A freezing cold wind caressed Kingsport, as the first days of 1918 had arrived. The red brick houses of that beautiful colonial town were decorated with icicles, and the Redmond Campus area looked like a snow castle, like something from Andresen's fairy tale. The residents walked with hurried, quick steps in the freezing cold. And dark newspaper headlines proclaimed "President Woodrow Wilson has presented to Congress his outline of Fourteen Points required for Peace. They arouse great interest internationally." The Red Cross collection containers were covered in snow, and on the street corners there were a few ragged posters of Kitchener, as a reminder of past sacrifices, "over there" in the Western Front, and all over known world.
Royal Gardiner looked up from the official pile of papers when the Kingsport Gentlemen's Club valet - George, for some reason very often their names were George, perhaps it was a professional quirk - said quietly, "Mr. Gardiner, your sister is in the lobby and absolutely demands to see you at once." Royal, glanced at the telegram that had arrived from France a couple of hours ago, and stifled a sigh, as he said "George, that's fine, but which of my sisters is that?"
"Adeline, sir."
For a short while, Roy was extremely tempted to slump, because he knew that the next meeting might be interesting. Adeline had pestered him with relentless vim throughout the Christmas holidays. George's face was calm, but there was a sympathetic look in the valet's eyes as he said quietly, "Shall I come over in ten minutes and say you have your next appointment?"
Roy, glanced at his almanac which was almost empty. He stifled a chuckle and said dryly, "There is no need, good chap! I'll probably make it, it's just my sister. Soldiers, youths at the front facing thousands of dangers every day. I can deal with her, even if it's annoying and exhausting at times." George, nodded, as he said, "Quite. Miss Gardiner ordered tea, for you both, I have put it in your regular bill, naturally."
In the small green side room, a beautiful tea table was laid out, and tiredly Roy glanced at his sister. Adeline sat with a straight back, in her dark blue walking dress, the hem of which was damp from the snow. When Roy had taken his seat, as Adeline had impatiently poured him a fragrant, slightly weak tea, which was bare, for both sugar and milk were under restriction, for Borden's Union Government had imposed severe rationing restrictions on the home front, which affected the economy of every home and the establishments.
Adeline said briskly, "Roy, I want to have a little soirée at Gardiner Hall, in time for Epiphany. And I won't take no for an answer, because we can turn it to the benefit of the war effort."
A slight smile came to Roy's lips as he remarked, "I agree, but very small scale, and only downstairs in one of the parlor rooms, no more. I get to invite whoever I want too."
Adeline, folded her napkin with a satisfied look and said with a sly tone of voice, "How sad that dear Christine can't participate, this time, because she is still stuck in the pirarie wilds of Manitoba, isn't she?"
Roy, said in his slightly sarcastic style that his business contacts knew well, "If Christine were here, you might miss her more than I do, my dear sister. That's why you're wearing her colors."
Adeline snorted lightly, as she riposted her reply, "Christine doesn't have a monopoly on the shade of blue, in clothes. It's fine, invite whoever you want, but think practically and long-term if you know how anymore. The arragements will be busy, but luckily I can rustle them up, on a very short notice. Epiphany is this coming weekend."
Over the next day, cream-colored sophisticated envelopes, with elegant calligraphy, were delivered to several prominent addresses - and also to a few that were not so promiment.
Dorian Gardiner took five envelopes from his pocket as he entered the Perennial premises, which were in their usual rush. Editor Simmons, blathered on the phone, and the clatter of typewriters echoed incessantly. And the planning of the new issue proceeded under its own weight, the vivacious Sue Ridley pacing to and fro. Her workstation was full of sketches, and color charts, as well as lines, ink and charcoal, and pastel stains. Dorian inquired, "Say, Sue, how was the move to lovely Primrose Hollow?"
