The Captive (48 page)

“Yes, but one never really gets used to it.”

“I can well imagine that.”

The drawing-room was quite large with oak beams, latticed windows and a big fireplace.

“It’s a lovely house,” I said.

“Yes, the Tudors may not have been so elegant as their successors, but they did seem to create a certain atmosphere. Do sit down.”

I sat on the settle near the window.

“Are you comfortable there?” he asked solicitously.

I told him that I was very comfortable.

“What worried you about Kate?” I asked.

“I’m going to give you a glass of wine first. It’s always more cosy to talk over a drink.”

“Thank you … but I’d rather not…”

“Oh come, I insist. I want you to try this. It’s very good. I only serve it on special occasions.”

“Oh … is this one?”

“Yes, because for so long I’ve wanted to talk to you and to thank you for what you are doing for Kate.”

“You’re very fond of her, I know, as she is of you.”

He nodded.

“Now, just a small glass, eh?”

“Well, thanks … just a small one.”

He brought it to me and then went and poured one out for himself.

“To you. Miss Cranleigh. With my heartfelt thanks.”

“Oh really, you make too much of it. It’s only a matter of getting to know her … understanding her.”

“There have been so many … and you took the trouble. That’s what I’m grateful for. Mirabel, my daughter, Lady Perrivale … said to me the other day, ” The change in Kate since Miss Cranleigh came is really remarkable. “

“Then why are you worried?”

“That’s what I want to talk to you about. What do you think of the wine?”

I took another sip.

“It’s very pleasant.”

“Well, drink up. And have another. I told you it is very special.”

Just at that moment there was a sound of footsteps coming round the house. The Major looked startled.

“It’s me, Gramps,” said a well-known voice.

“Rosetta’s here, I know. I saw her come in.”

I put my glass down on a small table near the settle as Kate entered.

“What are you doing here?” she cried.

“I watched you leave. I followed you. You didn’t see me, did you? I kept behind. I stalked you. Then I saw you speak to Gramps and come in here. You’re drinking wine.”

“Yes,” said the Major, and although he smiled at his granddaughter, I fancied I saw a flicker of annoyance cross his face. It was understandable. He had wanted to talk to me confidentially and about her. That would be impossible in her presence.

“Well, come and sit by Miss Cranleigh.”

He took her by the arm and brought her towards the settle. I was not sure what happened because I was looking at Kate who was so pleased with herself at having caught up with me. But as she sat down the glass toppled over and the wine went trickling all over the carpet.

“Damnation,” muttered the Major.

“Oh,” cried Kate.

“You swore!”

“Forgivable,” he said.

“That was my very special wine. I wanted Miss Cranleigh’s opinion.”

“It wouldn’t have been of much significance,” I told him.

“I’m no connoisseur.”

“And you shouldn’t swear, Gramps. Your guardian angel will be writing it all down in a little book and you’ll have to answer for it one day.”

“If that is all I have to answer for, I am not particularly worried, and in any case I am sure you would intercede for me.”

Kate laughed and I looked down at the shattered glass. I stooped, but he said quickly: “Don’t touch it. Broken glass can be dangerous. It’s those horrible little splinters. Leave it. I’ll get it cleared away.

I’ll give you a fresh glass. “

We moved away from the mess on the floor to the window seat Kate begged to have a glass of wine.

“Not suitable for little girls,” said the Major.

“Oh, Gramps, don’t be so mean.”

“All right. Just a taste, eh? You see how she wheedles me, Miss Cranleigh.”

“You can’t resist me, can you, Gramps?”

“We are putty in the hands of our enchantress,” he said.

I could see Kate was enjoying this.

About half an hour later we left and went back to Perrivale Court. I was yawning.

“What’s the matter with you?” said Kate.

“You look half asleep.”

“It’s due to the hard work I have to put in to keep you in order.”

“No, it’s not. It’s the wine. You always say it makes you sleepy in the day.”

“You’re right. It does and it is.”

“Then why do you drink it?”

“Your grandfather was rather insistent.”

“I know,” she said, laughing.

