Cenross Castle could be seen for several miles before they reached it, built as it was on the top of a wooded hill.From a distance it looked impressive, its gray stone wallsmassive, its slit windows, from which archers would havedefended its keep against attackers, sinister. Only as onedrew closer was it possible to see that the castle now was amere shell, its outer walls sheltering only crumbled ruinsand a grassy courtyard.
Yet one part of the battlements remained almost intact and the stone steps leading to it passable, though crumbling. And one of the dungeons, which had been constructed deep inside the hill, was still there and could bereached by a dangerously disintegrating spiral stone staircase. It was a very pleasant site for a picnic. The old wallssheltered visitors from the winds, yet the battlements andthe window slits afforded a quite breathtaking view acrossthe countryside for miles in all directions. And at the footof the hill to the west ran a river, wide and fast flowing, anatural moat on one side of the castle at least.
The carriages and the horses had to be left at the eastern foot of the hill. Christopher, Julian, and Philip carried thepicnic baskets and blankets to the top while Rebecca tookone of Lord Holmes’s arms and Maude the other and ledhim slowly up the incline.
“Really,” he complained when they paused halfway up for breath, “I would have positively forbidden Harriet tobring us here had I known the site to be so primitive. Suchexercise is extremely bad for the legs. It causes gout, youknow. Mark my word, Maude, I shall be laid up with it allwinter.”
“There is but a short way to go, my lord,” Maude said encouragingly, “and then you will be able to sit and rest.The journey down will not be nearly so strenuous.”
The tone of her voice was entirely flat and colorless, Rebecca noticed, glancing across at her uncle’s wife. Infact, Maude had been pale and listless for several days—since the Langbourne ball. If Rebecca had not known whathad occurred there, she might have worried that Maudewas sickening for something, or that she was increasing,perhaps. But she did not think either was the case. Maudewas either suffering terrible pangs of guilt for what she haddone with Philip, or else she was suffering with the knowledge that her love for him would never be able to findexpression. Perhaps both.
By the time the three of them reached the courtyard within the walls, the blankets were spread on the mostsheltered and shady part of the lawn and Primrose wasimpatiently eyeing the food baskets.
“Wine for Papa!” Harriet cried. “Do let us all have a drink before we eat.” She was flushed and looking extremely pleased with herself.
“Indeed, I must agree,” Mr. Bartlett said, bowing and smiling in Harriet’s direction. “We must toast Miss Shawon her birthday. I am sure everyone will agree with methat one more year to her age has merely added morebeauty and more glow. Allow me, ma’am?” He stooped to open the wine basket and proceeded to do the honors of pouring everyone a glassful.
Harriet laughed. “I am sure I am no more beautiful than any of the other ladies,” she said, smoothing the front ofher new sprigged muslin dress and checking the large bowthat tied her bonnet beneath her chin. “But I am surely thehappiest. Thank you, sir.” She took the glass of wine thatMr. Bartlett offered and smiled dazzlingly at him.
When everyone had toasted Harriet and flattered her to her heart’s content, they sat down on the blankets, whichhad been set closely enough together that everyone couldsit in a large group.
“I have an announcement of a happy nature to make as well,” Philip said.
Everyone’s attention turned his way.
“Rebecca and I have set the date of our nuptials,” he said. “The Reverend Paul Warner of Wraxby has agreedto perform the marriage ceremony two weeks from nextSaturday. We wanted our friends to be the first to knowthat soon I am to be the happiest of men.”
Rebecca kept her eyes on the glass of wine that she held in her hands.
“Oh, a wedding!” Primrose squealed. “How marvelous. And Ellen and I were saying just yesterday that there will be absolutely nothing of any interest to do after thefair.”
“Splendid, Reverend,” Mrs. Sinclair said. “You could not have chosen a more deserving bride.”
“Maude, my love,” the baron said, “you must immediately start to organize a wedding breakfast. Let it not be said that I treated my niece with less than her proper dueon her wedding day.”
“You really need not bother, Maude,” Harriet said. “I shall see to everything. I really thought you were nevergoing to marry, Rebecca. You have been betrothed forever.”
“I would wager that Miss Shaw will be the most beautiful bride these parts have seen for many a year,” Mr.Bartlett said, wasting one of his most charming smiles on Rebecca’s bowed head.
“I think the occasion calls for another toast,” Christopher said. “Let us drink to a couple whose goodness sets them apart from the general run of mankind, and wishthem the happiness they deserve.”
Rebecca finally looked up, a smile of embarrassment on her face as everyone took up the toast. She found herselflooking at an ashen-faced Maude, whose hand shook sowhen she raised her glass that she had to put it down againuntasted.
Chapter 11
Mr. and Mrs. Sinclair were prevailed upon to play a hand of cards with Lord Holmes and Maude after everyonehad eaten his fill from the luncheon baskets. All the others, led by a high-spirited Harriet, made a careful ascent ofthe worn stone steps to the part of the battlements that stillstood. Rebecca would have remained behind on the pretextthat someone needed to repack the baskets, but Philipstopped beside her.
“Come, Rebecca,” he said, “let us go up with everyone else. I have been told that the view is magnificent from the top.”
“Yes, it is,” she agreed. “But one must be most awfully careful. The wall is gradually crumbling away. One must not lean too heavily on it.”
“Take my arm,” he said gravely. “I shall see that you come to no harm.”
The others were in high spirits. Harriet, Rebecca noticed, as soon as they finished the ascent, was clinging to Christopher’s arm and standing close against him in pretended fright. Julian had an arm around the shoulders ofeach of his sisters and was pretending to push them overthe low parapet. They were both squealing loudly. Mr.Bartlett was offering his assistance to Ellen. Mr. Carverwas suggesting to Primrose that perhaps she should detachsome of the ribbon from her bonnet so that he might tie hisown hat more firmly to his head.
“Might blow away in the wind,” he said, “and I might topple over if I lunge to catch it.”
Primrose shrieked anew. “Pray do not even talk of such a thing, Mr. Carver,” she said. “My legs go weak at theknees at the very thought.”