Sue, looking up from her sketch, swept the hair that had come out of her bun behind her little ears and said curtly, "Why do you ask, when you sent Thompson to help with the move, thank you, by the way, Gardiner Ford was necessary, otherwise I wouldn't have had my chest of drawers carried in that so quaint place. And as for the rest, luckily house has the most lovely fireplace, in these frosts. The room I live in is very comfortable, although it has been empty for some time. Apparently Nan Blythe wrote to the girl who does VAD work in England, to ask her permission if I can I move into her old room. The reply was exclusively positive and a bit pointed, too. For apparently the girl, Faith, had been amazed that the lasses of Primrose Hollow hadn't taken anyone else to live in her room before now rent purposes, you know. Though you don't seem to know anything about it."
Di, arrived with a frosty blush, and said cheerfully, "Dorian, what are those envelopes. I thought there weren't any more occasions at Gardiner Hall?" Sue, looked curiously at the envelopes, in a half-impish way Dorian said, "Well, Adeline wore Papa down, so be all welcome to the Hall upcoming weekend if you can. It'll be on a smaller scale than before, for sure."
A slightly suspicious look was in Di's gray-green eyes as she said quietly, "Well that depends." Sue, laughed uproariously as she said with impish glee, "I've heard that Gardiner Hall is very picturesque, so perhaps we both could get some inspiration there, Di?"
Editor Simmons barked, " Blythe, Ridley, make some tea, please, and Gardiner, come into my study, now." Di and Sue exchanged a look that spoke volumes and moved to the tea corner. A little hesitantly, Di glanced at Sue, who was measuring Assam tea leaves into a lumpy teapot with an unnecessarily generous hand. Soon a loud conversation echoed from Editor Simmons' room, and when the teapot had finished seeping, Dorian came out of the room with a calm face, but Di noticed that Dorian's ear lobes were red. "What did grumpy old Simmons want, Dorian?" Sue inquired calmly.
Dorian, adjusted his tie pin, which was a silver crescent, as he said in a sly voice that raised the hair on the back of Di's neck, for the first time, Di, noticed the silvered echo of Adeline´s sleek manner in sweet and shy Dorian, as he remarked, " Simmons just wanted inside information, confirmations of some rumors circulating in the city, related to Papa."
One by one, Perennial employees drank tea, and as the afternoon wore on, opinions flowed wildly. Di, sat in her place and opened a locked drawer on her desk. There was a gift wrapped in beautiful marbled paper with a small card. But Di didn't need to look at the card to know who it was from.
Curious, Sue walked past Di's table and said lightly, "A belated Christmas present, it's so nice when those closest to you remember. Why don't you open it now, that way you can add a little joy to your everyday life."
With careful fingers, Di opened the package. It revealed a worn little dark green velvet box, Di snapped it open, and on the faded pillow was a dainty orchid flower pendant on a thin chain, done in impeccable Victorian Art Noveau style. It was almost translucent enamel of a soft lavender color, and the orchid leaves were skillfully painted. In the center of the pendant was a beautiful pearl.
Sue said in astonishment, "A stunningly fine, very Shakesperian gift, as you remember that Ophelia carried those flowers in Hamlet?" Thoughtfully, Di stroked the petals of the pendant with her fingertip, and noticed that it was extremely small and dainty.
Sue, inquired a little impatiently, "What a lovely gift, from an admirer perhaps? Well, I guess you put it around your neck. That's what I would do if I were you." Slightly irritated, Di glanced at Sue, who had turned and refocused on her own work. Half-shyly, Di glanced at the pendant, and read the card.
Diana
When I went to the place you suggested, I came across this and absolutely had to buy it for you. Hopefully you like it.
Seasons greetings
Alice
Those simple, open words on the card, hurt as if there was no distance, reading the card again, almost inevitably, Di noticed a certain caution that was in the choice of words. Feeling unsettled, Di slipped the jewelry box into the inside pocket of her lecture briefcase. And looking at the clock, and nodding, to Dorian and Sue, Di re-focused on her writing, she was humming vaudevile tunes under her breath, and hearing that familiar tune, Dorian's expression brightened, as he mischievously hunted for addressbook.
