Voices in a Haunted Room

The Last Farewell

THE NEXT DAY WE WENT back to Eversleigh—all except Jonathan, who said he had business to keep him in London. Millicent came with us. Jonathan would be away for the greater part of the days and she did not wish to be alone; and in any case, Jonathan said he would be back at Eversleigh in less than a week, so it was a good idea that Millicent should travel with us.

All was well at home. My mother was delighted by our return, particularly as Dickon was on one of his rare visits to Clavering. She had not gone with him because she did not want to leave Jessica, who had a slight cold. Amaryllis was more beautiful than ever and as she was now very much aware of what was going on and expressed a certain delight in seeing me, I was very happy.

The days passed in pleasant domesticity; on the third day I accompanied David on the rounds of the estate. As usual we were taken into the kitchens when we visited the farms, and the farmers’ wives always insisted on our tasting their homemade wines.

We were at the Penns’ farm that day with Jenny Penn, a big buxom woman, who took a great delight in her kitchen and all that she produced in it. But there was one thing she liked better than her food and that was a gossip.

David used to say that we could catch up on what was happening on the estate from Jenny for she knew everything that was going on, not only on the land her husband farmed but all the others too.

“Now what do you think of this brew, sir?” she said to David. “And you, Mrs. Frenshaw. I’ve got a feeling that it is better than the last. A bit too sweet that. I always say to my Len, ‘Wine wants a bit of a tang to it!’ That’s what I say. Too much sweetness can kill a wine.”

We both agreed that it was a perfect vintage, which pleased her; and it was just as we were about to leave that she said: “And what do you think of our ghost? If you was to ask me I’d say it was a lot of fancy.” She put her hands on her substantial hips and added: “I was never much of a one for ghosts myself.”

“Ghosts?” I asked. “We haven’t heard anything about ghosts.”

“Well, it’s that young man… the one that drowned, you know. He was shot at and that was the end of him. Someone said he’d been seen on the shore like… coming out of the sea.”

“But he’s dead and buried.”

“I know. But this was his ghost, you know, sir. Ghosts don’t take heed of coffins. And the other one was with him.”

“What other one?” I asked.

“Oh, that young man he was friendly with. Him as was working up at the big house. What was his name?”

“Billy Grafter?” I said.

“Yes, that’s him. He was drowned when the boat was upset. Well, he’s been seen… according to some. Or his ghost has.”

“He’s been seen… here?” I asked faintly.

“Why, you look all shook up, Mrs. Frenshaw. There’s nothing to be afraid of in ghosts.”

“Who saw this?” I asked.

“Oh, it was one or two of them. Patty Grey’s girl, Ada, said she was down on the beach with her brother collecting wood that had been thrown up by the tide… and she said he was there. He appeared… and then he was gone.”

“It was inevitable that someone should start imagining these things,” said David. “It made quite a stir at the time.”

We put down our glasses.

“That was enjoyable, Mrs. Penn,” went on David. “I am sure you are right about the tang.”

She ushered us out.

“Very good farmers, the Penns,” said David, as we rode away. “Everything in order. I wish there were more like them.”

But I could only think: Someone has seen Billy Grafter. Was it imagination or does that mean that he is here… in the neighbourhood?

We were rather worried about Aunt Sophie for she was not very well. My mother said one of us should call every day.

“She hasn’t been the same since Alberic died,” Jeanne told us. “And now there is all this talk about ghosts, she fancies Alberic can come back and talk to her… tell her who his murderer was…”

“Is there a lot of talk about ghosts?”

“Among the servants, yes. Two of them have said they have actually seen Alberic’s friend who was drowned with him, and now she has the idea that Alberic is trying to reach her. She talks about it all the time. Dolly Mather is there with her a good deal. Poor Dolly, she doesn’t have much of a life. Mrs. Trent has changed so much since that suicide. You know how she always wanted to be included in everything… now she hardly ever goes out. Dolly is here a lot. I think she must find it a relief to get away from Grasslands. And Mademoiselle likes to have her. They talk constantly of Alberic.”

“I heard the rumour that Billy Grafter had been seen,” I said.

“Yes. He’s supposed to look as though he has walked out of the sea… dripping water and ghastly white.”

“It’s a lot of nonsense.”

“She takes comfort in thinking that Alberic could come back.”

“Was she really so fond of him when he was here?”

Jeanne looked at me shrewdly. “She took an interest in him. She liked to have him around. You know he was very useful. There weren’t many she would have trusted to go up to London and do little commissions for her. She let him ride the horses. I think it was his being of our own nationality and being upset by everything that was happening in France… It was a common tragedy.”

“And the fact that he is dead would endear him to her.”

Jeanne said nothing and I went on: “Oh, you know as well as I do that Aunt Sophie revels in misfortune. If only she would try to see the bright things of life. She shuts herself away… lives like a recluse…”

“That is Mademoiselle d’Aubigné,” said Jeanne soberly. “And we must accept this and do all we can to make life tolerable for her.”

“You are right, Jeanne, as always. Does she really want us to visit her?”

“Oh, yes, she looks forward to seeing you. She likes to rest and meditate in the early afternoon but as you come at three and go at five… that’s as she likes it. She was always one for regularity. She likes life to go to a pattern.”

