But the Priest was drinking at a table at the far end of the cave and she saw that various men, having finished dinner, were moving about quarrelling over the women or performing obscene acts.
Some were fighting amongst themselves so that one Brother fell sprawling on the floor and his monk’s robe fell back to reveal a wine-soaked shirt and a brilliant diamond cravat pin flashing in the light of the candles.
Then amongst the hubbub and general disorder Clarinda noticed a tall figure staggering drunkenly amongst the tables and coming, it seemed, directly towards her. She noticed he was carrying in his hands several bottles, occasionally lifting one unsteadily to his lips and yet never relinquishing the bottles themselves as if greedily he wished to imbibe more than anyone else.
He tripped against the step immediately in front of her and nervously she shrank back in her chair, afraid that he might fall upon her. As she did so, she heard a voice she knew say very softly,
“Be ready to run.”
For a moment she could hardly believe that she was not imagining the words. Then she knew with a sudden leap in her heart that her prayers had been answered.
Lord Melburne was here! He had actually entered the caves and, masked and wearing a red robe, he looked like one of the Brothers.
Having spoken to Clarinda he righted himself and staggered on. Suddenly with a swift movement he flung three of the bottles he carried into the big brazier immediately to the left of the Altar steps.
There was a blinding sheet of flame as the neat spirit took fire and then the bottles began to burst with a noise just like pistol shots and pieces of glass flying out dangerously so that everyone in the vicinity ducked their heads.
At the first sound Lord Melburne turned, seized Clarinda by the hand and, dragging her from her seat on the steps, ran with her towards the entrance. There were two more bottles in his other hand and these he flung into the brazier which they passed on the other side of the Altar.
Again there was that flashing tongue of flame and, as it dazzled those who looked at it, Clarinda found herself being dragged with incredible swiftness up the sloping passageway, which was the only exit from the caves.
She almost fell as her feet were caught in her robe, but, as she gave a little cry, she felt herself picked up in strong arms and Lord Melburne, holding her close against his breast, started running wildly up the carpeted incline.
She could feel his heart beating against hers and knew that because he was so tall he had to keep his head bent, which impeded their progress. But no one stopped them until, as they had almost reached the iron gateway, there was a roaring voice from behind them.
Clarinda heard it only too clearly and felt a sudden agony of fear lest they should be stopped. She remembered the pistol worn by the man who inspected the members at the entrance and knew that, if he should draw it, Lord Melburne could do little to save himself, encumbered as he was with her in his arms.
But the man in the doorway was half-asleep. He then looked up at their approach, saw a masked gentleman and a woman leaving together and made no effort to prevent them until it was too late.
Only as they rushed passed him did he rise slowly to his feet and turn his head towards the shouting man coming behind them. Clarinda could hear Nicholas screaming hysterically as he too pounded up the narrow passageway.
“Stop, blast you! Stop them, you bleeding fools!” he yelled.
It was dark outside. But by the light of the flares it was easy to see Lord Melburne’s carriage drawn up just by the entrance, the footman standing with the door open, the horses moving restlessly.
Lord Melburne literally flung Clarinda onto the back seat and jumped in himself even as the coachman sprung the horses and the footman clambered like a monkey onto the box.
As they moved there were shouts from behind them, two pistol shots echoed deafeningly in the darkness and at least one bullet buried itself in the back of the carriage
There was more outcry in which could be heard Nicholas’s voice yelling out abuse and shouting obscenities. Then there was a scream, high and shrill, a scream like that of an animal in pain, before the horses, gathering speed, swept them out of earshot and Clarinda knew that she was safe.
For a moment she could hardly believe it was true. The horror of what she had passed through still gripped her so she felt that she must still be dreaming.
She was safe, she told herself – safe from being defiled or from having to take her own life and safe from a degradation so revolting that she dare not think about it.
She was safe – safe – safe.
But, as she drew a deep breath to thank her rescuer, her self-control broke. Tears that she had kept in check for the whole evening swept over her like a tempest and, without knowing what she did, she threw herself against Lord Melburne and hid her face in his shoulder.
He pulled off his mask, shrugged himself out of the red robes and he put his arms round her.
Racked by agonising tears that shook her whole body, she was trembling from head to foot.
He held her closer still. Then, realising how cold she was, not only from her nakedness but also from fear and misery, he picked up a rug from the floor and drew it closely round her.
She was past knowing what he did or what happened, she could only sob with a violence which seemed to tear her whole body apart.
“It’s all right,” he said gently, “you are safe. Don’t cry, Clarinda, no one shall touch you and no one shall hurt you now. You are safe.”
She could not answer him, but could only sob blindly and helplessly until his coat was wet with her tears.
He knew that there was nothing he could do for the moment except give her the comfort of his arms. He could not have believed that a woman could weep so desperately or tremble so helplessly against him.
At length, as the carriage was nearing The Priory, she stammered in a voice thick with tears,
“You came – I prayed – and p-prayed – but I did not think – God w-would be able – to s-send you.”
“But He did send me,” Lord Melburne answered gently, “and you now need no longer be afraid, Clarinda.”
