delightedly.