The Whispering Grove Read online

  Glancing at her, at the faraway expression as she closed the book and let it lie in her lap, Justin himself sighed. He could not know the true reason behind the pensive shadowing of the small wistful profile; that at last she was escaping the heartbreaking longing for the past. That she had found something else to love, and a new longing .

  Juliet, almost beside herself with excitement, was waiting for them at the airport when they landed at home. All through the greetings and disembarking business and the thanking of the kindly Mrs. Raleigh who had cared for her the high young voice could not stop chattering. She bounced between Justin and Toni on the front seat of the car as they drove to the villa, until Justin threatened to stop and throw her into the back beside Tom and the luggage.

  A strange sweet expectancy possessed Toni as the car turned on to the familiar track and she saw Villa Mimosa, its curly-tiled roof glowing coral under the setting sun. In a few moments she would be entering it again, not for a visit but to stay; she was home.

  Ellie came out on the veranda, beaming, to greet Justin deferentially, Toni shyly, and Juliet with an affectionate hug. Tom and Justin started carrying in the luggage and everyone seemed to be talking at once as Toni hesitated on the threshold, to be stopped by a frantic cry from Juliet.

  ‘No! Don’t go in yet, Toni. Daddy, you have to carry her in. They always do. When Cousin Anne was married last year Clive carried her in and he tripped and nearly dropped—’

  Toni froze, hearing the voices and movement still momentarily, and then the hollow sound of a case being set down on the veranda.

  ‘I don’t think I will be guilty of any dropping of brides,’ Justin said coolly behind her, and the next moment she was swung off her feet and borne into the cool interior. ‘Safely home.’ He flashed her a brief smile, and all too soon she was free of his arms and standing looking at him, a little breathless.

  ‘Me too, Daddy,’ cried Juliet, and he turned back to the sunlit doorway. ‘You’re not the bride,’ he told her in mock scathing tones, ‘but you can help to carry the small stuff in from the car.’

  The villa smelled cool and sweet from the blooms Ellie had massed everywhere and it sparkled freshly with newly lemon-washed walls and varnish woodwork. But there was no time for dreaming through it; Juliet suddenly remembered that she was hungry and had a blister on her heel, which, however, she seemed reluctant to have inspected at that moment, and Toni, still near enough to youth to interpret the ill-concealed eagerness on the small face, realized that Juliet was anxiously wondering what present might have been brought back for her ... Ellie wanted to report on everything done at the villa and confer over the evening meal ... the telephone rang; Marise to say had they got back okay and when were they coming over? ... and Justin announced that he needed a drink ...

  Toni hurried to sponge her face and hands. The unpacking was to be done. She was home now, a wife and mother. It was time to begin her new role.

  ‘You don’t have to work so hard at it,’ Justin said one evening later that week, on coming home to find her frowning over a length of lemon poplin and an array of flimsy paper pattern pieces. ‘You’ve been sewing every night this week.’

  ‘I wanted to get the curtains finished and start on Juliet’s things,’ she explained. ‘All her last summer’s dresses are too tight for her and the jersey wool clothes she brought are far too warm. I don’t think she’ll need them here at all. Winter here is like high summer at home,’ she added wryly.

  ‘We’re having dresses to match out of that yellow stuff,’ said Juliet, seizing the pattern envelope to show her father the illustration. ‘Mine’s going to be exactly the same as Toni’s.’

  ‘I see. How’s school?’

  ‘Awful,’ Juliet groaned. ‘They teach sums all different here, but history isn’t bad and art’s smashing.’

  Over the child’s head his glance met Toni’s and it held concern. ‘I was afraid of this, the old formalized methods of education after the new approach that has been introduced in England’s state schools.’ He sighed and tweaked Juliet’s chin. ‘You should have stayed with Gran.’

  ‘Oh, no, Daddy!’ Panic started in the child’s face. ‘Daddy, you can’t send me back again. I’ll work harder, I promise. Besides,’ the earnest gaze swung from him, ‘we’ve got Toni now.’

  ‘Yes,’ Justin’s expression did not flicker, ‘we’ve got Toni now.’

  ‘And this is home now, because we live here and you work here.’

  ‘True.’ Justin put his arm round the child and drew her close to his side. ‘But if we’re still here when you’re eleven you’ll have to go back to England to complete your education.’

