The Lady and the Lake (10 page)

‘And
what
of
Annie?’
I
asked.

‘I
do
believe
she
was
found
in
the
same
place
in
similar
circumstances,
most
odd,
but
don’t
worry
your
pretty
head
about
it
today.’
As
he
spoke
we
reached
the
top
of
the
incline
and
I
could
see
before
me
the
ruined
abbey.

‘What
a
beautiful
scene,’
I
said
out
loud,
the
words
escaping
my
lips
for
indeed
it
was
quite
picturesque
with
the
ruined
walls
and
only
the
blue
sky
for
a
roof
surrounded
by
green
grass
and
the
moor.

As
we
continued
walking,
Thomas
carrying
the
small
wicker
picnic
basket
in
one
hand
and
steadying
me
at
the
elbow
with
his
free
hand,
little
did
he know
that
this
was
a
scene
that
I
had
dreamed
of
for
so
long.
To
walk
with
a
handsome
gentleman
on
a
summer’s
day.

I
fervently
hoped
nothing
would
spoil
it,
not
now
or
ever.
We
ran
in
and
out
of
the
ruins
like
children,
the
soft
grass
beneath
our
feet.
We
sat
together
on
the
grass
eating
sandwiches
and
sipping
lemonade.
I
was
hot
and
removed
my
straw
hat
longing
to
unpin
my
hair
and
let
it
loose.

‘You
have
such
beautiful
hair,’
Thomas
said
softly
as
if
he’d
guessed
what
I
was
thinking.
He
looked
at
his
silver
pocket
watch
and
I
knew
that
this
lovely
interlude
would
soon
be
over.
It’s
two
o’clock,
we
must
go.’
So
saying
he
rose
to
his
feet
and
caught
my
hand
to
help
me
up.

‘It’s
been
so
nice,’
I
said
politely.

‘It
has
indeed
and
I
look
forward
to
our
outing
on
Saturday.’

The
picnic
packed
away
we
walked
slowly
back
to
the
Hall.
Thomas
went
through
the
main
door
bidding
me farewell
and
I
made
my
way
to
the
rear
of
the
building
as
I
intended
to
sit
in
the
rose
garden
for
a
while.
I
felt
quite
lost
without
Thomas
at
my
side.

***

As
I
reached
the
spot
which
led
to
the
lake
I
looked
sadly
at
the
water,
but
all
seemed
normal
now
with
the
swans
gliding
across
it
and
no-one
else
in
sight.
I
looked
at
the
summer
pavilion
and
hoped
that
one
day
soon
I
would
sit
in
there.
It
was
fortunate
I
didn’t
know
then
how
soon
it
would
be
nor
in
what
circumstances.

Stepping
into
the
rose
garden
I
realised
I
wasn’t
alone,
for
Miss
Hayward
and
Emily
were
sitting
on
one
of
the
many
wooden
benches.
Miss
Hayward
held
a
pretty
sunshade
over
her.

At
the
sight
of
me
she
raised
her
hand,
I
walked
towards
them
surrounded
by
a
beautiful
riot
of
colour,
red,
pink,
yellow
and
peach-coloured
roses
the
fragrance
overwhelming.

‘It
is
all
right
for
me
to
sit
with
you
for
a
while?’
I
asked
Alice.

‘Of
course,’
and
as
she
spoke
she
gently
patted
the
seat,
‘please
play
with
your
hoop
Emily,
but
keep
to
the
path.’
The
child
did
as
she
was
bid
bowling
a
wooden
hoop
along
with
each
step,
her
shiny
dark
ringlets
dancing
up
and
down.

‘Have
you
heard
the
awful
news,
Abbey?’

‘About
Gladys
you
mean?
Yes,
at
breakfast,’
I
replied,
quite
pleased
that
Alice
had
used
my
Christian
name.
‘It’s
quite
a
mystery
I
believe,
were
you
here
when
Annie
was
found?’

‘Yes,
I’ve
been
here
since
the
young
Mrs
Kershaw
had
her
tragic
accident,’
Alice
said
quietly.

‘But
she
too
was
found
in
the
lake,
or
so
I
understand,’
I
said
looking
at
Alice
for
confirmation.

‘That
is
true.
What
worries
me
is
who
will
be
next.
If
I
wasn’t
so
fond
of
the
child
I
would
think
of
leaving
this
place.’

At
Alice’s
words
I
mulled
over
whether
I
could
confide
in
her
about
the
events
of
last
night
but
decided
instead
to
try
a
different
course.

‘The
last
two
companions
to
the
older
Mrs
Kershaw,
why
did
they
leave
so
soon?’
I
asked.

‘I
don’t
really
know,
they
were
both
older
in
years
than
yourself.
Mrs
Kershaw
doesn’t
care
for
younger
women
or
so
I’ve
come
to
believe.
All
I
know
is
that
neither
of
them
was
here
for
many
days.
Thinking
about
it,
the
one
lady
mentioned
a
light
in
the
tower
to
Mrs
Grafton,
I
can
say
no
more
as
Emily
is
coming
back,’
she
said
quickly.