“There’s a wonderful feeling of antiquity,” I said.
“I don’t think you get that anywhere as much as you do in a church.”
“Perrivale’s very old.”
“Yes, but there are people there. Modernity creeps in.”
“Let’s go into the graveyard.”
We came out and were immediately among the tottering gravestones.
“I’ll show you the Perrivale vault if you like.”
“Yes. I’d like to see it.”
We stood before it. It was ornate and imposing.
“I wonder how many are buried there,” said Kate.
“Quite a number, I suppose.”
“Cosmo will be there. I wonder if he comes out at night. I’ll bet he does.”
“How your mind dwells on the macabre.”
“What’s macabre?”
I explained.
“Well,” she said.
“That’s what makes graveyards interesting. If they weren’t full of dead people it would be just like anywhere else. It’s the dead who are ghosts. You can’t be one until you are dead. Come on.
I want to show you something. “
“Another grave?”
She ran ahead and I followed her. She had come to a standstill before one of the graves. There was nothing ornate about this one-no engraved stone, no ornamental angels or cherubs, no fond message. Just a plain stone with the words “Thomas Parry’ and the date. A rough kerb had been put round it to separate it from the others and on it was a jam-jar containing a few sprigs of meadowsweet which looked as though they had been picked from the hedges.
“Who was he?” I asked.
“And why are you so interested in this grave?”
She said: “He was the one who fell over the cliff and was drowned.”
“Oh … I remember. You did mention him.”
“They said he was drunk.”
“Well, I suppose he was. I wonder who put those flowers there. Someone must have thought of him. Someone must remember him.”
She did not speak.
“Who was he?” I asked.
“Did you ever know?”
“He didn’t live here. He just came here and went over the cliff.”
“How foolish of him to get so drunk that he did such a thing.”
“Perhaps someone pushed him over.”
“But you say he was drunk …”
“Well, someone could. I reckon he walks by night. He gets out of his grave and walks about the graveyard talking about murder.”
I laughed at her. She turned to me and her face was serious.
Then she shrugged her shoulders and started to walk away. I followed her, turning once to look at the pathetic grave, un cared for but for a jam-jar filled with meadowsweet.
Dick Duvane rode over from Trecorn Manor. He had brought letters for me together with a note from Lucas.
He said he would wait for a reply.
The letters were from London-one from my father and the other from Aunt Maud.
I opened Lucas’s note.
Dear Rosetta, How are you getting on in the governess role? Aren’t you tired of it yet? Say so and I will come over and fetch you. In any case, I must see you. Could we meet tomorrow afternoon? We could see each other at The Sailor King. Should we meet there or would it be all right for me to come to the house? I could bring a horse for you. I want to talk.
Always devoted to your interests, Lucas
I remembered my interview with Lady Perrivale who had said I might be free to take time off when I wanted to. So I wrote a hasty note telling Lucas that I would meet him at The Sailor King the following afternoon at half past two.
Then I took the letters to my room to read them. They were both as I expected. My father’s was rather stilted. He could not understand why I had thought it necessary to take a post. If I had wanted some work he could have found something congenial for me, perhaps at the Museum.
He hoped that I would soon be home and we could talk about what I wanted to do.
I could not imagine myself explaining to my father. I was sorry for him. I guessed Aunt Maud had urged him to write in a disapproving manner.
There was no doubt of her feelings.
My dear Rosetta, How could you ? A governess! What are you thinking of? I know some poor females are forced into such a position but such is not the case with you. If you take my advice you will give up this nonsense without more ado. Do so quickly. People need never know . or if it came out it would be called a mad prank. Of course, the ideal thing would be a London season for you, but you know that is out of the question. But you are the daughter of a professor, a highly respected man in academic circles. You would have had your chances . but a governess! It went on in this strain for several pages through which I lightly skimmed. The reaction was so much what I had expected that it left me unmoved.
I was far more interested in my coming meeting with Lucas.
I told Kate the following afternoon that I was meeting a friend.
“Can I come?”
“Oh no.”
Why not? “
“Because you are not invited.”
“What shall I do while you are gone?”
“You’ll amuse yourself.”
“But I want to come.”
“Not this time?”
“Next time?”
“The future’s not ours to see.”
“You are the most maddening governess.”
“Then I match my pupil.”
She laughed. We had indeed come a long way in the short time I had been here. There was a rapport between us which I would not have dreamed was possible.
She was resigned though disgruntled. She referred once to my desertion.
“I’ve shown you things,” she grumbled.
“I showed you Gramps and the grave.”
“Both suggested by you. I did not ask. Besides, people have a private side to their lives.”
“And this one you’re meeting is in your private life?”
“As you have never met him , .. yes.”
“I will,” she said threateningly.