That evening, in the coziness of Primrose Hollow, plum custard smelled in the kitchen, and it mingled with the hiss of the teapot, and the clatter of pans and plates, as Nan and Sue did the dishes, and laughed together. Fondly Di glanced in the direction of the kitchen, as it was obvious that Nan and Sue got along extremely well - like house on fire, in fact. And Sue's light, cheerful manner had brought much-needed levity to at Primrose Hollow, though of course no one could replace Faith.
Di glanced at Alice sitting on the other side of the living room. She was barely visible under the stacks of books and essay-concept papers and ink-stained drafts, where button pins and crochet hooks were stuck up like exclamation marks. Nan's favorite chair had forest green stitching that looked like it would become a thick sweater, for Jerry, to protect him from the cold. And raising her voice slightly, over the crackling fire, Di said, "Thank you for the Christmas present, it was unexpected."
Alice, startled, and dropped the pile of books that were swaying on the corner of the table on the floor, brightly colored novels, by Henry James, Austen, Tennyson, and Glasworthy, made a circle on the carpet. Alice, cast a serious look in Di's direction and nodded slightly, as at that moment Nan and Sue came from the kitchen carrying a teapot and a plate full of gingerbread, all done with Susans recipe, of course. And there were general merriment as Nan enthusiastically described the atmosphere of Gardiner Hall to Sue. Di noticed that Alice stirred her tea in silence, as Nan said cheerfully, with a slight sting in her tone of voice, " Dorian courted Alice for a year, but eventually they did not suit to each other, was it so dearest Alice?" Sue, looked up from her teacup, and said questioningly, "Dorian seems quite charming."
Alice, said a little stiffly, " He is a sweetheart, and yes we did not suit. I primarily came here to study, and to try my wings and learn new skills, that we all, I think have done here these past almost four years now."
A couple of hours later, Di wasn't at all surprised when Alice appeared at the door of her and Nan's room, carrying a copy of Hardy's poems, as she said, "For old times sake?" Di, threw a warning look in Alice's direction and said curtly, "Don't imagine that anything would have changed even if I accepted your Christmas present. It's just so consuming to be angry, it's so exhausting, especially these days when there are bigger things in the world. Your absence was noticed in Ingelside although no one said anything directly, at least not to me."
Di, opened Hardy's collection by random, as Alice sat on the other side of Di's bed. In soft voice Di, quietly recited the following verses from " A Christmas Ghost Story".
South of the Line, inland from far Durban,
A mouldering soldier lies—your countryman.
Awry and doubled up are his gray bones,
And on the breeze his puzzled phantom moans
Nightly to clear Canopus: "I would know
By whom and when the All-Earth-gladdening Law
Of Peace, brought in by that Man Crucified,
Was ruled to be inept, and set aside?
And what of logic or of truth appears
In tacking 'Anno Domini' to the years?
Near twenty-hundred livened thus have hied,
But tarries yet the Cause for which He died."
Thoughtfully Alice said, "Very apt, that, as I suppose was your intention. For who knows what the butcher's bill will be this year yet, before the tide will turn, if it does?" Di, shuddered a little at the cynical words and said sharply, " This was one of Walter's favorites, perhaps it appealed to his romanticism, but now I only notice the cruelty of the poem and its sinister, gothic ghoulishness. I don't remember you being so cynical before, but I too have changed. I can separates the shades of gray better than before, or at least I hope so. Do you ever have nightmares about that foggy night in the park?"
Alice, stilled, and then extremely slowly she nodded once, as she said, "Yes, it could have ended worse, we could have lost everything." Suddenly Di, grabbed Alice's wrist, as she said softly, appealingly, "But it didn't happen, luckily." Alice got up slowly, stretching, and leaning against the doorway in an offhanded way she said, "I was thinking of washing my hair, soon." Then there was soft footsteps toward staircase as Alice had left.
Di, sat as if she had turned into a statue of salt, when Nan cheerfully came into the room with a lap full of books twenty minutes or so later, as she said lightly, "Why do you look like your stomach hurts. I think we have epsom salts in the medicine cabinet in the bathroom, maybe you should take a bath, it might calm you down." To Nan's surprise, a slight blush rose on Di's high cheekbones as she said hoarsely, "Yes, perhaps I should, but a bit later I think."
