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.She refused to go with him to the signing.'Someone at the shop might knowsomeone in the press, and ring him up.I've seen that happen with some ofour authors.If so, I don't want to be linked with you.You know the aunts arehaving morning tea at Ballantyne's.I'll join them there.Not to eat, seeingAndersons were so lavish, but just to chat.You can pick us up there.I mustgo.They'll be spinning out their coffee as it is.'They had a corner table and by the look of them were still sharingreminiscences.They ordered coffee for Valancy.'Doesn't she look lovely?'asked Aunt Helen fondly.'I've always liked blue and white stripes and that'sa darling suit.Hasn't this been a happy weekend? When is the dear boyjoining us? Oh, dear, I'd better not let him hear me call him that! He'sthirty-three.'Suddenly Valancy started to giggle.The two "old ladies joined in.'What aweekend!' smiled Aunt Cecilia.'I've not enjoyed anything so much foryears, in fact, not since Rangi-ruru days.I've been heard to say modernyouth is lacking in romance, but when it comes to an established authorinvolving himself like this, there's hope for the world.'Valancy sobered up, 'But it's because he is an author he thought of it.Whenyou're used to pushing your characters round on the stage of yourimagination, you can't help it spilling over into real life occasionally.I'msure you could put it all down to that.'Two pairs of disbelieving eyes confronted her.Then Aunt Cecilia said, 'Oh.was that all it was?' in a mock scornful voice.Valancy regarded them sternly.'I think you two had better stopmanipulating things too.Godfrey and I know exactly what we're doing, andit's solely for Hughsie's sake.It's over, we've almost played it out.'But they hadn't.They'd been too engrossed to see someone threadingthrough the tables to them.So they didn't look up till this slim, middle-agedwoman stood over them.Valancy had her back to the newcomer, but sawAunt Cecilia register an odd look.guilt?.horror? Valancy turned,decided she was getting far too imaginative, because here was someonefrom the Rimu Bush area, a dear friend.The dear friend pulled out the vacant chair, sat down, said, 'No, thanks, I'vehad my tea,' to Aunt Cecilia's quick query, 'but fancy meeting you two herein this very spot again.' She turned to Valancy.'Hullo, I didn't expect to seeyou too.on holiday, are you? Or have Andersons let you have an houroff?' Then, to Valancy's dumbfounded surprise, 'Hullo, Mrs Armishaw, youand Cecilia having a reunion again?' She turned to Valancy.'I was actuallypresent at the very moment when they met for the first time for over fiftyyears, two or three months ago.'Valancy gave a weak smile, managed, 'Fancy that!' Now there was nomistaking that look on Aunt Cecilia's face for guilt.In a quick glance shefound it mirrored on Aunt Helen's.She said quickly, to bridge the momentfor them, 'I'm not at Andersons any more.I'm secretary to an author in theCatlins Godfrey Carmichael.you've probably heard of him, though Iadmit I hadn't till I answered his advertisement for a typist.'Each old lady drew in a deep breath, each tried to speak, then both stopped.In pity for them, Valancy continued, 'I'm up for a weekend, so Aunt Ceciliacame down too.Nice that Mrs Armishaw could come this weekend too.It'salways good to meet up with old schoolfellows.Connie, how is Basil? Lasttime I saw you he'd broken his arm.Did it mend all right?'Connie chatted away, asked Valancy when she was coming to Rimu Bushagain.Valancy explained that she'd not be able to come for some time, heremployer had a book to finish, and it was a busy time on his estate, too.Yes,it was quite true, her employer's aunt was Mrs Armishaw.Connie West thought it was so interesting, 'I daresay if these two hadn't metby pure chance that day here, you might not now be working for one ofBasil's favourite authors.I suppose it was through them you heard about theposition?'Valancy fixed her eyes upon the pair opposite and said very deliberately,'Yes, I think you could put it down to nothing else.Aunt Cecilia heardGodfrey needed a secretary, that he preferred someone used to country life,and she recommended me for the position.I'm no end grateful to them.' Shesmiled sweetly at the two poor darlings sitting miserably dumb.Connie rose, said, 'I've got to meet Basil at twelve- thirty, so I must be on myway.It's been lovely seeing you, Valancy.And you, Mrs Armishaw.Cecilia, I'll see you back home bye-bye.' And with a flick of her elegantskirts she was gone.The aunts were left gazing at Valancy.For once her face gave nothing away.'Aren't you the lucky ones! Her leaving before Godfrey arrives.Then the fatwould have been in the fire!'Never had she seen Great-aunt Cecilia at such a loss.Finally she swallowedand said, 'Then you aren't going to tell him?' and her voice actually croaked.'No, nor anybody else.I realise it was all cooked up between you to get meto Inchcarmichael.and I can guess your real reasons, you matchmakingold horrors, but he'll never hear it from me.Which is more than either of youdeserve.'Aunt Helen breathed again.'Valancy, you darling! I couldn't bear him toknow.And it could have spoiled a lovely relationship, I mean between yourfamily and ours.Oh, thank you!'Valancy said sternly, 'Don't thank me, just let it be a lesson to you.Mymotives aren't as pure as you might think.It could be, if he ever got to know,that he might think I was in it too, and I just couldn't bear that,' and to herhorror her own voice wobbled.The two old faces looked stricken, and Aunt Helen said, 'Cecilia, we'veupset her.oh, the dear, darling child! Surely we could convince him ifever he got to know that you know nothing about it.'Valancy said miserably, 'I think he always thought it funny I signed it withjust my initial.But he accepted that.Then one day he told me he'd found myletter shoved down under some old bills in the kitchen drawer and hethought the hyphen had been rubbed out.It wasn't just faint.I told him Ithought Aunt Helen had felt so bad over the mistake, she'd rubbed it out tobe convincing if he ever demanded it.'Cecilia was recovering.'I might as well tell all.I did it.When I sent you outto the car for that parcel.Thank goodness your mother didn't come thismorning.We can keep this between the three of us.' Valancy leaned herelbows on the table and her chin in her hands, and looked at them.Theylooked steadily back.Then her mouth crumbled and she gave way tolaughter.'But because I can see the funny side of it, it doesn't mean Godfreywould.I know I'm innocent.He mightn't.'They told her all.About Cecilia's niece being jilted, Godfrey falling for agirl who wouldn't believe him over a bit of manufactured scandal.The ideahit them simultaneously.if only the pair of them could meet.But theycouldn't imagine how.Then Aunt Helen produced an amazing belief.'Then Providence took ahand.Godfrey asked me to advertise while he was in Canada.I rang Ceciliaon toll, and she made sure she was in Christchurch when the advertappeared.It really was clever [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]