“You may … perhaps ..” one day. “
She would have liked to make a scene but she dared not. I knew that her life had changed since I had come and it was due to me. She looked upon me, in a way, as her protegee. She enjoyed being with me, which was why she was making such a fuss because I was leaving for a few hours; but there was a real fear, which I had managed to inst il in her, that I might leave altogether; and that’re strained her.
In my room that night I looked over the last days and thought how far I had come, though not, alas, in my main project. That had remained more or less static but in my new life as governess to Kate Blanchard I had progressed amazingly. True, I had met people who had been close to the scene of the murder, and that gave me hopes of coming on some discovery. I needed time to talk to them, to get to know them, and I must do this in a natural manner . so that they did not guess my real motive.
I wished I could find out something about Mirabel’s first husband, Mr. Blanchard. What could he have been like? When had he died? How long was it after that when she came down to Cornwall with her father and her daughter? They could not have been very well off, for the cottage was quite a humble dwelling . at least in comparison with Perrivale Court and the Dower House.
Idle curiosity, perhaps. But not entirely. Mirabel was one of the chief actors in the drama, and it would be advantageous to know as much of her as possible.
Then I was thinking of Lucas, remembering with a certain tenderness his proposal. I felt a great longing to tell him why I was at Perrivale and I knew that when I was with him that longing would be intensified.
I sat at my window looking at those across the courtyard. I was trying to persuade myself that Lucas would be a help to me. What a relief it would be to share this with him. He cared for me . next to himself.
I smiled, remembering his words.
If I made him swear not to betray Simon . was it possible?
I must not yet, I told myself. It was not my secret. Simon had told me because it had seemed possible that we might never get off the island and he had felt it necessary to confide in someone. Besides, there was a special relationship between us. I had been aware of that as he had.
Suddenly my eyes were caught by a light in one of the windows opposite. It was faint . from a candle, I imagined. It flickered and then was gone.
I was startled. I was remembering a conversation I had had with Kate some days ago. We had been standing at my window and we had looked out across the courtyard.
“Whose rooms are those over there?” I had asked.
The one next to the top floor, do you mean? Do you see something special there? “
“No. Should I?”
“I wondered if you’d seen Stepper’s father’s ghost.”
“Your preoccupation with ghosts is becoming quite a mania.”
“It’s like that in big houses, especially when there’s been a murder.
That’s Stepper’s father’s bedroom over there. Nobody goes in there much now. “
“Why not?”
“Well, because he died there. My mother says you have to show respect.”
“Respect?”
“Well, he died there.”
“Someone must go in to clean it.”
“I expect so. Anyway, no one goes there … except Stepper’s mother’s up there with Maria. They stay there most of the time.”
“Maria?”
“Her maid. I reckon it’s haunted. Sir Edward died there.”
I thought it was just another instance of Kate’s preoccupation and forgot about it. Yet when I saw the light a faint shiver ran down my spine.
I laughed at myself. Kate was affecting me with her obsession.
As she would have said, it was because there had been a murder connected with the house.
She was right. It was because of that murder that I was here.
Lucas was in The Sailor King waiting for me, and I felt extraordinarily happy to see him.
He stood up and took both my hands in his. We looked searchingly at each other for a few seconds, then he kissed my cheek.
“Governessing suits you,” he said.
“Well, sit down. How is it going?
I’ve ordered cider. It’s too early for tea, don’t you think? “
I agreed.
“So they allow you a horse to ride, do they?”
I nodded.
“They are most gracious.”
“And the pupil?”
“I’m getting her tamed.”
“You do look proud of yourself.”
“Lucas, how are they at the Manor? The children … ?”
“Very hurt by your desertion.”
“Oh, not really.”
“Yes, really. They ask for you twenty times a day. When is she coming back? I’m going to ask the same question.”
“Not just yet, Lucas.”
“What satisfaction do you get out of it?”
“I can’t explain, Lucas. I wish I could.”
I could feel confession trembling on my lips. But it is not your secret, I kept reminding myself.
“A governess! It’s the last thing …”
“I have had letters from home.”
“Aunt Maud?”
I nodded.
“And my father.”
“Good old Aunt Maud!”
“Lucas … please understand.”
“I’m trying to.”
The cider was brought and for a few seconds we were silent. Then he said: “You and I went through an extraordinary experience, Rosetta. It was bound to do something to us. Look at us. It has made you into a governess and me into a cripple.”
“Dear Lucas,” I said and, stretching my hand across the table, touched his. He held mine and smiled at me.
“It does me good to see you,” he said.
“If ever governessing becomes intolerable and you don’t, want to go back to Aunt
Maud . well, there is a haven waiting for you, as you know. “
“I don’t forget it. It’s a comfort. I am so fond of you, Lucas…”
“I am now waiting for the ” but”.”
“I wish …” I began.
“I wish too. But don’t let’s be maudlin about it. Tell me of this place. There seems to be something of a mystery hanging about it.”
