1
As promised, Daniel called on the Ashtons' again, this time helping May with her mathematics as they waited for Faye to return from Redmond.
When she did, the three of them walked companionably through Wild Magnolias and then down Spofford Avenue. Faye loved to look at the houses down there. Houses old and new, with dressed stone walls or brick, with towers and turrets and gables galore. She liked the fashionable mansions there best; all gleaming paint and sparkling glass, as proudly poised as a diamond. Di wasn't sure that she liked them so much – they were too white and too new somehow.
"Nan and I love old houses- houses that have a history. Some houses are built and these are very handsome, but they don't have the air of having lived," Diana commented thoughtfully, as they paused before a low spreading house built in the latest bungalow style.
"Houses are like people," commented Daniel. "Fashionable people don't really live- they're too busy looking about to see their looks stack up to everyone else to have any charm about them. And they all seem to scream that everything about them have to be 'just so'. I like a little mess once in a while- just some little sign of human habitation."
"What do you like best about your house?" asked Di. "I love the Ingleside kitchen, so sunny with its lovely smells, and our warm hearth with Gog and Magog standing guard. And I know that Nan loves our garden and all the trees out in the lawn."
"What I like best about Cloud Aerie…" answered Daniel slowly. "…are the windows. There are lots of them all over the house… so that the house is flooded with light, golden in the day and then silver at night. Its almost like being outside all the time."
"I love the mist and woods… and the sunset and stars out in our garden," Faye said rather wistfully. Cold and lonely as it had been, there was still no place quite like Opal Crest, with its veil of by mist, hill and wood, remote even in her most beautiful moods.
Daniel squeezed her hand, "You'll be back almost before you know it, dear. I wish you could spend Christmas here but I suppose Grandma would like to see you."
"Now, I've got something to show you both," exclaimed Di as they approached the end of Spofford Avenue. There was a little white frame house nestled in the arms of a grove of pines, with green shutters that embraced by coils of vines. "There's Patty's Place! Isn't it the dearest little thing? Mother stayed there while she was studying in Redmond."
"Oh its lovely," breathed Faye, her eyes fixed on the tiny garden with its low moss covered stone wall. "I like it almost as much as the Bower."
After Spofford Avenue, they stopped by St. Francis Park, which Daniel liked extremely. "A place where one can stretch one's legs and breathe free air," he commented with a contented sigh.
After buying ice cream cones from a vendor, they took a walk along the lake shore to watch the sunset.
"Where will you be having dinner tonight, Danny?" asked Faye, as they walked down Nightingale Lane. "Alone at your boarding house again?"
"I suppose I can hustle up a sandwich in my room," said Daniel with a shrug. "I'm afraid the cook at my boarding house is nowhere near as good as yours- she's allergic to bending over the oven because of her rheumatiz."
He then proceeded to convulse them with a description of Mrs. Cripps, who was quite fat and cranky, and famous for what was called 'everything stews'- which involved mixing whatever could be found in the kitchen in a large iron pot, to be boiled over the stove for an indeterminate length of time – for Mrs. Cripps had a habit of poring over romantic novels while she cooked and was hard put to tear herself away from the throes of her heroines.
"Why don't you come in and have dinner at the Bower?" suggested Di as she wiped away a tear in her eye. Daniel had just finished describing his first taste of Mrs. Cripps meat loaf.
"I tell you- I was green around the edges. But no more so than the meat loaf," he had mournfully averred.
"Yes, Danny, we'd love to have you," exclaimed Faye, giving his arm a squeeze as they reached the front step. "I don't think you could survive another meal like that, and really, I don't think Una would mind setting another place at the table. She loves to cook for people."
"I'm sure it will be all right," answered Di as the door opened to reveal a disheveled, floury looking Nan.
"Come in, come in," said Nan distractedly as she ushered the three in the dark living room. "Una is running just a little bit late and Persis is still at the newspaper office, so I thought I'd start dinner. I was paging through the cookbook for something a little different tonight but…"
"Oh, Nan this is my cousin Danny," interrupted Faye. "I hope it's all right that I invited him over for dinner…"
"Oh, of course!" exclaimed Nan, looking startled to see Daniel emerge from the living room shadows. Di hurriedly turned on the little rose-colored lamp, revealing Nan in her voluminous apron, on which she was frantically wiping her floury palms so that she might shake hands with Daniel. Despite her efforts, Daniel's elegant gray gloves still received a faint dusting of white, which he wiped discreetly.