“Well, I shall come every afternoon as long as she wants me, and if I don’t, I expect my mother will.”

“Oh, I think she would rather it was you. She still broods on the past and often talks about your father. She was very much in love with him, you know, and I think she has never quite forgiven your mother for marrying him. And she thinks of you as the daughter she has never had.”

“Then I’ll come.”

And I did. Each afternoon I rode over and I made sure that I left precisely at five.

Aunt Sophie talked often of Alberic.

She did believe that people sometimes—as she said—“came back” and “got into touch” with those of whom they had been very fond; and if they had died a violent death they sometimes came back to haunt their murderers.

Dolly Mather was usually with her when I arrived and sometimes she stayed awhile. I think she offered a great deal of comfort to Sophie, who would see them as kindred spirits, both maimed in a way, both treated unfairly by fate, both having suffered the loss of a loved one.

They talked of Alberic and of Evie, and Sophie constantly said that she believed one day they would “come through” to her.

“And when they do,” she said, “Alberic will tell me the name of his murderer, and then I shall do my best to see that the wicked ones… for perhaps it was more than one… are brought to justice.”

I wondered what she would say if I told her that Alberic had been a spy, that it was men such as he who had helped to bring about the revolution which had resulted in so much misery for her own country.

She would never have believed me.

It was always dark when I left Enderby. The candles in Sophie’s room had to be lighted at four o’clock at this time of the year. I always thought the room took on a special quality in candlelight. It had always been a room of haunting memories for me; and on these occasions when Jeanne called up through the speaking tube—as she did now and then—my heart used to race uncomfortably for I reminded myself that someone knew I had been here with Jonathan… I had been lulled into a sense of security about that because no one had ever hinted to me that he… or she… was in the secret. There was only that muffled voice coming over the tube, not recognizable as any one of my acquaintances. Even Jeanne’s voice with its distinctive accent sounded different through the tube.

Aunt Sophie was in one of her brooding moods.

She said that Dolly had been with her in the early part of the afternoon and she had felt very close to Alberic, and Dolly to her sister Evie.

“They’ll break through one of these days,” said Aunt Sophie. “I am so sorry for Dolly. She cared so much for her sister, and that grandmother of hers is very strange. She comes to me, poor child, and tells me her troubles.”

I said that it was comforting for them to be able to talk together.

“Life is unfair to some of us, and to others… everything comes. Take your mother, for instance.”

Poor Aunt Sophie! She was obsessed by my mother’s good fortune throughout life and compared it frequently with her own ill luck.

I was always rather relieved to get away.

As I came down to the hall, Jeanne appeared.

“I am glad I caught you,” she said. “I wanted you to look at some materials I have. They are really rather lovely. Mademoiselle does love a pretty gown and I want to keep her interested in them. It’s a great help to her.”

“I’d like to see them,” I told her.

“I’ve got them down here. I won’t keep you long. I know you like to get away sharp.”

“Oh, I’ve plenty of time.”

The materials were pale pink and Aunt Sophie’s favourite lilac; and there were a deeper purple and red.

I said I thought the paler colours suited Aunt Sophie better than the deep ones.

“I fully agree,” she said. “And this softer material lends itself better to the hoods. I want you to see some ribbons.”

I duly admired these and it must have been about fifteen minutes later when I left Jeanne.

I mounted my horse and started for home. I always took the same route, which meant going through a short bridle path where thick bushes grew on either side. This path was rarely used and as it was straight and narrow I always cantered through it.

Suddenly my horse drew up sharply and I almost fell out of the saddle.

“What is it, Queenie?” I asked.

I peered into the darkness. At first I could see nothing, but the mare refused to move.

I dismounted. The bushes were tall and the path shaded; there was no moon and thick clouds obscured the stars.

Then I saw that a man was lying across the path.

I stared. Someone had tied a thin rope across the path about a foot from the ground. It had been attached to the bushes and had obviously been put there as a trap.

I was dumbfounded. I heard a movement and then I saw the horse which was standing nearby.

It was clear what had happened. The unsuspecting horse had tripped over the rope and thrown the rider.

What a wicked thing to do! I went to the man lying there. His eyes were shut but he was still breathing.

I must get help at once, and in the quickest possible way.

My heart leaped with horror, for the man lying on the ground was Billy Grafter.

I stood looking down at him for what seemed a long time, but it could only have been a matter of seconds.

So he was here! It was true that people had seen him. They had believed it was his ghost but it was in fact Billy Grafter in the flesh. What was he doing here? He must have friends here. Who?

He looked very pale and there was a trickle of blood on his forehead. I must get help at once.

As I looked at him the thought struck me that he could not have been there very long. Five minutes perhaps. I had been late in leaving Enderby. If I had not been, should I have been the one who tripped over that rope?

The suspicion came to me. It had been meant for me.

I was shaken. Someone had wanted to kill me. Someone had planned an accident… for me… and Billy Grafter had come along and been the one who was caught.

What should I do?

I was midway between Eversleigh and Enderby. The best plan would be to go to Eversleigh. There were plenty of grooms. I would get Billy Grafter to Eversleigh and then send for Jonathan.

I rode as fast as I could. There was no one in the stables, but when I shouted several of them came running.

