Джорджетт Хейер - The Masqueraders

Miss Letty made her curtsey, still gazing into the Unknown’s face.

“Mademoiselle will bestow her hand on me for this dance?”

There was something faintly familiar in the elusive voice. “I may go, Aunt?”

The elder Miss Grayson gave reluctant consent. Masked balls, where strange gentlemen with fanciful sobriquets might claim introductions were not to her taste, but there was no help for it. Miss Letty went away on the Unknown’s arm.

“I have an odd feeling I know you, sir,” she confided, looking up with a child’s smile. “Please tell me, do I?”

He shook his head; she thought his smile intriguing beyond words. “How should you know l’Inconnu, mademoiselle?”

This was Romance indeed. “But you know me, do you not?” They were dancing now, and she asked the question as she sank to the curtsey.

They came together again. “Ah, that is another matter entirely,” said the Black Domino.

She pouted. “And you won’t tell me! So many people I’ve guessed; oh, at once! There is Tony, for instance.”

She nodded towards a massive figure in a grey domino. “There is no mistaking him, to be sure. And I think I know which is Mr Merriot. I thought that lady in the blue domino was his sister, but of that I am not sure. Do you know, sir?”

“No, mademoiselle, but then I do not want to know. I am content to have found Miss Grayson.”

She blushed, and turned away her head.

“I offend Miss Grayson?” the Unknown said softly.

No, she was not offended. Only — only it was so very strange not to know who he was.

“My name you would not know if I told it,” he said. “Why spoil a perfect hour?”

Her lips were a little parted. “A perfect hour!” she echoed. “Is it perfect, sir?”

“For me at least, Letitia.”

“But — but you must not call me by my name!” she said. Yet she did not sound angry.

“Nor tell you that I came only to dance with you?”

“D-did you, sir?”

He nodded. “But, of course. Didn’t you guess it, Letitia?”

“No, oh no! How should I? And — and you use my name again, sir.”

“But then it is such a pretty name,” he pleaded. “Make me free of it for one night!”

“It is like an adventure,” she said. Behind the mask her eyes were like stars.

“An adventure, or a dream.” He led her out of the dance, away to an alcove behind great pots of flowers.

“Not a dream! Oh no, for then I should wake up, and I do not want to. I want to see your face at the unmasking.”

“You won’t see it, Letitia; I shall remain the Unknown.”

She sat down on the couch placed in the alcove. “But you will have to unmask, won’t you? Everyone must.”

He smiled, and shook his head. “To unmask would be to kill Romance, Letitia.”

She was doubtful. “Would it? But how shall I know you again if I do not see your face tonight?”

“Ah, but will you want to know me again? Or will you not regret the perfect hour?”

“No, I am sure I shall not. And of course I shall want to know you again. Shall you not want to know me?”

“Always, but I have you in my dreams, Letitia.”

She blushed adorably. “Do you know, that is the very prettiest thing anyone has ever said to me,” she confided. “But I would like — I mean, I do not want to live only in your dreams. Shan’t you wait upon my papa?”

The white teeth showed again in a smile of some mischief. “L’Inconnu never waits upon papa,” he said. “You will remember me only as a Black Domino.”

Her face fell. “I shan’t see you again?”

“Yes, you will see me — perhaps.”

“And know you?”

He hesitated; then laughed, and stretched out his hand. “When you see that ring again, Letitia, you will know that I have come once more.”

She looked down at the ring on his little finger, a curious piece of wrought gold in a fantastic design. “Only by that?”

“Only by that.”

“But — ” she considered awhile. “You might forget to wear it,” she pointed out.

“I shall not forget.”

She sighed. “It is all so mysterious. I fear perhaps it is just a game, and I shan’t ever see you again.”

He quoted a Spanish proverb.

“Oh, are you foreign?” she exclaimed, as though that explained all.

“No, child, but I have been much in foreign lands.”