"I'm so sorry. I was in the middle of fixing dinner. I didn't know anyone was calling." Nan shot Faye and Di an indignant look and took a furtive glance at the mirror on the wall. Di stifled a laugh- Nan had never met a man looking less than perfect before.
"Don't worry about it," assured Daniel with one of his very best smiles. "I know we've seen each other before- don't you teach the preparatory class for Queen's? I remember you from the auditorium during the Founding Day program – you were in that blue dress that Harriet Sanders was so jealous of. Although, I must admit I like what you're wearing now better," he said with a grin.
Di plucked a green bean caught in Nan's brown hair and she turned scarlet.
"Now I understand why Una wears that hideous hairnet," said Nan with a sheepish grin as they all laughed.
"Now that we're here, we'll help you out with dinner," said Faye, more confident now with her culinary abilities.
"But what about -" Nan indicated Daniel with a nod of her head.
"Oh, I'm quite willing to help out- it's the least I could do after you were so kind to let me eat dinner with you girls," exclaimed Daniel. "But my presence in the kitchen usually involves eating food more than preparing them."
"There's plenty that you can do- you could chop vegetables or wash dishes," suggested Di. "Just whip off those gloves and …"
"On second thought, I think maybe I'd better stay out of the kitchen," said Daniel quickly.
"What's the matter? You needn't worry that the dishwashing soap will be too harsh with those hands- I have some lotion that will keep them nice and smooth," teased Di. Daniel had few faults, but one of them was vanity and he was rather fastidious when it came to his looks and dress.
To her surprise, Daniel's eyes darkened at her remark. "No, of course not," he said stiffly. "I think I'd just be in the way, that's all."
Di blinked in surprise at the petulant remark. "Oh, I didn't mean - "
But he interrupted before she could finish. "Why don't I run over to the bakery and get you some dessert instead?" he suggested, with a smile that seemed forced to Di. "It'll only take a minute. And then I can help set the table for you,"
He rushed out the kitchen before she could reply. Di did not have time to ponder his strange behavior for Nan suddenly exclaimed that the soup was boiling over. Di rushed to the rescue.
By the time Daniel returned, it seemed that he was over his momentary pique. "I got a nice, gooey chocolate cake, with lashings of frosting. I hope you girls like it," he said, his head peeking into the busy kitchen for a moment before disappearing into the dining room. He set the table speedily, and when he was finished, he went to answer the door, welcoming Una and Persis so masterfully that she remarked, "This is the Bower, right? Or have we got a new house mate I didn't know about?"
The three burst into laughter and after exchanging introductions, Una rushed into the kitchen. Persis stayed in the living room to entertain their guest, though from the laughter issuing from the living room, it sounded like she was the one being entertained.
"All right, everyone. Dinner is served," announced Di. Persis and Daniel chatted all the way into the dining room- about women's fashions, of all things!
"My sister is studying fashion design in Montreal," he said by way of an explanation.
Dinner at the Bower was always cheerful but the new addition to the table made it even merrier. Persis and Daniel bantered like old friends, with him teasing her about eating two slices of cake and her teasing him that the small chocolate stain he got on his shirt would not come off in the wash.
Unfortunately, Faye had an early exam tomorrow morning and couldn't stay longer so the two left after dessert, with Daniel insisting that he help clear the table.
"I'd help with the dishes but I really have to go and review for my exam," said Faye as she got into her coat.
"And I have to walk her home," said Daniel, as he held the door open for her.
"No fair- your first night and already you've begged off kitchen duty," exclaimed Persis in mock outrage.
"I always get off kitchen duty," he said with a slightly wry smile as Faye walked out the door. "Good night, everyone. Good night, Di."
Di watched them stroll down the moonlit lane, their heads- one like sunlight, and the other warm-hued gold- bent together in close conversation. She was surprised by a crazy desire to join them.