He felt her little hands clutch the lapels of his coat.
“Nicholas!” she gasped. “He will come after – me, he will – follow us – he will kill – you.”
“Don’t be afraid, I have saved you, Clarinda, and I will protect you. Are you listening to me? And I will protect you from Nicholas and from everyone else. He shall never touch you again.”
“You don’t – understand,” she cried, “he is – e-evil, he is – wicked – he believes in the – powers of d-darkness, he thinks he can evoke the Devil – he will k-kill you to get – me back.”
“You have to trust me,” Lord Melburne said. “I swear to you, Clarinda, that you need no longer be afraid.”
Even as he spoke, he knew that she was too distraught to be soothed by his words as the terror she had experienced was too deeply engrained in her. He could feel her still trembling in his arms like a wild bird caught in a trap.
“Clarinda, trust me, I swear to you that nothing more will happen,” he insisted.
“Y-you don’t – understand,” she murmured and now she was weeping again, no longer with relief but with a new terror that was more real than anything else she had experienced the whole evening.
The carriage came to a stop at the front door of The Priory and Lord Melburne, holding Clarinda close in his arms, stepped out.
He carried her into the hall, Betty was waiting and so was old Bates, both white-faced and agitated.
“Miss Clarinda is all right,” Lord Melburne told them in a quiet voice, “but she has been badly frightened. I will take her upstairs.”
He carried her up to her bedroom, Betty going ahead to open the door.
He laid her gently down on the pillows, but Clarinda still clung to him.
“He is coming – a-after me – I k-know it,” she moaned. “Don’t – leave me – please don’t –
1-leave me.”
Very gently Lord Melburne disengaged her fingers from his coat and, putting his hand under her chin, he turned her face up towards his.
“Listen,” he said, “listen to me carefully, Clarinda. I am going to leave you now for a very short time. There will be men here to guard you and they will kill anyone who dares to approach you. Do you follow me? Nicholas will never come near you again, that I promise.”
“He will – k-kill – y-you,” Clarinda whispered.
“No, I shall kill him,” Lord Melburne replied deliberately.
His words arrested her and she stared at him wide-eyed. For a moment her tears stopped.
“You have been so brave,” he said quietly, “and so magnificently courageous. Don’t give way now, just trust me,”
She lay very still, looking up into his face. She could see him clearly in the candlelight, his chin squared, his mouth grim and his eyes hard and determined.
Then she stammered almost beneath her breath,
“You – are – s-sure?”
“Quite sure,” he answered.
She put out her hands again as if she would prevent him from leaving her, but he turned to Betty.
“You will stay here all night with your Mistress. Lock the door and put some furniture in front of it. You will be protected, but I wish to take every precaution. Do you understand?”
“Yes, my Lord,” Betty replied.
“Don’t – g-go – I beg of you not to – go,” Clarinda pleaded.
He moved back to lay his hand on hers.
“You know I must do what is right, no one knows that better than you.”
Then he had left the room and she heard the key turning in the lock behind him.
“Bates, can you handle a gun?”
“I was in the Army for five years, my Lord,”
“And so was the footman on my box. Show me where your Master keeps his firearms.”
He walked to the front door as he spoke.
“James,” he called, “I want you.”
The footman came hurrying into the house and Lord Melburne let Bates lead him to a small room which, opening off the hall, contained every weapon appertaining to sport. Lord Melburne picked up a fowling piece and a musket, handed one to Bates and the other to the footman,
“Load these,” he said. “Stand at the top of the stairs outside Miss Clarinda’s room and shoot anybody, with the exception of myself, who dares come into the house. Don’t argue, don’t hesitate, just shoot and be accurate.”
“Very good, my Lord,” the two men said almost simultaneously.
Lord Melburne opened a box in which lay Sir Roderick’s duelling pistols. He took out one, loaded it and then said to James,
“Put this box in the coach.”
“You are going back, my Lord?” Bates asked.
“I am going back,” Lord Melburne answered grimly and, without saying anything more, he went down the steps and re-entered his carriage.
CHAPTER SEVEN
There was the sound of birds singing and the soft buzz of a bee against the windowpanes. Clarinda lay listening for a little while before she opened her eyes.
The sun coming in from the big casement facing her was almost blinding and she stared about her in bewilderment at the carved posts of the great bed she was in, at the blue draped curtains, the gilt mirrors and gold framed pictures.
“Where am I?” she asked aloud.
In an instant Betty was beside her.
“Oh, Miss Clarinda, you’re awake!” she exclaimed.
“Yes, I am awake,” Clarinda answered slowly. “I seem to have slept for a long time.”
“Five days, miss,” Betty told her.
“Five days!”
Clarinda felt almost speechless.
“But why? And where am I?”
“You’re at Melburne, miss. His Lordship felt it best to bring you here in case when you was well again you felt frightened.”
“Then I have been ill?” Clarinda asked.
Betty shook her head.
“No, miss, only sufferin’ from shock, is what the physician said. You cried and cried and he gave you a sleepin’ draught. Then he thought, or maybe it was his Lordship, ’twould be best for you not to know what was happenin’ till it were all over.”
