The Darkness Within

by Alanna Knight

  ‘I will take some of these in a hiring cab and meet you at the house.’

  Sighs of relief all round and Emily’s thanks plus her usual murmur, ‘He is so good. He thinks of everything,’ as he handed them into the two cars and saw that they were comfortably seated with rugs for the journey.

  He gave a brief salute and said, ‘Do not worry.’ Nevertheless they drove off watching him with anxious eyes, remembering Alice’s woeful tale of lost luggage and her bitter disappointment that it had not arrived before they left Orkney. In borrowed robes ill-fitting her slender frame, she still managed to look like a fairy-tale princess, Rose thought, and she had seen Emily’s look of despair as the sailors on the quay had stopped to gaze at Alice, holding on to Sven as they descended the gangway.

  At Faro’s side, Rose glanced back at Emily in the motor car with the two children. Although Sven was never hers except in her imagination, she wondered if her sister realised that she had lost him the moment Alice Yesnaby walked in the door.

  Heading through the little town, Magnus, who had prepared his history in advance, pointed out that this was where Mary Queen of Scots set foot in Scotland on her return from France. On to Leith Walk, the long road ending in the centre of Edinburgh. Over the North Bridge with its view to the castle perched high on its volcanic rock above Princes Street. Tall church spires, a sharp turn left and down the High Street and the shadow of the extinct volcano that had shaped Salisbury Crags, past the Palace of Holyroodhouse and through the Queen’s Park. To bid them welcome, a fine sunny day with a few cumulus clouds floating over the magnificent lion’s head of Arthur’s Seat, towering above them as they approached.

  ‘We’re home!’ And there was Solomon’s Tower, nestling as it had for centuries past at the base of Samson’s Ribs.

  Alice was as excited as the two children, exclaiming with delight. This was new territory for Emily, and Rose watched her father’s face, haunted by memories, both good and bitter, from days with his doctor stepson, on hand to help him solve murders. Young Vince, who had travelled far beyond Edinburgh to become Dr Vincent Beaumarcher Laurie, a physician to the King’s household.

  Before the front door was opened by Sadie Brook, from behind the house the huge deerhound rushed to greet them.

  ‘Thane, Thane!’ For it was to Meg’s side he ran and the others watched as the small girl embraced the great dog, Magnus a little unsure and cautious after a frightening encounter with a gamekeeper’s Labrador, while Faro shivered, remembering that weird nightmare about the Maid of Norway, then telling himself that it was nonsense, that all hounds looked alike.

  ‘Thane!’ Now it was Rose’s turn and by the time they were inside the Tower, everyone had received a polite welcome, including the newcomers.

  Smells of baking drifted from the kitchen and Sadie had them sitting down to a meal, which told Faro that Mrs Brook’s niece had been well trained and left Rose in no doubt that Jack was well-cared-for in her absence. Going over the domestic details of what would be required for the guests, Rose apologised for the extra work involved but her fears were swept aside by the smiling housekeeper.

  ‘Glad to have you home again, and Meg too. She is looking so well; the holiday cured that nasty cold. Mr Jack told me about bedrooms for your extra visitors and we’ve opened some of the spare rooms upstairs.’

  ‘They haven’t been used for years, not since I came to live here. I’ve hardly ever set foot in them. Are they all right?’

  ‘A little dusty, but most had beds. Some very ancient ones and new mattresses were needed, but Mr Jack gave me leave to call in the services of that shop in George Street. He said you wouldn’t mind me using your bicycle. It’s been a great help.’

  ‘I’m glad of that. Motor cars are great but not nearly as negotiable in traffic.’

  Following her up the spiral staircase, Rose sighed with relief as she opened doors on trimly furnished rooms with comfortable-looking beds adorned by white covers, and the sight of billowy pillows made her realise that she was very tired after the voyage. She wondered how the others were faring, particularly her father.

  Thanking Sadie for her excellent work, she added: ‘They will be glad we have a bathroom. I hope we have enough towels to go round.’

  Sadie nodded. ‘All taken care of, Mrs Rose, nothing for you to worry about.’ And with the evening meal over she showed the newcomers to their rooms, some of which overlooked Arthur’s Seat.

  There were decisions to be made according to the length of the visit and Meg, who had followed them, whispered: ‘Aunty Emily was so kind to us, she must have our best bedroom, with the four-poster bed.’

  Rose had never liked that particular room. Her stepbrother, Vince, had inherited Solomon’s Tower from Sir Hedley Marsh, its previous eccentric owner, who had used the great bed to house his vast horde of cats, and for Rose, somehow the smell still lingered.