  ‘Oh, yes, I know.’ Juliet relaxed and smiled up at him. Obviously three years was such a vast distance away in the future that it wasn’t worth worrying about.

  But Toni knew that the child’s schooling continued to worry Justin as the little girl sought to adjust herself to a syllabus different from that which she had been accustomed.

  One evening a couple of weeks later she broached it after Roger Drew had called in and the subject had reoccurred.

  ‘I’m sure you needn’t worry so much,’ she said diffidently. ‘Juliet’s extremely intelligent, and actually she’s doing formalized subjects now which she wouldn’t be doing at home. In some ways she may be ahead of her year when eventually she does go back. And I’m sure she’ll catch up easily enough if she’s lagging in anything.’

  ‘Yes, but it’s the different method.’ He poured himself a second drink and looked reflectively into the amber liquid. ‘She’s only a mite, and the confusion of having to adapt to the change can’t be good for her.’

  He returned to his chair and sank into it, his expression still troubled. Toni watched him a moment, then went slowly to stand behind his chair. ‘Do you want her to be a brilliant scholar?’ she asked.

  ‘Heavens, no!’ he replied. ‘I just want her to have the necessary basic rudiments now so that she doesn’t have to cram like mad when the time comes and she faces her O levels.’

  Impulsively Toni put her hand on his shoulder. ‘Justin, do you know that she’s now sorting it all out to her own satisfaction, on the old “all roads lead to Rome” way? Yesterday she drew a very clear comparison between the two methods she’s experienced and the way in which they both lead to exactly the same conclusion.’ She smiled down at the somewhat startled face upturned to her. ‘Yes, it’s quite true. She’s got it all worked out. Ask her yourself.’ ‘She discusses her problems quite freely with you, doesn’t she?’ he murmured.

  Toni nodded. ‘I don’t think it’s worrying her very much now. And she’s had a new idea.’

  ‘Oh, and what might that be?’

  ‘She wants me to teach her to dance.’

  ‘Will you?’

  ‘Of course.’

  There was a brief silence, then she felt Justin’s hand cover her own where it still lay on his shoulder. ‘You’re very good with Juliet,’ he said quietly.

  She tensed, suddenly afraid that he was going to voice thanks and feeling that she couldn’t bear it if he did. But the quick warm pressure of his hand spoke for him, and a moment later he released her and she drew back.

  ‘By the way,’ he said, ‘your stuff should be here from England. The Thora gets in tonight. I’ll check tomorrow when I collect Juliet from school.’

  Heavens, thought Toni, was it nearly seven weeks since she’d cabled Lisa and asked her to dispatch the rest of her belongings from the flat? Had she been on Salamander nearly three months?

  She was returning from a brief visit to Marise the following day when the car overtook her at the villa gates. She followed at a leisurely pace as it slid to a halt and Justin and Tom, helped by an eager Juliet, unloaded the two trunks, one large and fairly new, the other smaller blue one well battered and plastered with half peeled off labels.

  In the hall, Justin straightened and raised an inquiring brow. ‘Shall we put them in your room?’

  ‘Y
es - no — I don’t know.’ She dropped to her knees beside the larger trunk and struggled with the strap buckles. ‘It’s so long ago I’ve forgotten what’s in them. This one has my winter clothing in, I think, and the books and bits and pieces from the flat that I wanted to keep. Oh, diable!’ The old favourite expletive of Lisa’s slipped out automatically as she split a finger nail.

  ‘Here, let me see.’ Justin motioned her aside and coped. ‘There,’ he threw open the lid, ‘need any more help?’

  Juliet peered over her shoulder at the creased layer of heavy tweed designed to resist the cold grubbiness of an English winter. ‘What did you bring those for?’

  ‘I really don’t know.’ Toni smiled faintly. ‘I was beyond common sense when I packed this lot.’

  ‘What’s in the other one?’ Juliet demanded, losing interest in books and shoes and the jumble of bric-a-brac.

  ‘My theatrical stuff. There - there’s no hurry to unpack it.’

  Juliet missed the undertone of sadness. She capered excitedly. ‘Dancing things? Oh, let’s open it. Can I help you to unpack it?’

  ‘Of course, darling.’ Toni sighed. It would have to be done sooner or later. ‘But it’ll be in the way here. We’d better take it into my room.’