It was late morning. We had finished lessons and Kate and I were going into the gardens. As we came down into the hall the Major was just arriving.

“Good morning, my dears,” he said.

“How nice to see you. Just on the point of going out, I see.”

“Have you come to see old Lady Perrivale, Gramps?” asked Kate.

“That’s so, and it is a great pleasure to see you as well. I did enjoy your visit. But it was too short. You must come again.”

“We will,” Kate assured him.

“And Miss Cranleigh will, too?” he said, looking at me.

“Thanks. Of course,” I said.

Just at that moment one of the grooms from Trecorn came to the door.

“Oh, Miss Cranleigh,” he said.

“I’ve got a message for you. Mr. Lucas is back. He wants to know if you could meet him this afternoon.

Two-thirty at The Sailor King. “

“Yes, yes. I’ll be there. Is he all right… ?”

“Getting on a treat, Miss.”

“Oh, I’m glad.”

He left us and Kate said: “You’re going off again this afternoon.

You’re always going to The Sailor King. “

“Only in my own time, Kate.”

“What a little slave-driver she is,” said the Major.

“You mustn’t make a prisoner of Miss Cranleigh, Kate. You wouldn’t like anyone to do that to you, would you? And if you do, she might fly away and leave us. Well, I shall see you soon, I hope. am revoir.”

He went up the stairs.

“But you are always going to that inn,” said Kate.

“I have to meet my friends now and then.”

“Why can’t I come?”

“Because you’re not invited.”

“That’s no reason.”

“It’s the very best reason possible.” She was a little sulky during our walk. But I could only think of meeting Lucas.

a- *

I left just before two o’clock. It did not take more than fifteen or twenty minutes to reach the inn. I could have

walked, but I did like to exercise Goldie and I enjoyed the ride.

Moreover, it meant that I could stay a little later if 1 rode and Lucas could ride back with me.

It was a lovely afternoon. There was only the slightest breeze to ruffle the trees. There was no one about. There rarely was at this hour. I took the coast road and turned inland. I had to go through a small copse. It could hardly be called a wood, but the trees grew closely together and I always enjoyed wending my way along the narrow path among them.

I was in good time. I should be there ten minutes before two-thirty.

I don’t know whether it was a premonition of danger, but as soon as I entered the copse I was aware of a certain uneasiness. I had the feeling that there was something strange about it on this day, that I was being watched. It was uncanny. Usually I went through without giving the solitude a thought.

I was aware of a sudden cracking of a branch . a movement in the undergrowth. Some small animal, I supposed-the sort of thing I must have heard a hundred times before and scarcely noticed. I was in a strange mood today.

I knew what it was. Felicity had said: What you are doing is dangerous. Lucas had said it, too. What if Tristan knew what I was doing? What if he had been watching me . as I had been watching him?

Guilty people must be ever on the alert.

“Come on, Goldie,” I said.

“Let’s get on.”

Then I realized that someone was in the wood . very close to me. I heard the sound of horse’s hoofs behind me and my impulse was to urge Goldie into a gallop, but that would have been impossible in the copse where she had to pick her steps carefully.

“Hello,” said a voice.

“If it isn’t Miss Cranleigh.”

It was the Major. He was right behind me.

“What a bit of luck. Just the one } wanted to see.”

“Oh, hello. Major,” I said with relief.

“I was wondering who was in the copse today. One doesn’t usually meet anyone at this time.”

“All taking their afternoon nap … or siesta perhaps they call it.”

“I expect so.”

“You’re just the one I wanted to see. I did want to have a word with you.”

“About Kate.”

“Yes. She interrupted us when I thought I was going to have the opportunity I wanted.”

“Something is worrying you, isn’t it?”

“Yes.”

“What? I think she’s getting on very well.”

“It’s difficult to shout. Could we dismount and sit down on that tree-trunk over there?”

“I haven’t much time …”

“I know. I heard you make your appointment this morning But this won’t take more than five minutes.”

I dismounted and he did the same.

He came close to me, and taking my arm led me to the fallen tree-trunk.

“What is worrying you?” I said.

His face was close to mine.