Fr. Yarrow enjoyed the silence as he prepared for the coming Mass, in Kingsport's Catholic Church, the beautiful stained glass windows reflecting the bright light as the heavy doors creaked open, and two figures walked across the crimson carpet. One figure was wrapped in a silk scarf did everything right, having approached the altar, but the other, a slender youth, with a distinct face framed by dark curls, stood hesitantly, leaning on decorative canes, and slowly sat silently on the nearby pews.
Fr. Yarrow frowning said to the figure wrapped in a silken scarf, "My child in Christ, Mass will begin here soon, and after that Confessions, either anonymously or not is an option, one if one wants. Remember that God always sees into our hearts." Amazed, he then noticed pale face of a woman. Her dark eyes narrowed, and a sonorous, humorous, quiet voice said with a slight foreign accent, "It truly has been some time since my last Mass attendance, but not today, I think."
Wanting to prolong this surprisingly pleasant encounter, remarked, "Light a votive candle, it will help clear thoughts." And soon, Fr. Yarrow heard the money sloshing into the collection container. Satisfied, Fr. Yarrow went to the sacristy.
Uncertain, Dorian looked at Claire, whose previously pale features had somehow brightened in the peace of the church, the flickering flames of countless small candles were soothing, with trembling fingers, Dorian himself found himself lighting two candles. The intoxicating smell of pure and melting beeswax was mesmerizing, and so was the smell of light incense that wafted from the altar as it was being prepared for Mass.
Claire, touched Dorian's elbow with her fingertips as they walked slowly, through the crowd of people arriving for Mass, with curious glances in the crossfire, out of the church into the bright morning.
Eagerly, Dorian showed Claire the nearby swan cove, which was now completely frozen, and inquired patiently, "Why didn't we stay at the Mass, I wouldn't have minded." Claire, glancing at Dorian, said gently, a velvety edge in her voice, "The last time I entered a church I was at a funeral, it was a funeral mass, with all the Italian Catholic pomp you can imagine." Claire's voice trailed off, almost painfully or so Dorian pondered as he warmly declaired, "Please, do come up to the Hall for the weekend, if you possibly can, it would made my day, truly."
On that same evening, at Madeleine's little attic apartment, it was cozy in the flickering light of candles, and a warm Italian-style potato and vegetable casserole with dried herbs had been eaten, Madeleine, glancing inquisitively at Claire, said in her perceptive way, "Go to Gardiner Hall, by all means, if you want, I won't go as last time I had enough of that place, there are too many of Bluenoses there, even though rumor has it that your family has had to downsize everything considerably, the place is still built to enchant, to charm, and that's what it does, effortlessly."
Claire, stirred her tea in silence, and then Madeleine said softly, " It seems Isabelle wasn't convinced by your charm when you two talked at Dorothy's New Year's party. I hope that she wasn't too harsh with her words, because she can be that on occasion?" Claire crossed her arms, on the table, and rubbed her finger where the gold ring had been for so long, and then she looked up and said calmly, "Isabelle probably wanted to say a lot, but manners tied her tongue."
Madeleine glanced mirthfully at Claire she said, "Why do you think so?" Claire's hair wafted with the soft scent of oriental incense, and Madeleine felt like she couldn't breathe as Claire's voice was extremely caressingly gentle as she whispered, "She loves you, did you know that?"
The smell of spilled stearin filled the attic room. Madeleine's face was ivory white in the gloom, as the different levels of the friendship with Isabelle experienced over the years suddenly took on a different color, like a wrong turn in street corner. A bit later, Claire whispered, in reverent voice, " Love is the greatest power of all, it is like an invisible hook that draws people, sooner or later, like eternal grace in a way."
And then, it was time for Epiphany occasion at Gardiner Hall. Adeline Gardiner watched with satisfaction at the Victor Hortia's stairs as selected guests of the soiree mingled in the hall, there were Red Cross collection containers and large Allied flag, draped on the far wall, where it had most prominent place. There were seasons greetings, and requests of Epiphany carols and games.