  Justin was watching closely as she turned to that other shabby trunk which held all that was left of another era in her young life. At the unguarded expression on her face as she rested small slender hands on the lid something flickered in his own expression. He said abruptly: ‘Supposing we take it into your room, Juliet. You have that big old chest in there with plenty of room to store Toni’s things. Unless you would rather not.’ His questioning gaze swung to his wife.

  ‘I don’t mind.’ She looked up. ‘But Juliet has all her toys and books in there.’

  The delighted expression on Juliet’s face needed no verbal confirmation of her willingness to have the as yet unguessed-at treasure trove of ‘dancing things’ stored in her charge. She cried eagerly, ‘Oh, I’ll take my things out. Those old toys are babies’ things, anyway. Toni ... have you one of those lovely sticky-out dresses like the Swan Queen wears?’

  Toni thought of the two practice tutus, one black, one white, which lay in their drawstring covers and nodded. ‘Something like that, but not nearly so beautiful.’

  ‘Gould I try it on?’

  ‘Of course, darling. But they won’t fit you very well.’

  ‘It doesn’t matter. I’ll go and open the big chest.’ Justin said in a low voice as she skipped away: ‘Do you realize what you’re doing? Will you be able to bear seeing her parading around in your things?

  Reminding you ... ’

  ‘It’s another milestone,’ she said quietly. ‘All small girls adore dressing up. I - I couldn’t bear to dispose of them after — after I—’ She looked down and shrugged. ‘I can’t hide them away and know that they were still there, mouldering.’

  He said nothing more, hoisting up the trunk and carrying it into Juliet’s room. He unfastened it and the lid was thrown open for Juliet to delve into her windfall. Tights, black, pink, and a startling scarlet pair, scuffed satin pointe shoes with dangling ribbons, soft-toed demis, a Spanish shawl, a naiad’s wisp of veiling, a Chinese fan, a small blue teddy-bear mascot, souvenir programmes . To Juliet it was a treasure trove.

  Arms akimbo, Justin looked down on the motley colours spreading over floor and bed and chairs. ‘Pandora’s Box,’ he murmured aloud, but neither Toni nor Juliet heard him. Juliet, a jewelled comb scintillating in her hair and the fringed shawl flowing from her shoulders, had discovered the metal make-up box and was rummaging with childish abandon among grease-paints, eye-liners, the tawdry glitter of stage jewellery, the sequins, the buttons, the false eye-lashes and the powdery jumble of oddments which lay under the tray. She sniffed the musty-scenty odour redolent of the theatre and cried happily: ‘Doesn’t it smell gorgeous?’

  Unnoticed, Justin had stooped to draw out a large bulging envelope, one corner of which was torn where the glossy black and white photographs had thrust through. He moved to the window and slowly drew them from their cover, studying them thoughtfully. Toni in many moods of the dance; dramatic, joyous, wistful, sad, turning, posturing, aloft in the arms of a partner, all differing widely except in one respect, the ardent inspiration and dedication of the true artist flowing from every line of her exquisite young body.

  A smaller picture had slipped out and fallen to the floor. Justin picked it up and for a moment glanced at the face of the young man with dark, windswept hair and full smiling lips. He noted the single name of the signature and his mouth compressed a little as he slipped it back into the envelope. Quietly he dropped the package back into the trunk and said abruptly:

  ‘How about a picnic at Salamander Gove?’

  The word ‘picnic’ arrested Juliet’s attention. She looked at him, reluctance and desire vying in her small face, then back to the intriguing overspill from the trunk. ‘Now?’

  ‘It’s a lovely day and it’s not often I have a whole afternoon free,’ Justin said reasonably. ‘And Toni hasn’t seen the Falls yet. You can stay up a bit later and play with this lot tonight,’ he added.

  The balance tipped. ‘Oh, yes, let’s go. Can I take Toni under Rainbow Falls?’

  ‘If she doesn’t object to getting wet.’

  ‘They’re marvellous, Toni. Daddy, can I borrow your camera?’

  ‘If you promise not to spoil the film this time.’

  ‘No, I won’t. Ellie ... Ellie! Are my yellow shorts dry? We’re going for a picnic ... ’ The young voice faded kitchenwards.