“You,” he said.

“What do you mean?”

“Why did you go and see Mrs. Campden?”

“Mrs. Campden?”

“Of Malton House, Bayswater.”

I felt suddenly cold with fear. I did not answer.

“You don’t deny you went. You have very beautiful hair, Miss Cranleigh. Unusual colour. It’s very noticeable. I knew who it was right away. And what are you doing at Perrivale? You’re not a governess. You are an inquisitive young woman.”

He turned my face to a tree. He held me there with one hand while with the other he produced a tie from his pocket.

For a moment I wondered why and then the awful truth dawned on me.

I had looked for my murderer and here he was. I had found him, but in doing so I was going to become another of his victims.

I thought of the sailor . of Cosmo . of Simon . and now I was the one.

“You’ve none but yourself to blame,” he said.

“I don’t want to do this. I hate doing it to you. Kate will grieve .. Why couldn’t you let sleeping dogs lie?”

A wild hope came to me. If he were going to kill me why didn’t he do it? Why did he talk like this? It was almost as though he were putting it off. He was speaking the truth when he said he didn’t want to do it. He was doing it because he thought he must . it was necessary because he was already caught up in a maze of murder.

I said: “You are planning to do to me what you did to the sailor … you’ll kill me and throw me over the cliff. Kate told me … about the sailor … I understand now.”

“You understand … you understand too much. I know what’s happened.

It was Harry Tench, wasn’t it? He’s talked. Oh, Miss Cranleigh, why did you have to meddle? “

I was suddenly aware that Goldie was walking away. I felt desperately frightened. He seemed to realize that he was wasting time. He might be thinking of Lucas who could come to the inn and wait in vain.

With a deft movement he released his hand. He needed them both to strangle me with the tie. I attempted to dodge away . but he was watchful of me.

Any minute now . It must not be. I had found the murderer. I had succeeded. I would not die and let the secret die with me. I must make a super-human effort to break away . to get to Lucas.

I was praying silently to Lucas . to Simon . to God.

I had to tell them. I had to save Simon . and Lucas was waiting for me.

He had the tie round my throat. Somehow I managed to get my two thumbs under it which relieved the pressure. I lifted my leg and kicked backwards.

Luck was with me. He was not expecting that. He let out a cry of pain;

the tie fell from his hands. I had a second or two in which to act;

and I did. I broke away. I was agile and I was fighting for my life.

I had to get out of the copse before he caught me. Instinctively I knew he would not dare attack me in the open country. Someone could easily come into view.

Through the trees I dashed. He was after me, fully aware of the necessity to catch me before I emerged into the open.

I could hear him close on my heels. The branches caught at me, but somehow I managed to keep a step or two ahead of him, just out of his reach. If only Goldie were here . if only I could mount her.

The trees were thinning. There was not far to go. I was going to make it.

I could hear him close behind me, breathing heavily. He was not a young man, I thought exultantly. I had the advantage of youth.

I was thinking: Lucas! How right you were. I should have been more careful. I had had a warning with the wine. Of course, he was going to drug me . and then throw me over the cliff . just as he must have done in the case of the sailor, Mirabel’s husband. I had had a warning and I had been too blind to see. But . I had found my murderer. Success had been thrust upon me and it had nearly cost me my life.

I was out in the open. I dare not stop. I went on running as fast as I could. Cautiously I glanced over my shoulder.

He was no longer there. I had escaped. And suddenly I saw Lucas galloping towards me.

“Lucas!” I panted.

“Lucas!”

He leaped from his horse. He took me in his arms and held me tightly.

“Rosetta … my love … what happened?”

“I’ve found him, Lucas … I’ve found him. He was going to kill me.”

“Rosetta … what… ?”

“He followed me into the copse. He was going to strangle me … and then he would have thrown me over the cliff … as he did the sailor.”

“You’d better tell me all about it. I thought you’d had an accident when Goldie arrived at the inn without you.”

“Goldie … yes, she wandered off.”

“I was looking out for you when I saw her trotting along. She came straight to the stables.”

“Oh … good old Goldie …”