"Oh, Di. I almost forgot to tell you," Nan said, as she entered the kitchen to help with the dishes. "Marcus called for a little while this afternoon, while you were at the Ashtons'."
"Marcus?" repeated Di, with a vague feeling of guilt washing over her. He must have been here while Faye, Daniel and I were walking all over Kingsport.
""Yes. He stayed for a little while and we chatted a bit. I would have asked him to stay longer but there was dinner to prepare and no one else about, so he left. I'm sorry you missed him."
"I suppose he'll call me on the telephone tonight," said Di.
But he didn't.
2
The November days passed and Daniel became the more frequent visitor at the Bower. The girls all adored him and he them, though Di and Faye would remain his favorites. It became a habit for him to drop by at the Ashtons' in the afternoon, often bearing flowers for Di and some treat for the children, and then walking her back to the Bower in the evenings. Di found herself looking forward to these visits- he brought a certain sparkle to the often dreary November afternoons that was lacking when he wasn't about and even the cozy evenings at the Bower parlor seemed warmer when Daniel was around.
Not that the Bower girls dominated his attention entirely. Daniel, it seemed, was never without female companionship. It was a wonder where he found the time and energy to go about as he did, but he got to know Kingsport maidens all and sundry in a remarkably short time. Nan, in particular, was full of news about his flirtations for it was to her that playful Daniel confessed all his 'romantic woes'. The two were great chums – they both taught the same class in the Edgewood school – and he found plenty of time to fill her in on his latest 'lady fair' on their breaks together.
"You should have seen Karen Roberts during his class," said Nan, as she, Di and Persis enjoyed a Thursday evening together at the Bower parlour. "She's such a sly puss- sitting front and center hanging over his every word- when she spends all her time in my class whispering and giggling in the back! And she's always whispering about private consultations with Professor Starke… I don't know how Daniel puts up with it."
"I can't say its all the girls' fault. He's really flirts dreadfully," commented Persis a little dryly.
"That's true," said Nan ruefully. "He even gives Karen Roberts her private lessons… and the girl does have some talent with the recorder, I must admit. I honestly can't think that he's interested in her. I suppose he just enjoys the attention…"
"Oh, let him have his fun!" broke in Persis with a wicked grin. She enjoyed hearing about Daniel's dalliances immensely. "Why does romance have to be so serious and happily-ever-after all the time?"
"Oh, you're just like Daniel, Pers. He says that its all in fun and there's no harm in it, as long as both parties know what they're doing," remarked Nan, who still swung between curious amusement and disapproval over Daniel's love affairs. "But he really mustn't encourage those girls... one of them is bound to take him seriously. I heard some girls in my class talking about him, trying to reason that twenty-three wasn't too old for fifteen!""
"But Daniel can't have much truck with those girls outside of class, does he?" asked Di with a frown.
"Not much – but girls at that age don't need much. You know how silly and sentimental they can get over the smallest things," said Nan, with an air of an old-knowing matron that amused Persis immensely. "It's strange- he's no more handsome than other boys in Kingsport but he turns on that smile and those big eyes, and the girls' hearts are all a-flutter. And that boy smiles at everybody, you know."
Di nodded. Daniel did have a charming smile – one that made you feel that you shared a chummy secret.
And he was anything but a snob- he befriended everybody, from the richest aristocrat to the cleaning woman of his boardinghouse. Still, he was just friendly, frivolous Daniel – hardly a Greek God from the way he's carrying on, she thought with a surprising sting of resentment.
"But his latest amour is Peggy Chambers. He walked her home two days in a row and tonight, they're supposed to go to the cinema," continued Nan.
"An odd choice," Persis remarked, a little derisively. "Isn't she that blunt-nosed creature with the mean mouth? Always bragging about her family's fortune and insisting on wearing green when she's too sallow for it. But three times in the past week… that is serious."
"I think I'll go upstairs," declared Di, suddenly and decidedly. There were times when Persis' flippantness annoyed her.
But it was strange that she never heard much about Daniel's flirtations, though they spent more time together than anyone else. In fact he never really talked about girls to Di, though apparently he did to Nan and Persis. The omission bothered her more than she would admit.
