The Captive

Some Discoveries

My thoughts were preoccupied with what I had learned from Kate and I had a conviction that it must have some bearing on the mystery I was trying to solve.

I had made up my mind that the drunken sailor was Mirabel’s first husband and since she had been contemplating becoming the mistress of Perrivale Court, it was imperative to her that he should not find her.

A husband would ruin all her chances. And then he had conveniently been found at the bottom of a cliff. She would be the one. who wanted to be rid of him. What if she had wanted to be rid of Cosmo as well?

Why? She was to have married him. But she married Tristan immediately afterwards.

Of course, the man who had died might have nothing to do with Mirabel.

There was only Kate’s evidence to suggest this. I knew how imaginative she could be. She had been very young when she had last seen her father and this man who looked like him. She mentioned the way he walked as one of the reasons why she recognized him. Many sailors had that rolling gait. It was acquired through constantly adjusting their balance on an unsteady ship.

It was all very vague and I did not know what to believe, but on the other hand I felt I had taken a little step forward, if only a short one.

The very next day Lady Perrivale sent for me. She was very affable.

She looked so feminine that it was impossible to imagine her luring her first husband to the cliff edge and pushing him over. That was too wild a conjecture. I felt sure that the man was a stranger. Thomas Parry. How could he be the husband of Mirabel Blanchard? It was possible that she could have changed her name. And so ran my muddled thoughts.

“I believe you met your friend Mr. Lorimer the other day,” she said.

“Oh yes.”

“Kate told me. She missed you very much.” She smiled at me benignly.

“There is no need for you to have to meet in The Sailor King, you know. He would be very welcome to come here to see you. I don’t want you to feel you can’t have visitors.”

“That is most kind of you.”

“As a matter of fact, I was thinking of asking him and his brother over to dine soon.”

“I think his brother is. too shocked at the moment to want to pay visits. It has been such a terrible blow to him.”

“Oh yes, indeed. However, I shall invite them both and perhaps Mr. Lucas Lorimer will accept.”

“I feel sure he will be happy to do so.”

“You will join us, of course. There won’t be many guests. It will be just an informal occasion.”

“It sounds very pleasant.”

“I am sending a note over to Trecorn Manor today. I do hope they will accept.”

I had an idea that she was arranging the party to show me that, although I was the governess, she did not regard me as such. I remembered so well, when Felicity came to us, that my parents had been anxious that she should not be treated like a servant because she had come to us through the recommendation of a man who could have been one of my father’s colleagues but then ours was not a conventional household.

I was pleased that Lady Perrivale should have been so sensitive of my feelings; but all the time she was talking to me I was seeing her in

three sordid little rooms, escaping from them when Thomas Parry went to sea. I imagined his coming back and finding her and his little daughter flown from the nest. and setting out to look for them.

I wanted so much to talk to Lucas. How I wished that I could tell him all I knew. Perhaps I should. If Thomas Parry had been murdered by someone who was living in the neighbourhood today, why should that person not have treated Cosmo in the same way? And what could Simon have to do with Thomas Parry? I needed advice. I needed help. And Lucas was near.

I longed to see him and I was so anxious that he should accept this invitation to dinner that when I saw the messenger leave with the note for Trecorn Manor I hung about waiting for his return. I managed to be in the courtyard when he came back.

“Oh hello, Morris,” I said.

“Have you been over to Trecorn Manor?”

“Yes, Miss. No luck, though. They were out both Mr. Carleton and Mr. Lucas Lorimer.”

“So you couldn’t deliver your note to them?”

“No. I had to leave it. Someone will bring the answer over later. A pity. Makes two journeys instead of one.”

It was the next day when the answer came. I went down because I thought Dick Duvane would bring it, but it was not Dick. It was one of the Trecorn stable men.

“Oh,” I said.

“I thought Dick Duvane would come. He usually does these things for Mr. Lucas.”

“Oh, Dick’s not there now, Miss.”

“Not there?”

“He’s gone abroad.”

“Without Mr. Lucas!”

“Seemingly. Mr. Lucas, he be at the Manor and Dick Duvane, he be gone.

I did hear to foreign parts. “

“Mr. Lucas will miss him.”

“Aye, that he will.”

“Shall I take the note to Lady Perrivale?”

“If you’d be so good. Miss.”

I took it to her.

She said: “Mr. Carleton declines. He doesn’t feel up to it. Poor man.

But Mr. Lucas accepts with pleasure. “

That was what I wanted to know. I was puzzled about Dick Duvane though, for I knew that he and Lucas had been together for so long.

However, I suppose they parted company sometimes. For instance, Dick hadn’t been on the ship with Lucas.

The dinner party was to take place at the end of that week. I was glad there was not long to wait before I saw Lucas again.

Kate had been a little withdrawn after her confession. I think she must have been wondering whether she had told me too much.

“We got through our lessons with moderate ease, but even The Count of Monte Cristo did not entirely hold her attention.

She was not very interested in the dinner party because she was not to attend. If I were doing something she liked to share in it. She may have regretted her confession, but in a way it had made ours a more intimate relationship.

The evening of the dinner party arrived. I dressed care fully in a gown of lapis lazuli blue which had streaks of gold in it so that it really did resemble the stone. It was one of the dresses I had brought with me when I had visited Felicity. Aunt Maud had said there would certainly be dinner parties and I should have something becoming to wear.

I dressed my yellow hair high on my head and I noticed with pleasure that the colour of my dress made my eyes look more blue. I think I could say I was looking my best.

Kate came in to see me before I went down.

“You look quite pretty,” she said.

“Thank you for the compliment.”

“It’s true. Is that a compliment if it’s true?”

“Yes, it is. It’s flattery that can be false.”

“You sound just like a governess.”

“Well, I am a governess.”

She sat on the bed and laughed at me.

“It will be a boring old party,” she said.

“I don’t know why you think it’s going to be such fun. Is it because that old Lucas is going to be there?”

“He’s not exactly old.”

“Oh, he is. He’s ever so old. You’re old and he’s older than you.”

“You think that because you are young. It is a matter of comparisons.”

“Well, he’s old and he can’t walk straight either.”

“How do you know?”

“One of the maids told me. He was nearly drowned and it almost killed him.”

“Yes, she’s right. I was nearly drowned too.”

“But you’re all right. He’s not.” I was silent and she went on: “The old Rev is going to be there with his awful wife … and the doctor all the most boring people you can think of.”

“They may be boring to you but not to me. I’m looking forward to it.”

“That’s why your eyes sparkle and look bluer. Tell me about it after.”

“I will.”

“Promise … everything.”

“I’ll tell you all I think you should know.”

“I want to know everything.”

“All that is good for you.”

She put out her tongue at me.

“Governess,” she said.

“Not the most pleasant part of your anatomy,” I said.

“What’s that?”

“Work it out for yourself. Now I’m going down.”

She grimaced.

“All right. Don’t let that Lucas persuade you to go back.”

“I won’t.”

“Promise.”

“I promise that.”

She smiled.

“I’ll tell you something. Gramps will be there, so it won’t be so boring after all.”

The guests were already assembling. I went down and very soon we went in to dinner. I found myself sitting next to Lucas.

“What a pleasure!” he said.

“I am so glad you came.”

“I told you I would.”

“What happened to Dick Duvane? I hear he has gone away.”

“It’s not permanent. He’s just gone away for a spell.”

“I’m surprised. I thought he was your good and faithful servant.”

“I’ve never looked upon him as an ordinary servant, nor has he regarded himself as such, I believe.”

“That’s why I’m so surprised he’s gone.”

“Dick and I used to travel a lot together. We had an adventurous time.

Now I’m stuck at home . can’t get about as I used to. Poor Dick, he gets restive. He’s gone off on his own . just for a spell. “

“I thought he was so devoted to you.”

“He is … and I to him. But because I’m afflicted and restricted, there’s no reason why he should be. How are you getting along here… really? I suppose we can’t discuss it here … right in the middle of the family. You must be getting to know them well.”

“Not all. It is the first time I’ve seen the Dowager Lady Perrivale.”

He looked along the table to where she sat. She looked rather formidable. It was indeed the first time I had seen her. She had had to be helped downstairs and I gathered that she spent most of her time in her own room. The Major was sitting beside her, carrying on an animated conversation with her which she seemed to enjoy. Tristan at the other end of the table was talking to the doctor’s wife.