“How exciting!” she said. “Tell me about it.”

But a large figure stood in the entrance to the alcove, and a pleasant voice said: “Mistress Pink Domino, will you give your hand to a Grey one?”

L’Inconnu came to his feet, and bowed gracefully. “I surrender you,” he said. “But only for a little while.”

Sir Anthony held out his arm to Miss Grayson, and looked curiously at the Black Domino.

Miss Grayson went reluctantly, saying over her shoulder: “I believe you will disappear.”

“I shall claim you again, be very sure.”

“Who in the fiend’s name may that be?” said Sir Anthony.

“I don’t know, Tony. He is just called l’Inconnu, but he knows me and I have a feeling I have met him. You don’t know, either?”

“I haven’t a notion, my dear. I am not quite sure that I approve of unknown gentlemen.”

Her eyes pleaded. “Oh, don’t, don’t tell Aunt, Tony!” she begged. “Truly, I am not being indiscreet.”

“You don’t contemplate an elopement with the mysterious stranger?” he asked teasingly.

“Tony!”

“I beg your pardon,” he bowed solemnly.

“That was prodigiously ill-natured, Tony.”

“Never say so, my dear.”

“I have a very good mind not to dance with you now.”

She was conducted promptly to an antechamber, where there were refreshments spread. “An excellent mind,” said Sir Anthony. “I was never a good dancer. A glass of ratafie?”

She laughed. “It’s too bad of you, Tony!”

“My dear, it would be worse if I stood up with you, I assure you. My forte lies in fetching food and drink for my partners.”

She sat down, perforce. “Well, a little ratafie, then. I do not intend to go near Aunt again all the evening. She may scold as much as she likes afterwards.”

Sir Anthony poured two glasses of wine. “She’s absorbed in euchre, child; you need have no fear. I drink to your very good health.”

Letty sipped at the wine, and dimpled haughtily. “You might drink to my eyes, Tony.”

“No doubt I might,” he said, but showed no disposition to do so.

Letty looked meditatively up at him. “I wonder whether you will ever say pretty things?” she said, aggrieved.

“Not to you, minx.”

“I know that. But to someone else?”

“My dear, I doubt I haven’t the aptitude for it. I will tell you if ever I discover it in myself.”

“I don’t suppose you will. Tell me, I mean,” said Letty with a flash of insight.

“There’s no knowing. I’m to understand your ear’s been tickled with pretty speeches tonight?”

She spread out her fan, and began to trace the pattern on it with one rosy-tipped finger. “I shan’t tell you that, Tony.”

“You need not.” Sir Anthony smiled a little. “It leaps to the intelligence.”

“But don’t you think, Tony,” said Letty sweetly, “that it would be very wonderful if no one had said pretty things to me?”

Sir Anthony regarded her calmly. “You bid fair to become a rare handful,” he remarked. “And that is all the compliment you’ll have from me.”

“I am very glad I am not going to marry you,” said Letty frankly. “You would not suit me at all. Perhaps you’ll marry my dear Miss Merriot instead.”

“Withhold your felicitations awhile,” he replied. “The event is not imminent.”

“I expect you’re agog to be off to claim her hand for the dance,” nodded Miss Letty sapiently.

Sir Anthony set down his empty glass. “I shall have to curb my impatience, then,” he said. “She’s not here.”

“Oh, is she not? I quite thought that was she in the blue domino. Who told you?”

“My Lady Lowestoft. She is kept at home with the migraine, as I believe.”

Letty was all concern. “Oh, poor Miss Merriot! But Mr Merriot is here, isn’t he? In the crimson domino? Yes, I thought so.”

“To say truth, it was he set me on your track. He told me he had sought you for the minuet only to find you spirited away by a man in a black domino.”

This brought the Unknown back to mind. “I would like to return to the ballroom, please,” said Letty decidedly.

