Narrator's Foreword:
The first meeting
between the young lady Jennifer and the Lady of Mathom Hall was pivotal in
those early days of that critical summer and the following few days sowed the
seeds of the dynasty which would later emerge. They were but tiny, those seeds,
to begin with but they grew at an extraordinary pace; so much so that the great
tree that would grow from them was already recognisable before the leaves had
fallen in Mathomdale that year and it was, even so early, possible to perceive
the magnificence their growth would achieve in the years to come.
Many historians
find themselves surprised at the sudden explosive growth and students are often
puzzled by the speed with which events unfolded and with which the building
blocks of the dynasty began to fall into place. It is common to ascribe this
dramatic shift to the remarkable characteristics of the younger lady Jennifer
but that is only a part of the story. Certainly, the appearance of Jennifer
Walstow in Mathomdale was the catalyst which spurred the rejuvenation of the
House of Mathom and it was noticeably around her that the new generation of the
House began to rally. Nevertheless, it has to be remembered that she was very
young and, while the traits that would one day make her such a powerful
matriarch of the Line were discernible even then, she was not, as yet, into the
full blossoming of the Goddess and, without the intervention of the old guard of
the House, the new dynasty might have been stillborn in that fateful summer.
It is impossible
to overstate the decisive impact on this nascent seeding of the first Lady of
the Line; the legendary Lady Mathom or Lady Jennifer Senior of the House of
Mathom. It was she who recognised immediately the full import of Katherine
Carmillion's daughter and, following her first encounter with Jennifer, acted
swiftly to enslave her within the Line of the Goddess and prepare the House of
Mathom for a new future; one in which the younger Jennifer would become a
central figure in the renaissance of the Line. Her Ladyship wove a web of silk
around her younger namesake: trapping her firmly within the Valley of the
Goddess, to the eternal gratitude of generations of the Line to come.
Lady Mathom was
ably assisted, in this, by the young Jennifer's propensity to shackle herself
inextricably in her inexhaustible capacity to love and inspire love. It was
easy for Her Ladyship to bind her own son in devotion to Jennifer and easier
yet for her to tie Jennifer to the servitude of the House of Mathom through her
beloved slave, the Lady Rebecca, for Jennifer herself was all too ready to
sacrifice herself, in love, to them. It is sometimes said that Jennifer walked
into slavery with her eyes open but it is perhaps more accurate to say that she
did so with her heart open and that she took her chains willingly in the
name of the love which always ruled her.
So, Lady Mathom
tightened the bonds on Jennifer with that young lady's almost instinctive
compliance; tying her to the House of Mathom, though her son and slaves, and,
as we shall see, to the whole valley and the whole of the Line of the Goddess
through the presentation of a single white rose. Only one fly remained in the
ointment of Her Ladyship's schemes; Jennifer's inexplicable and defiant
devotion to the unlikely figure of Julie Hawthorne. It is known that Lady
Mathom was concerned about Jennifer's insistence on binding herself to this
apparently unremarkable village girl and that she may have expressed
disapproval of the relationship. Julie Hawthorne was an enigma; a random factor
that did fit easily into Her Ladyship's plans. In this respect, it may be that
Jennifer saw more clearly than Her Ladyship but the mystery surrounding Julie
remained obscure.
One last factor
must be mentioned as a driving force to the urgency which impelled the
revitalisation of the House of Mathom. In the very week that Jennifer met Lady
Mathom for the first time, the age-old forecast of the archival oracles of the
Line known as "Prophecy One" was confirmed by direct observation by radio
astronomers in New Mexico. The intensity with which events unfolded must be
seen within the context of this historical revelation. Before "Prophecy One" it
was desirable to enslave Jennifer Walstow. After it, it was imperative. The
future was arriving fast. There was no time to lose
Chapter One
Lady Mathom
watched Jennifer and the Appletons depart, being led by Thomas back through the
Hall to the main entrance. Her breathing was light and restrained, her mind was
unravelling threads of future possibilities; analytical and remorseless in its
formulation of strategy. Her son was by her side being unusually quiet, his
natural exuberance subdued for the moment; lost in thought. Robin was often a
foolish man but he was by no means stupid and he realised instinctively that
Jennifer Walstow was an extraordinary girl. He wondered what game his mother
was playing now. She'd teased him with Jennifer he knew, even enticed him and
he was sufficiently self-aware to understand that the enticement was not
disagreeable to him.
