Adagio
That evening the Rolls pulled up in front of another palatial mansion. Penny got out, and as Virgil made his exit he murmured to Parker, who was holding the door "Tell me, Parker, does everyone in England live in huge houses and call each other '-ship'?"
Parker rolled his eyes "Hit sometimes seems that way, sir."
Once they had entered the house, Penny was soon surrounded by friends, with cries of "Penny, dahling!" She was careful to introduce Virgil to everyone, but after a while he started to feel a bit superfluous; and all this standing around was making his leg ache. He looked through an open doorway into another room, then turned to Penny. "Penny, would anyone mind if I went and played the piano for a bit?"
"Oh course not, dear boy, this is a party – do whatever you want."
He limped in and sat down at the piano. There were a few other people in the room talking, but no-one seemed to take any notice. He started playing quietly, and was soon absorbed in the music.
"That's lovely – what is it called?"
He looked up to see a young lady leaning on the side of the piano. looking at him. "It's called Beautiful dreamer – it was written about 200 years ago by a man called Stephen Foster. He wrote some lovely songs" Virgil started on another tune, "This one's called Jeannie with the light brown hair"
The girl looked round and called to one of her friends, "Hey, Jeannie, did you know there's a song about you?"
The second girl approached as Virgil played the tune. She turned to her friend, "No, Michelle, I've never heard that before." Virgil looked at the first girl. " Michelle? There's one for you, too," he said, launching into the Beatles song.
"Do you know a song for every girl's name?" asked Jeannie.
"I'm not sure," said Virgil with a grin, "I haven't met them all."
"Right!" said Michelle "that sounds like a challenge if ever I heard one!" She turned to her friend. "Let's go and see who we can find."
Virgil was quickly introduced to a Diana, a Susie and a Jennifer, and played a song for each one, singing the name-line in his soft voice. Another girl approached, to be introduced as Annie. Virgil hesitated. "Don't tell me we've found a name you don't know a song for!" said one of the girls.
Virgil looked at her, "No, I know the tune, I just don't know any words to it – I just know it as 'Song for Annie'" and he began to play a lovely, lilting tune.
"Do you think he's making these up?" asked one of the girls.
"Well, I know that last one," said another, "I used to play it on my recorder when I was at school."
Soon there was quite a sizeable crowd around the piano, and Virgil was kept busy. He smiled to himself – he hadn't played this particular party trick since his college days, but it seemed to be working just as well as it always did. Eventually he heard Penny's voice over the crowd. "I should have guessed – if there's a crowd of young women, there's a Tracy in the middle of it." He looked up with a sheepish grin, then his expression changed as he realised Amanda was standing beside her, looking (to his eyes) breathtaking in a turquoise evening gown.
"Penny's turn!" cried out one of the girls, so Virgil launched into Penny Lane, with several of the girls, who had done classical music at school, joining in the singing.
"Have you got one for Amanda, too?" asked Penny.
He looked up, his voice suddenly solemn. "Yes, I have," he said and started playing. Penny recognised the tune as the one she had heard as she was leaving the music room that afternoon. He began to sing softly in his gentle voice, never taking his eyes off Amanda –
"I never realised how happy you made me,
Oh Mandy
You came and you gave without taking
And I sent you away,
Oh Mandy
You kissed me and stopped me from shaking
And I need you today,
Oh, baby I love you"
The raw emotion in his face and voice was too much for Amanda. She came forward and kissed him on the lips, to cries and wolf-whistles from the surrounding audience, then leaned over and with one hand started to pick out 'Chopsticks' on the piano. He responded with the other hand, and they broke off from their kiss to finish the tune to a round of applause.
"Come on, Virgil" she said, picking up his crutches and hauling him to his feet. "I'm taking you away before you embarrass me any more" and they headed through the French doors into the night.
"I'm sorry if I embarrassed you in front of your friends," said Virgil, feeling suddenly awkward as they headed down into the garden.
"You didn't – it was a very sweet and romantic gesture and at least it will give all those gossips back there something to talk about. Come on, I know a place where we can sit and talk." They were approaching what Virgil presumed to be some sort of summerhouse, built in the style of a Greek temple. Suddenly Amanda halted, pointing to a small white object visible on the steps that looked to Virgil like a handkerchief. "Too late, it's already occupied. Come on, we can go into the rose garden"
As they turned into a walled garden, where the scent of roses hung heavy on the night air, Virgil started to laugh. "What's so funny?" asked Amanda, "Don't you think the aristocracy do that sort of thing? How do you think we get little aristocrats?"
Virgil chuckled, "No, I'm laughing because I've just realised we have a similar system at home. There's a cove on the far side of the island that you can only reach by going along the top of the cliff then down some steps – but if someone's left a towel at the top of the steps it means they want the place to themselves, so you don't go down."
"Oh?" she replied, a warning note in her voice, "and just who have you been leaving towels lying around for?"
Vigil turned to face her, his arms going around her waist, "I think I'd better plead the fifth amendment on that one," he replied with a grin.
"The fifth what?"
"American joke." He paused, looking deep into her eyes. "Amanda, I want to apologise again for how I behaved the other day. I had my reasons, but it was wrong of me to take it out on you like that. You were right to treat me like you did, but I missed you so much when you were away – it was as if all the colour had gone out of the world. Please say you've forgiven me."
