Voices in a Haunted Room (27 page)

“And the Farringdons?”

“They are rather special friends of Mr. Frenshaw Senior, and perhaps they will look in.”

“They’ll come for sure… and their son with them. I wish he could see more of my Evie. I reckon if he did he’d ask her to marry him.”

“I really don’t know about that, Mrs. Trent.”

“I do. If ever I saw a young man ready to fall in love, that man is Harry Farringdon. But what happens? He sees her for an hour or two and then he is whisked away. He’s fond of her all right. She’s such a lovely girl. I reckon if she was only in the right society… You get what I mean?”

“I do, of course, and I really will have to be going if… er…”

“Mrs. Frenshaw, ask my Evie to the christening party. Let that nice young man see her again. Oh, I worry about those girls, Mrs. Frenshaw. You’ve no idea. I have done everything I could to bring them up well—and you must admit I’ve made a good job with Evie. You see, I’m not well off… not like your family. It’s all very different for me. I’ve had to skimp and scrape. It was my son, Richard, you see. He was rather a wild one. Goes off and gets married. Then she dies when Dolly was born. And he’s left with two girls and he brings them to me. And then before Evie’s ten years old he’s gone. And Evie’s a girl to be proud of. I want to see her do well. I want to see her settled.”

“I do understand.”

“Then ask her to this christening party and whenever that young man is coming to you, make sure she’s there too. That’s all I want.”

I said: “My mother arranges that sort of thing.”

“She would listen to you.”

“I would see that Evie was asked if it were a more formal occasion. This is really just for the family and a few—”

“You mean the Farringdons, and if they are in it, why shouldn’t my Evie be? I know you’ll do this for me. You will when I tell you something, something you ought to know.”

I felt sick and faint. Now it was coming. This was blackmail. She knew. She was the one who had been in the house and spoken through the tube. She was going to say: If you don’t do what I want, I shall tell.

I heard myself say in a voice which sounded a long way away: “What is it… that you want to tell me?”

“Oh, well, we all have our secrets, don’t we? And human nature being what it is, there’s things we don’t always bring into the light of day, nor should they be. But if a wrong’s been done… right-minded people… well, they want to be able to right it, don’t they?”

I heard myself give a false laugh. “I don’t really understand you, Mrs. Trent.”

“Well, you’ve got to make excuses for people when they’re young. The blood runs hot then. They do things they’re sorry for after, but it’s too late then. We should think of these things… things like consequences… when we indulge in our little bits of wickedness.”

“Please, Mrs. Trent…”

“All right, my dear, I’m coming to it. What I am saying is that my Evie has as much right to a good life as anyone. If she had had her due she’d be up there at all those dances and parties. She’d have a real launching into society, which would help her find someone who’d give her a good home and look after her in the future.”

She seemed to have strayed from the point and I wondered when she would return to it, threatening me to do as she wanted as the price of her silence.

“I’m telling you this, Mrs. Frenshaw, because I know you’re a sensible young woman. You’ve got kindness in you, too. You wouldn’t judge anyone too harshly, would you? I’ve got a feeling you’ll understand.”

“Do tell me what it is I have to understand.”

“It goes back a long way.”

“Please tell me, Mrs. Trent.”

“It was before you were thought of, Mrs. Frenshaw. It was when your grandmother was here at Eversleigh.”

I began to breathe a little more freely. It did not seem to be what I had feared, unless of course she was coming to that later.

“I was here with my mother, the housekeeper at Eversleigh, looking after the old gentleman. Your grandmother came and stirred things up. Then he came down… that Mr. Frenshaw… Dickon, the master of Eversleigh. Oh, he wasn’t that then. He had some place miles away… not much consequence but he got Eversleigh and a wife to bring him a great fortune. He became a very important gentleman… but I knew him when he was nothing much more than a boy. I was only a bit of a girl myself. We had been up to games… if you know what I mean… that was before I married my Andrew. Then I came to Grasslands and Andrew got fond of me. I was fond of him too… and he married me. You can imagine what they all had to say in the neighbourhood about that.”