His mother had
always challenged his sexuality in this way; dangling young lovelies in front
of him and daring his masculinity. He'd frequently resented it. He was, at
heart, a hopeless romantic and his mother's mischievous matchmaking with
suitable young ladies, had irritated him, making him feel that he was being put
out to stud to further her aims. Now it seemed as if she'd found the perfect
foil for her machinations. He felt sure in some way that his mother had
engineered this chance encounter to subtly introduce Jennifer Walstow into his
life. Despairingly he knew how brilliant that was since, however much he might
resent it, however much he would feel at the mercy of his mother's schemes, he
could not reject the offer of Jennifer Walstow. He knew he would carry the soft
hazel eyes to his bed that night and that they would haunt him from thereon.
"So Robin what do you think?"
Robin span around
to find his mother regarding him in quiet amusement. "About what?" he asked in
sudden anger.
"Why about young
Jennifer of course. Don't be obtuse Robin. Did you think I was asking your
opinion on Mr Appleton's proposals for the new generators?"
"Is she your new
proposition for me mother? Have you put another bitch up for offer? Don't you
understand that I'm not some damn stud to be farmed out to any little hussy you
find suitable? Am I supposed to wag my tail like an inane puppy dog just
because you toss me a biscuit like Jennifer Walstow?"
"Robin please try
to confine your powers of reasoning to the creatures in your biology labs since
you're apparently hopeless at divining motives amongst people. I am not tossing
Jennifer Walstow to you. For one thing you don't
deserve her... as you make abundantly clear by your immature outburst."
"You're lying!
You set this up! I won't have it! I'm sick of you trying to fob me off on every
pretty piece of skirt you've lined up. I'm not in the least bit interested in
your latest acquisition."
"It will be my
turn to get angry soon Robin if you do not compose yourself and grow up! I
repeat. You are not worthy of Jennifer Walstow! I had no intention of
introducing her to you in fact. If you must burst in tactlessly on private
conversations you can hardly blame me for the consequences. Furthermore, it ill
becomes you to insult a fine young lady such as Jennifer through your childish
foolishness. She is a remarkable and sensitive young woman and I'll thank you
not to call her a bitch in my presence or suggest that she is some whore
provided for your undeserving convenience! Were you not listening to the
conversation? She is Katie's daughter! My wife's daughter! That makes
her a surrogate daughter of mine and I'm bound to say a rather more admirable
member of my family than you are currently displaying yourself to be. If you
have nothing pleasant to say about the girl then hold your tongue!"
Robin was aghast
at his mother's fury. The amethyst eyes flared in rage at him. "Is it true
mother?" he asked in fear "Did you really not invite Jennifer here to entice
me?"
"You wretched
fool! Of course not! As if I'd subject a fine young lady like Jennifer to the
boorish attentions of a congenital idiot! I have promised her that you will
show her the gardens but other than that I forbid you to inflict your company
on the girl until you have learned to comport yourself like a grown man. Go
back to your bugs or the whore you visit in Brawton! Jennifer is not for you!"
Robin almost
staggered under the assault of his mother's rage. Instantly he was contrite.
"I... I'm sorry mother. Please don't be angry! I'm sorry. Truly I am. I... I
didn't understand. Please forgive me. You're right. I was out of order! Oh God
I'm sorry."
Lady Mathom
allowed herself to calm down and regard her son dispassionately, berating
herself for not tackling the problem of her son earlier. "It is not only myself
to whom you owe an apology Robin. Your remarks concerning Jennifer are
intolerable."
"I know mother. I
was confused and angry. Please forgive me."
"Robin if you are
truly contrite then a mere apology is hardly sufficient penance. If you really
regret your remarks about Jennifer then prove it!"
"How mother?"
"Spend the
weekend in the cellars! It will give you time to reflect on the respect due to
a lady of the Line. Perhaps I will have Sebastian whip you or perhaps send Mrs
Carmichael down to attend to the task in his stead. Perhaps you will learn
better manners under their administrations. Agree or I will refuse to forgive
you and you'll not be allowed to meet Miss Walstow again!"
Robin stared at
his mother. It had been several years since she had had him beaten but he knew
that she could be implacable. Furthermore he realised
the injustice that his pent-up resentment had lead him to impose on Jennifer
and his mother. A punishment in the cellars was a just sacrifice to Jennifer.
He had fallen in love with her and then deeply insulted her. He would take his
punishment for the love of her. "Very well mother. I agree." In shame Robin
stood to leave. Lady Mathom watched his back as he departed. She was smiling.