"What's happened?" asked Tybalt.

I turned to him. "I really shouldn't be here."

"Surely not," he said. "Your company has made it such an interesting evening."

That made everything worth while.

"I may well be sent packing tomorrow morning."

Tybalt looked concerned and I felt absurdly happy.

Theodosia started to explain. "You see my father thought Judith should come to the ball and he and I put our heads together. I chose her dress and Sarah Sloper made it ... but Mamma did not know."

Tybalt laughed and said: "There is always some drama surrounding Miss Osmond. If she is not dressing up as an embalmed body and getting into a sarcophagus she is dressing up in a beautiful gown and coming to a ball. And in neither place it seems is she expected to be."

Hadrian put his hand over mine. "Don't worry, Judith. You'll weather tomorrow's storm."

"Mamma can be very fierce," said Theodosia.

"But," put in Evan, "Judith came as the guest of Sir Ralph. I don't see how Lady Bodrean can object to that."

"You don't know Mamma," said Theodosia.

"I assure you I do and the outlook seems stormy, but since Judith came at Sir Ralph's invitation I can't see that she has done anything wrong."

"In any case," I said, "this storm is for tomorrow. At the moment it's a beautiful night. There's salmon which we hope was caught in the Scottish Highlands and champagne from the appropriate district. The company is invigorating, so what more could we ask?"

Tybalt leaned towards me and said: "You live in the moment."

"It's the only way to live. Tonight I'm a kind of Cinderella. Tomorrow I return to my ashes."

"I'll be Prince Charming," said Hadrian. "The music's starting. Let's dance."

I did not want to leave Tybalt, but there was nothing else I could do.

"Congratulations," said Hadrian as we danced. "You were the calmest of the lot. You put up a good show. I suppose you're really quaking in your glass slippers."

"I'm resigned," I said. "I have a feeling that very soon I shall be back in Rainbow Cottage writing humble letters to prospective employers."

"Poor Judith. It's hateful being poor."

"What do you know about that?"

"Plenty. I have my troubles. I have to crave my uncle's benevolence. My creditors are yapping at my heels. I must speak to him tomorrow. So you see, like you tonight I want to eat drink and be merry."

"Oh, Hadrian. Are you really in debt?"

"Up to the eyes. What wouldn't I do to be in Theodosia's shoes."

"I don't suppose she gets as big an allowance as you."

"But think of the credit! Did you know that my uncle is fabulously rich? Well, dear Theodosia will inherit all that one day."

"I hate all this talk about money."

"It is depressing. It's one of the reasons why I'd like to be rich. Then you can forget there's such a thing in the world as money."

We laughed, danced, and joked; but both of us were, I suppose, thinking of what the next day would bring. My ability to live in the moment was only with me when Tybalt was there.

I hoped to see him again, but I didn't; and before all the guests had departed I thought it advisable to return to my room.

I was wrong in thinking that the storm would break the next morning. Lady Bodrean had no intention of allowing it to wait as long as that.

I was still in my ball dress when the bell rang vigorously.

I knew what that meant and I was rather glad because the dress gave me confidence.

I went along to Lady Bodrean's room. She was in her ball gown, too—violet-colored velvet with a magnificent train edged with fur that looked like miniver. She was quite regal.

"Well, Miss Osmond, what have you to say for yourself?"

"What do you expect me to say, Lady Bodrean?"

"What I do not expect is insolence. You were at the ball tonight. How dared you intrude and mingle with my guests."

"It is not really very daring to accept an invitation," I replied.

"Invitation? Have you the effrontery to tell me that you sent yourself an invitation?"

"I did not. Sir Ralph gave instructions that I was to go to the ball."

"I do not believe it."

"Perhaps your ladyship would wish me to call him." Before she could reply I had seized the bell rope and pulled it. Jane came running in. "Lady Bodrean wishes you to ask Sir Ralph if he will come here ... if he has not already retired."

Lady Bodrean was spluttering with rage, but Jane, who, I believe, knew what had been happening, had hurried off to call Sir Ralph.

"How dare you presume to give orders here?" demanded Lady Bodrean.

"I thought I was obeying orders," I said. "I was under the impression that your ladyship wished Sir Ralph to come here to corroborate my story, for clearly you did not believe me."

"I have never in all my life been subjected to such . . . such . . . such . . ."

"Insubordination?" I supplied.

"Insolence," she said.

I was intoxicated with happiness still. I had danced with Tybalt; he had talked to me; I had conveyed to him my interest in his work. He had said, "Your company has made it such an interesting evening." And he had meant that, for I was sure he was not the man to say what he did not mean. So how could I care for this foolish old virago who in a few moments was going to be confronted by her husband who, I knew, would confirm what I had said.