Weren't they good enough chums for that?
But she would not lower herself by asking him why – even though she was thinking about it the following afternoon, on their long meandering walk down Nightingale Lane that was fast becoming a routine. Daniel was telling her a funny anecdote from school – all about round songs that went nowhere. Di laughed along with him, but at the back of her mind, she was wondering how he had enjoyed last night's film with Peggy Chambers.
In fact, she was so busy mulling it over that she barely recognized a pair of startled gray eyes staring directly at her.
Di gave a guilty little start when she saw Marcus standing by the Bower gate. She hadn't seen him in weeks- he had been so busy preparing for the Championship game, which was this very Saturday. While she had been preoccupied with...
Her glance slid over to Daniel, who was looking at her rather curiously, and then to Marcus again, whose gray eyes were strangely uneasy.
"Di, there you are!" Marcus said, with a rather forced looking smile. "I didn't realize that you were coming… I mean, I'm so sorry I can't stay longer. I've got a paper to finish and the game you know, I've got an early practice…"
"Of course," replied Di, feeling ill at ease herself. As if she'd been caught doing something wrong! It was ridiculous. "I'm sorry to have missed you. And… this is Daniel Starke- he's Faye's cousin," she tacked on hurriedly.
"Pleased to meet you," said Daniel cheerfully. That irritated Di. He had no right to be so relaxed when she and Marcus felt like children with their hands caught in the cookie jar.
Di smiled at Marcus. Marcus glanced at Daniel. Daniel studied Di. The three of them stared at each other, making an oddly silent triangle.
Marcus cleared his throat a little too loudly. "Yes, well… you'll be coming to the game Saturday, aren't you?" Marcus asked. "I've left the tickets with Nan… I was going to ring you up tonight."
"Well, I wouldn't miss it," exclaimed Di, nodding and smiling vigorously
"Great. So I guess I'll see you there."
"I'm looking forward to it," repeated Di, still smiling like a Cheshire Cat.
"Well… I really have to go," he said, stepping past Daniel with an awkward wave, then left.
"A nice chap," Daniel remarked blandly as they passed the gate. "Nan told me that he's a member of the football team."
"Yes, he's very talented and a good friend of mine," said Di.
"Oh," remarked Daniel blandly. Daniel- bland and noncommittal! As well cats bark and dogs purr! What did it mean?
Somehow, conversation seemed to fall flat after that encounter and Daniel left precipitately.
"I suppose you met Marcus down the lane?" asked Nan as Di entered the parlor. "He stayed all afternoon but he had to leave. He had to finish a Latin paper for Prof. Gresham tomorrow. I wished him luck – you know how fussy and exacting Prof. Gresham is. Why didn't you ask Daniel to stay?"
"Oh, he had something to do," answered Di vaguely.
"Well, Marcus left the tickets for Saturday's game at the table- there's two. You might take Faye along – Marcus invited me, but Jerry and I are going to the cinema. He's been so busy lately, I wouldn't mind having some time alone with him. Oh, and did you know that Marcus might be promoted to team captain next term? He told me all about it- it's either him or Graham Muller. "
"No, we haven't really talked lately," said Di shortly. She left for the kitchen, under guise of getting a glass of water. It bothered her that Nan should know more about Marcus than she did. In fact, Nan had probably spent more time with Marcus these past two weeks than she had.
Am I actually jealous of Nan? thought Di incredulously. No, of course not. She just felt bad that Marcus waited all afternoon for her; and Nan might have felt put upon entertaining him.
But the whole encounter with Marcus and Daniel at the lane left a sour taste in her mouth. Almost she wished that he hadn't stopped by! If Di had been more dramatic, she might have said that it was one of little things that had enormous consequences.
But sensible Di simply dismissed that thought firmly.
3
Saturday morning dawned bright and cold. Faye and Di were going to the game; Faye dressed in her new fawn-colored overcoat and green scarf. She wanted to look her best for Sylvester; he was picking them up and after the game, the two were attending a lecture on Canadian law. Faye had invited Di to come along with them, but Di gracefully declined.
"Is Daniel watching the game?" asked Di.
