Once skilled, I promised myself, I should be independent of him, and I was really beginning to enjoy riding as I never had before. He never complimented me; and I inwardly accused him of showing off. To myself I always referred to him as Peacock.

At last my wedding day arrived. It was like a dream standing there at the altar while the Reverend jasper Grey married us. I felt a shiver of emotion as Joss slipped the ring on my finger and I couldn’t quite define it. Apprehension was certainly there, but if I was honest with myself I would have to admit that if I could have cancelled it I shouldn’t have wanted to.

Ben was in the church. Banker had wheeled him there. I could imagine his contentment. His will had been done.

Miriam at the organ played the Wedding March and as I came down the aisle on the arm of Joss Madden aware of those watching us-Xavier, my grandfather and grandmother -gleams of contentment in their eyes, I remembered my grandmother’s saying that God had brought Oakland Hall back to the family because of all they had done for me. It ; was His reward for their virtue.

We went to the Dower House where the reception was held, and when it was over joss and I walked across the bridge to Oakland Hall. Ben was in his bedroom but he had left word that he wanted to see us as soon as we came in. He was sitting up in bed and his eyes were shining.

“You two have made Ben Henniker a very happy man to day,” he said.

“Come and sit on either side of me. There, that’s good. Give me your hands. You’re going to bless me for this day. Before it’s over there’s something I want to say to you , I and I’ve been saving it up till now.”

“You’re exhausted, Ben,” I said.

“You should rest.”

“Not till I’ve told you this. You know the story of the Green Flash. You know how I took it to Australia with me , all the time, pretending it was lost. I had to have a hiding place for it. You’re the only two who’ll know where that hiding place is. It belongs to you both now. Now this hiding place … I made it myself … so that no one else should be in the picture. Ha, that’s a joke. You know The Tride of the Peacock in the drawing-room. Joss. It was always a favourite of yours. It’s a picture, Jessie, of our lawn, and there’s a magnificent peacock on it, looking as a peacock does.

Look-at-me attitude. Don’t you think I’m the most wonderful creature in the world? This picture is set in a beautiful frame . carved wood and gilt. It’s a thick frame . a very thick frame. At the right-hand corner of the frame, there’s a spring catch. No one would know it was there. It’s so cunningly placed. You touch the spring and the back opens like a door. There’s a cavity there and wrapped up in cotton wool is the Green Flash. I’ve locked myself in that room many a time and I’ve taken it out and gloated over it. Well, that stone is yours when I die . yours jointly. It’ll be up to you to do what you like with it. “

He was getting too excited. I felt alarmed for him so I said soothingly: Thank you, Ben. Now you must please rest. Everything is settled now. “

He nodded. Joss pressed his hand and for a moment or two they looked steadily at each other. Then I bent over and kissed him.

“Bless you both,” he said; and we went out.

The bridal suite had been prepared for us. Apparently Oakland brides had used it through the ages.

I was apprehensive when I entered it. Joss shut the door behind him.

He stood leaning against it looking at me mockingly.

They tell me that all the future mistresses of Oakland Hall spend their first night of marriage in this room,” he said.

I glanced quickly at the four-poster bed. He followed my gaze and I knew he was amused.

This is a rather different case,” I said.

“One’s own case always is,” he replied. He walked across the room.

“Here’s the dressing-room. Shall I occupy it or will you?”

“Since you say it is a tradition of Oakland brides to occupy this bed I will do so. The dressing-room can be yours. It will be quite comfortable, I dare say.”

“A nice wifely concern for her husband’s comfort is always to be admired,” he said.

“So… good night.”

He took my hand and kissed it and when he aid not immediately relinquish it I felt afraid.

“I trust you are a man of your word,” I said.

He shook his head slightly.

“It would be unwise to trust me too far.”

I snatched my hand away.

“But,” he went on. ‘have no fear. I would never force myself where I am so dearly not wanted. “

Then I will repeat Good night.  “Good night,” he said.

He walked to the communicating door.

