CHAPTER EIGHT

For the following few months, Hans went home with Billy for supper at least twice a week, sometimes more than that. With his newfound determination to read and write, Hans learned rapidly and spent hours every night at home in his room practising, a chest barricading his door closed to prevent Lars and Leif barging in and catching him. He knew they would merely laugh at him and decided to keep his learning a secret. When he was finally able to write to Nana, he asked for her to reply to him at Billy's house, explaining in a long-winded manner that Lars and Leif were mean and wouldn't give him her letters until they'd had them for weeks. He knew his father hadn't informed Nana he had been expelled from school and was working either, so he didn't mention this, but talked about things he had read and adventures he had with Billy and how he had learned to ride a horse.

Ilse's first reply arrived rapidly after the first letter and she expressed delight that Hans wanted to correspond with her privately. She did mention to Jorgen, however, the following Christmas, that she was impressed by Hans' neat writing and use of language. Jorgen, puzzled, said nothing, but spoke to the boy after Ilse returned home.

"Who is helping you write to your grandmother?"

Hans shrugged. "A friend. Don't worry, she won't find out what a failure I am."

Later he wondered why he hadn't admitted to his father that he had learned to write the letters himself. Perhaps for once the man would have been proud of him, but it occurred to him that he would have had to admit it was Miss Lillian who had taught him and then it would all come out that Billy was working at the farm too and he had been going to his home regularly after being told not to. That would no doubt result in another thrashing and Hans would probably not be allowed to work at the farm any more, both of which would overshadow any minute amount of pride his father may have in his sudden ability to read and write. He decided it was best kept quiet and thus continued his letter-writing with Nana in secret and in addition, delved into Lillian's small collection of books in order to expand his vocabulary.

With Hans enjoying working on the farm and spending so much time with his best friend and Miss Lillian, consequently he was happier and misbehaved less at home. Much as Jorgen hated the fact that his youngest son was unschooled, he was forced to admit that sending him to work had been for the best. The child was much more manageable and Jorgen was able to largely let him do what he wanted and concentrate his time on the twins who were excelling themselves in their studies and counting off the weeks until they could begin college.

When Lars and Leif turned sixteen, Jorgen threw a party for them, inviting a number of friends for dinner and dancing to celebrate both the boys' birthday and their imminent move to college. Much to Hans' disgust, he was given a new short haircut and a fine suit to wear. As if that wasn't enough, Jorgen invited the Reverend's wife to spend one Sunday afternoon teaching the eleven-year-old Hans to dance.

"You have to be kiddin'," Hans muttered under his breath. "Dancin's for sissies."

"What was that?" Jorgen asked, fortunately not having heard what the boy said.

"Nothin', Father."

"For goodness' sake, boy, will you stop clipping your words and speak properly?" Jorgen snapped, irritated. "How many times must I tell you? I frequently wonder if sending you to work on a farm wasn't a mistake; you've begun to speak like a farmer."

"Sorry, Father," Hans said.

"And I don't want to hear a single word of complaint about dancing either. The Livingstones and the Willingtons both have young daughters who will want to dance; young ladies much too small for your brothers."

"Girls?" Hans raised one eyebrow in the cocky way he had adopted from Lillian.

"Yes, Hans, the fairer sex. So you'll do as you're told and for once get through an evening without showing yourself up."

"Of course, Father." Hans grinned to himself. At the first mention of dancing lessons he hadn't realised that the point was for him to be able to dance with girls. After Billy's rather graphic description of the birds and the bees a year ago, based on what they saw on the farm every day and enhanced by other tips picked up from Lillian, Hans couldn't wait to have some girls to spend time with.

Much to Jorgen and the twins' surprise, Hans quickly proved to be light on his feet and mastered the waltz and various other dances in the space of one afternoon with the Reverend's wife.

"He's a perfect little gentleman," she reported to Jorgen later, prompting Lars and Leif to clamp hands over their mouths to smother what otherwise would have been loud and disbelieving laughter. They proceeded to tease and taunt Hans throughout the next week, but for once he refused to be drawn into an argument and simply ignored them. He was too excited about being able to spend Saturday evening with girls.

Jorgen wrote a letter to Mr Hawkins which Hans took with him to work on Saturday, asking for him to leave at three o'clock instead of six in order for him to be ready for the party. Hans hurried home afterwards and dived straight into the bathtub which the housekeeper had prepared for him. Lars and Leif were already scrubbed and dressed in their finest suits, eagerly awaiting the arrival of their party guests.

Hans scrubbed himself from head to foot and dressed in the hated suit. It was made of expensive dark grey fabric and consisted of trousers, vest and a long coat completed by a crisp white shirt, blue necktie and new shiny shoes. He loathed dressing up, but eventually when he looked at himself in the mirror, he thought he appeared very smart and handsome and grown up. He grinned at his reflection. The suit wasn't so bad after all. The girls were sure to like it. His only regret was that he had been forced to have a haircut. His hair had been shaggy and hanging over his collar, almost like Billy's. Now it was neatly clipped and extremely short.