Lucas was right: we could not speak of the family at their dinner table.

Conversation was general, embracing the Queen and her advancing years, the merits of Gladstone and Salisbury and suchlike.

I was not paying a great deal of attention. I so much wanted to be alone with Lucas. There was a great deal to say. I was longing to ask him what he thought about the drunken sailor.

I really believed then that, had it been possible to talk intimately with Lucas, I would have told him everything at that point.

With the ladies I left the men over the port and went into the drawing-room. To my surprise I found myself seated next to the Dowager Lady Perrivale. I thought perhaps it might have been arranged and she wanted to inspect Kate’s governess.

She was one of those women who must have been formidable in her prime.

I could see from her face that she was accustomed to having her own way. I remembered what I had heard of her; how she had restored Perrivale Court when she brought her money into the family, and I imagined she had a certain fondness for the place.

“I’m glad to have the opportunity of a chat, Miss Cranleigh,” she said.

“My daughter-in-law tells me that you are doing very well with Kate. My goodness, that is an achievement. The governesses that child has had! And not one to stay more than a month or two.”

“I haven’t completed a month yet. Lady Perrivale.”

“I do hope you will… and many months. My daughter-in-law is so happy with the outcome. She said Kate is a different child.”

“Kate needs to be understood.”

“I suppose we all do. Miss Cranleigh.”

“Some of us are less predictable than others.”

“I expect you are very predictable, Miss Cranleigh. I am most unpredictable. This is what they call one of my good days. I shouldn’t be down here if it were not. You look to me as if you have a very orderly mind.”

“I try to have.”

Then if you try, you will’. I have given up trying. Though I used to be the same. I could never endure mess and muddle. One grows old. Miss Cranleigh. Things change. How do you like Perrivale Court? “

“I think it is one of the most interesting houses I have ever been in.”

“Then we agree. I was fascinated by it from the moment I saw it. I am so pleased Tristan is married and settled. I hope there will be grandchildren … soon enough for me to see them before I go. I should like several.”

“I hope your wishes will be granted.”

“I want this place to pass to my grandchildren… children of the Arkwright blood mingling with the Perrivale … you know what I mean. Arkwright money made it what it is today … so it is only right. It would be just the right mixture, you see …”

I thought this was an odd conversation. I noticed that her eyes were slightly glazed and I wondered whether she had forgotten to whom she was talking. I saw Mirabel cast an anxious look in her direction.

The Dowager Lady Perrivale noticed Mirabel’s glance. She waved her hand and smiled.

“Don’t you think she is delightful, Miss Cranleigh? My daughter-in-law, I mean. Did you ever see anyone so beautiful?”

“No,” I said.

“I don’t think I have.”

“I knew her mother and her father … the dear Major. It is so nice to have him as a neighbour. Her mother was my best friend. We went to school together. That was why the Major came down here after her death

when he left the Army, of course. I said, ” Come and settle in Cornwall. ” I’m thankful that he did. It brought dear Mirabel into the family.”

“She lost her first husband,” I said tentatively.

“Poor Mirabel. It’s sad to be left a widow with a child to care for. Of course she had her wonderful, wonderful father … and he came out of the Army just at the right time. He has been a tower of strength to us all. Such a delightful man. Have you met him … I mean apart from tonight?”

“Yes.

Kate took me to see him at the Dower House. “

“She would. She adores him. He’s so good with children. Well … he’s good with anyone.

He’s devoted to Mirabel. He was delighted with the marriage . so was I. It was just what I wanted. And it means the Major is here with us a charming neighbour . and a member of the family really. “

“He has a lovely home there at the Dower House.”

“He seems to like it.

I’d like to go along and see him there . but I can’t get out now .”

“What a pity.”

“Yes … indeed. But I have a good woman. She has been my maid for years. She’s my constant companion. I’m in the rooms next to those used by my husband when he was alive. It’s almost a separate part of the house. My husband was a man who liked to be alone. He was very religious, you know. I always said he should have gone into the Church. Well, it has been nice to chat. You must come along and see me. Maria-that’s my maid-will be pleased to see you. In fact she keeps me informed.”

“I don’t think I’ve met Maria.”

“No, you wouldn’t. She’s mostly in my part of the house.”

“I think my room must be opposite yours.”

“You’re up in the nursery.

Yes, that would be about it . across the courtyard. Oh look, the men are coming back. They’ll split us up now. I have enjoyed getting to

know you. And thank you for what you’re doing with Kate. That child did know how to make a nuisance of herself. My daughter-in-law tells me she is greatly relieved. “

“I really don’t deserve all these compliments.”

Mirabel was coming towards us. She smiled at me.

“Miss Cranleigh must come and talk to her friend,” she said to the old lady.

Then she drew me to one side.

“I hope my mother-in-law didn’t confuse you. She rambles on a bit. Since the tragedy she’s been a little strange. It’s rarely that she comes to things like this. But she seemed a great deal better and wanted to meet you. She’s not always lucid … and talks wildly quite often.”

“No, no,” I said.

“She talked normally.”

“Oh, I’m glad. Oh, here’s Mr. Lorimer.”

Lucas was coming towards us. There was someone with him and the evening was almost over before I found myself alone with him.

“Oh, it’s such a shame. I did want to say so much to you.”

“You’re making me very curious.”

“But not here, Lucas.”

“Well then, we’d better meet. What about tomorrow at The Sailor King?”

“I’ll manage to get there.”

“Two-thirty as before?”

“That’s a good time.”

“I’ll look forward to it,” said Lucas.

The evening was over. Kate came to my room as I was getting undressed.

“What was it like?” she asked.

“Interesting. I had a long chat with the Dowager Lady Perrivale.”

“You mean Stepper’s mother. She’s an old witch.”

“Really, Kate!”

“Well, a bit mad anyway-She stays in those rooms where Sir Edward died. She and that old Maria are up there all the time. She’s with the ghost up there. I don’t like her much.”

“She seemed concerned about you.”

“Oh, she doesn’t like me. She likes my mother and Gramps, though. Did you talk to Gramps?”

“Not really … just greetings. It is amazing how little one can talk to people.”

“What about old Lucas?”

“Why is everyone old to you?”

“Because they are.”

“Well, they are certainly not ten years old. Go away now, will you? I want to go to bed.”

“I want to hear all about it in the morning.”

“There’s really nothing to tell.”

“I suppose you think you are going to parties here to find a rich husband.”

“Most of the men seem to have wives already,” I said with a smile.

“All you have to do is …”

“What?” I asked.

“Murder them,” she said.

“Good night. Cranny. See you in the morning.”

And she was gone.

I was disturbed. What was actually in the child’s mind? I wondered.

What did she know? And how much did she make up when she did not know?

I kept thinking about the sailor. I had almost made up my mind to tell Lucas.

When I met Lucas the following day, I was still wavering. But the first thing he said when we were seated was: “Now, out with it. What’s on your mind? Why don’t you tell me? You’ve wanted to for a long time and in any case that’s why you’ve brought me here today.”

“There is something,” I said.

“Lucas, if you promise … promise you won’t do anything thatiJ ask you not to …”

He looked at me in puzzlement.

“Is it something that happened on the island?”

“Well, yes … in a way.”

“John Player?”

“Yes. But he isn’t John Player, Lucas.”

“That doesn’t surprise me. I knew there was some mystery.”

“Promise me, Lucas. I must have your promise before I tell you.”

“How can I promise when I don’t know what I’m promising?”

“How can I tell you if I don’t know you will?”

He smiled wryly.

“All right, I promise.”

I said, “He’s Simon Perrivale.”

“What?”

“Yes, he left England on the ship … taking the place of one of the deck hands.”

Lucas was staring at me.

“Lucas,” I said earnestly.

“I want to prove his innocence … so that he can come back.”

“This explains … everything.”

“I thought it would. And I was afraid that you might think it your duty to tell the authorities … or someone.”

“Don’t worry about that. I’ve promised, haven’t I? Tell me more. I suppose he confessed this to you on the island when I was lying there, unable to move.”

“Yes, it was like that. There is something else you must know. He was in the seraglio … or rather just outside it, working in the gardens.

