Page 95 of The Fortunes of Ashmore Castle

‘I’m right, aren’t I? You’re always looking as if you’re miles away.Who is it? You never go anywhere, so it must be someone at the school.’

‘I’m just wishing I was back at the Castle instead of here. I’d sooner be riding than dancing. Oh, look!’ she said quickly, glad of the distraction. ‘Isn’t that David Latham? Wasn’t he one of your beaux last year? He’s quite handsome, isn’t he?’

Rachel was distracted. ‘He’s very handsome! But he’s a terrible rattle. I might dance with him, though, if he asks me – he’s amusing. And there’s Adam Massingberd.’

‘I can see quite a few young men. You needn’t have worried.’

Fergus came up beside Giles. ‘I think we should begin,’ he said. ‘I’d like to lead off with Kitty. And, Giles, as head of your family, will you take Giulia?’

The crowds parted before them as they walked into the ballroom, then fell in behind, with a scramble for partners. Giulia’s hand rested on Giles’s arm. He could smell her perfume – that at least had not changed: a chypre mixture of the light, the floral and the earthy. The three conditions of a woman, he had once said to her when it came up in conversation. He wasn’t sure he would dare say anything like that to the new Giulia. They reached the centre of the floor and turned to face each other. She put her gloved hand into his, he placed his other hand behind her shoulder, feeling the harsh silver lace even through his glove, and a rigidness of corset beneath that. Once, she had been as supple as nature.

The music struck up, and they moved. Her head was slightly tilted, she seemed to observe the company as though conscious that everyone was watching her.

One circuit, and then the other couples flooded onto the floor. He found that she was looking up at him, with her social smile.

‘How nice to see so many people here,’ she said. ‘It is gratifying that all our invitations were accepted.’

‘It must be,’ he said blankly.

‘The band is very good, don’t you think?’

‘Very good.’

‘It was recommended by Lady Vane. She is a charming woman.’

‘I don’t really know her,’ Giles said. It came to him uncomfortably that this really was like dancing with an aunt. If inane conversation was the order of the day, he had to contribute. ‘The flower arrangements are very nice. Did you use Atkins?’

‘No, Williams.’ Suddenly her smile disappeared, and disconcertingly it was Giulia who was looking at him, not Lady Leake. ‘Giles,’ she said, ‘I am glad of this dance. I wish to talk to you seriously.’

‘Giulia, I—’

‘No, let me speak. It may be the last chance I have. I behaved very badly. I made a craziness, and I am sorry for it. You must forgive.’

‘I think it is I who need forgiveness,’ he said awkwardly. ‘I never meant to—’

‘I know you did not,’ she said, and there was an infinity of sadness in her dark eyes. ‘When I was a child you were my big brother. You were tall and kind and listened to me. Then in the Valley of the Kings, suddenly it was different.’

‘Please don’t,’ he begged. He was afraid she would say it all again, perhaps in Italian, and in her own language her voice was like liquid honey.

‘It was wrong of me,’ she said gravely. ‘I knew you were married. No, non dire niente! Lasciami finire. I made a craziness. And afterwards I blamed you for it. I wanted to punish you. It was very wrong of me. But now the craziness is all gone away. All is well. So I apologise.’

He didn’t know what to say. ‘Are you happy?’ he asked at last.

‘Of course,’ she said. ‘I have everything that I want. To travel! To learn! To be comfortable. Never to be afraid for money. To take care of my mama and papa when they are old.’

‘But are you happy?’

‘He loves me and takes care of me. What more could I want? And I make him happy too, so it is fair.’

He didn’t know what to say. They danced in silence until the music ended. He released her and bowed.

‘We may never dance together again,’ she said. Then, just as suddenly, Lady Leake was back. Her eyes were as impenetrable to him as the glass eyes of a stuffed animal. ‘We will live mostly in Italy, I think,’ she observed unemotionally, ‘so I shall not often meet you.’

He led her towards where he could see Fergus waiting for her. ‘Thank you,’ she said formally. ‘It was pleasant.’

‘Thank you for the dance, Lady Leake,’ he said, in like manner.

‘But you may call me Zia Giulia,’ she said graciously.