The guests all arrived around five o'clock, Mr and Mrs Livingstone with their two daughters, fifteen-year-old Lucy and twelve-year-old Harriet first. Lars and Leif already knew Lucy from school and immediately flocked around her, admiring her fine gown. Hans was expected to talk to Harriet and later dance with her. He introduced himself and eyed her up and down. She was a couple of inches shorter than him despite being a year older. She had brown eyes and long dark hair like Miss Lillian, only she wore it in ringlets fastened with a pink bow that matched her dress. Below its hem her dainty feet were visible, her shoes a darker shade of pink and fastened with shiny buckles.

"I'm happy to make your acquaintance," she said primly, offering a white-gloved hand to Hans to shake.

"Pleased to meet ya," Hans replied and then silently cursed himself. He wasn't on the farm now and if he didn't make at least some effort, he wasn't likely to impress Miss Harriet Livingstone or the other girl, Rosemary Willington, who was just arriving.

Rosemary was eleven and also had an elder sister, Clara, whom Lars and Leif knew from school. Hans excused himself politely and went to meet the young lady. She was the complete opposite to Harriet in looks, being blonde and blue-eyed and dressed in a cream lace gown.

"I'm delighted to meet you, Rosemary," Hans said, shaking her hand gently.

"Thank you," she said shyly.

Another couple arrived with their daughter and two sons, all of whom Lars and Leif were friends with and then everyone was shown into the dining room for a fine dinner of several courses. Jorgen kept a close eye on Hans in the beginning, but much to the surprise of both his father and his brothers, he managed to remain polite and pleasant throughout the meal, following which he talked to and dance with each of the two young girls, quickly finding Harriet to be his favourite. She was chatty and outgoing, whereas Rosemary was shy and quiet. After only two dances with Hans she returned to her parents and remained with them for some time until Jorgen, mingling and noticing the blonde girl was with her mother, realised that Hans and Harriet were nowhere to be seen. Jorgen excused himself quickly and summoned Lars to him.

"Where's Hans?" he asked in a low voice.

"I don't know, Father, I've been busy talking to Lucy about college."

"Ask Leif, please."

Lars went to interrupt his twin's dance with Clara. He returned a moment later to report that Leif hadn't seen Hans for some time either.

"Is something wrong, Jorgen?" Mrs Livingstone asked at that moment, touching his arm.

"No, not at all," Jorgen blustered.

"I cannot see Harriet anywhere," the lady added. "She was talking to your youngest, the last time I saw her, which must have been a half hour ago."

"I'll look for them," Jorgen said, both annoyed and embarrassed and left the room quickly. Mrs Livingstone immediately followed and the pair scoured the downstairs rooms.

"I do apologise for this," Jorgen said. "Please, return to the party. They won't be far away."

He turned away from the lady and quickly climbed the stairs, striding along the landing to Hans' room. He paused for a moment outside the door and listened, immediately hearing Harriet's voice.

"Don't, Hans, it's not right."

Jorgen thrust the door open and froze, horrified to find his eleven-year-old son with his arms around Harriet, attempting to kiss her while she strained to get away, her face red and anxious. Then much to Jorgen's dismay, he heard Mrs Livingstone walking along the landing to join him.

"Hans! What do you think you're doing?" Jorgen demanded.

"We was only kissin'," Hans said, letting go of Harriet and insolently raising one eyebrow. Harriet leapt up and ran to her mother.

"I'm sorry, Mother, I didn't know," she whimpered.

"It's alright, Harriet." Mrs Livingstone ushered the girl out of the room. "Some people have no idea of the correct way to behave. We'll be going now, Mr Lausenstrom. Please don't bother to see us out."

The pair returned downstairs, leaving Jorgen both furious and mortified. He closed the door and locked it from the outside, leaving Hans to await later punishment, then hurried down to the drawing room to attempt to rescue the party. However, Mrs Livingstone had loudly described Hans' antics to her elder daughter and husband and the Willingtons had decided to leave also, rather than allow Rosemary to have any further contact with Hans. Shortly after the other family took their leave too.

"Hans ruined everything," Lars growled. "Lucy will probably never speak to me again."

"I didn't think he could get worse," added Leif. "He doesn't care about anyone other than himself."

"Worthless little ba…!"

"Lars!" exclaimed Jorgen. "That'll do. I know exactly what he is. I'm sorry your party has been spoiled; I should have known better than to expect him to behave decently for an entire evening."

"What are you going to do to him, Father?" asked Leif.

"I have yet to think of a suitable punishment," Jorgen said. "I'll go and speak to him now. You two stay here, please. You may both have a small glass of port if you wish."

"Thanks, Father," both said together.

Jorgen left them to it and headed upstairs to give Hans the thrashing of his life, this time applying the belt to him with such vigour that eventually he drew blood. Hans bit hard into the pillow and refused to cry, silently cursing his father and his stuck up brothers with every lash.