Free The Blue Rose by Esther Wyndham Page A

employees, though naturally she was very anxious that they should like her, but what she was afraid of was the wives of the other directors. There were three of them, only one of whom she had met before. Francie had told her that the best way to behave was to be herself, but it is the most difficult thing in the world to be yourself when you are nervous; and it did not help her that Stephen seemed so different in these surroundings.
    Stephen introduced her to everybody and she shook hands with them all, but there was such a sea of new faces that she could only take in a few. She was thankful when the first part of the proceedings was over and she could sit down next to Stephen at the head of the long table. His senior director was on her other side. He was a kindly, elderly man whom she had no difficulty in getting on with, as fortunately nobody had told her that he was considered to be one of the most brilliant men in the City. They got to talking about gardening, a subject on which Rose knew a good deal more than he did, but in which he was passionately interested, and he began to pick her brains. She lost all self-consciousness in the interest of this subject, so that the people watching her might well have gained the impression that she was completely at her ease on a social occasion such as this.
    The elderly director monopolized her for most of the meal, which passed much more quickly than she could have anticipated. Afterwards came the toasts and speeches, which she enjoyed because everyone said such charming things about Stephen and she gleaned new little side-lights on him. Stephen made the last speech of all and she felt a glow inside when he thanked everyone “on behalf of myself and my future wife” for their kind congratulations.
    As Stephen sat down, she found herself quite involuntarily getting up and saying, “Thank you all so much,” and then sitting down quickly again. It had not been necessary for her to say anything and her spontaneous words were greeted with a burst of applause. She was not sure whether she had done right or not but in fact her instinct had led her to do just that little more than was expected of her, and it made a wonderful impression.
    To end up with everyone sang “For they are jolly good fellows”, and Rose could hardly keep from crying. It was a tune that always moved her and this was the first time that she had ever heard it addressed to herself. She very nearly made the awful mistake, though, of joining in, and only stopped herself just in time when she saw that Stephen was not singing.
    It was all over and it had not been such an ordeal after all. In fact she had enjoyed it. Fortunately there had not been much occasion to talk to the other wives, and when they left the table it was only to shake hands again and say good-night.
    Back alone together in Stephen’s car he said: “We’ll go home, shall we? You’re not too tired?”
    “Oh, no.” She loved his use of the word home.
    “You were wonderful, darling,” he said. “I was so proud of you.”
    “Was I really all right? I was so frightened of doing the wrong thing.”
    “As if you could. You’ve only got to be yourself for everyone to love you.”
    She snuggled up to him happily. “They were all so wonderfully kind to me.”
    When they got to his house he left the car outside because he would be taking her home later on. As he opened the front door he sent a little thrill through her by saying: “I must remember to get a key cut for you.” It was extraordinary to think that in such a short time this would be her own home. She couldn’t quite believe it.
    He led the way into the study and turned on only one light by the big armchair. Then he sank down into the chair and held out his arms to her. She went to him quickly. “At last,” he said, pulling her down almost fiercely on to his lap. “How I’ve wanted this all the evening.”
    “So have I—all day,” she murmured. “Now I feel safe