The Captive (35 page)

“Dear Lucas,” I said and, stretching my hand across the table, touched his. He held mine and smiled at me.

“It does me good to see you,” he said.

“If ever governessing becomes intolerable and you don’t, want to go back to Aunt

Maud . well, there is a haven waiting for you, as you know. “

“I don’t forget it. It’s a comfort. I am so fond of you, Lucas…”

“I am now waiting for the ” but”.”

“I wish …” I began.

“I wish too. But don’t let’s be maudlin about it. Tell me of this place. There seems to be something of a mystery hanging about it.”

“Well, of course. It is because of what happened.”

“There is something about an unsolved murder. It’s so very unsatisfactory. There’s always a question-mark. For all you know, you could be living in the same house as a killer.”

“That could be so.”

“You speak with some conviction. No. It was all so obvious. Didn’t the man run away?”

“He might have had other reasons for doing so.”

“Well, it’s not our affair. It is just that you are in this house. I don’t like your being there. It’s not only because of the murder. Do you see much of them?”

“I’m mostly with Kate.”

“The little horror.”

“Well… I’m finding her interesting. We’re just finishing Treasure Island.”

“What bliss!”

I laughed.

“And we’re going to start on The Count of Monte Cristo.”

“I cannot express my wonder.”

“Don’t mock. If, you knew Kate you’d realize what tremendous strides I’ve made. The child actually likes me, I believe.”

“What’s so extraordinary about that? Others like you.”

“But they are not Kate. It’s fascinating, Lucas. The whole place is fascinating. There seems to be something behind it all.”

“I believe you are harking back to the murder.”

“Well, there was a murder. I suppose when something violent happens it does something to people … to places …”

“Now I see what interests you. Tell me, what have you discovered?”

“Nothing … or very little.”

“Do you see much of the fascinating Mirabel?”

“Occasionally.”

“And is she so fascinating?”

“She is very beautiful. We saw her, you remember, when the sheep held us up. You must admit that she is outstanding.”

“H’m.”

“I only see her in my capacity as governess. She has made it clear that she is very pleased with me. Apparently I am the only governess who has been able to make her daughter behave with some resemblance to a normal girl. It was quite easy really. From the first she knew that I did not have to come and I threatened to go if things became too difficult. It is amazing what strength there is in indifference.”

“I’ve always known that. That’s why I pretend to be indifferent to circumstances.”

I leaned my elbows on the table and studied him.

“Yes, you have done that, Lucas. And all the time you are not as indifferent as you seem.”

“Hardly ever. For one thing, I’m not indifferent about this governessing. I feel very strongly about it. That’s something I can’t pretend about. Tell me more of them. They’ve behaved well to you, have they?”

“Impeccably. I can have time off when I want and, you see, a horse to ride. A special one has been chosen for me a chestnut mare. Her name is Goldie.” I laughed. I felt so happy that he had asked me to meet him.

“Sounds cosy,” he said.

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“It is. She wants me to know that they don’t regard me as an ordinary governess. Professor’s daughter and all that. It reminds me of when Felicity came to our house. It’s very like that.”

“Only she had an easier ride.”

“Dear Felicity. We were friends from the start.”

“Have you told her of your foolish exploits?”

“Not yet. I’ve been there such a short time really. I’m going to write to her. I wanted to work myself in first. I was telling you about Mirabel, young Lady Perrivale. There is an older one, you know. I’m inclined to think of her as Mirabel because that was what they called her in the papers. She is gracious and so is Sir Tristan.”

“So you have made his acquaintance?”

“Only briefly, but it was he who suggested the mount for me. And I may be invited to join the occasional dinner party.”

“A perquisite for a good governess … when it is a not very important occasion and someone is wanted to make up the numbers?”

“I think there might be one important occasion. They are thinking of asking you and Carleton. They have put it off because of Theresa’s death.”

I saw the interest in his eyes.

“So you and I will be fellow guests?”

“You will come when they ask, won’t you, Lucas?”

“I most certainly shall.”