“Well, of course. It is because of what happened.”
“There is something about an unsolved murder. It’s so very unsatisfactory. There’s always a question-mark. For all you know, you could be living in the same house as a killer.”
“That could be so.”
“You speak with some conviction. No. It was all so obvious. Didn’t the man run away?”
“He might have had other reasons for doing so.”
“Well, it’s not our affair. It is just that you are in this house. I don’t like your being there. It’s not only because of the murder. Do you see much of them?”
“I’m mostly with Kate.”
“The little horror.”
“Well… I’m finding her interesting. We’re just finishing Treasure Island.”
“What bliss!”
I laughed.
“And we’re going to start on The Count of Monte Cristo.”
“I cannot express my wonder.”
“Don’t mock. If, you knew Kate you’d realize what tremendous strides I’ve made. The child actually likes me, I believe.”
“What’s so extraordinary about that? Others like you.”
“But they are not Kate. It’s fascinating, Lucas. The whole place is fascinating. There seems to be something behind it all.”
“I believe you are harking back to the murder.”
“Well, there was a murder. I suppose when something violent happens it does something to people … to places …”
“Now I see what interests you. Tell me, what have you discovered?”
“Nothing … or very little.”
“Do you see much of the fascinating Mirabel?”
“Occasionally.”
“And is she so fascinating?”
“She is very beautiful. We saw her, you remember, when the sheep held us up. You must admit that she is outstanding.”
“H’m.”
“I only see her in my capacity as governess. She has made it clear that she is very pleased with me. Apparently I am the only governess who has been able to make her daughter behave with some resemblance to a normal girl. It was quite easy really. From the first she knew that I did not have to come and I threatened to go if things became too difficult. It is amazing what strength there is in indifference.”
“I’ve always known that. That’s why I pretend to be indifferent to circumstances.”
I leaned my elbows on the table and studied him.
“Yes, you have done that, Lucas. And all the time you are not as indifferent as you seem.”
“Hardly ever. For one thing, I’m not indifferent about this governessing. I feel very strongly about it. That’s something I can’t pretend about. Tell me more of them. They’ve behaved well to you, have they?”
“Impeccably. I can have time off when I want and, you see, a horse to ride. A special one has been chosen for me a chestnut mare. Her name is Goldie.” I laughed. I felt so happy that he had asked me to meet him.
“Sounds cosy,” he said.
“It is. She wants me to know that they don’t regard me as an ordinary governess. Professor’s daughter and all that. It reminds me of when Felicity came to our house. It’s very like that.”
“Only she had an easier ride.”
“Dear Felicity. We were friends from the start.”
“Have you told her of your foolish exploits?”
“Not yet. I’ve been there such a short time really. I’m going to write to her. I wanted to work myself in first. I was telling you about Mirabel,
young Lady Perrivale. There is an older one, you know. I’m inclined to think of her as Mirabel because that was what they called her in the papers. She is gracious and so is Sir Tristan.”
“So you have made his acquaintance?”
“Only briefly, but it was he who suggested the mount for me. And I may be invited to join the occasional dinner party.”
“A perquisite for a good governess … when it is a not very important occasion and someone is wanted to make up the numbers?”
“I think there might be one important occasion. They are thinking of asking you and Carleton. They have put it off because of Theresa’s death.”
I saw the interest in his eyes.
“So you and I will be fellow guests?”
“You will come when they ask, won’t you, Lucas?”
“I most certainly shall.”
“Is Carleton any better?”
He lifted his shoulders.
“I don’t think he’ll ever get over it. We’re a faithful lot, we Lorimers.”
“Poor Carleton. I grieve for him.”
“I feel guilty. I used to envy him, even saying, to myself:,. Why should everything go right for him? Why should this happen to me while he sails happily through? And now he is in a worse condition than I. I’ve got a useless leg and he has lost the one who was more important to him than anyone else. I wish I could do something for him, but I don’t know what.”
“Perhaps he’ll marry again.”
“It would be the best thing for him. He needs a wife. He’s lost without Theresa. But of course that would be in the future … far in the future. Trecorn is not a very happy household at the moment. If you came back it would relieve the gloom.”
I said: “The children … they are happy?”
“They are too young to grieve for long. I think they still ask for their mother and cry for her … and then they forget. Good old Nanny Crockett is wonderful with them, but I don’t forgive her for bringing all this about. Whatever possessed her to set it in motion?”
He was looking at me closely and I felt myself flushing.
“There must be a reason,” he went on.
I was telling myself: Explain, you owe it to him.
But I could not. It was not my secret to divulge.
After a while he said: “I think I understand. We shall never be as we were before, shall we? Sometimes I look back to the first time we met.
How different we were then . both of us. Can you remember me as I was? “
The Captive Page 27
