A Swans - Eva Ibbotson

“Harriet Morton. This is strictly between you and me, of course.”

“Well, she may be here,” said Rom lazily. “But as I understand it, all the girls are Russian. However, perhaps I may be able to help you. I happen to be the chairman of the Opera House trustees and the director might let me have information he would not disclose to a casual inquirer. The girls are very strictly guarded, you see.”

“I say, that’s terribly decent of you! It’s for her own good, but she must be brought back and the whole thing hushed-up if possible.”

Rom turned his head. “Hushed-up?” he said, surprised. “One would rather imagine it to be a cause for boasting, to have a daughter accepted by such a distinguished company.”

Before Edward could digest this unexpected remark, they had reached the club. The Harry Parker who welcomed them was not the one who had kept a weasel in his tuck-box and Edward had not really expected such a stroke of fortune, but all was not lost for it turned out that the Featherstonehaugh for whom Parker had fagged at Stowe had mentioned being related to a Finch-Dutton of Goring-on-Thames who had stroked for Cambridge in the year in which they sank.

“My father,” said Edward with quiet pride.

Rom’s patronage would have secured for Edward one of the rooms in the annex in any case, but these revelations made it certain that in Harry Parker he had found a lifelong friend.

“Well, I shall leave you to settle in,” said Rom, “and see what I can find out for you. The great thing is not to hang around the stage-door or go to the theater by yourself. Monsieur Dubrov is apt to set the police on stage-door johnnies!”

And waving away Edward’s thanks, he climbed back into the cab—whose driver had disclaimed all interest in his niece’s confirmation—and was driven back to the theater.

“Well,” said Dubrov, “what’s the position?” News of Harriet’s pursuer had spread through the cast like wildfire.

“He’s certainly after Harriet and has been instructed to bring her home. As you may have gathered, he once intended to become her fiancé. However, he himself has no legal power and he is also an oaf. If we can keep him quiet, I see no reason why Harriet shouldn’t finish her tour in peace… and then we shall see.”

Dubrov looked at him curiously. “Might I ask why you are taking so much trouble over Harriet’s career as a dancer when…”

He left the sentence unfinished, but Rom did not pretend to misunderstand him.

“I want her to have a choice. She’s eighteen, Dubrov, and I don’t want her to come to me because there’s nowhere else for her to go. However, I’m sure we can manage—only if her father gives orders to have her repatriated could there be trouble, and I cannot see why he should do that. Above all, he seems anxious to avoid a scandal and if he starts involving the law he can hardly do that. As a matter of fact, I have an idea which might serve. If Madame Simonova would cooperate… ?”

He outlined his plan to Dubrov, who burst out laughing. “Well, nothing can be lost by trying it. Will you speak to Harriet? She is very upset.”

“Yes, I will speak to Harriet.”

She came already dressed for her part in Fille , wearing a white dirndl with a laced bodice, a blue apron and a blue kerchief around her neck.

“You look charming. That blue is a perfect foil for your eyes.”

She tried to smile, but her face was wretchedly anxious.

“Is he… does he know I’m here?”

“Not yet, but he will very soon because I am about to tell him!”

“Oh no! Oh please, please, no!” She put a hand entreatingly on his arm. “I know it can’t go on forever… being happy… but just a little longer!”

“Harriet, you cannot hide night and day for as long as he chooses to pursue you. He seems to be a very persistent and obstinate young man. I think it would be much better if, so to speak, we turned the tables on him.”

“How? I don’t understand. How could we do that?”

“Leave it to me. And have courage, my silly little swan. You’re so intrepid, paddling about among the pirhanas, yet you let an oaf like that frighten you.”

“It’s not just him; it’s my father. I’m under age, you see, and if he chose—”

“But he won’t choose; we’ll see to that. You will go back to England at the appointed time and with your head held high—if that is what you wish. You might even get your father’s blessing on your career as a dancer.”

“No… never! You don’t know what he’s like.” She tried to smile. “I must go. Will you be watching? No, of course, you saw the premiere .”

“All the same, I’ll be there, holding my breath while you thread the ribbons like everybody else.” He lifted a corner of the kerchief. “You should wear blue,” he said. And, breaking his rule, “You shall wear blue,” he said—and left her.

Edward was in the bar drinking with Harry Parker and a few of the regulars, when a servant came with a message to say that Mr. Verney would be pleased if Dr. Finch-Dutton would join him in his box at the theater at eight o’clock.

“I say,” said Harry Parker, “that’s a real honor. Verney nearly always watches alone.”

“Yes, but I didn’t bring my tails,” said Edward, fingering his black tie anxiously.

“If you’re with Verney you could go in plus-fours,” said Harry Parker. “There’s nothing you can’t carry off when you’re with him.”

Edward had seen the Opera House during his fruitless search for a hotel, but the sheer opulence of the foyer and the clothes and jewels of the patrons here in this place amazed him.

“Ah, there you are!” Rom detached himself from a group of friends and came forward. “Look, we only have a few moments. Better come up to my box, where we can talk quietly.” And as they went, he continued, “Your girl is here. She’s known as Natasha Alexandrovna, but there is no doubt she is the girl you’re looking for; I’ve checked with Dubrov. Only you must be very careful: your coming here could make things extremely awkward for her.”

“For her ?” said Edward, dumbfounded, and stumbled on a marble step.

“Naturally, for her. One hint that she is being pursued by a man and her position in the Company might be seriously jeopardized. Followers are strictly forbidden and Madame Simonova is an absolute stickler.”

“But I’m not pursuing her! I’m trying to save her!” cried Edward.

“Better not put it like that to the Company. Or to anyone in the audience. I’m afraid Professor Morton is under a misapprehension regarding—” He broke off. “Ah, here come the Sternovs!” and he led Edward toward his friends. “Allow me to introduce Dr. Finch-Dutton, just out from England. Count and Countess Sternov and the Countess Sophie.”

By the time they were seated in Verney’s box, Edward’s head was spinning. The Countess had taken him aside to confide that her sixteen-year-old daughter was ballet-mad and quite heartbroken because an inequality of the toes prevented her from being accepted by the Dubrov Company. A young Englishwoman, Mrs. Bennett, had congratulated him on being allowed to see these dedicated and unapproachable dancers perform. Was it possible that the Professor really was mistaken about the status of ballet girls in polite society, thought Edward, unaware that Rom’s friends would have done a great deal more for him than utter a few white lies.

But now the conductor entered, the house lights dimmed and all thoughts vanished from Edward’s mind except one. After the long, exhausting journey, the sorrow and wrath she had caused him, he was going to see Harriet again.

Or was he?

The curtain went up on a farmyard and a ballet of chickens of whom Harriet was not one… A funny lady who was really a man came and chided her daughter for dancing with a handsome farmer… It was all rather jolly and the tunes were nice.