'There you are,' said Lady Crowan triumphantly to the drawing-room in general.
'What did I say?
Your own people are asking for a ball.
If you don't care for us, surely you care about them.'
Maxim still watched me doubtfully over the teapot.
It occurred to me that perhaps he thought I could not face it, that being shy, as he knew only too well, I should find myself unable to cope.
I did not want him to think that.
I did not want him to feel I should let him down.
'I think it would be rather fun,' I said.
Maxim turned away, shrugging his shoulders.
"That settles it of course,' he said.
'All right, Frank, you will have to go ahead with the arrangements.
Better get Mrs Danvers to help you.
She will remember the form.'
'That amazing Mrs Danvers is still with you then?' said Lady Crowan.
'Yes,' said Maxim shortly, 'have some more cake, will you?
Or have you finished?
Then let's all go into the garden.'
We wandered out on to the terrace, everyone discussing the prospect of the ball and suitable dates, and then, greatly to my relief, the car parties decided it was time to take their departure, and the walkers went too, on being offered a lift.
I went back into the drawing-room and had another cup of tea which I thoroughly enjoyed now that the burden of entertaining had been taken from me, and Frank came too, and we crumbled up the remains of the scones and ate them, feeling like conspirators.
Maxim was throwing sticks for Jasper on the lawn.
I wondered if it was the same in every home, this feeling of exuberance when visitors had gone.
We did not say anything about the ball for a little while, and then, when I had finished my cup of tea and wiped my sticky fingers on a handkerchief, I said to Frank:
'What do you truthfully think about this fancy dress business?'
Frank hesitated, half glancing out of the window at Maxim on the lawn.
'I don't know,' he said.
'Maxim did not seem to object, did he?
I thought he took the suggestion very well,'
'It was difficult for him to do anything else,' I said.
'What a tiresome person Lady Crowan is.
Do you really believe all the people round here are talking and dreaming of nothing but a fancy dress ball at Manderley?'
'I think they would all enjoy a show of some sort,' said Frank.
'We're very conventional down here, you know, about these things.
I don't honestly think Lady Crowan was exaggerating when she said something should be done in your honour.
After all, Mrs de Winter, you are a bride.'
How pompous and stupid it sounded.
I wished Frank would not always be so terribly correct.
'I'm not a bride,' I said.
'I did not even have a proper wedding.
No white dress or orange blossom or trailing bridesmaids.
I don't want any silly dance given in my honour.'
'It's a very fine sight, Manderley en fete,' said Frank.
'You'll enjoy it, you see.
You won't have to do anything alarming.
You just receive the guests and there's nothing in that.
Perhaps you'll give me a dance?'
Dear Frank.
I loved his little solemn air of gallantry.
'You shall have as many dances as you like,' I said.
'I shan't dance with anyone except you and Maxim.'