When it shut behind him I ran to it and to my dismay saw that there was no key. As I stood there the door opened. He was there with the key in his hand. He gave it to me with a bow.

“You will want to feel safe,” he said.

I took the key and locked the door. I was safe.

Six weeks after the wedding Ben took a decided turn for the worse. It was as though he had made up his mind that as his mission was accomplished he was ready to go.

We were with him constantly. He talked a good deal about Peacocks and how he would be there with us in spirit.

“Remember me, Jessie,” he said, ‘and particularly remember that everything I wanted was for your happiness . yours and Joss’s.

You’re goin' to see that one day. I always knew it. You don’t like plans being made for you. Sometimes, though, you can’t see the wood for the trees and that’s how it is with you two just now. It’ll change. I’d like to see you together; I’d like to hear you sparring.

You were meant for each other. And now you’re man and wife. God bless you both. “

Joss and I rode together each day. I both dreaded and enjoyed the lessons. I knew I had improved and Joker would not now dare refuse to come when I ordered him to.

They were long days of waiting, and with the passing of each one it became clear that Ben could not be long with us.

He died in his sleep. Hannah called me and I went to his bed and was struck by the utter peace of his face. It was almost as though he were smiling at me. I kissed his cold bflbw and went away.

We buried him in the churchyard not tar from the Clavering section. It was what he would have wanted. Joss and I stood , side by side at the graveside and as I listened to the clods of earth falling on his coffin I knew that was the end of a phase. My new life was about to begin.

There were solicitors to be seen. I had begun to wonder whether Ben had played a trick on us and had not changed his will at all with the new conditions. I was wrong. It was precisely what he had done.

Joss and I were joint owners of Oakland and the house in Australia known as Peacocks. I was given a good share of Ben’s holding in the Opal Mining Company and Joss was given another to match mine. There were other legades to people including the Laud family, his housekeep and her children, and the opal known as the Green Flash at Sunset was left to Joss and me jointly.

It seemed as though Ben was determined that we Should be together.

This bequest depended on our marriage and if it had not taken place at the time of his death it must do so immediately afterwards and on its taking place the properties would be ours. We were to be given a year, and if we had not married at the end of that time the shares and the houses and the Green Flash opal would be in trust for the Laud family.

There is no need for us to consider this,” said Mr. Yenning, ‘for the marriage has already taken place before his death, so I may congratulate you both.”

During the next weeks preparations were made for our, departure.

Miriam was frankly delighted that it had all gone so smoothly. Ernest thought I was doing the right thing and therefore she did. She was an expert at tatting and gave me some exquisite mats for a wedding present.

Xavier wished me happiness.

“Weddings are infectious,” he said; and I wondered whether that meant that he and Lady Clara might at last come to an understanding.

My grandmother tried to hide her gratification by faintly amused scepticism right until the wedding was over; now and then she would shoot the occasional barb and refer to life in the wilds and comment that some people had strange tastes and like fools rushed in where angels feared to tread. When people had perfectly good homes in civilized surroundings she could not understand why they must go dashing off to the other side of the globe. How much more satisfactory it would have been if I had stayed at Oakland and entertained in a manner to which the old house was accustomed. I knew hat she sometimes mentioned me at prayer’s, commanding God to look after me and not to punish me too severely for my thoughtlessness in leaving Oakland, when it would have been so much more pleasant for the family if I stayed, in a manner which in fact admonished Him not to be too slow in bringing me to my senses. I could laugh more than ever. I was free of her. Joss went to London on business and I was alone for some time. It was strange sleeping in the big four-poster bed in Oakland Hall, the mistress of it all, Wilmot was delighted. So were the other servants. It was right and proper, Wilmot told her, according to Hannah.

“Now Claverings would be back at Oakland Hall.”

I rode every day, determined to improve; and when Joss returned he said we would be leaving England very soon.

Banker went back soon after the funeral. He was going to settle in Melbourne, he said. It was October before Joss and I sailed for Sydney.

5.