"No. He said something about seeing the ballet with Belinda. We might meet them at the lecture."
So much for Peggy Chambers. "Belinda?"
"Belinda Drake. I believe I introduced her to you at Gwen Richards dance the other day," commented Faye as she tried on her new mint green velvet cap in front of the mirror. She adjusted the pins on her hair; sloppiness irritated Sylvester. He always wanted her to look her best.
Di had a vague remembrance of a fair, slender somebody with sleek brown curls and an air of sophistication and expensive perfume. "Oh her," she said flatly.
They heard the screech of tires and an impatient honk. Di and Faye rushed out the door; Sylvester didn't like to be kept waiting.
"Yes, she's an old friend of Sylvester's," continued Faye as she slipped in the front seat. "In fact, it was Syl who suggested that I introduce the two of them."
"Well, any friend of yours etcetera…" said Sylvester nonchalantly. "Besides, it'll be nice to have someone show him around town and keep him company."
Faye smiled broadly. Sylvester was so kind and thoughtful. But perhaps she would have thought less of his kindness if she knew that Sylvester only did it to keep Daniel out of Faye's hair. He didn't like the idea of any man hanging around Faye, cousin or no.
They arrived at the football field a half hour before the game was supposed to begin but already the seats were filled with an excited crowd, drinking sodas and waving their pennants. Marcus had gotten them great seats at the lower box; Di spotted him on the sidelines, talking with his teammates.
"Excuse me just a minute," said Di, as she squeezed her way past the excited rows of people. She wanted to wish Marcus good luck before the game and try to erase the awkwardness that had sprung between them.
She waved to a few of her acquaintances as she wended her way down the field- being an avid sports fan, she knew quite a few of the football team members. She was still quite a ways off but she could already hear their conversation. Graham Muller always spoke too loudly when he was excited.
"So Sally Struthers is planning a dance at her house tomorrow night in honor of the first game," Graham Muller was saying.
"I know. Nearly everyone in Redmond was invited. I've already asked Wendy Sutton to go with me," said Rick Gaits. "We'd better win the game. I heard the Art Society was painting a big 'We are the Champions' banner and hanging it on the Struthers' front lawn. So who are you bringing, Marcus? You still interested in that Blythe girl?"
Di didn't mean to eavesdrop, yet despite her best efforts her steps slowed down and she ducked a little behind a burly lad doing calisthenics.
"Yes, but I don't know. I think she might have a sweetheart already," answered Marcus. She could not see the expression on his face very clearly; the lad doing jumping jacks obscured her view.
"Well, you could hardly expect her not to- a pretty girl like that," commented Graham in a commiserating tone. He whistled. "What a figure! And her long brown hair…"
Di froze. Brown hair?
The burly lad suddenly stooped down to tie his shoelaces and before Di could slip away, Marcus had already spotted her.
"Di, you're here! I'm so glad you could come. Have you met my friends? This is Graham Muller and Rick Gaits."
Was it her imagination or was his smile a little stiff?
Di shook hands with them both. "I just wanted to thank you again for the tickets and wish you good luck for the game," she heard herself say as she reached them. Brown hair?
"Thank you. And listen, Sally Struthers is having a dance to celebrate today's game. I would really love it if you'd allow me to escort you tomorrow night."
"Yes, I think I'd like that," Di answered steadily enough, though her thoughts were still whirling.
"That's wonderful. I hope you like the seats I reserved for you. Lower box, center. Are you with Nan?"
"No. She had something else to do with Jerry. I'm with Faye and Sylvester."
"Oh, that's too bad," remarked Graham, shaking his head. "Well, you'd better get back to your seat, the game's about to begin."
"And I wouldn't want to miss any of it," she exclaimed heartily. "Well, good luck!" she said with a jaunty wave.
Di couldn't really remember how she got back to her seat. She stared blankly at the field, as the players were introduced and cheers rose all around her.
Did Marcus like Nan? It couldn't be…. didn't he just ask her to the Struthers' dance? Perhaps she had heard Graham wrong…
More cheers erupted from their side; and Di realized belatedly that Redmond's goalkeeper had just made the first save of the day. She fumed inwardly. At this rate, she was going to miss the entire game!
