Chapter III
It was Lady Bethina Cornelius who looked like the best choice for the part of Titania. She was a dynamic, sparkling, charming creature – not too tall, without remarkable physical features, but vibrating with a strange, addictive energy – she may not have been a scholarly nature, but one endowed with some kind of intuitive intelligence that made her dominate any discussion. She moved like a cat and she had the voice of a sorceress. But what Sophia liked best about her was the sense of humour. Lady Cornelius, at the age of thirty-two, had no children of her own – she looked almost like a child herself. However, as she had married Lord Cornelius, she had become the stepmother of seven grown children from his previous marriages. From his first wife, the lord had two children – Ligia, who was now thirty – married to the young count Desmond, and who had not come to Deepwell, and Ralph, a very stern and quiet young man of twenty-nine, who would never intervene in a conversation if his contribution wasn't vital. From the second marriage, Sir Walter Cornelius had three children: Joseph and Laetitia – now twenty-seven - , who were twins, and Louis – twenty-five. Laetitia had got married early – to a handsome colonel called Trevor Colbert, who had died when she was only twenty, and she hadn't remarried afterwards. She was beautiful, fair-haired, with ringlets shining like honey in the light, and violet-blue eyes – she was also kind, always calm and tender, but she lacked energy and enthusiasm. Her twin brother, Joseph, was nothing like her: dark, slender, with strong features that showed a large range of feelings. He enjoyed getting involved in all sorts of activities – because he would never allow himself to get bored. However, he would never embark on something unless he knew he was good at it. Louis, on the other hand, was a joker, 'the family fool'. He had Laetitia's colours and Joseph's features – but the combination was unfortunate, as he looked like a caricature of both. He couldn't keep serious for a second – which drove his father crazy. The children from the third marriage were much younger. Colin was seventeen and Diana – fifteen. Colin was the one who best resembled Laetitia: fair, calm and serious – a perfect gentleman in the making. Diana looked sweet like a porcelain doll – and as fragile. She surely made a fine fairy. Now, casting Lady Bethina as Titania raised the question, 'Who could be Oberon?' Louis suggested his brother Joseph could do it, and everybody else agreed.
To Sophia it was all a game – the play, the costumes and the decorations… But Athena realized that having so many people involved needed diplomacy – it wasn't easy to handle different personalities, interests and ideas. Therefore she asked her uncle to be – officially – in charge of the whole show. He had the authority to avoid any conflicts. Now, Sir Warwick may have been the formal leader of this group of amateur actors, but the one who was actually organizing everything was Athena. She managed it with discretion and she talked things through with her uncle. She thought no one had noticed, so she had a surprise when one afternoon, as the 'artists' were heading for the main house for lunch, young Hargrove approached her.
'I've seen what you do', he said – with a smirk.
'Pardon?'
'It's really extraordinary how you manage…'
'Sorry, but I don't know what you mean.'
'You're being modest, miss Stonegate, but you should take credits for turning our little masquerade into a real show. I must apologize for being distracted at first by miss Sophia's energy and by Sir Warwick's authoritative figure and for not paying enough attention to the great job you're doing here. I guess you must be doing it on purpose: letting them in the light, so you could concentrate upon the things you're best at.'
'Oh, Mr. Hargrove, but I…'
'Hush – I promise I won't tell. I think this is the best way to have it all done. I appreciate it, miss Stonegate – I mean the fact that it's not just some holiday fun to you… You've got a real talent for it, and you're so natural…'
'Why, thank you. I'll take it as a compliment. It's true I'm not taking it light – if it doesn't come out right, then what's the use of doing it in the first place? It ought to be at least enjoyable. And my uncle has brought so many people here… So we can't afford to have everything ruined. That's why… I have decided to do my best to make it work. Just a normal thing to do, right?'
'I agree. Modesty and discretion are among your most distinctive qualities. Unfortunately, not everyone can see your merits.'
Athena blushed and turned her eyes away – not because of the compliments, but because she had just realized that he was right and that he had judged her correctly, while she… Well, her first opinion of him might have been wrong. She had taken him for a nice, but really superficial youth, busy flirting with the girls and not missing any distraction, be it theatre or hunting. She felt ashamed to discover that there was more to him than that – that there was something bright and sharp behind those blue eyes.
'Thank you, Mr. Hargrove. However, I've never looked for ephemeral glory, but for the satisfaction of the thing well done.'
'Ay, I wouldn't go as far as to speak of "glory". But I think that a deserved praise – once and again – can't do you any harm.'
Athena smiled and raised her eyes to meet his.
'I've told you all these things just because I happen to think that you are a person who likes sincerity in others; - he added.
'Please feel free to tell me… anything' – said she, encouraging him just as she used to encourage her pupils to answer, even if they made mistakes at first.
'I'll certainly do that' – he replied. 'On one condition.'
'What?'
'I want you to be confident and tell me everything, too. You might be surprised to discover that I'm capable to understand more than one would think at first sight.'
Athena turned speechless for a couple of seconds. Then she promised herself to pay more attention to him.