Part 8 (1/2)

Funny to think that that was what her death had meant to him. Peace...

He'd never told even Ruth that. Good girl, Ruth. A good head-piece on her. Really, he didn't know what he would do without her. her. Really, he didn't know what he would do without her.

The way she helped. The way she always sympathised. And never a hint of s.e.x. Not man mad like Rosemary... hint of s.e.x. Not man mad like Rosemary...

Rosemary... Rosemary sitting at the round table in the restaurant. A little thin in the face after 'flu - a little pulled down - but lovely, so lovely. little thin in the face after 'flu - a little pulled down - but lovely, so lovely. And only an hour later - No, he wouldn't think of that. Not just now. His And only an hour later - No, he wouldn't think of that. Not just now. His plan. He would think of The Plan. plan. He would think of The Plan.

He'd speak to Race first. He'd show Race the letters. What would Race make of these letters? Iris had been dumbfounded. She evidently make of these letters? Iris had been dumbfounded. She evidently hadn't had the slightest idea. Well, he was in charge of the situation hadn't had the slightest idea. Well, he was in charge of the situation now. He'd got it all taped. now. He'd got it all taped.

The Plan. All worked out. The date. The place.

Nov. 2nd. All Souls' Day. That was a good touch. The Luxembourg, of course. He'd try to get the same table. course. He'd try to get the same table.

And the same guests. Anthony Browne, Stephen Farraday, Sandra Farraday. Then, of course, Ruth and Iris and himself. And as the odd, Farraday. Then, of course, Ruth and Iris and himself. And as the odd, the seventh guest, he'd get Race. Race who was originally to have the seventh guest, he'd get Race. Race who was originally to have been at the dinner. And there would be one empty place. It would be been at the dinner. And there would be one empty place. It would be splendid! splendid!

Dramatic!

A repet.i.tion of the crime.

Well, not quite a repet.i.tion...

His mind went back...

Rosemary's birthday...

Rosemary, sprawled forward on that table - dead...

Book II - ALL SAINT'S DAY

”Here is the rosemary, which brings remembrance”

Chapter 1.

Lucilla Drake was twittering. That was the term always used in the family and it was really a very apt description of the sounds that issued family and it was really a very apt description of the sounds that issued from Lucilla's kindly lips. from Lucilla's kindly lips.

She was concerned on this particular morning with many things - so many that she found it hard to pin her attention down to one at a time. many that she found it hard to pin her attention down to one at a time. There was the imminence of the move back to town and the household There was the imminence of the move back to town and the household problems involved in that move. Servants, housekeeping, winter problems involved in that move. Servants, housekeeping, winter storage, a thousand minor details - all these contended with a concern storage, a thousand minor details - all these contended with a concern over Iris's looks. over Iris's looks.

”Really, dear, I feel quite anxious about you - you look so white and washed out - as though you hadn't slept - did you sleep? If not, there's washed out - as though you hadn't slept - did you sleep? If not, there's that nice sleeping preparation of Dr Wylie's or was it Dr Gaskell's? - that nice sleeping preparation of Dr Wylie's or was it Dr Gaskell's? - which reminds me - I shall have to go and speak to the grocer myself - which reminds me - I shall have to go and speak to the grocer myself - either the maids have been ordering in things on their own, or else it's either the maids have been ordering in things on their own, or else it's deliberate swindling on his part. Packets and packets of soap flakes - deliberate swindling on his part. Packets and packets of soap flakes - and I never allow more than three a week. But perhaps a tonic would and I never allow more than three a week. But perhaps a tonic would be better? Baton's syrup, they used to give when I was a girl. And be better? Baton's syrup, they used to give when I was a girl. And spinach, of course. I'll tell cook to have spinach for lunch today.” spinach, of course. I'll tell cook to have spinach for lunch today.”

Iris was too languid and too used to Mrs Drake's discursive style to inquire why the mention of Dr Gaskell should have reminded her aunt inquire why the mention of Dr Gaskell should have reminded her aunt of the local grocer, though had she done so, she would have received of the local grocer, though had she done so, she would have received the immediate response: ”Because the grocer's name is Cranford, my the immediate response: ”Because the grocer's name is Cranford, my dear.” Aunt Lucilla's reasoning was always crystal clear to herself. dear.” Aunt Lucilla's reasoning was always crystal clear to herself.

Iris merely said with what energy she could command, ”I'm perfectly well, Aunt Lucilla.” well, Aunt Lucilla.”

”Black under the eyes,” said Mrs Drake. ”You've been doing too much.” much.”

”I've done nothing at all - for weeks.”

”So you think, dear. But too much tennis is overtiring for young girls. And I think the air down here is inclined to be enervating. This place is And I think the air down here is inclined to be enervating. This place is in a hollow. If George had consulted me instead of that girl.” in a hollow. If George had consulted me instead of that girl.”

”Girl?”

”That Miss Lessing he thinks so much of. All very well in the office, I daresay - but a great mistake to take her out of her place. Encourage daresay - but a great mistake to take her out of her place. Encourage her to think herself one of the family. Not that she needs much her to think herself one of the family. Not that she needs much encouragement, I should say.” encouragement, I should say.”

”Oh, well, Aunt Lucilla, Ruth is practically one of the family.”