  In the now silent room Toni began to restore order. She closed the make-up box and folded an old thin cotton wrap which still bore traces of make-up and powder about its collar. Her hands lingered in the folds and for the first time her self-control wavered. The sight and the scent of the blue wrap in which she had sat so many times under the glare of the lights round the dressing-room mirror to apply her make-up before getting into her stage dress recaptured more acutely than anything else the atmosphere of that other world.

  Suddenly Justin stepped forward and took it from her hands. ‘The milestone?’ He dropped it into the trunk and closed the lid sharply. ‘Come on, leave this to Juliet. I’ll see Ellie about a picnic hamper while you go and change. Bring a swimsuit and towel.’

  She went obediently, wondering if this picnic were a sudden whim or part of a hastily arranged plan to assuage the nostalgia in danger of being bitterly revived.

  In a very short time they were piling into the car for the twenty-mile drive to the far side of the island. Over the dark head of Juliet she looked at Justin’s calm profile and felt a tautness come into her throat. How dear he was, and how she loved him. But these flashes of tender understanding were becoming almost unbearable. More and more she glimpsed through them to the ecstasy it would be to be loved heart, soul and body by this man. But love was not part of the arrangement ... With an effort Toni fought down the dangerous upsurge of emotion and gave her attention to Juliet’s excited prattle.

  Salamander Cove lay at the mouth of a heavily wooded ravine that cut deep into the hills. Two towering craggy points enclosed it in lonely seclusion and effected a sense of wild grandeur. It was not a favoured spot with the islanders, the roughness of the approach and the long walk from the nearest point to which a car could reach was a deterrent to all but the very young and the extremely agile.

  Here there was nothing except the crystal blue curling on to a silvery beach, the dark moist greenery, the wheeling sea-birds and the flaxen orchids which grew in profusion in the wild tangle down the steep sides of the ravine, and a strange sense that here time stood still.

  They swam first, then picnicked and lay on the hot sand, pleasantly languorous, until Juliet lost patience with her book and sat up, whipping off her sunglasses. ‘The tide’s out, we can get round the point now,’ she informed them. ‘And the sun’s right for the falls - it’s got to be at the right angle to get th
e proper effect.’

  Justin rolled over, his expression suggestive of resignation, and sat up, reaching for his shirt. ‘Very well. Let’s go. To the waterfall!’ He sprang up.

  ‘To the waterfall!’ chanted Juliet. ‘See if I’ve got the camera set right, Daddy.’

  He dutifully complied and sent his daughter ahead with a light smack on her yellow shorts, then matched a more leisurely pace to Toni’s. ‘This is one of her favourite outings. The present attraction is trying to capture the effect on colour film, but she hasn’t succeeded yet. You’ll get an idea why she hasn’t when you see it.’ He took Toni’s arm to help over the weed-slippery rocks. ‘Be careful. It’s rather a scramble up here, but it’s worth it.’

  Wary of her footing, she concentrated on picking the surest footholds on the steep scramble up to the rocky ledge where Juliet was already standing, beckoning her on eagerly. There was little to see except mountainous crag and sky and sea, then in response to Justin’s nudge she followed Juliet along the ledge to a point where the cliff side hollowed sharply into a deep concavity. She heard the sound of rushing water and the next moment she gave an involuntary gasp as Juliet pointed and she came on a scene of wonder.

  A distance of perhaps a dozen yards ahead the Rainbow Falls cascaded fiercely from the wild heights above, and now it was obvious whence they gained their name. To one side of the main cataract a smaller fall rained out in a dazzling curtain of quicksilver spray that caught the sun’s rays in countless colour prisms. Electric blue, translucent emerald, gold and saffron, every colour in the spectrum glistened as though in a living rainbow of diamonds.

  ‘This is the only time of day when the sun catches it like this from this angle,’ Justin said at her shoulder.

  ‘It’s breathtaking,’ Toni murmured, spellbound in the enchantment of one of nature’s phenemona.

  ‘You can walk right through underneath it.’ Juliet caught at her hand. ‘Come on.’

  ‘At risk of getting soaked,’ Justin warned.

  ‘I don’t mind.’ Toni stripped off her beach jacket, revealing her swimsuit, and rolled the jacket up in a small bundle before she laid it on the ledge. ‘I’m still in my swimsuit.’