“Yes, Mrs. Trent,” I said. I felt that I was coming alive again. This could not possibly be anything to do with me.

“People are not always kind, are they? They never forget, and in places like this it is passed down through the family. I know my mother left Eversleigh under a cloud. They said she was lucky to get away. But it all came back to me, didn’t it? I was still here. My Andrew was marvellous. He was a good man; and when Richard was on the way he couldn’t have been prouder. I don’t know whether he really believed Richard was his. He was so proud. I couldn’t tell him, could I? There’s a time to keep silent about these things. It would have broken his heart… so I let him believe and we were all happy. You see what I mean?”

“Yes,” I said faintly.

“What I’m telling you is that my Richard’s father was your mother’s husband.”

“Oh no!”

“Oh yes. That’s the case.”

“Does he know…?”

“I reckon he knows all right. It was possible with him whereas it wasn’t with my Andrew, and there wasn’t anyone else it could have been. But it was good for me to say it was Andrew’s child, good for Andrew and good for Mr. Frenshaw.”

“Who knows about this?”

“I know and nothing will convince me that Mr. Frenshaw didn’t know. And now you know.”

“And you let me into this secret which you have kept for years.”

“Only because I want to do what is right and proper. It’s Evie’s right, don’t you see?”

“Yes,” I said.

“Of course, now it wouldn’t matter so much people’s knowing, would it? My poor Andrew went to the grave thinking he’d got a son… but that’s years and years ago. These things settle in time. It’s just that it’s right… and I want it for my Evie. You understand me, don’t you?”

“Yes, I do understand.”

“Then you’ll help my Evie, won’t you?”

I was so relieved that I felt drawn towards her. After all, she was only concerned with the welfare of her grand-daughter, which was very natural.

I said: “I’ll do what I can, Mrs. Trent.”

“I knew you would. You’d be understanding. You know how it is with people. To tell you the truth, if I could see my Evie married into that Farringdon family, I’d die happy, because I know my Evie would look after Dolly—and that’s the two of them taken care of.”

I said I would have to go, and this time, having made her point, she did not attempt to detain me.

It was easier than I had imagined it would be. I said casually to my mother: “I think it is a shame that Evie Mather can’t see Harry Farringdon more often.”

“The romance does seem to be wilting. It wouldn’t have been very suitable. I don’t think John and Gwen would greatly care to be allied with Mrs. Trent.”

“I know she is a rather dreadful woman, but I think she is genuinely fond of Evie, and Evie is quite a nice girl. I do think we ought to help a bit. Harry will be at the christening. Couldn’t we ask just Evie?”

My mother grimaced. “I wouldn’t mind but there’s her grandmother and her sister, who always seems to stand about in brooding silence.”

“Still, I should like to ask Evie. I wonder if we could ask her alone? I know what I’ll do. I’ll say it is just a family affair, but if Evie cared to come… just as a representative of Grasslands… or something like that.”

“Oh, I’ve got no objection to Evie,” said my mother.

I said I would ask her.

Then I fell to wondering what Mrs. Trent would have done if I had ignored her request. Would she have raked up that long-ago scandal, and what would my mother think of her husband’s youthful misdemeanours? She would surely not be very grieved. It was so long ago and these things settle down in time. I had to thank Mrs. Trent for that comforting thought.

I rode over to Grasslands the next day and saw Mrs. Trent.

“It is just family, Mrs. Trent,” I said, “so could Evie come alone… just to represent Grasslands, as it were.”

Her face broke into smiles, and I felt very pleased.

“I knew you’d help, Mrs. Frenshaw,” she said.

I was glad to have done this service. She was quite right. If her story were true, Evie certainly deserved some little help—and even if it were not, Evie still deserved it.

The priest who had married David and me presided at the christening, which took place in our own little chapel at Eversleigh. It was a moving ceremony. Jessica looked magnificent in the christening robes, which had been worn by Eversleigh babies for the last hundred years; and Molly Blackett had done her best to make Amaryllis no less splendid.