“There’s been an accident,” I cried. “It’s that man Billy Grafter who people thought was drowned. He’s on the bridle path midway between here and Enderby. Someone tied a rope about the bushes so that it was across the path and riders would trip in the dark. He’ll have to be brought here. You’ll need a stretcher.”

They gaped at me for a few seconds and then set about doing my bidding.

I went into the house. My mother was in the hall. She began: “What on earth has happened? You look as if you have seen a ghost.”

I said: “There’s been an accident. It’s Billy Grafter. There was a rope tied across the path. His horse must have tripped and thrown him.”

“My dear Claudine, what are you saying? Here. Sit down. You don’t look too well yourself. Tell me exactly what happened.”

I told her that I had been visiting Aunt Sophie and when I came back through the bridle path I had found Billy Grafter lying there because his horse had thrown him.

“Mischievous children,” said my mother.

I shook my head. “I’ve sent them to bring him in. They shouldn’t be long. We’ll have to look after him.”

I had not told her that I had seen Billy Grafter in London when I was with Jonathan. I knew that I had to be careful. I had become involved in those secrets which were part of the life of my stepfather and his son; and I knew that even my mother was excluded from some of them.

I wondered if I had been wise to mention Billy Grafter, but as I had already told myself, they would know him when he was brought in.

I was waiting with my mother when the men came back.

Billy Grafter was not with them.

They looked very strange, I thought, and they avoided my eyes.

I cried out: “What… Where?”

“Mrs. Frenshaw, Madam, we went there. We went to the path. We looked everywhere. There was nobody there.”

“Nobody! But I saw…”

“No, Mrs. Frenshaw, Madam… there was no one.”

“But his horse?”

“Nor horse. Nor man.”

“There was a rope round the bushes… across the path.”

They shook their heads. “We looked for a rope. There was nothing there.”

“But it’s impossible. He was lying there… unconscious. I saw him. The horse was there too. I left him because I wanted to get help as soon as possible.”

They shook their heads.

I knew they thought that I had been the victim of a hallucination. I had seen the ghost of Billy Grafter, for when they had gone to the spot there was no sign of him, no man, no horse, no rope. Nothing.

It was to be expected that such an event would be wildly commented on. It went through the servants’ hall and from there to every dwelling in the neighbourhood.

What Mrs. Frenshaw had seen was the ghost, it was said. He had come back to avenge his murderer… and the murderer of his friend, Alberic.

I knew there was one thing I had to do and that was get a message to Jonathan. He wanted Billy Grafter, and I, who had clearly seen him lying there, and who knew that he had not died with Alberic as people here believed, and that he was engaged in spying for those who wished harm to our country, was fully aware that Billy Grafter was close at hand. He must have friends who helped him. He could not have recovered in time to take himself and his horse away and at the same time remove the rope from the bushes. He had an accomplice and that accomplice could well be someone whom we knew.

I should have liked to set out for London but that was impossible. If only Dickon were at Eversleigh I could have left this to him. It was unfortunate that he had chosen this time to go to Clavering.

I wrote a letter to Jonathan telling him what had happened. I chose one of the grooms who had been with us since he was a boy. His grandfather had served the Eversleighs and I felt he could be trusted. He had to leave without anyone’s knowing, I told him. I would speak to his father and let him know that it was most urgent and secret business.

He was young enough for a secret mission to appeal to him, but I imagined he would think my motive in sending a letter to Jonathan might be a romantic one. But there was no time to worry about that now. I had to act promptly.

I said: “Leave immediately. Make the journey as quickly as you can. Mr. Jonathan will understand when he reads my letter, and make sure you give it to no one else.”

As I left the stables I ran into Millicent. I felt myself flush deeply. I was, after all, sending a letter in secret to her husband.

She said: “I saw that groom… what’s his name… Jake Somebody… dashing off somewhere… looking very important.” The manner in which she kept her eyes on me embarrassed me. She was suspicious. “I stopped him and asked why he was in such a hurry. He muttered something about having to do something for you.”

“Oh yes, of course,” I said, trying to speak lightly and wondering if she had overheard anything.

She went on: “That was a strange business about the ghost of the man Grafter.”

“Yes,” I answered cautiously, “very strange.”

“You seem to me the very last person to come face to face with a ghost. And you were so sure…”

“Yes, it was very strange.”

“I suppose you’re a believer now. You were rather sceptical before, weren’t you?”

“I would always be sceptical until I had the evidence of my own experience.”

She kept her eyes on my face and I thought: Was it you, Millicent, who tied the rope across the path? How much do you know about me and Jonathan? My memory flashed back to a scene in the bedroom. Had she not said: “I think I would kill anyone he was too fond of…”?

Millicent was a strange woman. She resembled her mother and I believed she would be capable of a great deal before which others would quail.

I felt myself turning cold with horror. Could I be in the presence of one who had tried, if not to kill me, to maim me for life? Did she know that it was in truth Billy Grafter who had been on the bridle path that day, because it was she who had laid the trap for me? Had she been watching in the bushes for me to fall? And if so, what did she know of Billy Grafter? And having made one attempt and failed, would she try again?

We came into the house together and I went to my room.

I was dreadfully uneasy and it was difficult to act normally. My mother, I had thought, was the only one in the house who would believe that I had actually seen Billy Grafter. I had to talk to her.

She was very upset. “If only Dickon were here,” she kept saying.