“Is Carleton any better?”

He lifted his shoulders.

“I don’t think he’ll ever get over it. We’re a faithful lot, we Lorimers.”

“Poor Carleton. I grieve for him.”

“I feel guilty. I used to envy him, even saying, to myself:,. Why should everything go right for him? Why should this happen to me while he sails happily through? And now he is in a worse condition than I. I’ve got a useless leg and he has lost the one who was more important

to him than anyone else. I wish I could do something for him, but I don’t know what.”

“Perhaps he’ll marry again.”

“It would be the best thing for him. He needs a wife. He’s lost without Theresa. But of course that would be in the future … far in the future. Trecorn is not a very happy household at the moment. If you came back it would relieve the gloom.”

I said: “The children … they are happy?”

“They are too young to grieve for long. I think they still ask for their mother and cry for her … and then they forget. Good old Nanny Crockett is wonderful with them, but I don’t forgive her for bringing all this about. Whatever possessed her to set it in motion?”

He was looking at me closely and I felt myself flushing.

“There must be a reason,” he went on.

I was telling myself: Explain, you owe it to him.

But I could not. It was not my secret to divulge.

After a while he said: “I think I understand. We shall never be as we were before, shall we? Sometimes I look back to the first time we met.

How different we were then . both of us. Can you remember me as I was? “

“Yes, perfectly.”

“And was I very different?”

“Yes,” I said.

“You were different, too. You were at school … very young… eager… innocent. And then on the ship together … how we used to sit on the deck and talk. Remember Madeira ? We were so unaware of the monstrous thing that was about to happen to us.”

As he was talking I was living it all again.

He said: “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have reminded you. If we had any sense we’d do our best to forget.”

“We can’t forget, Lucas. We can’t ever forget.”

“We could … if we made up our minds. We could start

a new life together. Do you remember when we talked of our initials? I said it was significant that Life had brought us together, little knowing then what we were to endure. How close we have become since then. I said my initials spelt HELL . Hadrian Edward Lucas Lorimer, and as RC you could bring me back to the path of righteousness. Do you remember? “

“Yes, I do, very well.”

“Well, it’s true. You could save me. You see, it has come to pass. I was speaking prophetically. You and I … we could face everything together… we could make life better than it was before …”

“Oh, Lucas … I wish …”

“We could go right away from here. Anywhere we fancied …”

“You couldn’t leave Trecorn, Lucas. Carleton needs you there.”

“Well, would it matter where we were? We could help him together.”

“Oh, Lucas … I am so sorry. I truly wish …”

He smiled at me ruefully.

“I understand,” he said.

“Well, let’s make the best of what is. Whatever happens, what we went through together will always make us special friends. I often think of that man Player.

I wonder what happened to him. I should like to know, wouldn’t you?

”

I nodded, afraid to speak.

He went on: “I understand why you did this, Rosetta. It’s because you want to move away from all that went before. You’re right in a way. So you have gone to that place. It’s entirely new … new surroundings, new work … a challenge. Particularly the girl. You have changed, Rosetta. I have to say I think she is helping you.”

“Yes, I am sure she is.”

“It’s brave of you to have done this. I think I’m something of a coward.”

“Oh no, no. You suffered more than I did. And you brought about your own freedom.”

“Only because I was a useless hulk.”

“You’re not useless. I love you very much. I admire you, and I am so grateful because you are my friend.”

He took my hand and held it firmly.

“Will you always remember that?”

“Always,” I said.

“I’m so glad to have seen you. I feel so safe … to know that you are nearby.”

“I shall always be there,” he said.

“And perhaps one day you will call me in. Now … let’s get out of this place. Come. Show me your Goldie. Let’s ride out to the sea and gallop along the beach. Let’s tell ourselves that our good angels are smiling on us and all our wishes will be granted. There is a nice sentimental speech for an old cynic, is it not?”

“Yes, and I like to hear it.”

“After all, who knows what will be waiting for us?”

“One can never tell.”

And we went out to the horses.