Perhaps Graham had simply been mistaken and Marcus hadn't time to correct him.
She comforted herself with this thought and contrived to enjoy the game tolerably well. It was a close match all the way down to the final minutes. As the clock wound down with the score at 2-2, Marcus intercepted the ball and he was off like a shot. It was like the tide turning as the players raced down the field. Marcus skillfully sidestepped his defender and passed the ball to an open Graham Muller. Quick as a wink, the ball was flying towards the goal. The crowd held their breath; the goalkeeper dived but he was a tick to late; and the ball sailed into the net to the chorus of roars from the Redmond students.
The crowd was on its feet; cheering and hugging. Redmond pennants fluttered triumphantly in the air – they were Regional champions!
"We won! Oh, this is so exciting," exclaimed Faye with pink cheeks. "Wasn't Graham wonderful? Oh, and Marcus too, for intercepting that pass! They were definitely the game's heroes. You and Marcus are going to Sally's dance together, aren't you? I'm sure everybody will be there, celebrating!"
"Yes, and I'm sure Marcus and I will do a play-by-play half a dozen times on the drive over," Di said with a laugh, having recovered her good spirits. "No one will be able to talk of anything else!"
4
But despite Di's outward happiness, the shadow of Graham's careless, throwaway comment in the field was not entirely forgotten. Perhaps that was why she took extra care on her appearance the next night. She wore her best evening gown, a silvery-green silk that brought out the luster of her red hair and the gleam of her gray-green eyes. She experimented with half a dozen ways of doing up her hair before Nan, looking beautiful as always in her pale blue satin dress with lovely blue tulle sashes at the waist, sailed to her rescue.
"I guess someone's nervous about tonight," teased Nan as she took up the brush and surveyed her sister before the vanity mirror. Further evidence came from the fact that her normally simple, no-nonsense twin did not kick up a fuss this time about her hair being too elaborate. For once, Nan brushed and curled, twisted and pinned to her heart's content.
"There! You look lovely, darling!" exclaimed Nan triumphantly as she artistically arranged a few loose curls. "Now, I really must fly and attend to my own looks. Jerry will be here any minute."
Di looked at herself in the mirror and had to admit that she did look lovely. Perhaps it was Nan's magicry or the soft light of her bedroom, but her red hair, done up so elegantly, gleamed like burnished fire. Her lips were rosy red and the pink in her cheeks even drowned out her few freckles. She was really looking her best as she put dabs of perfume on her wrists and then floated down to wait for Marcus in the parlour.
Marcus arrived a few minutes later, handsome in his navy blue suit. He paid her the proper compliments, said a quick hello to the girls- he asked about Nan very casually, but she was still upstairs getting ready for the dance - and then the two of them climbed his auto.
Things seemed to be going well. Di congratulated him on the team's victory and the two of them gleefully dissected each play of yesterday's game, with Di getting a very detailed account of that last, winning play.
By the time the two of them were striding up the Struthers' front door, Di was beginning to think that she had worried for nothing.
"Hello, Diana. Oh there you are, Marcus! Everyone's waiting for you!" gushed Sally as she ushered them in to the Struthers' ballroom. Marcus arrival was hailed with loud cheers; he was lauded, clapped on the back and generally showered with praise.
For a while, the two of them mingled with the crowd. Di waved to Faye and Sylvester, who stood chatting with a crowd of law students. Marcus got to tell his story about twenty times as they circled the room. Di was having a good time – until she saw Daniel arm-in-arm with Belinda Drake.
Di was surprised at her sudden desire to disappear into the crowd; unfortunately, Daniel had already seen her and was striding towards them.
"Di, Marcus! Congratulations on the team's victory!" Daniel greeted cheerfully. Belinda, gorgeous in a purple chiffon, gave Di a cool, stiff greeting in that perfectly polite way of hers. She smiled at Marcus more warmly though for the football team was always highly regarded.
"That was some pass, Marcus!" continued Daniel, as if nothing in the world was wrong. That was Marcus' opening to repeat his story for the twenty-first time. Di plastered a smile on her face, though she was getting a little sick of hearing about football. She was about to suggest that they dance; but then Marcus' teammates suddenly accosted him.
