The Captive

by Виктория Холт

  “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 …”