“Maman,” I said, “someone here… not far away, helped Billy Grafter to get away. Someone removed the rope from the bushes. That person must be looking after him. He was hurt, I know.”

“Who, Claudine, who?”

“I don’t know, but I have sent a message to Jonathan. He will come back with all speed when he receives it, I am sure.”

“Let’s hope he comes soon. That rope… why was it there?”

“I think… to catch me.”

“Do you really believe that?”

“I must. It was the way I came… regularly. It was only by a fluke that I stopped to look at Jeanne’s materials and Billy Grafter got there first.”

“Oh, Claudine, I am afraid for you.”

“I’ll be all right. I’ve been warned now. And Jonathan will be home soon.”

“Shall I send for Dickon?”

“I think Jonathan will manage it. Wait and see what he has to say.”

“In the meantime… you must take the utmost care. I was thinking all last night of the things that have happened: those people coming to the house pretending to be Dickon’s friends; the kidnapping of Jessica; then returning her and… now this. What does it mean? Where is all this leading? Promise me you’ll take care.”

“I will. I will. Maman, do you think Millicent knows anything?”

“Millicent! I shouldn’t think so for a moment. She’s very preoccupied with the prospect of becoming a mother. Why do you ask? Has she said anything?”

“No, but I just wondered.”

“Well, promise me to take extra special care.”

“I will.”

Within two days Jonathan came back. I saw him arrive and waved from my bedroom window and immediately went down to meet him.

“Claudine!” he cried and kissed me.

“Oh, I’m so glad you’ve come.”

“I want to know everything… now… at once. He’s here… in this neighbourhood?”

“He must be.”

We went into the parlour which led out of the hall and I quickly told him what had happened.

“Rope across the bushes,” he said. “Whoever would have done that?”

“I think it was meant to catch me.”

“Why? I am quite sure that Grafter and his associates would want to do such a thing—but if they did, how came it that one of their own fell into the trap?”

“I don’t understand.”

“It was somebody who wanted to harm you. I can’t believe that those people would use such a method.” He paused thoughtfully. “It would seem that there are two plots in progress.”

I looked at him steadily and said: “There are some who know that you and I once met in Enderby. Someone was in the house when we were there… someone who spoke through the tube. Do you think it possible that that person could have told someone… someone who hates me for my part in it?”

“Millicent?” he asked.

“I can’t think that she would do such a thing… but she does love you deeply and possessively, I think. She is an intense person. It is quite reasonable to suppose that she would therefore hate me… if she knew.”

“All that was before my marriage.”

“But she watches you… she watches me. I think we betray something.”

He was silent for a few seconds, then he said: “The first thing is to get Grafter. He’s here all right. He’s in this neighbourhood. You saw him on the bridle path. How badly hurt was he?”

“I couldn’t see exactly. He was lying there. He must have been unconscious.”

“And then he was removed, but you had already let them know that you had seen Grafter.”

“I thought there was no need to hide the fact as they would all know when he was brought in.”

He nodded. “Then there is this ghostly theory. That’s good. That helps. You must take special care, Claudine. I don’t understand why this clumsy attempt was made on your life, but I don’t think it could have been Grafter’s friends, for if it were they would never have gone into the trap. There is something very odd afoot, and I want you to be careful. I want you to watch everything with the utmost attention. But don’t appear to be doing so. I’ve got to get Grafter. He’s here. He can’t be far away and he’s useless to them now in London. They know we’re looking for him. When I get him I’ll find out where the rest are. Now don’t forget, behave as though nothing had happened and appear to believe that you have had an experience of the occult.”

“I will,” I said. “Now you must wash the stains of your journey from your person, and it is nearly time to eat.”

“I’m hungry,” he said, and smiling at me with the mischief in his eyes which I knew so well, he added: “For many things.”

As we came out of the room Millicent was in the hall.

“Hello, Jonathan,” she said.

“Ah, here is my devoted wife.”

She ran to him and embraced him. Over his shoulder she looked at me and I could not understand the expression on her face.

I was determined to carry out Jonathan’s instructions and behave normally.

He himself was very merry and few would have guessed that he was engaged on an important mission. He chided me for seeing a ghost.

“Really, Claudine, I should never have believed it of you.”

“It was an extraordinary experience,” I replied.

“I wonder if you were looking into the past or the future. I believe that is how these things are supposed to work.”

Then he began telling ghost stories and in such a manner as to make them ridiculous.

David was a little put out because he thought Jonathan was mocking me; but I smiled at him to assure him that I did not mind in the least.

“Perhaps,” I said, “Jonathan will see a ghost himself one day. Then he won’t be so sceptical.”

The next day I went to see Aunt Sophie.

She had heard the story of what was now called “Mrs. Frenshaw’s vision” and was very interested in it.

“It was the ghost of that poor young man who was murdered with Alberic,” she said. “They were both murdered, poor innocent boys. Those are the people who come back… those who die violently. And they come back because they want their revenge.”

Dolly Mather was there listening intently. Aunt Sophie addressed her now and then: “Dolly, bring another cushion for me, dear child. Just put my footstool a little nearer and ring and tell them we want some coal on the fire.”

Dolly obeyed these instructions willingly, even eagerly.

I asked about her grandmother and Dolly said she was not really well. She just wanted to be by herself all the time.