"You don't mind if we borrow him for a little while, do you Di?" asked Rick Gaits. "Sally wants us to pose for a picture under that big victory banner."
Di waved him off with a smile but that left her alone with Daniel and Belinda- not a pleasant prospect at all. She escaped to the refreshment table for a nice cup of lemonade, quite far away from the milling crowd. Faye and Sylvester were also there, having just taken a stroll along the deserted garden. The three chatted for a little while, thankfully, on a subject other than yesterday's championship game.
"Well, I guess this is their moment in the sun," remarked Faye, sensing that Di was a little tired of sharing Marcus with the crowd. "I'm sure you'll have more time with him later. Why don't you ask him to dance?"
"Marcus doesn't like to dance. The guy has two left feet," remarked Sylvester. "On the other hand, I am a devil of dancer. Care for a demonstration, Faye?" he asked as the band struck up a new song.
"Di, is it all right if we…?"
Di nodded and watched the two of them step onto the dance floor. Whatever she felt about Sylvester- secretly, she agreed with Persis that he was a tad domineering - he and Faye did look good together as they stepped in time with the lively beat of the music. Couples twirled around the dance floor in a pleasing whirlwind of color and movement. One of them sailed by, looking very familiar – a girl with brown hair in a pale blue dress with a red haired…
Di frowned – that was Marcus and Nan!
The song ended and the two of them walked off together. Di wove in and out of the crowd trying to keep them in sight. They stopped at the corner of the room, still chatting.
Brown hair. She remembered Graham's words with surprising swiftness. Di watched them from a ways off with a sinking feeling at the pit of her stomach.
There was certainly nothing wrong with two friends dancing; she told herself, but the way Marcus was smiling at Nan now, his gray eyes intent on her face…
The band suddenly struck up a slow song, a soft slightly pensive melody like fairy music. Couples drifted in to the dance floor, hands clasped, eyes gazing at each other's faces as they swayed gently.
Marcus was saying something, his gray eyes gleaming with eagerness as one hand took hers. The other gestured towards the dance floor. Nan was smiling but she shook her head. Di knew she was trying to put him off kindly but Marcus actually leaned in closer…
Di wondered if she should do something, but before she could take a single step, Jerry suddenly swooped in with a frown.
Marcus backed away, trying to seem free and easy, as Jerry protectively stepped in between them.
Both Marcus and Di watched Nan walk off in Jerry's arms with a look of relief. Di saw a look of mingled frustration and disappointment in Marcus' face close-up as she strode up to him with a jolly greeting.
"Oh, hello Di!" he said with a start, an uneasy look in his gray eyes. Did she know…?
Di remembered when she had seen that look before – when she had met him just outside the Bower with Daniel. Where he had spent hours being entertained by Nan. She had wondered what cause he had to look guilty…
Oh, Graham Greene had been right!
Di had to get away. Her eyes smarted and her head was starting to pound.
"I'm afraid I'm not feeling very well, Marcus," Di said, hoping that he would mistake her flushed creeks and reddening eyes and nose for sickness. "I have a terrible headache. Don't worry, I've gotten a ride with a friend so you go on with your party," she continued, with a smile of forced gaiety. She had her pride!
But oh, Marcus didn't even try to stop her as she walked away – in fact, there was a look of relief in his face.
Marcus had a sneaking suspicion that Di knew… but at least she wasn't making a scene, he thought thanking his lucky stars as she slipped away.
Di walked out of the glass doors, leading to the Strother's empty garden, far away from the crowd. It was a lovely place- under normal circumstances, she would have been happier here than inside the ballroom. There were little paths of dressed stone threading through hedges and flowerbeds that ended in front of a grotto and fishpond.
She sat there, quite oblivious to any damage on her beautiful dress. The goldfish were luminous in the moonlight. She saw her reflection in the inky water, her pale face and reddened cheeks, her wonderfully coiffed hair…
She yanked the hairpins off almost violently. Her hair fell down, curls clustering around her face and shoulders like a curtain. Red curls, oh her abominable red hair…
"Oh, I can't possibly be jealous of Nan!" she gasped. "It's…it's just too ridiculous!"