I told you how I became friendly with Nicole and she was the friend of the Chief Eunuch. Well, he Simon managed to ingratiate himself with the Eunuch and I think because of it and because of Nicole . he helped us both. Simon escaped with me. “

Lucas was speechless with incredulity.

“We were taken away together and left close to the British Embassy. I

went in … and in time came home. Simon dared not be sent home. He left me there. He was going to try to get to Australia.”

“And you have heard nothing of him since?”

I shook my head.

“I understand now,” he said, ‘why you have this crazy idea of proving his innocence. “

“It’s not crazy. I know he’s innocent.”

“Because he told you?”

“It’s more than that. I got to know Simon very well…”

He paused for a few seconds before he said: “Wouldn’t it be better for him to come home and face things? If he is innocent…”

“He is innocent. But how could he prove it? They have all decided that he is guilty.”

“And you think you are going to make them change their minds?”

“Lucas, I know there is some way of doing this. There must be. I’m certain of it. If only I could find the answer.”

“This is the most important thing in the world to you, is it?”

“I want it more than anything.”

“I see. Well, what good is it playing governess to that child?”

“I’m here. I’m close to the people who were involved in it. It’s a way”

“Listen, Rosetta. You’re not being logical. You’re letting your emotions get in the way of your common sense. You’ve had some fantastic adventures; you were plunged into a world so different from the one you knew that you are not thinking clearly. What happened to you was melodramatic … beyond what you could have imagined before.

Miraculously, you came through. It was a chance in a thousand . but because it happened you expect life to go on like that. You were in that seraglio . a prisoner. everything was so different there. Wild things could happen. You’re in another sort of seraglio now. one of your own making. You’re a prisoner of your imagination. You think you are going to solve this murder, when it is clear what has happened. The innocent rarely run away. You should’re member that. He couldn’t have said, “I’m guilty” more clearly. You’re not being logical, Rosetta. You’re living in a world of dreams. “

“Nanny Crockett believes in him.”

“Nanny Crockett! What has she to do with it?”

“She was his nurse. She knew him better than anyone. She says he is incapable of such a thing. She knows.”

“That explains this friendship. I suppose she put you up to this governessing.”

“We worked it out together. We didn’t think of my being a governess until the possibility arose. Then we saw that it was a way of getting me into the house.”

I was looking at him appealingly.

“Do you want my opinion?” he said.

I nodded.

“Please, Lucas.”

“Drop it. Give up this farce. Come back to Trecorn. Marry me and make the best of a bad job.”

“What do you mean, a bad job … ?”

“Say goodbye to Simon Perrivale. Put him out of your thoughts. Look at it like this. He ran away when he was about to be arrested. That is too significant to be ignored. If he returned he’d be tried for murder and hanged. Let him lead a new life in Australia … or wherever he lands up. As you’re so certain of his innocence, give him a chance to start a new life.”

“I want to prove that he was wrongly accused.”

“You want him to come back.” He looked at me sadly.

“I understand absolutely,” he said. He shrugged his shoulders and looked grave, as though communing with himself. Then he said: “What discoveries have you made so far?”

“There was a drunken sailor.”

“Who?”

“His name was Thomas Parry. He fell over a cliff and was drowned.”

“Wait a minute. I remember something about that. There was quite a stir about it at the time. It was some while ago. Didn’t he come down here … from London, I think. Got drunk and fell over the cliff.

It’s coming back to me. “

“Yes,” I said.

“That’s the one. Well, he’s buried in the graveyard here. I discovered Kate putting flowers on his grave. When I asked her why she said he was her father.”

“What! Married to the glorious Mirabel?”

“One can’t be sure with Kate. She romances. She said that she saw him in the market in Upbridge and he was asking if anyone knew a woman named Parry with a little girl. She was frightened and hid herself behind the woman she was with … the mother of a little girl she had gone to play with. She was frightened of him. Apparently she remembered something of a father who was a brute.”

“And he was found at the bottom of the cliff.”

“You see, it seemed so fortuitous. If Mirabel was hoping to marry one of the Perrivales and a husband from the past who is supposed to be dead turns up, it could be awkward.”

“And as far as the glorious Mirabel was concerned, he was more useful at the bottom of the cliff than making trouble for her. It makes sense.”

“Not completely. You see, I have only Kate’s word for it. I asked her if she had told her mother she had seen him. She said no. But she had told Gramps. Gramps is her name for her grandfather. Major Durrell. He said she had made a mistake and she shouldn’t mention it because it would upset her mother and her father anyway was dead. He’d been drowned at sea.”

“Why should the child think it was her father?”

“She’s a strange child … given to fantasy. It occurred to me that she might miss a father and was inventing one.”

“She has Sir Tristan as a stepfather.”

“He doesn’t take much notice of her. She calls him Stepper in a rather contemptuous way … but then she is contemptuous of most of us. It occurred to me that she had seen people putting flowers on graves and thought she would like to do it and so invented a father. The sailor had no relations so she put flowers on his grave and adopted him.”

“It seems plausible … but how is all this going to solve Simon Perrivale’s troubles?”

“I don’t know. But just suppose someone now in the house did the murder … well, people who commit one might not hesitate at another. It might be part of the whole picture.”

He looked at me in some exasperation.

I said: “I knew you’d take it like this. I thought you might help me.”

“I’ll help,” he said.

“But I don’t think it is going to get anywhere.

Simon, it seems, was jealous of the other two. He killed one in a rage, and was caught by the other. That’s it. As for the sailor, I think you may be right. The child wanted a father so she took up with the dead man who had no relations around. “

“She cut the head gardener’s prize roses to put on his grave.”

“There you are. That bears it out.”

“All the same …”

“All the same …” he repeated, smiling at me quizzically.

“If we are going to investigate, we have to pick up the most likely point and there is a faint possibility that something might be lurking behind the untimely death of the sailor. At least that is something we could start with.”

“How?”

“Find out something about him. Who was he? Who was his wife? Then if she should happen to be the present Lady Perrivale it might begin to

look as though we were on to something. And if someone actually got rid of the sailor because he was making a nuisance of himself … well, there is a possibility that that person, having successfully accomplished one crime, might try another.”

“I knew you’d help me, Lucas.”

“So we begin to unravel the skein,” he said dramatically.

“How?”

“Go to London. Look up records. What a pity Dick Duvane isn’t here. He would throw himself into this with enthusiasm.”

“Oh Lucas … I’m so grateful.”

“I’m grateful, too,” he said.

“It relieves the monotony of the days.”

I went back to Perrivale Court in a state of euphoria.

I knew I was right to have taken Lucas into my confidence.

Lucas was away for three weeks. Each day I looked for a message from him. Kate and I had settled into a routine. She still had her difficult moments, but she made no attempts to play truant. We read together, discussed what we read, and I made no reference to the sailor’s grave which she continued to visit. She did not take any more flowers from the garden but contented herself with wild ones.

A few days after Lucas had left for London, Maria, the Dowager Lady Perrivale’s maid, sought me out and said that her mistress would like to have a chat with me.

Maria was one of those servants who, having been in the service of a master or mistress for a long time, feel themselves to be especially privileged. Moreover, they are usually too useful to their employers to be denied what they expect. They look upon themselves as ‘one of the family’, and I could see that, as far as Maria was concerned, this might be to my advantage.

It was the first time I had been in that part of the house which, when I looked from my own window, I could see across the courtyard.

Maria greeted me, putting her finger to her lips.

“She’s fast asleep,” she said.

“That’s just like her. She’ll ask someone to come and see her and when they come she’s dead to the world.”

She beckoned me and opened a door. There, sitting in a big armchair, was Lady Perrivale. Her head had fallen to one side and she was fast asleep.

“We won’t disturb her for a bit. She had a bad night. Gets them sometimes. Having nightmares about that Sir Edward. He was a bit of a tartar. Eee … but you know naught about that. She’s up and down.

Quite her old self sometimes. Then her mind goes wandering. “

“Shall I come back later?”

She shook her head.

“Sit you down here for a bit. When she wakes she’ll ring or bang her stick. Oh dear me, she’s not what she was.”

“I suppose that happens to us all in time.”

“Reckon. But she went down when Sir Edward passed away.”

“Well, I suppose they’d been married for a long time.”

She nodded.