“It’s very sad,” said Aunt Sophie, with that relish she always had for misery. “But Dolly comes to me very often, don’t you, child?”

Dolly answered: “I don’t know what it would be like if I couldn’t come here.”

I left at the usual time and when I came to the bridle path I dismounted and walked my horse. There was a deep silence and the darkness gave the place an eerie aspect. If I had not known that Billy Grafter was at large and that he had certainly fled from London, I could easily have been convinced that I had seen a ghost.

On the second day when I was about to call on Aunt Sophie I met Dolly on the way and I had a feeling that she had been waiting for me, which proved right.

“Oh, Mrs. Frenshaw, I was hoping to see you. Mademoiselle d’Aubigné is not well today.”

“Oh, isn’t she? What’s wrong?”

“It’s nothing much. She’s just tired and wants to sleep all the afternoon. Jeanne said if I saw you would I tell you not to call this afternoon. I haven’t seen Mademoiselle today. When I went Jeanne said come tomorrow.”

“Oh, I see.”

“Mrs. Frenshaw, I’d like to talk to you. Would you… come for a little ride with me?”

“But of course, Dolly.” I was rather pleased. I had always found it difficult to talk to her. I was sure she brooded a great deal, and I had often said to David that if only she would talk we might be able to help her. So now I welcomed the opportunity.

We turned our horses away from Enderby and I said: “Where shall we go?”

“Evie and I used to love to ride by the sea.”

“Perhaps you’d rather not go that way now then.”

“Oh, I would, I would. I often go there.”

So we turned our horses in a southerly direction.

“It’s wonderful for me to be able to go and see Mademoiselle.”

“It’s good for her, too. I think she’s really fond of you, Dolly.”

A flush suffused her cheek. “Oh, do you really think so, Mrs. Frenshaw?”

“I do indeed.”

“She’s taught me a lot. French… and everything. It has been wonderful to go there… especially after I lost Evie.”

“I understand,” I said.

“She’s so sympathetic. After all… terrible things happened to her too, didn’t they?”

“Yes.”

“Can you smell the sea, Mrs. Frenshaw?”

“Oh yes. I just got a whiff. I always like that… when you know it’s not far off.”

“Evie used to like it, too.”

I was wondering what it was she had to tell me, but I decided to leave it to her to do it in her own time and her own way. I fancied she could easily return to the secretive Dolly I had always known.

We broke into a gallop and went like the wind over the green fields. Dolly was a good rider and she seemed to gain confidence in the saddle.

Then we saw the sea. It was a grey, quiet, November sea with hardly a ripple on the water and not even the slightest breeze in the air.

“Shall we go down to the beach?” she said. “I love it there.”

I followed and as our horses’ hoofs touched the sand I saw the boat lying there on the beach.

“Oh look,” said Dolly. “Shall we go and see the boat?”

We galloped across the sand to where the boat lay.

Dolly turned and looked at the boat house.

“Oh, I think someone’s there.”

“The owner of the boat perhaps,” I said.

“Shall we go and see? Let’s tie our horses there… on the rock. That’s where Evie and I used to leave ours when we came here.”

“All right,” I said. I dismounted and tethered my horse. Dolly was already making her way to the boat house.

“Is anyone there?” she called.

There was no answer.

“I did think I saw someone,” she said. “Let’s take a peep inside.”

Cautiously she pushed open the door and went in. I followed.

The door shut suddenly and I was in darkness. Something had been put over my head. I felt a sharp blow on the head and then there was darkness.

When I opened my eyes the first thing I saw was Dolly. She was sitting on a three-legged stool watching me.

I was lying on the floor; I felt dazed and there was a pain in my head. My wrists and ankles were firmly tied together.

“Dolly…” I stammered. “What… what’s happened?”

She said: “You’ll soon come round. It’s ten minutes since we came in here. I’ve brought you here to kill you, Mrs. Frenshaw.”

I should have thought she was being ridiculous if she had not been holding a gun.

She saw my eyes on it and said: “I know how to use it. It’s one of the things I’ve been taught.”

“Dolly! What is this? Some game?”

“Oh no, it’s very serious. Death is.”

“Do you really mean…?”

She said: “Oh yes. You’ve got to die. You murdered Evie and you’re going to die… as she did.”

“You’re mad. Nobody murdered Evie. She killed herself.”

“She killed herself because others made her. That’s murder… and murderers have to die.”

“Dolly, try to be sensible. Talk to me. What do you mean? What is all this about?”

“I’ll tell you. We’ve got time because I’m not going to kill you until Billy gets here. That’s part of the contract.”

“Billy? Billy Grafter?”

“Yes, Billy Grafter.”

“So you and he are friends.”

She nodded. “Well, he was Alberic’s friend, wasn’t he?” She smiled. “You can’t move, can you? You’re well tied up. Billy did that.”

“He’s here?”

She nodded. “He’s going to get him. That’s what he’s going to do. And I’m going to get you. He helped me… and I’ll help him. You don’t understand, do you? Billy will be here in a moment. Then we’ll just go ahead.”

She caressed the gun and I thought: She really means it. She’s mad.

“Why should you go free with your sins… when my sister Evie…” Her face puckered as though she was going to cry.

“Dolly,” I said, “let’s talk.”

