The Girl in the Cellar

CHAPTER 18

In the study Lilian Fancourt sat bolt upright on the sofa. Her expression was strained, her face very white. She was looking at the man who sat beside her, his whole appearance that of someone who is quite sure of himself. He said in an easy manner, ‘Come along, Lilian-what’s all the fuss about? I’m not going to eat her.’

Lilian brightened a little. She said, ‘N-no-’

He laughed.

‘Anyone would think I was asking you to do something dreadful, my dear.’

‘Oh, you’re not-are you!’

‘Of course I’m not. I’m only asking you to help me to restore a poor lost girl to her nearest relation. You’ve really no truck with her at all, you know. She’s not married to your nephew and never has been, and if I take her off in the middle of the night, well, she’s run away and that’s all there is to it. Next time she turns up, if she turns up at all, it’ll be as a blushing bride.’

Lilian gave him a curious frightened look.

‘What do you mean?’

‘What I’ve said. ’

‘What do you mean by saying “if she turns up at all”?’

‘Oh, just a manner of speaking.’

‘You wouldn’t hurt her-you don’t mean that!’

He laughed.

‘Look here, my dear, she’s got money, and if she was out of the way it would all go to Charity with a nice big C. You’ve known me a good long time. Have I ever struck you as being the sort of chump who would go out of his way to endow a charity?’

‘N-no-you haven’t.’ Lilian looked at him out of the corners of her eyes. It was curious to see him after-how long was it-fifteen years? No, it must be near twenty-but it might have been yesterday. She let her thoughts run back. He had always taken the high hand… She wouldn’t really have liked it. She and Harriet were better off as they were. And yet-and yet-

His voice cut in.

‘My dear girl, what’s all the fuss about?’