But she couldn't mistake the longing in Marcus' face when Nan walked away… and the relief in his face when she did.
She thought of the afternoons Marcus spent at the Bower with Nan for company. The awkwardness she had felt when they met again. Even the fact that she hadn't spoken to him in weeks, they had both been so busy then…
And Nan, pretty Nan, always charming. Who couldn't help falling in love with her?
Di swallowed. She couldn't blame Nan – she knew her twin wouldn't hurt her for the world. And she was sure Nan didn't encourage him; she was fathoms deep in love with Jerry. Despite the hurt she felt, Di would be fair.
Besides, she had to admit that she felt more humiliation than hurt over this whole affair. Oh, she had been attracted to Marcus, but honestly, just how well did she know him? They hadn't really gotten to know each other… not that he had wanted to after he had seen Nan – her better half.
Oh that thought was bitter!
Di looked at herself critically. She wasn't ugly. Pale face, gray-green eyes, a very good nose – thank you, Mother! – though it was freckled. Nan's complexion was lovely, peaches-and-cream flawless. Her mouth now… she had a nice mouth, rosy and kissable – Steve Atkins had said that at the Glen dance last year. But Nan had such a winning smile, and a trick of holding her head and walking as if she were a bough swaying in the wind.
She had never minded Nan being prettier than her – on the contrary, she was proud when people complimented her sister. But it stung to have been so neatly tossed aside… and to have been oblivious to it. She felt that she had been made a fool. And she had thought tonight would be so beautiful…
"Di? There you are!"
Di started, looking up at a pair of concerned amber eyes.
"Marcus told me that you weren't feeling well and had gone home, but I knew I saw you heading out here. Are you feeling better? Sally has a spare room handy if you need to lie down."
"Oh, its all right," Di tried to smile. "I just… needed a little quiet and some fresh air."
"So are you staying out here then? Who are you riding home with?" asked Daniel, who didn't think it was right that Marcus was now surrounded by a crowd of admiring girls while Di was out here all alone. He had given Marcus quite a talking to for not even offering Di a ride home.
"Yes, I'm riding home with Nan and Jerry," said Di. "Don't worry, I'll be fine right here. You go back to the party."
"Well, if you say so…"
Di was surprised to feel a sharp stab of disappointment as she watched him walk down the path, back to the ballroom. Despite her words, she suddenly wished that she had asked him to stay.
A lively strain of music sprang from the house. Daniel was probably dancing up a storm with Belinda… Daniel loved being the center of attention and he was a good dancer. He had said so himself, numerous times.
She turned back to the fishpond, but before she could return to contemplating her looks again, she heard a step on the stone path.
"Put this on. You don't want to catch a chill now," cautioned Daniel, giving her his jacket as he sat down beside her. "I just went to the kitchen and had Sally's cook fix some ginger tea for your headache."
"Thank you," Di said, still a little startled that he had come back to her instead of staying inside. She suddenly felt very warm- and it wasn't because of the jacket or the tea. "But shouldn't you go back to the party?" she asked reluctantly. "Belinda…"
"… is having the most wonderful time dancing with Graham Muller. She's always fancied him. I expect they'll hit it off," commented Daniel without a hint of jealousy or hurt.
"So you don't… like her?" asked Di, a smile blooming on her face.
"I knew the minute I met her that friends are all we'd ever be. She was wearing this heavy lilac perfume– they make me sneeze– so I knew it wasn't meant to be."
"That's a lovely criteria for deciding whether or not you like a girl," commented Di with a laugh. "An allergic reaction is a definite no."
"Well, dating someone with a cold in the head isn't exactly romantic," said Daniel with a grin. "I had to be polite to her though since she's a friend of Sylvester. I only took her to the party because she didn't have a date. Now that she's with Graham, I think a disappearing act is in order. So I'll sit here and keep you company, if you don't mind my chatter. Is it making your headache worse?"
"No, it's not," assured Di, as she dropped her head on his shoulder.
In fact, her headache was gone. Maybe it was going to be a beautiful night after all.