“I was with her when she came south. Sorry to leave Yorkshire, I was. Ever been, Miss Cranleigh?”

“No, I’m afraid not.”

“The dales have to be seen to be believed … and the moors.

“Tis a gradeley place, Yorkshire.”

“I am sure it is.”

“Here? Well … I don’t know. I could never get used to these folks.

Full of fancies. Now that’s something you couldn’t accuse us of. “

She looked at me in a somewhat bellicose manner which I thought was undeserved as I had no intention of accusing her of being fanciful.

“A spade’s a spade up there, Miss Cranleigh. None of this fancy stuff.

Airy-fairy . people walked out of their graves . little men in the mines . and goblins and things sinking the boats. I don’t know. Seems a funny way of going on to me. “

“It certainly does,” I agreed.

“Mind you, in a house like this, some people might get the creeps.”

“But not a Yorkshire woman.”

She grinned at me. I could see she was regarding me as . well, not quite as a kindred spirit. but, coming from London, at least I was not one of the fanciful Cornish.

“So you came here with Lady Perrivale when she married,” I said.

“Well, I was with her before that. And what a to-do it was. Marrying a title. He had the brass, old Arkwright did … rolling in it. But brass ain’t everything. And when she became ” my lady”, she was on clouds of glory. This house … what she did to it. It was in a right old mess. This house … and her ladyship too, if you please. Of course, she had to take Sir Edward with it.”

“Was that such an ordeal?”

“He was a strange sort, he was. You never got to know him. She was used to having her own way. Old Arkwright adored her. Good-looking, she was, and all that brass of course. Only child … heiress. You could see what Sir Edward was after.”

“How was he such a strange one?”

“He didn’t say much. He was always so very proper. My goodness, he was strict.”

“I’ve heard that.”

“At church every Sunday… morning and evening. Everyone had to go even the tenants … or it was a black mark against them. He was making sure of his place in Heaven … and then that boy …”

“Yes?” I said eagerly, for she had paused.

“Bringing him in like that. If it was anyone else’s you would have said … you know what I mean … men being what they are. But you wouldn’t believe it with Sir Edward. I often wondered who that boy was. Her ladyship hated the sight of him. Well, you could understand it. Old Nanny Crockett used to stick up for him.

I wondered her ladyship didn’t get rid of her . but Sir Edward wouldn’t have had that. He’d have put his foot down hard about that . though mostly he didn’t interfere about the house . as long as they all went to church and attended the prayer meetings every morning in the hall. I’ve heard her ladyship storm and rage, say she wouldn’t have the little bastard in the house . yes, she went as far as that. Well, you could understand it. I heard everything, me being her personal maid and all that, having been with her when we was in Yorkshire. She wanted her own maid and she settled on me. There’s not much I haven’t seen. Here, why am I talking to you like this? Well, I look on her as my child, really. It’s like talking about myself. And you’re here . one of the family, you know. You must have seen a bit of life with that Miss Kate . “

She pressed her lips together and I had the impression that she was reproaching herself for having talked of such intimate matters to me, almost a stranger.

“You must have seen a great many changes here,” I said.

She nodded.

“I was always one for a bit of gossip,” she said, still excusing herself.

“And I don’t get much chance of that up here all day. It gets a bit lonely. You’ve got one of them sympathetic natures.

Miss Cranleigh, I can see that. You’re an understanding sort. “

“I hope so. I find it very interesting here … the house and the people.”

“That’s so. As you was saying, I’ve seen some changes. People don’t come to this part of the house much. You know what they’re like round here, as we were saying … Sir Ed ward died here. They think he’ll come back and haunt the place. There’s talk about it. They’ve seen lights. They say it’s Sir Edward looking for something because he can’t rest.”

“I saw a light once,” I said.

“I thought it was a candle.. It flickered … and then I didn’t see it any more.”

She nudged me.

“I can tell you what that was. That was her.” She jerked her head towards Lady Perrivale’s room.

“She does that sometimes. Gets up in the night. She’ll light a candle. I’ve told her many times. I said, ” You’ll set the place alight one day . your own nightdress perhaps. ” She said, ” I have to look. I have to find it. “

“Find what?” I say. Then she gets a funny look in her eyes and shuts her mouth and won’t say a thing. “

“Do you think she is really looking for something?”

“People get notions when they get old. No … there’s nothing. She’s just got this notion in her head. Time after time I’ve told her, ” If there’s something you’ve mislaid, tell me what. I’ll find it for you.”

But no . it’s just some fancy that comes to her in the night. I have to watch out, though. She could start a fire and there’s a lot of wood in a place like this. What I do is hide the matches. But that don’t stop her. I’ve heard her groping about in the dark. “

“In her room?”

“No, in his room … Sir Edward’s. They had separate rooms, you know.

I always think there’s something amiss with separate rooms. “

“You must be kept busy here, looking after Lady Perrivale.”

“Oh yes. I do everything. Keep the place clean … cook her food.

It’s not often she goes down to parties like she did the other night.

But she’d been better for the last week or so. They lead their own lives and she’s very content with the present Lady Perrivale. She wanted her to marry one of the boys. “

“Yes, I heard that she knew her mother.”

“Yes, school friend, she was. She wanted the Major to come here; she found Seashell Cottage for them and before long Miss Mirabel was engaged to Mr. Cosmo.”

“He died though … didn’t he?”

“Murdered. I can tell you, that was a time. It was that boy Simon.

They’d always been against each other. “

“He went away, didn’t he?”

“Oh yes. Ran off. He was a sharp little fellow when he was little, even. It was the only thing he could do … or hang by the neck. I reckon he’ll fall on his feet. He was that sort.”

“What do you think happened?”

“It’s plain as the nose on your face. Simon had had enough. He had his eyes on Mirabel. Not that he had a chance.” She lowered her voice.

“Perhaps I’m speaking out of turn, but I always thought she had her eyes on the title, so she took Cosmo. I think Simon shot him in a temper.”

“But why should he have the gun handy like that?”

“Now you’re asking me. Looks like he took it there for a purpose, don’t it? Eee. You never know. There’s nowt so queer as folk, as we say in Yorkshire. And by gum, we’re right. Well, everyone seems to have made up their minds it was jealousy … and jealousy’s a terrible thing. It can lead anywhere.”

“So then Lady Perrivale married Tristan.”

“Yes. Well, they always had a fancy for each other, those two. I’ve got a pair of eyes in my head. I’ve seen things. And I’ll tell you this: I said to myself, more than once, ” Ho, ho, there’ll be trouble when she marries Cosmo because Tristan’s the one she wants. ” I’ve seen a thing or two.”

She stopped abruptly and put her fingers to her mouth.

“I’m talking out of turn again. It’s so nice to have a chat with someone who’s interested.”

“I am certainly interested,” I assured her.

“Well, you’re one of the family now, I suppose. And, after all, it happened some time ago. It’s all over and done with now.”

I could see that she would need but little prompting to overcome her qualms of conscience, and I continued to prompt her.

“Yes, of course,” I said.

“And I dare say everyone was discussing it all at one time.”

“My goodness yes. That’s a fact.” , “You were saying you’d seen a thing or two.”

“Oh … I don’t know. It was just that I noticed one or two things … so it didn’t surprise me at all when she turned to Tristan. People said it was on the rebound … and poor things they comforted each other. Well, you know what people say …”

She was frowning slightly. She was, I think, trying to remember how much she had said.

“Her ladyship and me … we used to have some fun together. She’d tell me everything … two girls together, that’s what we were like and then of course she’s changed since Cosmo’s death. You wouldn’t believe how it’s aged her. It’s a long time since I’ve had a chat like this. Well… I’d better take a look at her. Catnaps, that’s what she takes. Then she’ll wake up suddenly and want to know what’s going on.”

She rose and went to the door. I was hoping that Lady Perrivale would not have woken up, for the conversation with Maria had been very interesting and illuminating. I had always been aware that servants knew as much as anyone did of the family’s secrets perhaps even more.

I heard a peevish voice: “Maria … what’s happened? Wasn’t someone coming?”

“Yes, you wanted to have a chat with the governess. She’s been waiting here for you to wake up.”

“I am awake.”

“Now you are. Well, here she is. Miss Cranleigh …”

Lady Perrivale smiled at me.

