Free Victoria Holt by The Time of the Hunter's Moon

Verringers she’s always talking about. She’s comfortable enough there. I’d like you to go in with Daisy. I have a great respect for her really. At the best it could lead to big things and at the least it could be valuable experience.”
    We embraced. She tiptoed out looking happily conspiratorial; and I went to bed and slept well after my previous night’s distorted dreams.
    ***
    The next day I had a long talk with Daisy Hetherington and the outcome was that if I would care to join her school at the beginning of the spring term she would be pleased to have me. I should work out a curriculum similar to that which had been followed at Schaffenbrucken and in addition to taking debating and conversation classes I should exercise the girls in deportment and teach them English.
    It seemed an interesting project and as she had already whetted my curiosity with descriptions of the school which was part of an abbey, I was very inclined to accept.
    However, as I was concerned about Aunt Patty and I knew she was urging me to go for my own good rather than her pleasure, I did hesitate.
    “I must have your reply immediately after Christmas,” said Daisy, and it was left at that.
    Aunt Patty was delighted. “The right approach,” she said. “Not too eager. Well, Daisy will depart immediately after the carol concert. She is staying for that just for the pleasure of telling us how much more accomplished are the carol singers of Colby Abbey Academy for Young Ladies.”
    In due course Daisy left with gracious thanks for our hospitality and with the command that my reply must be with her before the first of January.
    Then it was time for the girls to leave. We said sad farewells and many of them were regretful because it was the last Christmas at Grantley Manor.
    Christmas was much as it had always been. There was the traditional goose and Christmas pudding and many of our neighbors joined us during the two days. The local fiddler came in and we danced in the hall. But everyone was aware that it was the last time and that must mean a certain amount of sadness.
    I was glad when it was over, and then I had to make my decision, which I suppose I had already done. I wrote to Daisy Hetherington accepting her offer and telling her that I should be prepared to start at the beginning of the spring term.
    There was packing to do and the new house to visit. It was pleasant—quite charming in fact, but of course rather insignificant compared with the Manor.
    I had heard nothing from Edward Compton. I was surprised and hurt for I had expected some explanation. It seemed so extraordinary. Sometimes I began to think I had imagined the whole thing. When I looked back I realized that apart from the encounter with the other three girls, I had been alone when I saw him—on the train, on the boat, and in the woods. I could in some moments convince myself that I had imagined those meetings. After all there was something about him which was different from other people.
    I realized then that I knew little of men. A lot of girls would have been far more experienced long ago. I suppose it was due to being at school so long. Young men had just not come into my life. Monique had met her Henri whom she knew she was going to marry. Frieda might not have met any more men than I had. Lydia had brothers and they had friends whom they sometimes brought home. She talked of them when she came back after holidays at home. But I had lived in a society dominated by women. There was, of course, the vicar’s new curate. He was in his twenties and shy; there was the doctor’s son who was at Cambridge. Neither was very romantic. That was it. Edward Compton was definitely romantic. He had stirred new interests in me. Perhaps because he had showed rather clearly that he liked me…preferred me. One must be gratified to be so preferred among three far from unattractive girls.
    Yes, I was bitterly disappointed. It had begun so romantically…and then to peter out!
    Perhaps