“We are talking, aren’t we? You see, you committed adultery. You broke the seventh commandment. You were married to the nice one and you committed adultery with the wicked one. It was in Enderby when it was empty before Mademoiselle came in. We knew you were there with him. We frightened you, didn’t we, when we spoke through the tube?”

“So that was you.”

“Yes… Evie and me. You were so scared. We laughed about it. And then… Evie was in love, and she said that when you loved it was the most wonderful thing… and then she was going to have the little baby. I wanted that little baby, Mrs. Frenshaw. Oh, I would have taken such care of it. And then she killed herself.”

“She should never have done that. We could have done something. We could have helped her.”

“It was you, Mrs. Frenshaw. You started it and he finished it. You betrayed him and he shot him… and he was drowned. Between you you killed Alberic. Oh, you are puzzled, aren’t you? You thought Evie’s baby’s father was Harry Farringdon. She never cared for him. It was our Granny who wanted that. It was Alberic for Evie. They loved each other and I loved them both. They were going to take me to France with them. I was going to look after the little baby… because they would be married and it was all going to be wonderful. Then suddenly it all changed. He went to London and when he came back in a hurry he told us that you’d seen him and you’d told that wicked Mr. Frenshaw, who was your lover, and Alberic said he had to get away quickly… because they were after him. He promised to send for us… Evie and me. He told us we were to go to France. We would have gone. We knew how to get there. We were up here… hiding when it happened. So we saw it all. You came along and that wicked man shot Alberic and Alberic drowned and everything was different after that.”

“You must know that Alberic was a spy.”

“Alberic was a wonderful man.”

“It is men such as him who brought terrible trouble to France.”

“That had to be. That was injustice. Alberic talked about it to us.”

“And he was trying to do to this country what he had done in his own. He had to die, Dolly. He always knew that he was taking that risk.”

“And my sister… my Evie… she killed herself. She couldn’t face Granny. She was always on about Evie marrying well, telling her she really belonged at Eversleigh and how pretty she was and how she would get a rich husband. She said she didn’t try hard enough for Harry Farringdon.”

“Oh Dolly… what a tangle of troubles! It need not have been.”

“Evie couldn’t face… having a bastard.”

“People do…”

“You did… perhaps.”

“Dolly!”

“That makes you angry. Of course you’re angry. It makes me angry. Poor Evie had to kill herself and you… you did the same… only you were worse because you had a good husband. Evie never had that. She had to die… and you’re the lady at the big house… with everyone being respectable while my poor Evie…”

“Oh, Dolly, I’m so sorry. It’s such a waste of a life… a waste of happiness…”

“Not for you. You get what you want and nobody knows.”

“Did you take the baby from Eversleigh?”

“Yes. I was going to kill it.”

I caught my breath with horror.

“Well, Evie’s baby was killed wasn’t it?”

“Oh Dolly.” I felt quite sick thinking of that terrible time when Jessica had been taken from us.

“I kept her in my room at Grasslands. I was afraid someone might see her, but we managed. Then I knew I’d taken the wrong one. How was I to know which was which? There was all that fuss. I had her with me all the time. She’s a lovely little baby.” Her face creased into a smile. “She laughed at me and grabbed my finger and wouldn’t let go. She was a dear little baby. I’m glad I didn’t have to kill that one.”

I said: “And the rope in the bushes?”

She nodded. “You always went that way. Why does everything go right for you? Why did Billy have to come along that path just then?”

“Rough justice,” I said.

“I was watching. I shouted when I saw who it was but I was too late and I didn’t have time to get him away when you came so I had to leave him… and the rope and everything.”

“So you were watching?”

“I wanted to see you fall.”

“I understand. And then after I’d gone for help you came out and took him away. You removed the rope…”

“It wasn’t easy. I had to get him on his horse. Then I took the rope away and I took Billy to the boat house and looked after him. He’d cut his forehead but he hadn’t broken anything. He’d fallen into the bushes and they’d saved him. He was all right after a little while.”

“I had no idea that you could be so devious,” I said.

She looked rather pleased with herself. “Billy said I was making a mess of it. He said it was too important to be managed by an amateur. He said he’d help me to do it in a better way. He’d show me how to get you and I’d help him get the man. You’ve both got to die… for Evie. He knows too much, Billy says. He’s going to finish him and help me with you. When you’re both dead we’re going to put weights on you and throw you into the sea. You’ll just be a mysterious disappearance.”

“And you, Dolly, what are you going to do? How are you going to feel when you know yourself to be a murderess?”

“I’m an avenger. That’s different. We’re not ordinary murderers. I’m doing what has to be done for Evie, and Billy… he’s doing his duty.”

“I don’t think a court of law would recognize it that way.”

“Aren’t you frightened, Mrs. Frenshaw?”

“A little. I don’t want to die. And, Dolly, somehow I feel you weren’t meant to be a murderess.”

“I’m going to kill you,” she said. “I wish I could do it now and get it over.”

“You don’t like the idea of it, do you?”

She said: “I’ve sworn… for Evie.”

“Untie my hands, Dolly.”

She shook her head. “That would spoil everything. I’ve promised Evie. I’ve promised myself. Why should you break the seventh commandment and get away free while my sister Evie… She didn’t break the commandment because she wasn’t married. It was only because she loved Alberic. They would have been married and lived happily ever after… and I should have been with them.”