The doors of the green parlor were opened so that the red room joined and there was a long table full of seasonal delicacies, King Cakes, few pies and so forth. There were large silver bowls full of cinnamony aromatic wassail, made of mulled cider and other spices. In their manufacture, prevailing restrictions had been taken into account. In Grandma Ethel's prized elaborate glass vase was a bouquet of Christmas flowers, and pink and white Christmas hyacinths. So far, everything had gone extremely smoothly, without any incidents.
Royal had nodded to his few business contacts, as he exchanged a few serious words with them, seeing Adeline, he said sharply, " Apparently you invited Collings, he's parked himself next to a whiskey carafe in the blue room, which shouldn't even be open tonight.
Adeline innocently glanced at Roy and said persuasively , " Although I was careful with the guest list, and of course not everyone could make it, at this later date. Dear brother, it is absolutely absurd to suppose that guests would be comfortable in only two rooms, so I advised Thompson to open the whole downstairs."
Roy, glancing at the crowd that was going from room to room like some oriental dance, there was quite a lot of laughter and commotion and slowly he closed his eyes and said briefly, "All right, but I warn you that Collings is going to be a problem."
Adeline chuckled lightly and said softly, "Brother, just because you don't like him doesn't mean Collings can't act like a gentleman."
Roy, turned violently, on the stairs and gripped the banister tightly, as he did so, he noticed that two dark-haired girls, and one red-haired one, in rustling finery, passed through the large doors. Delighted, Dorian hurried cautiously across the shiny black and white floor tiles to the trio.
The hours passed, slowly the guests seemed to enjoy the evening very much, at least it seemed so. There were calvacade of seasonal carols and games. In the middle of the happy crowd, dressed in sleek burnt orange dress, Roy noticed Dorothy, and as he bent between the swaying branches of the yucca palm, he saw that beside her was Winifred Roberts. She was wearing a shimmering, very form fitting, petal pink and totally theatrical dress.
Dorothy glanced amusedly at Winnie and said lightly, "I was surprised to see you here, but it was a very pleasant surprise. I bet my brother haunted your dressingroom door until you agreed to come here."
Winnie gave a low, mirthful laugh as she replied, "You're wrong. I got an invitation here from Dorian, he sent it to the theatre, and a request that I would perform something here, as he was afraid it might be a little boring here otherwise. The piano here is exellent, and among guests tonight is Di Blythe too, so I have pianist in place, it is all settled, with a twist, too."
Impishly, Dorothy glanced around and saw the women of Adeline's Laidies Aid, and a few big names conversing across the room, also cigar smoke wafting from a small room with a cognac tray open, and lots of backs in tailcoats, and smartly graying temples.
Dorothy, said cheerfully, "I see, I'm looking forward to it."
As Nan and Sue excitedly surveyed the splendor of Gardiner Hall, and the general ambience, together, Dorian shifted his position on the library's narrow divan, and inquired in a low voice, "Alice didn't make it, then?"
Di, fingered the Orchid pendant hanging around her neck, as she said, "She may yet arrive, but it's not certain, as the Mass ends late today, or tomorrow in fact." Dorian stretched and said thoughtfully, "I almost went to Mass myself for the first time earlier this week, but I would have liked another one to have been here, but she might be at Mass today too, it's very possible."
Di, just blinked.
And Dorian laughed gently and clarified, "I meant Cousin Claire, she's interesting, haunted, but interesting, I think. I was with her in the Catholic church a couple of days ago, as I thought it would be interesting to know what I missed, religiously that is." Di, frowned, as she vague way remembered, that Nan had told that Dorian's late mother Valentine had been of French Catholic Faith, but apparently not very frevent one.
Out of breath, a soft blush on her cheeks, and shining eyes, Sue sat in her bluish silk dress next to Dorian as she exclaimed, "What a marvelous home your family has, what light and details, I'm absolutely in love, with that staircase, and this library, especially!"
Nan, glanced at Di, and amusement flashed in Nan's hazel eyes, for Di could have bet, if it hadn't been un-Presbyterian, that her twin was quoting certain scenes from Wuthering Heights at this particular moment, in her mind, particularly Cathy´s first epoch at Thrushcross Grange, with Lintons.
