Chapter 53

At the same time that all of this was happening to Aileen in Paris, Berenice, still at Pryor’s Cove, was finding herself the object of a truly surprising series of social invitations, introductions, and successes which were far beyond anything she had anticipated. And while she felt she must credit a good portion of this success to Cowperwood, a greater portion, as she well knew, was due to Lord Stane’s infatuation and his desire to introduce her to his circle of very important social connections.

With Aileen in Paris, Cowperwood had decided it would be safe to accept, for Berenice and himself, the invitation to cruise on Stane’s yacht, the Iola. Among the guests aboard were Lady Clifford, of Chadleigh, whose husband had one of the oldest titles in England; the Duchess of Marlborough, one of Stane’s most intimate friends as well as one of the Queen’s favorites; and Sir Wyndham Whitley, a diplomat closely associated with Court life.

When the Iola eventually anchored at Cowes, Stane informed his guests that he had had word that the Queen was there and would be pleased to receive him and his friends for tea that afternoon: an announcement which aroused intense excitement in all of them, particularly Berenice, who had been nervously sensitive as to the possible publicity that might follow from this. The Queen was exceedingly gracious and appeared herself to enjoy this informal visit. She evinced a particular interest in Berenice and made various inquiries, which, if Berenice had answered them truthfully, might have resulted in great injury to herself, but since she did not, resulted in the wish, expressed by the Queen, that she might see more of her in London; in fact, that she hoped she would be free to attend her next Court reception. This courtesy on the part of the Queen all but startled Berenice, yet gave her still greater assurance as to what she could achieve for herself, if she wished.

As for Stane, it enormously increased his desire for her affection. At the same time, its effect on Cowperwood was to cause him even more misapprehension as to Stane’s possible influence on Berenice.

But there was even greater cause for worry on his part awaiting him on his return to his hotel suite in London. There was the letter from Aileen, mailed to him just before she sailed for New York, and which read as follows:

At last I know the truth about my humiliating position in relation to your servant, Tollifer, and yourself; your shameful employment of him in order to be rid of me and leave you free to go your customary libertine way. What a reward for all my years of devotion! However, don’t worry, for you are free to go now, to run with your prostitutes where and when you will. For today I am leaving Paris for New York, where I expect to be finally free from your infidelities and indulgences. I warn you not to follow me. If you do, I will take you and your present mistresses into court and expose you in the press of London and New York. Aileen.

On receiving this, Cowperwood devoted considerable time on the contemplation of the possible angles and results of this savage indictment of himself. It seemed to him to be the better part of wisdom to return immediately to New York and see what, if anything, he could do to avoid a public scandal. However, closely connected with this was the position of Berenice. For if Aileen proceeded to do as she threatened, Berenice’s future would be greatly injured. And that he did not wish to have happen, at any cost.

His first move, therefore, was to go at once to see Berenice, whom he found in a cheerful and highly ambitious mood. But once he told her of Aileen’s latest attack, and the nature of her threats, he could tell by her sudden change of expression that she looked upon it as a serious matter. She was interested to know what could have persuaded Tollifer to confess his position.

“Surely, he had everything to gain by silence, ” she said, nervously.

“You don’t understand the Lady Aileen, dear, ” responded Cowperwood, ironically. “She’s not a person who thinks problems through to their ultimate conclusion. Instead, she develops a rage that does more harm than good to herself and everyone concerned. In fact, she can become so violent as to sweep anyone into confessions equally disastrous to both. The only thing I can think of doing at this time is to return to New York by the fastest boat, and maybe get there first. In the meantime, I have already wired Tollifer to come to London at once, because by continuing his employment I can easily arrange with him to say nothing. But I’m wondering what suggestions you might have to make, Bevy.”

“I agree with you, Frank, ” she said. “I think you should return to New York as soon as possible, and see what you can do to placate her. After you talk to her, she’s very likely to realize how futile an explosion of this kind would be. For, of course, she has known of me before this, and others also, ” and here she smiled an ironic smile. “And you certainly are the one to tell her that. After all, you haven’t done her any harm in this instance. Nor has Tollifer, for that matter. In fact, you’ve provided her with the best guide to the pleasures of Paris that anybody would want, and, incidentally, you might also make clear to her that your work over here has taken every moment of your time. After all, it seems to me that could hardly fail to have some ameliorating effect. The papers are full of your labors and achievements, as you could point out to her”—a burst of wisdom which was by no means lost on Cowperwood. His one grief, as he now declared, was that it was he, not Stane, who had to go.

“Never mind, dear, ” she said, consolingly, “you’re too great a man to be broken by this. I know positively you will return triumphant, as usual. And you know I will be with you all the way, ” and she put her arms around him and smiled up into his face with deep affection.

“If that is so, then I know everything will be all right, ” he said, confidently.