Sparkling Cyanide - Agatha Christie [21]
For several days after that he haunted the neighbourhood of Kidderminster House. Once Sandra came out with one of her sisters. Once she left the house alone, but with a hurried step. He shook his head. That would not do, she was obviously en route to some particular appointment. Then, about a week after the party, his patience was rewarded. She came out one morning with a small black Scottie dog and she turned with a leisurely step in the direction of the Park.
Five minutes later, a young man walking rapidly in the opposite direction pulled up short and stopped in front of Sandra. He exclaimed blithely:
‘I say, what luck! I wondered if I’d ever see you again.’
His tone was so delighted that she blushed just a little.
He stooped to the dog.
‘What a jolly little fellow. What’s his name?’
‘MacTavish.’
‘Oh, very Scotch.’
They talked dog for some moments. Then Stephen said, with a trace of embarrassment:
‘I never told you my name the other day. It’s Farraday. Stephen Farraday. I’m an obscure M.P.’
He looked inquiringly and saw the colour come up in her cheeks again as she said: ‘I’m Alexandra Hayle.’
He responded to that very well. He might have been back in the O.U.D.S. Surprise, recognition, dismay, embarrassment!
‘Oh, you’re—you’re Lady Alexandra Hayle—you—my goodness! What a stupid fool you must have thought me the other day!’
Her answering move was inevitable. She was bound both by her breeding and her natural kindliness to do all she could to put him at his ease, to reassure him.
‘I ought to have told you at the time.’
‘I ought to have known. What an oaf you must think me!’
‘How should you have known? What does it matter anyway? Please, Mr Farraday, don’t look so upset. Let’s walk to the Serpentine. Look, MacTavish is simply pulling.’
After that, he met her several times in the Park. He told her his ambitions. Together they discussed political topics. He found her intelligent, well-informed and sympathetic. She had good brains and a singularly unbiased mind. They were friends now.
The next advance came when he was asked to dinner at Kidderminster House and to go on to a dance. A man had fallen through at the last moment. When Lady Kidderminster was racking her brains Sandra said quietly:
‘What about Stephen Farraday?’
‘Stephen Farraday?’
‘Yes, he was at your party the other day and I’ve met him once or twice since.’
Lord Kidderminster was consulted and was all in favour of encouraging the young hopefuls of the political world.
‘Brilliant young fellow—quite brilliant. Never heard of his people, but he’ll make a name for himself one of these days.’
Stephen came and acquitted himself well.
‘A useful young man to know,’ said Lady Kidderminster with unconscious arrogance.
Two months later Stephen put his fortunes to the test. They were by the Serpentine and MacTavish sat with his head on Sandra’s foot.
‘Sandra, you know—you must know that I love you. I want you to marry me. I wouldn’t ask you if I didn’t believe that I shall make a name for myself one day. I do believe it. You shan’t be ashamed of your choice. I swear it.’
She said, ‘I’m not ashamed.’
‘Then you do care?’
‘Didn’t you know?’
‘I hoped—but I couldn’t be sure. Do you know that I’ve loved you since that very first moment when I saw you across the room and took my courage in both hands and came to speak to you. I was never more terrified in my life.’
She said, ‘I think I loved you then, too…’
It was not all plain sailing. Sandra’s quiet announcement that she was going to marry Stephen Farraday sent her family into immediate protests. Who was he? What did they know about him?
To Lord Kidderminster Stephen was quite frank about his family and origin. He spared a fleeting thought that it was just as well for his prospects that his parents were now both dead.
To his wife, Lord Kidderminster said, ‘H’m, it might be worse.’
He knew his daughter fairly well, knew that her quiet manner hid inflexible purpose. If she meant to have the fellow she would have him. She’d never give in!
‘The fellow’s got