The small table clock chimed the hour mark, and cautiously Di got up, carrying her green skirts, Nan, who had straightened her ankles on the small chair, swept her gold-colored skirt, and glanced in Di's direction questioningly.
Di, just smiled and said, "When Dorothy comes here, follow her, I'll see you soon." Nan, nodded, and took a small powder-box from her handbag, and checked her reflection, then she took out her tiny note-book, and began to outline her impressions, for all she experienced was material for Jerry, for his letters. Nan enjoyed the view that unfolded before her - an enchanting winter paradise, but so empty. Despite the patriotism, and the fact that money flowed into the containers in the lobby, and the shadows danced on the Allied Flag, this evening was just a mirage, maybe it was the beginning of the end? Slowly the clamor of the curious crowd increased, and red-cheeked Dorothy beckoned, at the library door.
The double doors of the great ballroom were open - and on the oval stage there was an impeccable grand piano, and besides that a small orchestra. An interested audience, Sue and Nan with them, flocked into that massive hall, which was atmospherically, yet artistically, lit.
Nan, was not really surprised to find that Di was behind the piano, and that Winnie came from behind the piano to the front of the stage, and nodded to the orchestra, as she said audibly, in a voice with distinctly impish humor, "There's a certain Adeline here, I take it. So, I hope you all enjoy the next medley of old favorites. And of course, dance if you feel like it, you have to take advantage of this amazing space!"
And the orchestra, began to play sweetly gentle strains of ballad, called Adeline, and Winnie crooned, lowly, hauntingly, with resonantly clear tone.
In the evening when I sit alone a-dreaming
Of days gone by, love, to me so dear,
There's a picture that in fancy oft' appearing,
Brings back the time, love, when you were near.
It is then I wonder where you are, my darling,
And if your heart to me is still the same.
For the sighing wind and nightingale a-singing
Are breathing only your own sweet name.
Sweet Adeline.
The ballroom quietly filled up as couples swayed to that song that Nan only vaguely remembered. Nan, by chance, looked in Dorian's direction, and the utmost repressed hilarity flashed in his pale green eyes, as he looked at his aunt. Adeline's expression was extremely Caroline Bingley-esque, and it only became a notch higher martyred, when after the end of the ballad, to wild applause, Di, started playing furious syncopated ragtime chords, as one by one Irving Berlin's songs flowed like honey, as Winnie´s voice shimmered, in Alexander´s Ragtime Band´s well-known lyrics.
The wildly dancing audience, as pairs cut figures on the floor smoothly like Veron and Irene Castle would have done, in latest modish, jagged, military-esque walking dance moves.
And then, Nan felt her eyes water, because she recognized the next tune, as Winnie rendered with extremely sensitive feeling, If you were the only boy in the world. Listening to the words of a tender revue ballad, for the second time, in her life, Nan made a sudden decision, with a flash of intuition, she would like this song to be performed at her wedding, after service had been done, with at the pulpit. There would be Walter´s fae bells jingling of Rainbow Valley way faintly and brilliant June sun glimmering, and everything would be green, and living and best of all Jerry would be there, living, warm and near, and hers – forever.
Dorian recognized the familiar perfume as he heard Aunt Dorothy's amused, gentle voice beside him, "My dear, you should think outside the box more often, for I think this whim of yours has been quite a success."
Adeline watched, mildly irritated, on the dance floor, the orchestra played soft romantic waltzes, and among the dancing couples was Roy, with a red-haired songstress on his arms.
Adeline suddenly overheard a hoarse, half-whiskey voice say a short distance away, "It seems Gardiner's reputation is really in the mud. I almost couldn't believe that his supposed mistress is here so openly, but it really seems that way. In the good old days, things were kept strictly separated, but even the last bits of decent morality have drained away, into that catastrophic sewer that is the war economy, and the fall in stock prices."
The streets of Kingsport were empty, and cold, as always a new morning came. The shimmering purplish dawn illuminated symbols written in chalk on the front door beam of Primrose Hollow.