Free Portrait of Jonathan by Margaret Dickinson Page B

don’t see …’
    â€˜Thorwald and Myron, as I said, would stop at nothing. We fear they may try sabotage of the ship or other ways to discredit our name and harm our Company. And as your father is now involved with them, we think he invited us to dine to try and join the Keldon Line so that, if he was allowed to do so, he could then relay confidential information to Thorwald and Myron.’
    The girl was silent for a moment as if unable to comprehend such a startling piece of knowledge about her own father.
    â€˜I understand,’ she said quietly, at last.
    The matter was not referred to again, but Lavinia thought of their conversation often and worried for Jonathan’s safety.
    During the Eldons’ stay at ‘Avonbridge’ Lavinia never once found herself alone with Jonathan and after they had left she could not decide whether she was pleased or sorry, for whilst it would have been a pleasure, at the same time she would have been fearful of appearing foolish in his eyes because of her shyness.
    He had, of course, exchanged the usual idle conversation with her, but always during the presence of another member of the family. So Lavinia watched their carriage depart with sadness and wondered how long it would be before she would see Jonathan—or any of them—again.
    â€˜Come and sit down, my child,’ Lord Rowan said. ‘I have something to tell you.’
    Lavinia took one last glance at the disappearing carriage and turned from the window.
    â€˜I have been talking with Lord and Lady Melmoth this week-end, and asking their advice about you.’
    â€˜About m-me?’
    â€˜Yes. You see, my dear, I cannot teach you all a young lady of your position ought to know.’
    â€˜M-my position?’
    â€˜Yes—you see I shall make you my sole heiress. You will one day be a lady of considerable standing and make a good marriage. But to do all this you must be educated properly. I could, of course, get a governess for you, but that would not give you a wider knowledge. You ought to travel, to see a bit of the world before you settle down with a husband and family.’
    Lavinia did not know what her grandfather’s conversation was leading up to but she feared it all the same.
    â€˜So I think you should go away to school for a year.’
    â€˜G-go away,’ her voice was little more than a whisper.
    â€˜Lavinia, I don’t want you to go—I’ll miss you more than I can say,’ he took her hands in his and looked into hers. ‘But it is for your own sake, do you understand?’
    Dully, she nodded. Though her heart was breaking, she would have to do as her grandfather wished.
    â€˜We think the best place is a finishing school in France.’
    â€˜ Abroad! ’ She looked up, startled to retort. ‘So far away?’
    â€˜France was your grandmother’s county. I want you to learn something of her people and nowhere else in the world will you learn the intricacies of social etiquette any better.’
    â€˜A whole year away in France,’ she whispered.
    â€˜It will soon go. Believe me, child, it will be far longer for me than for you.’
    But Lavinia could not agree. A year away from Jonathan. A year in which so much could happen. He could be married by the time she returned.
    Lavinia felt her heart breaking over Jonathan for the second time, even though this time he was not directly the cause of it.

Chapter Six
    The arrangements for Lavinia’s departure for France
     were completed, it seemed to Lavinia, with frightening swiftness. She was
     to start at the school in September and the following weeks seemed to
     disappear and it was August before she realised it. Much to her chagrin
     she found she would have to leave without seeing the Eldons again, and
     although Lady Melmoth wrote her a kind letter of affectionate good wishes
     and Giles penned a scribbled note, no word came from Jonathan. Not that
     she expected it,