Amaryllis behaved impeccably, but Jessica indulged in a screaming fit at the font and refused to stop until she firmly grasped the priest’s rather predominant nose which he recklessly allowed to come within reach of her hands.

Apart from that all went well; the babies were taken back to their nurseries, divested of their ceremonial garments and put to sleep in their cots.

After everyone had had a peep at them and expressed admiration, we went back to the hall, where wine was served with sandwiches and my mother and I between us cut the christening cake.

Aunt Sophie had come over with Jeanne. They had been driven by Alberic, for she had acquired a small carriage, more like a trap which held her and Jeanne comfortably, and there was room for the driver up front. Alberic drove this round and he took great pride in it, I believed.

I insisted that Jeanne join us, which she did, rather against her will. Alberic went to the kitchens. He was very friendly with one of the servants—young Billy Grafter, for whom he had actually found a job in our kitchens.

Engaging staff was usually left to the housekeeper or butler. I knew they had been looking for a replacement for old Jem Barker, who had died a few months before, and when Billy Grafter appeared, the butler asked permission to engage him, which was immediately given for he was bright and young and supplied references which assured us that he was a willing worker. It appeared that on one of his visits to London, Alberic had met Billy when he was working at an inn. Billy was a country boy who did not like town life and he jumped at the chance to come to us.

I knew that he and Alberic were often in each other’s company. Alberic had to exercise Sophie’s two horses and as there were several in our stables, the young men often went off together in their spare time.

Sophie was pleased about this. She said Alberic’s English was improving and she was glad he had a friend at Eversleigh.

My attention that day was on Evie and Harry Farringdon. They seemed so happy together. I wondered why Harry did not make some effort to see her. He could always make some excuse to visit us and go to Grasslands.

Mrs. Trent was a very wily woman. She knew she could not invite the Farringdons to Grasslands, for she was not the kind they would welcome into their family. No, Evie had to fascinate the young man to such an extent that he would suggest marriage even without the enthusiasm of his family.

That was probably where the affair was flagging. If Evie had come from a suitable family, they might have been engaged by now.

I would do my best for Evie. I liked her. She was different from her grandmother and sister. She was a pleasant, pretty, ordinary young girl.

Jonathan had come home for the christening. Outwardly he seemed devoted to Millicent. Only I knew what a farce that was, for he conveyed to me by his looks and the occasional whispered word that he had not given up hope yet and he was sure I was not going to abandon him.

To tell the truth, he filled me with misgiving. There was some potent sexuality in him of which I could not help being aware and I was horrified to realize that I was still unsure of myself.

I must tread warily, I knew.

I spent as much time with David as I possibly could. I believe he had never been so happy in the whole of his life. He adored Amaryllis and was so delighted when he fancied she knew him. It soothed me a great deal to watch him with her, and I could not help thinking of that old man, Andrew Mather, who had been so happy with the child who was not his. But Amaryllis
was
David’s. I was sure of it—or perhaps I was trying to convince myself that this was so.

After the christening Aunt Sophie had been driven home by Alberic, for she had merely come for the ceremony. My mother said it was amazing how she had changed. “At one time, when we were in the
château,
she would not emerge for anything.”

“Enderby has done a great deal for her,” I said.

“Enderby, Jeanne, of course, and I think she has a great interest in that boy Alberic.”

“Thank Heaven she found something to be interested in!”

“I hope she will become more and more reconciled,” said my mother.

She had asked Evie to stay for a rather informal supper and Evie accepted with alacrity. It was a pleasant meal; we were very merry; we heard at length about Millicent’s christening, and Gwen Farringdon talked about that of Harry. There was no mention of the state of affairs on the other side of the Channel and that was pleasant.

We all sat in the punch room afterwards conversing until everyone began to droop a little and my mother suggested we retire. Evie should be escorted home. Harry immediately offered to take her and my mother thought that either David or Jonathan should accompany them, discreetly implying that it would not be quite acceptable for the pair to go alone. David offered to go and my mother and Dickon said good night.

I went along to the library to get a book which I had left there and was coming out when Jonathan came in. He shut the door and leaned against it, smiling at me.

“I thought you had retired,” I said.