“Bring a chair, Maria, so that she can sit down.”

The chair was brought.

“Close to me,” said Lady Perrivale, and Maria complied.

We talked for a while but I could see that her mind wandered. She was not nearly as lucid as she had been on

the night of the party, and was not sure which of the governesses I was; and then suddenly she remembered I was the successful one.

She talked about the house and told me what a state it had been in when she came and how she had repaired it and given it a new lease of life.

After a short while I saw her head nodding and she fell into a doze.

Quietly I rose and looked for Maria.

She said: “It’s not one of her good days. She had a bad night. I’ll bet she was wandering about in the dark … looking for something which isn’t there.”

“Well, I must go now, and I did enjoy talking to you.”

“I hope I didn’t say too much. Got carried away by having someone to talk to for a bit. You must come again. I’ve always enjoyed a bit of a gossip.”

“I will,” I promised.

I went back to my room. It had not been a wasted afternoon.

A message from Lucas was sent to the house.

He was back and wanted to see me as soon as possible. I could not wait for the meeting and soon after I received the message was in the parlour at The Sailor King with him.

“Well,” he said.

“I’ve made some discoveries. I think Miss Kate must be romancing.”

“Oh, I’m glad of that. I should have hated to think Lady Perrivale had murdered her first husband.”

“It seems that this Thomas Parry was a sailor.”

“That’s the one.”

“He married a Mabel Tallon. She was a chorus girl.”

“Lady Perrivale, a chorus girl!”

“Might have been … before she acquired her airs and graces. But listen … isn’t her father down here?”

“Yes, Major Durrell. Mirabel Durrell doesn’t sound much like Mabel Tallon.”

“A Mabel might call herself Mirabel.”

“Yes, but it is the surname which is important.”

“She could have changed that.”

“But there is her father.”

“Listen. There is a child. I looked that up. She was Katharine.”

“Kate! Well, that could be.”

“It’s a fairly common name.”

“But it’s the only thing that might fit.”

“And you want to hitch on to that?”

“No, I don’t. I think Kate imagined the whole thing. She’s lonely really. I know by the way she so quickly became friendly with me.

There’s something pathetic about her. She wants a father. That’s why she has adopted this sailor. “

“You would have thought she would have looked for someone more worthy.”

“She had to take what there was. He was there in the grave … unknown and don’t forget she had seen him in the marketplace.”

“Had she, do you think? Or did she imagine that?”

“I think she must have, because he was there and he was seeking information about his wife and child.”

“We have proved that he had one and she happened to be named Katharine.”

“Well, there are other diminutives for the name… Cathy, for instance.”

“Yes, that’s so. But I suppose Kate is the more usual. But that alone is too flimsy to hitch on to. And Mirabel’s father gives a touch of respectability. Major Durrell. She could hardly have involved him. No.

Let’s close the books on that one and look for another strand to unravel. “

“I must tell you that I have made a little discovery while you’ve been away. I’ve spoken to Lady Perrivale’s maid Maria … that is, the Dowager Lady Perrivale.”

“Ah. And what has she revealed?”

“Not a great deal that I didn’t know already. But she was very garrulous.”

“Just what we need.”

“She remembered Simon’s being brought to the house and the fuss and consternation because no one could figure out how he came to exist.

With some it would seem obvious that there had been a misdemeanour on the part of the master of the house . but not Sir Edward. He was not the type to indulge in that sort of thing. He was God-fearing, a pillar of the church, eager that high principles be upheld. “

“By others, but perhaps he was a little more lenient where he himself was concerned. Some people are like that.”

“Yes, of course. But not Sir Edward. And this misdemeanour must have occurred before his marriage.”

“Well, they do now and then.”

“To people like Sir Edward?”

“Maybe. But he came to repentance after it happened because he brought the boy into his house … but do you think there could have been some other reason why Simon was brought to the house?”

“Perhaps that is one of the things we have to find out.”

“He might have been sorry for the child left alone with that aunt.”

“Do you think the mother might have been some poor relation?”

“What was to prevent his saying so? As far as I can see, he just brought the child into the house and let people draw their own conclusions. No, it just doesn’t make sense. It must have been a lapse. Even the most virtuous have been known to stumble.”

“But he was so insistent on morality.”

“Repentant sinners are often like that.”

“I can’t believe it of him. There is something behind it.”

“Listen to me, Rosetta … you’re chasing shadows. You’re believing something because you want to. You’re dabbling in dangerous waters. Just suppose you are right. Just suppose there is a murderer in that house and suppose he-or she -discovered you are meddling? I don’t like the idea. If this person murdered once, why shouldn’t he-or she do it again?”

“So you believe there is a murderer in the house?”

“I did not say so. I think the police version is the most likely one, and Simon the most plausible suspect. Running away seems to make it fit.”

“I don’t accept it.”

“I know you don’t … because you don’t want to. You knew the man we were with all that time. That was different. We were all fighting for our lives. He was heroic and resourceful. We both owe our lives to him, but that does not mean that in different circumstances he might not be a murderer.”

“Oh, Lucas, you can’t believe that!”

“I did not know him as well as you did,” he said ruefully.

“You were with him all the time. He dragged you out of the sea. He was most concerned for you.”

“I know. But people are complex. When his passions of jealousy were aroused he could have been a different person.”

“You won’t help me because you don’t believe in him.”

“I will help you, Rosetta, because I believe in you.”

“I don’t know what that means, Lucas.”

“It means that I’ll help you all I can, but I think you have set yourself a hopeless task and one which could be dangerous.”

“If you think it could be dangerous you must believe in Simon’s innocence. Otherwise the people in that house would have nothing to hide.”

“Yes, that may be so. But I do want you to be careful. In your enthusiasm you might betray your thirst for knowledge and just suppose you were right… then it could be dangerous. Please be careful, Rosetta.”

“I will. By the way, something came out of my talk with Maria.

Apparently while Mirabel was engaged to Cosmo she was having some sort of flirtation with Tristan. “

“Oh?”

“Well, according to Maria it was Tristan Mirabel preferred all along.”

“That’s interesting.”

“I thought it might be a motive.”

“She could have transferred her hand to the brother without murder.”

“And lose the title and everything that went with it?”

“I am sure that would have been important to her, but would she have murdered for it?”

“They might have … Tristan and she between them. There was something to gain.”

“Well, it’s the best you’ve come up with so far. But I wouldn’t rely too much on servants’ gossip. By the way, I may be going back to London in a few days’ time.”

“Oh … so soon after … Shall you be away long?”

“I’m not sure. As a matter of fact, I’m going to have an operation.

I’ve been thinking about it for some time. “

“You didn’t mention it.”

“Oh, I didn’t want to bother you with such a thing.”

“How can you say that! You know I am enormously concerned. Tell me about it.”

“It’s this fellow in London. Something very new, of course. It may work … it may not. He’s quite frank about that.”

“Lucas! And you just mention it casually like this!”

“I don’t feel exactly casual about it. I saw this man when I went up on my sleuthing operation concerning the drunken sailor. I killed two birds with one stone, you might say.”

“And you’ve only just told me!”

“I thought I’d better explain my absence. You might have been expecting some messages.

“Come at once. Murderer discovered” or something like that. “

“Don’t be flippant, please, Lucas.”

“All right. The fact is my leg is in pretty bad shape. It’s getting worse. Well, this extremely clever bone man has introduced certain methods. He can’t give me a new leg, alas, but he may be able to do something. If it’s successful … I’d always walk with a limp … but it could be an improvement. And the fact is, I’m ready to take a chance.”

“Lucas, is it dangerous?”

He hesitated just a second too long.

“Oh no. I couldn’t be made more of a cripple than I already am, but..”

“Tell me the truth.”

“To tell the truth, I’m a bit in the dark myself. But there is a hope a faint one perhaps … but I want to take it.”

“Why didn’t you tell me before?” I demanded.

“I wasn’t sure that I was going to do it. And then I thought: Why not?

It can’t be much worse if it goes wrong and it could be a lot better.”

“And I’m going on about all this when you’ve got this on your mind!”

“Your concern touches me deeply, Rosetta,” he said seriously.

“Of course I’m concerned. I care very much about you.”

“I know. Well, I shall be leaving in a few days’ time.”