“You couldn’t do this to me, Dolly. How will you feel when people are asking where I am? Suppose somebody saw you with me? They would say, ‘The last time we saw her she was riding away with you.’”

“Nobody did see us.”

“How can you be sure? And when they started asking you questions…”

“They wouldn’t. Billy said it would be all right. You’re trying to frighten me.”

I laughed mirthlessly. “And what are you doing to me?”

“You deserve what you’re getting.”

“Whatever I’ve done I have not murdered…”

“Yes you have. You murdered Evie. My dear sweet lovely Evie.”

“Evie killed herself.”

“If you say that again I’ll shoot you now. I won’t wait for Billy.”

“Why do you wait for him?”

“Because… because… You must not ask questions.”

“You have already told me all it is necessary to know. I am sorry about Evie. It was such a cruel waste of life.”

She turned away from me to hide her grief, and just at that moment I heard a shrill whistle.

“It’s Billy,” she said.

She went out and there followed the sound of voices.

I heard him say: “I’ll keep an eye on her. She can’t get away. Take something of hers…. something he’d know. He’s a suspicious devil and he’s on the trail.”

“All right,” said Dolly.

She came back into the boat house. She was no longer carrying the gun.

“I want a ring or something… something he’d know,” she said.

“Something who would know?”

“Your lover, of course. The one you met at Enderby, the one you broke the seventh commandment for.”

“Why do you want this?”

“Because I’m going to take it to him and tell him where you are.”

“Dolly!”

“Then he’ll come, won’t he? He’ll come to rescue you.”

“And then?”

“Billy will be lying in wait for him.”

“Dolly, you must not do this.”

“It’s part of the plan. Billy and I are helping each other. It was his idea. That’s why he doesn’t want you dead till after he is. You get the idea. Billy doesn’t trust me. He thinks that if I killed you I mightn’t help him bring Mr. Frenshaw here. I would though… because although you’re both Evie’s murderers, he was the one who actually killed Alberic.”

I was more afraid now. I saw the plan clearly. Jonathan would come riding onto the beach and Billy Grafter would be lying hidden waiting for him. Jonathan would be an easy target. It must not happen. I suddenly thought of a world without him and I could not bear it. If ever I knew that I loved Jonathan it was in that moment.

I began to plead for Jonathan’s life as I had not pleaded for my own.

“Dolly, please… listen to me. You must not do this. Jonathan has done no wrong. He is working for his country. He had to kill Alberic. Alberic was a spy.”

“Alberic was going to be Evie’s husband.”

“Listen, Dolly.”

“I won’t listen any more. Billy will be angry. He gets very angry. He wants me to go at once. I’ve got to bring him here. Now… give me something. That scarf. That’ll do. Oh yes. It has your initials worked on it in silk. He’ll know that.”

“Dolly, please don’t do this thing.”

She laughed, and snatching the scarf, ran out of the boat house.

It seemed like hours that I lay there. There was a deep silence broken only by the gentle swishing of the waves as they ran lightly up the sand; and now and then I heard the melancholy cry of a gull.

What could I do? I was powerless. Must I lie here trussed up like a fowl for the oven, unable to move? I looked at my wrists which were firmly bound together and I wondered if I could hope to release them. If I could do that… unbind my ankles and get out of here… I could find a way. Billy Grafter was watching out there. He would be at some vantage point, ready to kill Jonathan as he arrived.

It was hopeless. My hands were firmly tied and I could not break free.

I thought: What chance will he have? He will walk straight into the trap.

I should have been more astute. I should have tried to find out more about Evie and her sister. I should have tried to discover who was watching me, who had tried to bring me down on the bridle path. It seemed that I had been obsessed by Jonathan and I had thought it was Millicent’s jealousy when it had been a much more sinister cause.

What was the time? Would she find him? I knew that when she showed him my scarf he would believe that I had sent it. What would she tell him? Some plausible story. She was quite inventive. She would say that I was Billy Grafter’s prisoner in the boat house, that she had seen him bring me here, that she had slipped in and been unable to free me and I had begged her to go to him for help.

I guessed that in the circumstances, because of his fear for me, Jonathan would not pause to consider the story closely. He would come at once.

How long had she been away? It must be more than half an hour. These could be my last minutes on earth. I had seen purpose in Dolly’s eyes; she had loved her sister devotedly. Evie had been all that she was not… pretty, attractive—and she had lived for Evie.

Oh, I understood Dolly’s motives, her feelings, her emotions. The sadly maimed one, taken care of by her beautiful sister, giving all the affection of which she was capable—and that was a good deal—to Evie. Then the chain of events… the coming of Alberic, the love between him and Evie, the consequences, and then the death of Alberic.

I could understand the heartbreak, the intensity of the sorrow she had felt. Yes, I could understand why Dolly had been thrown off balance. I could understand why she could contemplate murder. But she had been moved by Jessica. I could see that in her face when she had spoken of her. I trembled to think that it might have been Amaryllis. What if it had been? Oh no, that was too appalling to contemplate!

I tried to look into the future. Jonathan would come. He would be killed. Then Dolly would shoot me. Would they send us both to the bottom of the ocean?