But it was Mr Merriot who claimed her hand, and led her into the quadrille. Letty went with a good grace, but looked eagerly about her. The Unknown was nowhere to be seen, yet at the end of the dance he seemed to spring up out of the ground, as it were, and stood confronting Mr Merriot with that tantalising smile curling his lips. “The lady is promised to me,” he said; there was a faint note of mockery in his voice.

“On the contrary,” said Prudence. “The lady is mine.”

Really, a masked ball was a most fascinating entertainment. Miss Letty clasped her hands in the folds of her domino, and waited breathlessly.

The hilt of a sword was thrust slightly forward. “Why, I would meet you for the honour of holding her hand,” said the Unknown. “But she shall choose.” He turned, and offered an arm. “Madam, will you walk?”

She looked beseechingly at Prudence. “Mr Merriot, I have to choose l’Inconnu because I am a female, and they say the silly creatures love a mystery.”

Prudence laughed and bowed. “I retire from the lists, then, cruel Pink Domino.”

“Besides,” said Letty coaxingly, “your crimson and my rose go vilely together, sir!” She threw a smile over her shoulder as she went off, threading her way through the throng of people.

“Bereft, my Peter?”

Prudence started, and turned to face Sir Anthony, standing at her elbow, “Robbed, sir, by a man in a black domino. I chose the wrong colour, and Miss Grayson won’t stay to clash with my crimson.”

“So the mysterious stranger filches the lady from you. Too bad, my dear boy. Come and drown your sorrows in claret.”

Out on the terrace, under a starry sky, the Unknown raised Miss Grayson’s hand to his lips, and held it there a long moment. She shivered a little, and her eyes widened.

“Take off the mask!” He spoke little above a whisper. “Oh — no!” she said, and drew her hand away.

“Ah, don’t deny me!” An arm slid round her shoulders, and deft fingers sought the mask’s string over her ear.

“You — you must not!” Letty said faintly, and put up her hand to stop his against her hair.

But the string was untied, and the mask fell. Her hand was caught and held; she lay back against the Unknown’s shoulder, and felt his other hand gently forcing up her chin.

It must surely be a mad dream from which she would awaken soon. She looked up and saw only glittering eyes behind the blackness of the mask, and the hint of a smile in the moonlight. The arm tightened about her shoulders; the hand beneath her chin pressed more insistently, and the Unknown bent his head till his lips found hers.

The spell held for a moment; then she quivered, and made a fluttering movement to be free. The Unknown sank on one knee, and lifted the hem of her gown to kiss. “Forgive me!” he said. “I may never have the chance again, Letitia.”

She stood poised for flight, but his words kept her still. Half timidly she stretched down her hand to him.

“Oh, do not!” she said. “I think we are both mad tonight.”

He came to his feet, and stood holding her hands between his. “But you will remember.”

“I shall see you again?” It was a forlorn petition.

“Who can say? This I promise: if ever you are in danger, or in need of a champion you will see me, for I shall come to you then.” He stood for a moment, silhouetted by the silver light against the deep blue sky; then once more he bent, and, turning her hand upwards, pressed a kiss into the palm. “Adieu, ma belle; you will not forget.”

He moved swiftly to the low parapet that walled the terrace in; looked over an instant, and placing his hand on the top, vaulted lightly over, down into the silent garden a few feet below.

She ran forward, and peered over the low wall. There was no one in sight, but she thought she heard an echo of his adieu borne back to her on a soft wind.

It seemed Robin was well satisfied with the night’s work; his sister visited him as he lay sipping his chocolate in bed next morning, and cocked a quizzical eyebrow. Robin smiled sweetly, but volunteered no confidences. He went to call upon Miss Grayson later in the day, but although Letty was delighted to see her dear Kate, she was a little abstracted, and had but a few words to say of the ball. Yes, it had been very amusing; she wished Kate had been there. Yes, she had danced with a number of gentlemen. It was a pity Mr Merriot had chosen to wear crimson.