“How long will it take?”

“I’m not sure. If it’s successful perhaps a month. I’m going into this man’s clinic. It’s just off Harley Street.”

“I shall hate to think you are not here.”

“Promise me you’ll be careful.”

“About probing. Of course I will.”

“Don’t make it too blatant and don’t take too much notice of servants’ chatter.”

“I promise you, Lucas. Will you give me the address of this clinic?”

He took a piece of paper from his wallet and wrote it down.

“I shall come to see you,” I said.

“That will be pleasant for me.”

“I shall keep in touch with Carleton. What is he going to feel about your going away like this?”

“I don’t think my being here makes much difference. It doesn’t bring Theresa back. He’ll be all right. He throws himself into his work and that’s the best thing for him.”

The news had cast a gloom over the day for me. It was typical of Lucas that he should make light of a serious matter. What was this operation? Was it dangerous in any way? If it were, I knew he would not tell me.

I felt very uneasy.

We left The Sailor King and went out to the stables.

Til escort you back to Perrivale,” he said.

We rode on in silence and all too soon the house came into view.

“Oh, Lucas,” I said.

“I wish you weren’t going. I shall miss you very much.”

“I’ll remember that,” he replied.

“It won’t be long. You’ll see me galloping up to The Sailor King … a changed man.”

I looked at him sadly.

Then he said seriously: “But I am concerned about you, Rosetta. Take care. Give up the search until I return. That’s the best plan.”

“I promise to be very careful, Lucas.”

He took my hand and kissed it.

‘am revoir, Rosetta,” he said.

I felt depressed. These meetings with Lucas had meant a great deal to me, and to be deprived of them made me wretched. Moreover, I was worried about him. What was the operation? I wondered. Had he been a little secretive about it?

When I went riding with Kate I suggested we call in at Trecorn Manor one day.

“It’s rather a long way. We couldn’t do it in an afternoon.

But why shouldn’t we have a day’s holiday? I will ask your mother if it would be permitted. “

Kate was excited by the prospect and, as I had been sure, there was no difficulty in getting the required permission.

My riding had improved since my arrival and I could manage a long ride easily now, and Kate was quite capable of it.

I was delighted to see her so pleased at the prospect of our little outing.

“It’s quite grand,” she commented, when she saw the house.

“Not so grand as Perrivale, of course … but it’s all right.”

“I am sure the Lorimers would be pleased by your approval.”

“Are we going to see that old Lucas?”

“No. He’s not there.”

“Where is he?”

“In a clinic.”

“What’s a clinic?”

“A sort of hospital.”

“What’s he doing there?”

“You know he hurt his leg.”

“Yes, in the shipwreck. He can’t walk very well.”

“They are going to see if they can do something about it.”

She was thoughtful.

“Who shall we see, then?”

“His brother, I hope, and the twins and Nanny Crockett.”

We left our horses in the stables and went to the house. Mr. Lorimer was on the estate but Nanny Crockett should be informed that we were here.

She came hurrying down.

“Oh, Miss Cranleigh. How nice to see you! And Miss Kate! Well!”

“Where are the twins?” asked Kate.

“Oh, they’ll want to see you. They remember you. Miss Cranleigh.”

“I hope I shall be able to see Mr. Lorimer before I leave.”

“Oh, he’s gone to London.”

“I mean Mr. Carleton.”

“I was thinking you’d come to see Mr. Lucas. They’re going to do something about his leg.” She shook her head.

“They’re supposed to be very clever nowadays. I don’t know.”

“I knew he was going. I wanted to talk to Mr. Carleton about it.”

“He’ll be back before long, I reckon. Come up to the nursery and see the twins.”

Jennifer recognized me at once and ran to me. Henry was unsure, I could see, but he followed his sister.

“Now tell me how you’ve been getting on,” I said.

“This is Kate, who is my pupil now.”

Kate was looking at the children with slightly scornful interest.

I asked Jennifer how one-eyed Mabel was and also Reggie the bear. She laughed and said they were as naughty as ever.

I talked with the children for a while and Nanny Crockett said why didn’t they show Kate the dolls’ house.

The twins jumped with glee. I looked anxiously at Kate, who might well state her lack of interest in such childish toys.

I think my glance must have been appealing for she said:

“All right.”

The dolls’ house was in a corner of the nursery. The children went over to it and Nanny Crockett signed to me to sit down.

“Is there any news?” she asked in a whisper.

I shook my head.

“It’s difficult. I can’t find out anything. Sometimes I think it’s an impossible task.”

“I know you’ll find something. I know there’s something to be found . and it’s in that house. That’s where the secret lies. I wish I could get there.”

“I get little bits of information but they don’t lead anywhere.”

“Well, you go on trying. Have you tried talking to Mrs. Ford? She knows most of what’s going on.”

“Perhaps you could talk to her. You are on friendly terms.”

“I’ve tried but I don’t get very far.”

“Perhaps she doesn’t know anything … or if she did, thinks she shouldn’t talk about the family.”

“She might talk to someone in the house while she wouldn’t to someone outside it. And you’re there now. You’re one of them. I’m out of it now.”

I could see that Kate was listening to what we were saying and I flashed a sign to Nanny Crockett. She understood at once and we talked of the children and how they would soon be needing a governess.

Kate called: “You won’t come back here, will you, Cranny?”

So I knew she was taking note of what we were saying.

“Not while you continue to be a good pupil,” I replied.

Kate grimaced. But it was clear that there could be no intimate conversation with Nanny Crockett.

In due course one of the maids came to say that Mr. Lorimer had returned.

I left Kate in the nursery and went down to see him. He looked very sad but he was pleased to see me.

I said: “I’m worried about Lucas. What do you know about this operation?”

“Very little. He went up to London recently to see this man and to have a thorough examination. Well, this is the result.”

“What do they think they’ll be able to do?”

“It’s a little vague. They say they have made a lot of advances in that field. It is an attempt to put right what went wrong when his leg was left to set itself.”

“I constantly regret that we did not know what to do. We could have prevented all this.”

“It’s no use blaming yourself, Rosetta … nor the man who was with you. You did the best you could. You saved his life between you. You couldn’t have done more. Believe me, he is eternally grateful to you.

I know he talks lightly of these things, but he does feel more deeply than you would think. “

“Yes, I know.”

“He knows best what he should do, Rosetta. You see, this is a chance.

He’s ready to take it. It may be that if it fails he’ll be worse than he was before, but if it succeeds he’ll be a great deal better. “

“It’s rather a risk, I gather.”

“I gathered that, too.”

“They will let you know the result of the operation as soon as they see how it is going, I suppose?”

“Yes, I’m sure of that.”

“Carleton, when you hear, would you send a message to me?”

“Of course I will.”

We were silent for a moment. Then Carleton said: “It was a great tragedy to him. He always hated it when anything went wrong with his health. And that sort of deformity … it hit him hard.”

“I know.”

“I wish … he could marry. I think that would mean a lot to him.”

“Providing of course that it was a happy marriage.”

“A happy marriage is the perfect state.”

“Yes … if it’s perfect. Otherwise it has to be a compromise.”

I could see that Carleton was thinking of his own marriage.

“And then,” he said sadly, ‘it can all end . suddenly . and you wonder whether it wouldn’t have been better never to have known it.”

“Carleton, I understand perfectly, but I think you should rejoice in what you have had.”

“Yes, you’re right. Here I am, revelling in my misery. What do you think of the twins?”

“They’re all right. Nanny Crockett is wonderful. They’ve grown, haven’t they?”

“We’ll have to be thinking of a governess for them.” He looked at me speculatively.

“I’m not really a governess, you know.”

“I hear you’ve done well with that girl.”

“How my fame travels!” I said lightly.

“You must have some luncheon before you go back.”

“Well, thanks. I suppose we should need something. It’s a good ride to Perrivale from here. I’ll call Kate.”

“Yes. They’ll be ready to serve it in a few minutes.”

Kate was delighted to have lunch in the Trecorn dining room. Carleton was quite attentive to her and treated her like an adult, which she enjoyed. She did justice to the food and talked quite animatedly about Perrivale, which amused Carleton and seemed to lighten his spirits a little. So it was a successful visit.

He came out to the stables with us.

“Thank you for coming,” he said to Kate as well as to me.