He stood there in the doorway. "What the . . ." he began. Then he saw me and there was that now familiar movement of the jaw.

"What's Miss Osmond doing here?" he asked.

"I sent for her. She had the temerity to mingle with our guests tonight."

"She was one of them," he said shortly.

"I think you have forgotten that she is my companion."

"She was one of your guests tonight. She came to the ball on my invitation. That is enough."

"You mean you invited this young woman without consulting me!"

"You know very well I did."

"This young woman is under the impression that because she was allowed to have a little education and some of it under this roof that entitles her to special treatment. I tell you I will not allow this. She came here as a companion and shall be treated as such."

"Which means," said Sir Ralph, "that you will make her life unbearable. You will be as unpleasant to her as you know how—and my God, that, madam, is a great deal."

"You have foisted this person on me," she said. "I will not endure it."

"She will continue as before."

"I tell you . . . that I will not have you force me to have people . . . like this in my household."

"Madam," said Sir Ralph, "you will do as I say . . ."

He gripped the chair; I saw the blood suffuse his face; he reeled slightly.

I rushed forward and caught his arm. He looked about him and I helped him to a chair. He sat there breathing heavily.

I said: "I think we should call his valet. He is unwell."

I took it upon myself to instruct Jane to do so.

Jane hurried away and shortly came back with Blake, Sir Ralph's personal servant.

Blake knew what to do. He unloosened Sir Ralph's collar and taking a small tablet from a box put it into his employer's mouth. Sir Ralph lay back in the chair, his face, which had been a suffused purple, becoming gradually paler but the veins at his temples standing out like tubes.

"That's better, sir," said Blake. Then he looked at Lady Bodrean. "I'll get him to bed now, my lady."

Sir Ralph rose shakily to his feet and leaned heavily on Blake.

He nodded at me and a shadow of amusement came into his face.

He muttered: "Don't forget what I say. I mean it."

Then Blake led him away.

When the door shut Lady Bodrean turned on me.

"Now," she said, "you can see what you have done."

"Not I," I replied significantly.

"Go back to your room," she said. "I will talk to you later."

I went back. What a night! She would not get rid of me. She dared not. Nor was I sure that she wanted to. If I went she would be deprived of the joy of making my life miserable. I was sure she did not want that.

But I could cope with her and I did not wish to think of her on such a night. I had so many more memories to brood on.

At the end of that month Sir Edward with his expedition, which included Tybalt, left for Egypt.

Evan went back to the university where he had a temporary post as lecturer in archaeology; Hadrian went to Kent to do some work on a Viking burial ship which had been discovered somewhere along the east coast, and I returned to the monotony of serving Lady Bodrean which was only enlivened by her attempts to humiliate me. But the thought that I had friends in Sir Ralph and Theodosia was comforting. There were no more walks to Giza House because Tabitha had accompanied the party but I walked past it several times. It seemed to have reverted to the old days when we had called it the haunted house. The blinds were drawn, the furniture was under dust covers, and there were only three or four servants there. The two Egyptians, Mustapha and Absalam, had gone with Sir Edward.

I longed for the return of the expedition. And Tybalt.

I called more often at Rainbow Cottage since I couldn't go to Giza; there was always a welcome there. Dorcas and Alison were delighted when I gave them an account of the ball and the beautiful green dress which I had found in the cupboard.

I had been surprised at their attitude right from the beginning when they had been so delighted that I was to go to Keverall Court. I was young—and although my nose prevented me from being beautiful I could look quite attractive at times. I had assessed myself often in the last months comparing myself with Theodosia. I had a vitality which she lacked; and my animation was attractive, I was sure. Although my temper was inclined to flare up, any storm was soon over; I had an ability to laugh at life and that meant laughing at myself. I had my very thick dark hair—not easy to handle because it was almost straight; I had large brown eyes with lashes as thick and black as my hair; and fortunately I had a good healthy set of teeth. I was taller than Theodosia and Sabina and inclined to be thin. I lacked Theodosia's pretty plumpness and Sabina's hourglass figure. Moreover I had youth which was supposed to be a never failing attraction for aging roues. Sir Ralph's reputation was far from good. I had heard the blacksmiths talking to some of the farmers about the old days when Sir Ralph was in his prime as a seducer of young maidens. They were immediately silent when I, at that time in the company of Hadrian and Theodosia, had appeared. And yet Dorcas and Alison had been delighted that I was to have a post at Keverall Court.