Chapter 8
Early next morning, Jane awoke to find a note under her door-
Mrs. Morrow:
If you'd like, I can arrange a riding date for you at a local stable. If interested, tell Mrs. Ashley, and she will tell me. Morning is the best time.
Alexander
Filled with excitement, Jane rushed to dress and get to the breakfast table, where Madeleine was seated, halfway through a bowl of cereal.
""Well! The early riser cometh!" Madeleine crowed triumphantly, pulling out a chair for Jane, who seated herself quickly.
"Isn't Frederick here?" Jane asked, nodding to the empty seat.
Madeleine made a sour face, and shook her head.
"No, he's not in condition for breakfast. He has to train for that, you know."
"It seems to me that you're pretty hard on Frederick," Jane said.
"He's pretty hard on me, too -- only you don't see that part of it."
Jane was silent, unsure of how to reply. She decided to change the subject.
"Did Alexander ask you about staying a little longer?" Jane blurted suddenly.
Madeleine smiled knowingly.
"It's perfectly all right with me," she purred.
"Good. I just feel that I'd enjoy the rest."
"You'll also have time to enjoy Alexander."
Jane's pale face reddened slightly.
"You have no right to say that, here. It isn't that way between us."
She nodded her head.
"Of course. Just be sure you don't get too fond of him, that's all."
"What do you mean by that?" Jane asked suddenly. Madeleine shook her head slowly, from side to side.
"Never mind. Just enjoy yourself while you're here."
Jane thought of continuing the argument, and then was silent.
"By the way," Madeleine laid slowly, "did Alexander mention a riding date to you this morning?"
"Why yes, as a matter of fact, he did. Why?"
Madeleine shook her head.
"He won't be able to make it," she said abruptly, her eyes hard and cool and unsympathetic.
"Why not?" Jane asked, her face growing even redder. She was not liking this side of Madeleine at all. Not in the least bit.
"I have other work for him. Other duties. He Ls an employee around here, you know. Not just a midnight swimming companion."
Jane's stomach knotted up at Madeleine's words, but she kept silent, with some effort.
"Now," Madeleine said cheerfully, "how about some breakfast?"
Later, with Madeleine gone, Jane was sitting at the kitchen table, drinking a second cup of coffee. She lifted the cup to her lips, and drank deeply, putting the cup down with a loud clatter. She pursed her lips.
Madeleine's contemptuous words had stung her beyond measure. Midnight swimming indeed!
But at the back of her mind, there was the knowledge that Madeleine was right. She had, after all, used Alexander for a midnight swimming companion -- not exactly midnight, but it was close enough.
Was she any different from the bored, rich American tourists who used Alexander? Jane shook her head, her eyes narrowing in concentration.
She honestly did not know.