“I hope you’ll come again.”

“Oh, we will,” Kate told him, which I found gratifying, and so did he.

On the way back Kate said: “The lunch was nice. But those silly twins with their old dolls’ house were a bore, though.”

“Didn’t you think it was rather a lovely dolls’ house?”

“Cranny, I am not a child. I don’t play with toys. He wants you to go back, doesn’t he?”

“Who?”

“That old Carleton.”

“I feel that your vocabulary must be very limited. You use the same adjective to describe almost everyone.”

“Which adjective?”

“Old.”

“Well, he is old. He does want you to go back and teach those silly twins, doesn’t he?”

“At least they are not old. Why should you think that?”

“Because Nanny Crockett wants you to go back.”

“Not old Nanny Crockett?”

“Well, she’s so old you don’t have to say it. She said she’d keep in touch and so did Carleton.”

“He meant about his brother. He’s going to let me know about his operation.”

“Perhaps they’ll cut off his leg.”

“Of course they won’t and trust you to think of such a thing. They’re going to make it better. He’s a great friend of mine and naturally I want to know how he gets on. So … his brother and Nanny Crockett will keep me informed if they hear of his progress.”

“Oh,” she said and laughed.

Suddenly she burst into song.

‘ “Fifteen men on the dead man’s chest, Yo, ho, ho and a bottle of rum.

Drink and the Devil had done for the rest. “

I thought: I believe she really cares for me.

During the next days I felt very depressed. I was realizing how important it was to me to know that Lucas was close at hand. I grew more and more worried about the operation. Carleton knew no more than I did, and it was typical of Lucas to be reticent about such a thing.

It was brought home to me how futile were my investigations. Lucas thought they were absurd and he was right.

If only he were at hand and I could send a message over to Trecorn and arrange a meeting.

I wondered what this operation would do to him, and I greatly feared the result.

Kate sensed my melancholy and tried to cheer me up. When we were reading my attention would stray and this puzzled her. It was during this time that I began to be sure that she had some affection for me.

That would have been very comforting at any other time but now I could think only of Lucas.

She would try to cajole me to talk and I found myself talking to her about the past. I told her of the house in Bloomsbury, of-my parents and their preoccupation with the British Museum. She was amused that I had been named after the Rosetta Stone.

She said: “It is like that with me. I haven’t got a father … but my mother has always had other things … not the British Museum but . other things …”

At any other time I should have questioned her about her feelings but I was so obsessed by Lucas that I let the opportunity pass.

She wanted to hear a great deal about Mr. Dolland. I told her about his ‘turns’ and she was particularly interested in The Bells.

“I wish we had them here,” she said.

“Wouldn’t it be fun?”

I admitted that it would and it had been fun in the old days.

She put her arm through mine and squeezed with a rare show of affection.

“It didn’t matter about them only caring for the old British Museum, did it? It doesn’t matter … if you have other things …”

I was touched. She was telling me that my presence made up for her mother’s neglect.

When I told her of Felicity’s arrival she squealed with delight. I saw why. It was the similarity with my coming to Perrivale.

“You thought some awful governess was coming,” she said.

“Old, of course,” I added, and we laughed.

“Well, they are all old,” she said.

“Did you think of how you were going to make her go?”

“No, I didn’t. I wasn’t such a monster as you are.”

She rocked back and forth in merriment.

“You wouldn’t go now, would you, Cranny?” she said.

“If I felt you wanted me to stay …”

“I do.”

“I thought you hated all governesses.”

“All of them except you.”

“I’m flattered and honoured.”

She smiled at me rather shyly and said: “I’m not going to call you Cranny any more. You’re going to be Rosetta. I think it’s ever so funny, being named after that thing.”

“Well, it was a rather special stone.”

“An old stone!”

“The adjective fits this time.”

“All those squiggly things on it… like worms.”

“Hieroglyphics are not in the least like worms.”

“All right. You’re Rosetta.”

I think because I had told her about my childhood she wanted to tell me about hers. And that, of course, was just what I wanted to hear.

“We must have been a long way from the British Museum,” she said.

“I never heard of it till now. We were always waiting for him to come home. “

“Your … father?” I prompted.

She nodded.

“It was awful. My mother was afraid … not so much as I was when I used to be there … all by myself. It was dark …”

“At night was this?”

She looked puzzled.

“I can’t remember. It was a horrid room. I had a bed on the floor in the corner … my mother was in the other bed. I used to look at her hair in the morning. It was like red gold all spread out over the pillow. I used to wake up in the morning … I didn’t know what to do. Then she’d be there … and she’d be gone again. There was someone from downstairs.

She used to look in to see if I was all right. “

“And you were all alone there for a lot of the time.”

“I think so.”

“What was your mother doing?”

“I don’t know.”

I thought: A chorus girl. Tom Parry married a chorus girl.

“You had Mr. Dolland and Mrs. Harlow …”

“Tell me, Kate … tell me all you can remember.”

“No, no,” she cried.

“I don’t want to. I don’t want to remember. I don’t want to remember.” She turned to me suddenly and flung herself against me. I stroked her hair.

I said: “All right. Let’s forget it. It’s all over now. You’ve got me now … we’ll have some fun together. We’ll ride … we’ll read .. we’ll talk …”

I was learning so much . not about what I came to learn, but about Kate. She was a lonely child; she behaved as she did because she had been starved of love and attention. She was trying to attract it in the only way she knew. I felt resentful against Mirabel who had failed to give her the love she needed. She had had to work perhaps . but not now.

Kate disengaged herself abruptly, as though ashamed of her emotion.

She said: “It was all right when Gramps came.”

“Yes,” I said.

“Your grandfather. He loves you very much, doesn’t he?”

A smile illuminated her face.

“He came and took us away. He brought us here … and then it was all right. He tells lovely stories … all about battles.”

“It must have been wonderful when he took you away.”

She nodded.

“I remember … it was in the room … he sat on the bed. He said something about a contact…”

“A contact?”

“A contact in Cornwall.”

“Oh, he meant a friend, I suppose.”

She nodded. Her mood had changed. She was smiling.

“We went in a train. It was lovely. I sat on Gramps’s knee … and then we came to Seashell Cottage. I loved it … because Gramps was there. He was there all the time. He was there when it was dark. I liked the sea too. I loved to hear it banging against the cliffs. I could hear it ever so loud in my bedroom at Seashell Cottage.”

“And then,” I said, ‘there was Perrivale. You soon became friendly with them, didn’t you? “

“Oh yes. Gramps knew them and they liked him a lot. Well, everybody likes Gramps. They liked my mother too because she’s so beautiful.

Then she was going to marry Cosmo and we were going to leave Seashell Cottage and live in the big house. She was ever so pleased. So was Gramps . though he wasn’t going to live there, but he was pleased all the same. Then Cosmo died while we were still at the cottage. He died in Bindon Boys and the murderer ran away, so everyone knew who’d done it. “

“And what happened after that?”

She wrinkled her brows.

“My mother went away.”

“Went away? I thought she married Tristan.”

“She did … but at first she went away.”

“Where did she go?”

“I don’t know. She was ill.”

‘Ill? Then why did she go away? “

“She was very sick. I used to hear her. She looked very white. Once when she was ill and she didn’t know I was there, she looked in the glass at herself and said, ” Oh God, what now? ” I was little then. I thought God might say and I’d know what was the matter. Now I know people only say ” Oh God” when they’re frightened or angry. She was frightened because she was ill. Then Gramps said, ” Your mother is going away for a while. ” I said, ” Why? ” Gramps said because it would be good for her.

And she went. Gramps went with her to the station. He was going with her just at first. I was to stay with Mrs. Drake for two days. Then Gramps came back and I went back to Seashell Cottage with him. I said, “Where’s my mother?” He said, “She’s visiting friends.” I said I didn’t know we had any. Then he said, “You’ve got me, my darling. I’m your friend.” And he hugged me and I felt all right. It was great fun in Seashell Cottage with Gramps. He used to do the cooking and I helped him and we laughed a lot. ” She began to laugh at the memory.

“What happened after?” I asked.

“My mother came back and she was better then. Her friends had done her good. Then she was engaged to Stepper and they were married and we went to Perrivale Court. I wished Gramps could come with us. But he went to the Dower House. He said it wasn’t far away and I’d know where he was.”