An idea came to me which filled me with horror. We should both be missing… lying at the bottom of the sea, weighed down so that there was no danger of our bodies being washed ashore as Alberic’s had been. They would say that we had gone away together. Millicent would recall her suspicions. And David… what of David?

I had not thought of that until this moment and now I was filled with wretchedness. This was what I could least bear. He would believe I had gone off with his brother… that I had deserted him and my child.

“Oh no… no…” I moaned.

I cared so much about David, and the thought of his believing this of me, of the wound it would inflict, hurt me more than anything else I could think of.

I was in a cold sweat.

I would implore Dolly not to do this. Let her kill me if she would… but not let it be thought that I had disappeared… with Jonathan.

She would never agree. How could she without implicating herself?

“Shoot me,” I would plead. “But leave my body in the boat house. Leave me here with Jonathan… and Billy Grafter could get away in the boat… but leave us here. Let David know that I was not guilty of the ultimate betrayal.”

An hour must have passed.

It could not be long now. I was straining my ears. Then suddenly I heard the shot and I knew that Jonathan had arrived.

There was another shot and another. The shooting went on for some seconds.

Dolly was in the boat house; her hair fell wildly about her shoulders; she was white-faced and she was staring at me madly.

She said: “Billy’s dead. He’s got Billy.”

Great gladness seized me. I said: “And Jonathan…?”

“Him too,” she said. “They’re both lying there. I’ve got to kill you now. It’s your turn… and Billy’s not here to help me.”

I felt numb. Jonathan dead! I could imagine it. He would have come riding onto the beach, making for the boat house… and Billy was lying hidden. Billy would shoot, but unless he killed Jonathan with the first shot, he would not succeed. Jonathan would be ready… on the alert.

“Dead,” I said. “Jonathan… dead.”

“Billy too…” she murmured and she picked up the gun, and pointed it at me.

“There’ll be blood,” she said. “There is blood. Poor Billy. I don’t like blood.”

Then she dropped her gun and covered her face with her hands. “I can’t do it,” she said. “I thought I could but I can’t. I couldn’t kill the little baby.”

“Of course you can’t do it, Dolly. I understand everything. I know how you felt. Help me now. Untie these ropes. Let’s go and see them. Perhaps they’re not dead.”

She looked at me and I saw the timid girl I had always known.

“They are dead,” she said.

“They might not be. Perhaps there is something we could do.”

She hesitated. I felt then that my life was in the balance. Everything depended on the next few seconds. Suddenly she nodded. She felt in the pocket of her gown and brought out a knife. She looked at it for a moment and paused. I thought she was going to change her mind. Then she cut the ropes.

I stumbled out of the boat house. I saw Billy Grafter first. He was lying on the sand, which was dyed red all around him.

He was undoubtedly dead.

And there was Jonathan.

I had never thought to see him so. He lay limply and his face was the colour of ivory. He looked like a different person… so quiet… so still. His horse was standing patiently by. He must have dismounted before he was shot.

I leaned over him. I thought I detected a faint flutter of breath.

“Jonathan, my love, don’t die. Please…”

Dolly was standing beside me.

Hope had come to me. He was not dead. He might yet be saved.

“Dolly,” I said. “Ride back to Eversleigh. Get help. Tell them there’s been an accident. Tell them that Mr. Jonathan is very seriously hurt. Promise me you will do this. I will stay here with him.”

She said: “I can’t. What will they say?”

I took her arm. I wondered whether I should go. But I did not want to leave her here with him. I was still unsure of her. I kept telling myself that there was hope and I was desperately afraid to leave him.

I said very seriously: “This is a terrible thing, Dolly. We’ve got to save them if possible… him and Billy. You have played a part in this, but you are no murderess. If we can save their lives you’ll feel so much better. You’ll forget that you lured him here. Tell them quickly and get a doctor and a stretcher and bring them here quickly… Please, Dolly.”

“I’ll go,” she said. “I’ll go.”

And I believed her.

I knelt beside him. “Jonathan,” I said. “Oh… Jonathan. Please don’t die. You mustn’t leave me, you mustn’t…”

His eyes flickered for a moment and his lips moved. I bent low to hear what he said. It was: “Claudine.”

“Yes, Jonathan, my dearest. I am here with you. I am hoping to take you back to Eversleigh. You’re going to recover. Yes, you are. I promise you.”

“Finished,” he whispered.

“No… no. You’re too young. Nobody could do this to you. Not to you… Jonathan Frenshaw. You’ve always been the one who succeeded. You’re not finished. Your whole life is before you.”

His lips formed my name again.

“Remember…” he murmured. “Live… happily, Claudine. Don’t look back. Secrets… best kept. Remember. For Amaryllis… remember. Ours…”

I kissed his forehead. He seemed to be aware of me, for something like a smile touched his lips.

He was still trying to say something. “Be happy…” I think it was, and I knew he was reminding me of his philosophy. I was to be happy, to make David happy. I was to keep our secret. Dolly shared it, but I had a feeling that she would never betray it. There were many things which she would want to forget.

“Don’t go, Jonathan,” I said.

“Do you love me?”

“I do… with all my heart.”

His eyes flickered and there was that smile again.

“Jonathan,” I pleaded. “Jonathan…”

But he was unaware and he spoke no more.

When they arrived he was dead.