My Cousin Rachel Page #3

Oh no sir. She had a tray in her room.

She was very tired after the journey and asked that you excuse her this evening.

She told me to tell you sir

That if you wish to see her after dinner she'd be pleased receive you.

In her room?

Yes sir.

Thank you.

Come in

Good evening.

Why!

How are you Philip?

I.. Uh.. Hope you feel better now.

Very much thank you. Will you sit with me for a few minutes?

I owe you an apology for not coming down to dinner

After you had gone to so much trouble to make the house bright and beautiful for me but

I was very tired and dull.

It's quite all right I understand.

I do hope you didn't hurry home before you should of.

o the.. Uh.. Work was all quite done.

You mustnt believe me make any kind of alteration in your days because of me.

I just wanted to say one thing... which is...

Thank you Philip for letting me come.

It can't have been easy for you.

You are quite welcome i'm sure.

You've no idea what a strange feeling it was

Driving through the park and up to the house

With Seecombe standing by the door to greet me.

Everything was just as I had mentioned it:

The hall the pictures even the clock striking four as I came in the door.

Was don really fourteen on his last birthday?

Yes.

His birthday if a few weeks before my own.

I know. You found him in a pie for your breakfast.

Ambrose watched you open it from behind a screen in the dining room.

He said he'd never forget the look of amazement on your face

When you lifted the crust and a puppy struggled out.

What an amazing thing for you to know.

Why I probably know a good many more things about you than you'd ever imagine.

Yes.

Thank you Seecombe.

Shall I take the dog out now ma'am.

I suppose so.

Come on don.

What about breakfast ma'am? Mr. Philip has his in the dining room at 8 o'clock.

Would it be too much trouble for me to have mine in my room?

ot at all ma'am.

I'll ring when i'm awake.

Very good ma'am. Will there be anything else?

o thank you. Goodnight.

Goodnight. Goodnight sir.

Ambrose used to say no woman was fit to look at before eleven.

Would you like a cup?

I can hardly believe it!

Believe what?

My eyes. I've never seen Seecombe serve tea before in my life.

He did it very well don't you think?

I'll show you something else.

I've never seen this tray before

or the teapot nor the kettle.

I didn't think you had.

I saw that look on your face when he entered.

And i'll tell you something else too.

What

I don't think he'd ever seen them before either.

That butter's melting. You'd better lick your fingers.

Would you like to smoke now?

In here?

If you'd like to.

I would indeed. When Mrs. Pascoe comes we don't even smoke in the drawing room.

This is not a drawing room.

It's a boudoir.

And i'm not Mrs. Pascoe.

I thought women minded about such things.

What they do when there's nothing better to worry about.

This was aunt Phoebe's room wasn't it?

Was it?

Before you were born.

It may have been.

All I remember of aunt Phoebe is simply a name.

Ambrose never told you of her great romance?

Why no.

Aunt Phoebe got lovesick of the curate

And went away to Tunbridge to mend her broken heart

But the heart proved stubborn

And Aunt Phoebe took a chill that lasted 20 years.

Are you sure you haven't heard of this?

ever.

What happened then?

The chill left her after 20 years

At the sight of another curate

But by then she was five and forty

And her heart was not so brittle

So she married the second curate.

And.. Uh.. Was the marriage a success?

o. As a matter of fact. She died on her wedding night.

But I think I better not tell you the circumstances

Until we've known each other a little longer.

[Singing rock of ages]

Well?

I can't tell. She's got a veil on.

I'm afraid the service won't go on until you lift your veil.

Oh I'm sorry.

By George that's a good-Looking woman.

Quite young too.

I remember too another custom he was fond of.

Sunday lunch with the kendalls and the pascoes.

And I wonder with Philips permission

If we might enjoy it together today.

Will you join us?

Then Louise if would be willing to drive back with Philip

Perhaps Ambrose's oldest friend

Would invite me to ride with him in his carriage.

othing would give me greater happiness Mrs. Ashley.

Thank you Mr. Kendall.

We'll see you soon then.

Will you?

Oh dear me indeed!

Well what did she say?

About what?

Didn't you charge her?

ot yet.

Haven't you said anything at all to her about the way he died?

o.. Uh.. I haven't had the right opportunity.

But... I thought that's why you invited her here.

It is and I intend to at the right moment.

I must say she's not all the sort of person I thought she'd be.

You've seen that for yourself.

She's very beautiful.

You really think so?

But.. Middle aged of course.

Quite 35 I should say.

Wouldn't you?

I have no idea. I care less.

She could be 99 for all I know.

At 99 women don't have eyes like that

Or that complexion

or do they dress like that.

Or look so well...

I love the stillness of a room after a party don't you?

You weren't bored?

They couldn't have been pleasanter.

And your Louise is charming.

She'll make you an excellent wife.

Louise is dear but she's not mine.

She's still only a child now.

At your age i'd suppose you think that.

You teasing me?

ot in any way.

It's just that i'm very happy.

It's been a wonderful visit for me.

It's not over is it?

But of course. I came only for the weekend.

You forget i've a new life to make for myself.

Why did he never make another will?

D'you know?

Does that matter now?

The fact remains that I can't afford to be idle.

I must look for work of some kind.

In London I suppose.

But you'll invite me down again won't you?

I don't know.

You don't know?

I mean i... don't know whether you want to come again or not.

I'm afraid I haven't been altogether honest with you.

How do you mean?

I should have told you I suppose

Ambrose wrote to me during his illness.

Did you know that?

o.

He wanted me

He begged me

To come to Florence

To help him.

But I arrived there too late.

Have you been to Florence?

Yes.

When?

How long ago?

I spent one night there.

The night of august 15th.

Right after I left.

So... Rainaldi told me.

Why didn't you tell me?

Why have you let me stay here two whole days

Without mentioning such a thing?

I thought at first you knew.

What did he tell you?

I think you should read them yourself.

The long one came first

Then the short one.

Only these two?

That's all.

How you must have hated me!

Yes.

Why did you ask me here?

To accuse you.

Of what?

I'm not sure.

Perhaps of breaking his heart.

Which would be murder wouldn't it?

And then?

I hadn't planned beyond that.

I knew only that I wanted to make you suffer

And to watch you while you suffered.

And then I suppose to...

To let you go.

Then it was merciful of you.

More merciful than I should deserve.

If that was what you wanted!

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