“And you never met the friends your mother went to?”

“Nobody ever talked of them. I know they lived in London.”

“Did your mother or Gramps tell you that?”

“No. But it was the London train they went on. It always is at that time. I know they got on that one because Mrs. Drake took us to see it off. Gramps had taken me to her the night before. I said I wanted to see them off so Mrs. Drake took me to the station and I saw them get on the train.”

“They might have got off somewhere along the way.”

“No. I heard them talking about going to London.”

“And Gramps came back and left your mother there.”

“He was only away one night. But she was gone what seemed like ages. It might have been about three weeks. I don’t remember much about time. But I know how ill she was when she went. she didn’t smile at all. “

“She must have been very ill.”

She nodded and started to tell me about the shells she and Gramps had found on the beach.

I had been up to see the Dowager Lady Perrivale on two or three occasions. Our chats were not very rewarding. I had hoped to discover something as she rambled on about the past and the days of opulence in her native Yorkshire.

I was always hoping for an opportunity to talk to Maria, and as Maria hoped for it too, it was inevitable that one day it should come about.

One day when I went up, I was greeted by Maria who put her fingers to her lips and said with a wink: “Her ladyship is fast in the land of nod. But come in. Miss Cranleigh, and we’ll wait for her to wake up. I never like to rouse her. Another bad night, you see. I always know by the look of her. Roaming about, I expect … looking for something that’s not there. In any case she can’t get at the matches, I see to that.”

We sat opposite each other.

“My word,” she went on.

“You and Miss Kate are getting on better than ever. Thick as thieves, you two are.”

“I think we understand each other. She’s not a bad child.”

“Eee. I wouldn’t go as far as that, but she’s better since you’ve been here. That’s for certain sure.”

“And how has Lady Perrivale been?”

“Up and down. One day she’s clear enough … all there, you might say and the next she’s a ha’porth missing. Well, she’s getting on in years can’t last much longer, I shouldn’t wonder. When I think of her in the old days. Mistress of the house, she was. And then, hey presto! overnight, she’s like a different person.”

“Perhaps she was very fond of Sir Edward and the shock of his death was too much for her.”

“Quite the reverse, I should have said. They weren’t exactly what you’d call a Darby and Joan. Oh dear me, no. There was differences between them … right up to the end, I can tell you. I heard them arguing something shocking. She was in tears. He was laying down the law. I couldn’t quite catch …”

I thought that was a pity, and so clearly did Maria.

“He died about the time of that shocking affair, didn’t he? I mean the killing in the farmhouse.”

“Oh yes … the murder. He was on his deathbed then. I don’t think he knew much about that, though. He was too far gone. Well, you wouldn’t go to a man on his deathbed and say, ” Your son’s been murdered and by the boy you brought into the house. ” I mean to say, nobody would tell him that. He didn’t know anything about it. Passed away soon after.”

“It’s a very strange case, don’t you think, Maria?”

“Well, murder’s murder whichever way you look at it.”

“I mean it was a very mysterious affair.”

“Jealousy, that’s what it was. He was jealous of Cosmo. Some said he was sweet on the present ladyship. Well, you’ve got to admit she’s a handsome body.”

“Very handsome. You told me that Sir Tristan was fond of her before his brother died.”

She winked and nodded.

“A funny business. But then love is a funny thing. She seemed all right with Cosmo. Well, she would be, wouldn’t she? But I reckoned it was all pretence. I could see there was something between her and Tristan. You feel it, you know. That’s if you know anything about such things.”

“I heard someone say she was very ill and went away for a few weeks and when she came back she was her old self.”

“I think that was just before the murder … just before. I noticed

she was beginning to look a bit… well, if she’d been married, I would have said she might have been expecting …”

“And when she came back … ?”

“Well, then it happened. It must have been a week or so after, as far as my memory takes me.”

“And then she married Tristan.”

“Well, it was some months after. They couldn’t rush into it quite as fast as that. It was fast enough, though.”

“Do you think she was relieved because she could have Tristan and the title and everything?”

Maria frowned. I thought: I’m going too far. I must be careful. Lucas warned me of this.

“Oh, I couldn’t say that. Mind you, I believe there was something between her and Tristan, so I suppose she’d rather have had him. Cosmo was one for throwing his weight about. He was the great Cosmo. He’d be Sir Cosmo one day … only he didn’t live long enough for that. The tenant farmers didn’t like him much. They liked Tristan better… so she wasn’t the only one. It was a quiet wedding. It had to be, didn’t it? Her ladyship was chuffed when they married, though. She thought such a lot of Mirabel. She’d wanted her for a daughter-in-law. You should have seen her and the Major together. Well, she’d always had a soft spot for him, hadn’t she?”

“Yes, I believe you said she had.”

“I knew that. Her ladyship’s mother was supposed to be her best friend but there was a bit of jealousy there. It was over the Major .. only he wasn’t a major then. I didn’t hear what he was … but he was always a bit of a charmer. Her ladyship was Jessie Arkwright then.

She used to talk to me while I brushed her hair. She was sweet on him just like her friend was. “

“You mean the schoolfriend who married him?”

Maria nodded.

“There was a time when I thought it would be Jessie who married him. But old Arkwright put his foot down, thought the charming young man was after Jessie’s fortune. I thought it was the schoolfriend he really wanted, but of course, like a lot of them, he had his eyes on old Arkwright’s money. Well, Jessie had had a lot of her own way, but where his money was concerned, old Arkwright had his own ideas. Jessie was not going to throw herself away on an adventurer who was after his money, he said. If she did marry him, there’d be no money. Poor Jessie was heartbroken, but she married Sir Edward, became Lady Perrivale and came down here. And the Major married the schoolfriend. That’s how it was. And then all those years later, when his wife was dead and he had a daughter herself married with a little girl, and he wrote renewing his friendship with her ladyship. She was over the moon with joy and wanted him to come down here. Seashell Cottage was found for them… and ever since, she’s looked on Mirabel as her daughter.”

“She wasn’t jealous because the Major had married her friend?”

“She’d got over that. The friend was dead and the Major was here.

She’s pleased to have Mirabel now as her daughter-in-law . and the Major’s always in and out. “

“And young Lady Perrivale’s fond of her?”

“Oh yes … well, it’s nice for the old lady. I remember how upset she was when Mirabel went away … that was before the marriage. She was really worried. I remember seeing a letter from young Lady Perrivale to her.

“Darling Aunt Jessie …” She had called her Aunt Jessie when she first came down and it never changed. I can see that letter now. She was staying at a place called . what was it? Oh, I remember. Malton House in a place called Bayswater in London. I remembered Malton because I was born close by. It’s near York. That’s why it stuck in my mind. When she came back, her ladyship made such a fuss of her. And then soon after that there was the murder . “

“It must have been a terrible shock for Lady Perrivale to lose her son like that.”

“Oh, it was … and Sir Edward dying at the same time. It was enough to finish her off. We were all surprised that she came through as well as she did. But it did something to her … her mind started wandering then, and there was all that prowling about at night.”

She went on to talk about the difficulties she had with Lady Perrivale and gave examples of her strange conduct, to stress the change in her after the tragedy.

While we were talking the Major arrived.

“Oh, hello. Major,” said Maria.

“Her ladyship’s fast asleep. Been prowling in the night again, I’m afraid.”

“Oh dear, dear. Nice to see you. Miss Cranleigh. You haven’t been over to see me lately. I must speak to Kate about that. I’ve told her to bring you any time you’re passing. You’re almost certain to find me in the garden.”

“Thank you. Major. I should like that.”

“Maria takes such good care of Lady Perrivale. What we should do without Maria, I do not know.”

“I don’t know what I’d do without her ladyship,” said Maria.

“We’ve been together so many years.”

I said that I would go as I guessed that when Lady Perrivale awoke she would be delighted to see the Major and would not want another guest to spoil her teteatete with him.

He said politely that he was sure she would be most disappointed to miss me.

“Oh, I can easily look in tomorrow.”

He took my hand and said: “Now, don’t forget. I shall expect to see you soon.”

When I went downstairs it was to find a message awaiting me.

It was from Carleton. It told me briefly that Lucas’s operation was to take place on the following Wednesday. It was then Friday.