The Angel of Highgate

24 IDYLLS IN THE SUNSHINE

Although exhausted from his noctivagations, Thraxton found himself unable to sleep when he returned home. His mind teemed with images of Aurelia and a thousand conflicting emotions. After an hour spent wrestling with his pillows, he abandoned his bed, dressed, summoned a cab, and made his way to Hyde Park.

A warm easterly wind from the Continent had blown in overnight and swept away the fog that had suffocated London. Now it seemed that, after a week’s sequestration from the daylight, the entire citizenry of the metropolis had poured from their houses and into London’s parks to enjoy a late gift of autumn sunshine. It was a sunny and crisp, almost balmy day. Nannies pushed babies in perambulators. Young children skipped through piles of leaves or threw armfuls at each other, shrieking with gaiety. Couples of all ages strolled along the leaf-strewn paths, arm in arm.

Thraxton walked alone through their midst, head down, deep in thought, when suddenly he looked up at the sound of familiar laughter.

A couple stood in a shaft of sunlight at the edge of the Serpentine watching the row boats. Behind them the water sparkled. The woman was wearing a bright yellow dress that seemed to burn in the sun. The gentleman had removed his top hat and his fair hair shone. The young people were shadowed by an elderly couple who stood close by: obvious chaperones. It took a moment before Thraxton realized who the young couple was: his friend Algernon and Constance Pennethorne, no longer dressed in mourning black.

At about the same instant, the couple looked up and recognized Thraxton. For a moment all stood silent, forming a frozen tableaux, but then Thraxton dropped his gaze and strolled on as if he hadn’t seen them.

“Geoffrey!” his friend cried after him.

Thraxton stopped and turned. Algernon whispered something to Constance and then ran to join him.

“Oh, hello, Algy. I thought that might be you. I did not wish to intrude.”

“Geoffrey, I, I must explain…”

“Explain? What is there to explain?”

“I had meant to tell you, but events seem to have overtaken me. I know that you entertained some feelings for Constance, and as you are my best friend I had not wanted you to feel betrayed—”

“Algy, old fellow,” Thraxton interrupted. “I am not a complete dullard. I could see from the beginning that Constance only had eyes for you. Which merely confirms my opinion that she is a woman of good sense as well as great beauty and breeding.”

“Then… we are still friends?”

Thraxton laughed and playfully punched Algernon’s shoulder. “Forever, you clot!”

Relief flooded across Algernon’s features. “Well, then. That’s splendid. Absolutely splendid!”

“When will you marry?”

“Marry? Geoffrey, it is a scant year since her husband died. She has only just taken off the mourning dress. What would people say?”

Thraxton looked back at Constance. She was watching the two of them with obvious trepidation. Her blonde hair was done in large ringlets. She carried a fetching parasol, which she balanced upon her shoulder.

“What do you care what the world will say?”

“Geoffrey, I am not you. I have to think of my position — of our position — in society!”

“Listen to me, Algy. Society cares nothing for you or your happiness. In these last few days I have seen things that have knocked the scales from my eyes. There are so many in this world who live in poverty and desperation. We are lucky to have so much. Why delay happiness for one day, one minute, one second? I say to hell with society and its worthless conventions. Marry her, Algy, as soon as possible and let society go hang!”

Algernon cast a look back at his intended. It was clear that Thraxton’s words had fired him with boldness. “I… do you really think? I… yes, damn it all, we shall! Let them all go to blazes, I will speak to Constance right now!”

Algernon started to walk away but then turned back.

“I am sorry, Geoffrey, was there something you wished to tell me?”

“I have met her, Algy.”

“Met who?”

“My inamorata. I am in love.”

Algernon smirked. “Another beauty with a slender waist and an ample bosom?”

Thraxton flinched at the stab of irritation. “No. No, this time it is different. She is beautiful, that is true, but it is more than that. We have a spiritual kinship. With her I feel what voyagers must feel when they first glimpse the shore of an undiscovered country that will forever be their home.”

But Algernon was barely paying attention as he stared back at Constance with love in his eyes. It was obvious that his mind was already tumbling over the idea of immediately marrying her. “Yes, wonderful. Excuse me, but I really must get back.”

And with that he strode away. For a moment, resentment flared in Thraxton’s chest as he watched Algernon rejoin Constance. Although Thraxton could not hear from this distance, Algernon said something that made Constance put both hands to her face. Then she laughed, threw her arms around his shoulders and hugged him. Watching them, Thraxton felt jealous. But it only lasted a moment and then he was full of understanding for it was obvious that his friend was as besotted with Constance Pennethorne as he was with Aurelia, and he could not begrudge his oldest friend a chance at happiness.

Thraxton realized with a stab of shock that he was changing — that he had changed. He felt that his turn was coming shortly and that he and Aurelia would also enjoy many happy days strolling in the sunshine.

Unfortunately, as he was soon to find out, this idyllic vision was something that could never possibly happen.