Clarinda raised herself on her pillow.
“What was all over?” she asked.
“The funeral, miss.”
“Then Uncle Roderick is dead!” Clarinda cried. “I ought to have been there, I ought to have been with him!”
“Now, miss, you’re not to upset yourself,” Betty replied. “The Master died peaceful-like the followin’ afternoon after his Lordship saved you. He didn’t know what had happened, no one told him and his Lordship has seen to everythin’.”
“When was he buried?” Clarinda asked in a low voice.
“Yesterday afternoon, miss, and Mr. Nicholas with him.”
Clarinda sat bolt upright, her eyes wide.
“Nicholas is – dead too!”
She cried the words aloud.
“Did his Lordship – ?”
“No, no,” Betty interrupted quickly.
“’Twas not his Lordship who killed Mr. Nicholas, ’twas Simple Sarah.”
“Simple Sarah?”
Clarinda stared at her maid in astonishment.
“Yes, miss, she killed Mr. Nicholas as I understands, when he came from the cave. She was a-waitin’ for him hidden behind the yew trees. She drove a knife into his back not once but half a dozen times.”
“So Nicholas is dead,” Clarinda sighed in a low voice.
“His Lordship’ll want to tell you about it himself, miss,” Betty remarked firmly. “The doctor said that if you woke you could get up today. And it’ll be better for you to walk about after all the sleepin’ draughts you’ve had. I’ll go fetch your breakfast, miss. You’ll feel quite yourself when you’ve had somethin’ to eat.”
Betty went from the room and Clarinda stared blindly at the sunshine.
So Nicholas was dead! She could hardly believe it.
Now the terror she had suffered in the caves came flooding back into her memory. She had been saved, saved by a huge miracle it seemed and she could not conceive how Lord Melburne could have done it.
She could hear the noise of the exploding wine bottles, she could feel him gripping her arm and pulling her away from the Altar, she could remember that frightening rush towards the entrance and she could hear Nicholas shouting behind them and finally when they were safe in the carriage the explosion of the pistol shots echoing after them.
Clarinda put her hands up to her eyes. Could she ever forget the terror of those hours when she had known that, if Lord Melburne did not come, she must somehow contrive to kill herself?
And yet he had saved her, the man who she had hated, the man who for four years she had thought of with bitter contempt. She would have to thank him, she thought, she would have to tell him how grateful she was.
And she wondered how she could ever find the words.
Then she remembered how she had cried in his arms and she felt ashamed that he should have seen her so weak and so helpless. If only she had managed to keep her self-control until she had reached home. She remembered that she had pleaded with him to stay with her and felt herself blush at the memory.
When Betty had dressed her and arranged her hair elegantly, Clarinda turned resolutely towards the stairs, even though her heart was pounding unaccountably and she felt shyer and more embarrassed than she had ever felt before.
She had never imagined a house could be so magnificent. The great carved staircase was impressive enough, but there were high gilt mirrors over carved gold tables, family portraits and huge crystal chandeliers to admire besides the exquisite colouring of the walls. She was to learn later that much of the furniture had been designed especially for Melburne by the Adam brothers.
The burnished gold of the sofas and the fireside stools seemed to vie in brilliance w
ith exquisitely carved sconces on pale green walls, which made a perfect setting for a collection of pictures that Clarinda had always heard spoken of as being unsurpassed.
Much as she longed to linger and admire Lord Melburne’s possessions, she knew that she must first find him, even though for some unaccountable reason she could not explain to herself she felt afraid of seeing him again.
As a footman opened the library door for her, she had the impression of walls lined with books, of a room so beautifully proportioned that for a moment she could only gasp at what she saw.
Then she was aware that standing by the mantelpiece was the tall, elegant figure of the man who never failed to make her feel small and insignificant
He was exquisitely dressed as usual and inevitably she felt ashamed of the shabbiness of her gown. All that she was intending to say seemed to disappear from her mind.
Tongue-tied she could only look at him with large eyes, having no idea that the sunshine glinting on the fiery gold of her hair made her look like a very small Goddess who had just descended from Mount Olympus.
“You are better?”
She had forgotten how deep his voice was and how penetrating his grey eyes. It seemed to her he observed every detail of her appearance, the paleness of her cheeks, the fragility of her face, which was a little thinner than when he last saw it, the agitation of her heart and the sudden trembling of her hands.
“I am quite ‒well,” Clarinda murmured in reply.
He held out his hand towards her.
“Do come and sit down,” he suggested and, as his tone was kind for some extraordinary reason she felt at that moment near to tears.
‘It is those horrible sleeping draughts, they have made me weak,’ she told herself.
She then forced herself to walk towards him and seat herself on the edge of the sofa. She looked up at him, thinking how tall he was and even the vast proportions of the room could not dwarf him.
“Were you surprised to find yourself at Melburne?” he asked unexpectedly,
“I was astonished,” Clarinda answered. “How did you get me here?”
“You are not a very heavy object to move,” he answered with a smile. “You were well wrapped up in blankets so you suffered no ill-effects.”
The Irresistible Buck Page 11