Mrs Drake sniffed. ”She means to be - that's quite clear. Poor George - really an infant in arms where women are concerned. But it won't do, really an infant in arms where women are concerned. But it won't do, Iris. George must be protected from himself and if I were you I should Iris. George must be protected from himself and if I were you I should make it very clear that nice as Miss Lessing is, any idea of marriage is make it very clear that nice as Miss Lessing is, any idea of marriage is out of the question.” out of the question.”

Iris was startled for a moment out of her apathy.

”I never thought of George marrying Ruth.”

”You don't see what goes on under your nose, child. Of course you haven't had my experience of life.” Iris smiled in spite of herself. Aunt haven't had my experience of life.” Iris smiled in spite of herself. Aunt Lucilla was really very funny sometimes. ”That young woman is out for Lucilla was really very funny sometimes. ”That young woman is out for matrimony.” matrimony.”

”Would it matter?” asked Iris.

”Matter? Of course it would matter.”

”Wouldn't it really be rather nice?” Her aunt stared at her. ”Nice for George, I mean. I think you're right about her, you know. I think she is George, I mean. I think you're right about her, you know. I think she is fond of him. And she'd be an awfully good wife to him and look after fond of him. And she'd be an awfully good wife to him and look after him.” him.”

Mrs Drake snorted and an almost indignant expression appeared on her rather sheep-like amiable face. her rather sheep-like amiable face.

”George is well looked after at present. What more can he want, I should like to know? Excellent meals and his mending seen to. Very should like to know? Excellent meals and his mending seen to. Very pleasant for him to have an attractive young girl like you about the pleasant for him to have an attractive young girl like you about the house and when you marry some day I should hope I was still capable house and when you marry some day I should hope I was still capable of seeing to his comfort and looking after his health. Just as well or of seeing to his comfort and looking after his health. Just as well or better than a young woman out of an office could do - what does she better than a young woman out of an office could do - what does she know about housekeeping? Figures and ledgers and shorthand and know about housekeeping? Figures and ledgers and shorthand and typing - what good is that in a man's home?” typing - what good is that in a man's home?”

Iris smiled and shook her head, but she did not argue the point. She was thinking of the smooth dark satin of Ruth's head, of the clear was thinking of the smooth dark satin of Ruth's head, of the clear complexion and the figure so well set off by the severe tailor-mades complexion and the figure so well set off by the severe tailor-mades that Ruth affected. that Ruth affected.

Poor Aunt Lucilla, all her mind on comfort and housekeeping, with romance so very far behind her that she had probably forgotten what it romance so very far behind her that she had probably forgotten what it meant - if indeed, thought Iris, remembering her uncle by marriage, it meant - if indeed, thought Iris, remembering her uncle by marriage, it had ever meant anything to her. had ever meant anything to her.

Lucilla Drake was Hector Marle's half-sister from the father's earlier marriage. When her stepmother died she had performed the part of a marriage. When her stepmother died she had performed the part of a mother to Hector, who was much younger. Taking care of her father mother to Hector, who was much younger. Taking care of her father she went towards spinsterhood and was nearly forty when she met she went towards spinsterhood and was nearly forty when she met Reverend Caleb Drake, who himself was over fifty. Her married life had Reverend Caleb Drake, who himself was over fifty. Her married life had been short. Two years later she was a widow with a child... been short. Two years later she was a widow with a child...

Maternity, late and unexpected, had been the supreme experience in Lucilla's life. Her son became to her an anxiety, a source of suffering Lucilla's life. Her son became to her an anxiety, a source of suffering and a constant financial drain - but never a disappointment. and a constant financial drain - but never a disappointment.

Mrs Drake refused to see in Victor anything more serious than a lovable weakness of character. Victor was too trusting, easily lovable weakness of character. Victor was too trusting, easily influenced by bad company, due to his trusting nature. Victor had bad influenced by bad company, due to his trusting nature. Victor had bad luck; Victor was cheated on; he was only a p.a.w.n to bad men who luck; Victor was cheated on; he was only a p.a.w.n to bad men who exploited his innocence. exploited his innocence.

When any criticism to him was made, Mrs Drake's simple and nice face became hard and obstinate. She knew her son - a good boy with the became hard and obstinate. She knew her son - a good boy with the best intentions, and his so-called friends took advantage of him. Lucilla best intentions, and his so-called friends took advantage of him. Lucilla knew how he hated having to beg her for money. But what could he do knew how he hated having to beg her for money. But what could he do in such a terrible situation? He had n.o.body else to turn to. in such a terrible situation? He had n.o.body else to turn to.

Anyway, Lucilla had to admit that the invitation to live at George's house and take care of Iris was a G.o.dsend. Her life in that house house and take care of Iris was a G.o.dsend. Her life in that house during the last year had been happy and comfortable. And so she during the last year had been happy and comfortable. And so she didn't like the idea of the young and efficient Ruth marrying George didn't like the idea of the young and efficient Ruth marrying George and evicting her from this place. and evicting her from this place.

Miss Lessing was very presentable - but, thank goodness, there was one person at least who saw what she was up to! one person at least who saw what she was up to!

Lucilla Drake nodded her head several times, causing her soft double chins to quiver, raised her eyebrows with an air of superb human chins to quiver, raised her eyebrows with an air of superb human sapience, and abandoned the subject for one equally interesting and sapience, and abandoned the subject for one equally interesting and possibly even more pressing. possibly even more pressing.