She put her arms around his neck. The top of her head was just level with his chin. "Tell me, were those the real words to that song, or did you make them up?"
"No, those are the actual words – but I meant every single one of them."
"Well, let me see," she went on, thoughtfully, "you've apologised beautifully, you've serenaded me, and apparently you've even painted a picture for me as well. Are you always so thorough in everything you do?"
"Always" he answered gravely, and to prove his point kissed her as thoroughly as he knew how.
She gave a delicious shudder as his fingers ran down her spine, bare in the low-cut back of her dress. "Are you practising one of your piano tunes on me?" she murmured.
"Mandy, my love," he murmured, his voice husky with desire, "I'd like to play an entire symphony on you." He kissed her again, as he couldn't really believe that she had tasted of rose petals the first time. "But we'll have to wait till I'm out of this darned plaster."
"Yes," she agreed, "that's probably as good as a chastity belt."
"A what?"
"English joke. You remember, we saw one in that old castle we visited?"
He chuckled, "And you're supposed to be a lady!"
She was suddenly serious. "Virgil, what's going to happen to us? Is this just some holiday romance for you?"
He shook his head, holding her close, his hand stroking her hair. "No, I don't think so. I nearly lost you once, I don't want to do that again." He paused, thinking. He had spent the last few days considering the same question. There was no doubt in his mind about his love for her. What he was uncertain about was whether he could make her part of his life. Scott had managed with Elizabeth – could he do the same? What could he tell her about his life? Should he tell her? Was it fair not to? "Look," he said eventually, "this plaster is due off in a week, and then I'll have to go for some physio. Not too much, I hope, I've been doing all the exercises they gave me. I was thinking of going somewhere near to home, but I could see if I could get booked in somewhere over here. Then, maybe afterwards, you could come home with me for a visit. How does that sound?"
"Sounds a good plan to me." Reaching up, she kissed him again, running her fingers through his thick, dark hair. "Come on, we'd better be getting back, or people will start wondering where we are."
Back inside the guests were helping themselves at the buffet. Amanda gave him a little shove. "Go find yourself a seat, I'll bring you some food over."
"Thanks," he said, "I don't think I could manage a plate and these crutches."
He sat himself down in a corner, from where he could watch Amanda across the room. His reverie was interrupted by a voice. "Do you mind if I join you? I think we wallflowers should stick together!"
Virgil looked round to see a man about his father's age, sitting in an electric wheelchair. The man held out his hand. "I don't think we've met before. I'm Mike Roberts, Philippa's uncle."
Virgil shook the hand. "Virgil Tracy. I guess I'm what you'd call a gate-crasher. I came with Lady Penelope Creighton-Ward – she's an old friend of my family. I'm staying with her while my leg heals"
"Well, if you're a friend of Penny's you're welcome. I've known her since she was a little girl – used to give her rides in my chair."
Virgil blinked - the things he was finding out about Penny on this trip! Mike looked at his leg. "How did you come to do that anyway?"
"It was a climbing accident, in the Alps."
"How much longer will you be in plaster?"
"Only another week."
"Have you arranged anything about physiotherapy? Only there's a brilliant place I go to several times a year, with my family. It's on the island of Corfu and is a sort of rehab holiday camp. It's set up to take able-bodied as well as disabled. You each get your own cabin, and a programme of therapy, then in between you are encouraged to walk, swim, cycle, ride, whatever you are capable of , with your able-bodied friends. If you like, I'll send you the details."
"Yes, please do" replied Virgil, thinking he must talk to Amanda about this – it sounded perfect.
"And what do you do with yourself when you're not falling off mountains?"
"I work for my father's firm – Tracy Transport."
"Hey, you're not related to Alan Tracy, are you?"
"Yes, he's my youngest brother." Virgil had met this reaction before, though those asking the question were usually a lot younger, and female.
"This is great! Alan's raced against my team many times!"
Virgil did a double-take, suddenly realising he was talking to the head of the British motor racing team. "Mike Roberts! Of course, I'm sorry, I didn't make the connection. Alan talks about you a lot at home."
"I haven't seen Alan much this season, I hope he's all right?"
"Yes, that's my fault I'm afraid. With me being out of the picture he's been needed to help with the business. He's hoping I'll be back in time for him to make the last few races of the season."
"That's a wonderful car he's got. And that engineer chap you've got working for you – Hiram-something. What a genius! I'll tell you, I offered him a raise if he'd come and work for me, but he said he wasn't interested."
"No," said Virgil, "he likes working for Dad, because he can work on whatever he wants" then he told Mike about the table-tennis playing robot, much to the older man's amusement.
Their laughter was interrupted by the approach of Penny and Amanda. "Hallo, Uncle Mikey" said Penny, bending down to give him a kiss.
"Penny" he said, "you never told me you knew Alan Tracy's family. The next time you visit them I want you to come home with all their secrets."
"OK, Uncle Mike, I'll see what I can do," said Penny, at the same time thinking 'You'd have a shock if I did'
Virgil spent the rest of the evening chatting with Mike and some of the other guests until the party was over. That night he did not dream.
Author's note: 'Mandy' copyright Scott English/Richard Ken, 1975
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