back to her with the letters.
I had opened the door cautiously. I smelt the pungent sandalwood. All was quiet. And there on the mantel shelf was the fan.
I stood on tiptoe and reached it. I took it down and then ran out of the room back to Fabian.
He stared at me in amazement.
oue found it already?He laughed. never thought you would. How did you know where it was?
seen it before. It was when I was playing hide and seek with Lavinia. I went into that room by accident. I was lost.
id you see my great-aunt Lucille?
I nodded. He continued to stare at me.
ell done, slave,he said. ow you may fan me while I await my chalice of wine.
o you want to be fanned? It rather cold in here.
He looked towards the window from which came a faint draught. Raindrops trickled down the panes.
re you questioning my orders, slave?he asked.
As it was a game I replied, o, my lord.
hen do my bidding.
It was soon after that when Lavinia returned with the chalice. She gave me a venomous look because I had succeeded in my task before she had. I found I was enjoying the game.
Wine had to be found and the chalice filled. Fabian stretched himself out on a sofa. I stood behind him wielding the peacock-feather fan. Lavinia was kneeling proffering the chalice.
It was not long before trouble started. We heard raised voices and running footsteps. I recognized that of Ayesha.
Miss Etherton, followed by Miss York, burst into the room.
There was a dramatic moment. Others whom I had not seen before were there and they were all staring at me. There was a moment deep silence and then Miss York rushed at me.
hat have you done?she cried.
Ayesha saw me and gave a little cry. ou have it,she said. t is you. Dearie dearie me so it is you.
I realized then that they were referring to the fan.
ow could you?said Miss York. I looked bewildered and she went on, ou took the fan. Why?
t it was a game,I stammered.
game!said Miss Etherton. he fan Her voice was shaking with emotion.
sorry,I began.
Then Lady Harriet came in. She looked like an avenging goddess and my knees suddenly felt as though they would not hold me.
Fabian had risen from the sofa. hat a fuss!he said. he was my slave. I commanded her to bring me the fan.
I saw the relief in Miss Etherton face and I felt a spurt of laughter bubbling up. It might have been mildly hysterical, but it was laughter all the same.
Lady Harriet face had softened. h, Fabian!she murmured.
Ayesha said, ut the fan Miss Lucille fan
commanded her,repeated Fabian. he had no alternative but to obey. She is my slave.
Lady Harriet began to laugh. ell, now you understand, Ayesha. Take the fan back to Miss Lucille. No harm has been done to it and that is an end to the matter.She turned to Fabian. ady Goodman has written asking if you would care to visit Adrian for part of the summer holiday. How do you feel?
Fabian shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly.
hall we talk about it? Come along, dear boy. I think we should give a prompt reply.
Fabian, casting a rather scornful look at the company which had been so concerned over such a trivial matter as the borrowing of a fan, left with his mother.
The incident was, I thought, over. They had been so concerned and it seemed to me that there was something important about the fan, but Lady Harriet and Fabian between them had reduced it to a matter of no importance.
Ayesha had gone, carrying the fan as though it were very precious, and the two governesses had followed her. Lavinia and I were alone.
have to take the chalice back before they find we had that, too. I wonder they didn notice, but there was such a fuss over the fan. Youl have to come with me.
I was still feeling shocked, because I had been the one to take the fan, which was clearly a very important article since it had caused such a disturbance. I wondered what would have happened if Fabian had not been there to exonerate me from blame. I should probably have been banned from the house forevermore. I should have hated