Kay’s Reviews > The Promise of Happiness > Status Update

'Tiele, I’m plain and I haven’t any pretty clothes and I’m not witty—and your big house terrifies me even though I love it.’
‘You’re the most beautiful girl in the world and I’m going to give you all the pretty clothes you could possibly want. I don’t like witty girls with shrill voices—you have a lovely voice, my darling.’ He grinned at her. ‘And when the house has some children in it, it won’t seem so large.

The Baroness would be waiting…
She wasn’t, but the Baron was, standing with his back to the room, looking out of one of the windows. Her heart danced at the sight of his broad shoulders, elegant in his black jacket, and it danced even harder when he turned round.
‘I always thought you were nice to look at,’ he told her softly. ‘You look very pretty, Becky—indeed, I might say beautiful.’

He added reflectively: ‘I was beginning to wonder just what you were saving your money for, Becky.’
She felt her cheeks redden. She could hardly say: ‘To get away from you, my darling Tiele,’

She jumped nervously, intent as always on keeping a cool front towards him.
‘Oh, I expect you want to sit here—I’ve heaps of things I can do in my room, I’ll…’
His hand came out and fastened gently on her arm. ‘Becky, why do you always behave as though I’m an ogre?’ He sighed. ‘I’ve said some horrible things to you, haven’t I? And now I discover that I didn’t mean one of them.’

‘Well, you have no need to be so nasty about it. I was trying to make it easier for you and the Baroness—after all I’m only…’
‘If you say that just once more,’ said the Baron explosively, ‘I shall do you an injury! Just because your stepmother and stepbrother treated you like a maid-of-all-work it doesn’t mean to say that I, or my mother, intend to do the same. You will take your meals with us, Becky.’

‘There are so many kinds of beauty—have you ever looked in a small hidden pool in a wood, Becky? It’s full of beauty, but it’s not in the least spectacular, only restful and quiet and never-endingly fascinating.’ He got up and wandered to the door. ‘Someone said—and I’ve forgotten who- ‘‘Beauty is nothing other than the promise of happiness.’’ That’s very true, you know.’

‘Why did you go?’ The Baron lifted a finger and ordered coffee.
‘Well, I thought it would be nice to go out.’ She sounded wistful without knowing it. ‘I didn’t know what kind of concert it was, though. If it had been Brahms or Sibelius I’d have loved it.’
‘Ah—a romantic. I must say I prefer them myself—.’
‘Then why did you go?’
When he answered ‘Because you did,’ she goggled at him in amazement.

‘I don’t understand you at all,’ declared Becky severely.
‘I’m not sure that I understand myself.’ He added sharply: ‘You’ve got thin again, are you eating enough?’
‘Yes, thank you. I-I expect it’s the warm weather.’
He nodded, thinking about something else. Then: ‘You have enough money?’
‘Yes, thank you.’
‘And yet you seem to have very few clothes. I thought girls spent a lot of money on clothes.’

'... I was Tiele first, you know. Besides, you told me that you liked me…’
She marched on, not looking at him, her cheeks glowing.
‘I like you, too, Becky.’ His voice was beguiling.
She said stonily: ‘Yes, I know. I heard you telling your mother that in Trondheim—you liked me, but I wasn’t your cup of tea.’
‘And I was quite right—but I do believe that you’re my glass of champagne, Becky.’