Mrs. Ford caught me as I was going to the schoolroom for the morning lessons.

“Nanny Crockett is coming over this afternoon,” she said.

“Jack Carter is taking a load to Turner’s Farm, so he’ll be bringing her over for a couple of hours. She’ll want to see you, so do come up to my room for a cup of tea.”

I said I should be delighted to do so.

As we were talking, there was a commotion in the hall. I heard the voice of the head gardener; he was saying something about roses.

Mrs. Ford raised her eyebrows.

“That man,” she said.

“You’d think the whole world depended on his flowers. He’s making such a noise down there. I’d better go and see what it’s all about.”

Out of curiosity, I followed her.

Several of the servants were in the hall. Littleton, the head gardener, was clearly very angry.

Mrs. Ford said in a commanding voice: “Now what is all this about?”

“You may well ask, Mrs. Ford,” said Littleton.

“Four of my best roses in their prime … someone has stolen them … right from under my nose.”

“Well, who’s done it?”

“That’s what I’d like to know. If I could get my hands on them.”

“Her ladyship may have fancied them.”

“Her ladyship never touches the flowers. I’ve looked after those roses. I’ve been waiting all this time to see them in bloom.

Beautiful, they was. A sort of pinky blue . a rare colour for a rose. Never seen anything like them before. They was special, they was . and I’ve been waiting all this time for the flowers. Took a bit of rearing they did . and then someone comes and picks them . without a by your leave. “

“Well, Mr. Littleton,” said Mrs. Ford, “I’m sorry, but I’ve not touched your roses … and, if you can find who has that’s up to you, but I can’t have you disturbing my servants. They’ve got work to do.”

Littleton turned his agonized face to Mrs. Ford.

“They were my special roses,” he said piteously.

I left them and went up to the schoolroom.

It was difficult to settle to lessons that morning. Kate wanted to hear about my meeting with Lucas on the previous day.

“I was staying with his family, you know,” I told her.

“So he thought he’d come over to see me.”

“Did he ask you to leave here?”

I hesitated.

“He did,” she said.

“And you told him you would.”

“I did not. I told him we were reading Treasure Island and that you and I get along moderately well. That’s right, isn’t it?”

She nodded.

“Well, now let’s see if we can master these sums and if we can we’ll have an extra fifteen minutes’ reading. Then I believe we could finish the book today.”

“All right,” she said.

“Get out the slate and we’ll start right away.”

Simon was very much in my thoughts that morning. The meeting with Lucas had been unsettling, and the prospect of seeing Nanny Crockett had brought back memories more vividly than usual.

When I reached Mrs. Ford’s room Nanny Crockett had not yet arrived but she had a visitor. It was the rector, the Reverend Arthur James. Mrs. Ford was evidently a great church worker and he had come to consult her about the flower decoration for the church.

She introduced me.

“Welcome to Perrivale, Miss Cranleigh,” he said.

“I have been hearing from Mrs. Ford how well you are managing with Kate.”

“Mrs. Ford has been very kind to me,” I said.

“Mrs. Ford is kind to everyone. We have good reason to know that. My wife and I often ask each other what we would do without her. It is the decorations, you know. We rely so much on Perrivale for so many things. The big house, you see … garden fetes and so on. It has been the same through generations. Sir Edward took a great interest in the church.”

“Oh yes, he was a real churchman,” said Mrs. Ford.

“He’d be at church twice every Sunday … and so were the rest of the family too. Then we had prayers every day in the hall. Yes, he was a real one for the church, was Sir Edward.”

“Sadly missed,” added the rector.

“We don’t have many like him nowadays. The younger generation haven’t the z86

same commitment. I hope to see you there with your charge, Miss Cranleigh. “

“Yes,” I said.

“Of course.”

“Miss Kate is a bit of a handful,” said Mrs. Ford, ‘but Miss Cranleigh is working wonders. Her ladyship is very pleased. It was my idea that she should come. Rector. Nanny Crockett and I worked it out between us. Her ladyship can’t thank me enough. “

“Very gratifying.”