  Meg, however, had always wanted to sleep in the four-poster. ‘It’s big enough to share with Aunty. And Magnus can have the daybed in what was once the dressing room. Grandpa can have my room, it’s snug and cosy.’

  As for Alice and Sven, their rooms had been skilfully adapted at short notice for a temporary stay. Apologising to Sven, who had just arrived, Sadie said he would have the nanny’s room next to the nursery, now to be Alice’s room at the top of the tower. He did not seem to mind, although Emily did but couldn’t see any excuse or any valid reason for objecting to this proximity to Alice without making a great fuss.

  Their luggage now spread out tidily in the hall, Sven said: ‘It is all there. I made a careful check at the dock office, just in case Miss Yesnaby’s had turned up and been forwarded from Kirkwall.’

  A sharp intake of breath from Alice. ‘Don’t tell me – I can’t bear it, I was still hoping.’

  He shook his head sadly: ‘There is no trace so far, but don’t give up hope,’ he added cheerfully.

  ‘Hope, after all this time,’ she exclaimed, ‘and I am still in borrowed clothes. All my best dresses lost,’ she moaned.

  Emily put a hand on her arm. ‘Never mind, we will go shopping on Princes Street tomorrow.’

  ‘As I told you, Emily, I have no money to buy clothes or shoes. I had everything new especially for the visit to Yesnaby. Oh dear, this is awful.’

  There was silence all round, sympathetic murmurs but a certain weariness at the continued saga of Alice’s lost luggage. In fact, they all thought Emily’s offer was exceedingly generous, considering that Alice needed clothes only for a few days in Edinburgh before returning home to Aberdeen.

  Rose told her there were no plans for formal visits. With that she had to be content, sighing and saying of course she had other clothes at home but not nearly as nice as her best ones, which had been lost.

  Jack had come in while all this was being discussed. After fond greetings to Rose and Meg, he turned to Alice and the dread subject was renewed. ‘If it turns up, we will forward it on to you, so don’t worry,’ he added consolingly.

  As this was a special occasion, it was to be celebrated not in the kitchen, normally the hub of the house, but in what had once been the great hall of the Tower with its ancient tapestries of harrowing scenes from Greek mythology mercifully faded and almost obliterated by time. Impossible to heat in winter, the stone walls let in icy draughts and it was only in summer the great hall could be comfortably used, supplemented even on the warmest day by a log fire in the huge medieval fireplace, built originally, Jack suggested, to roast an ox to be consumed at the massive oak refectory table.

  Rose apologised that there was no drawing room. ‘They didn’t go in for such niceties when this tower was built, more for defence and keeping the reivers and the English at bay. Presumably, they had music of a sort as entertainment,’ she added, pointing to the minstrels’ gallery above, ‘but Jack and I live in the kitchen, and what guests we have, we also entertain there.’

  She smiled at them. ‘But this is something special, this is a family occasion. It’s so del
ightful, so marvellous to have all the family together.’

  Faro agreed but sighed, his thoughts with Imogen, sad that she should have missed not only historic Yesnaby House but also this restored pele tower that she would have loved.

  Seated round the table, what followed was not in the ancient tradition of the banquet suggested by their surroundings, but considering that they had just arrived and were very hungry, Sadie had worked wonders with a delicious beef and vegetable stew and mashed potatoes, followed by an apple dumpling.

  When at last the log fire fell to ashes, they retreated to the kitchen. It had turned chilly, and cool draughts seeping through the stone walls had also brought the tapestries’ gruesome depictions uncannily to life. Whilst there was still daylight Meg had taken Magnus out to explore the wonders of Arthur’s Seat, accompanied by Thane. Interested in his reaction to the newcomers, their pats on his head politely received, Rose was amused and glad that Magnus seemed to warrant his particular attention. A great deal of tail-wagging indicated approval, accompanied by an expression that seemed to her and to Meg the equivalent of a human smile.

  As they sat around the kitchen table to exchange ideas with Emily, whose visit would be a short one before Magnus’s tutor arrived at Yesnaby, she had decided to explore the possibilities of schools in Edinburgh, taking him with her when interviews could be arranged.

  Sven would, of course, be returning to Yesnaby with them. He acknowledged this information gratefully, saying again how honoured he was to have been included in Mrs Yesnaby’s holiday.

  Emily laughed. ‘You know perfectly well we couldn’t do without you, Sven. As a general factotum, you are irreplaceable.’

  Looking across at Alice, Rose asked: ‘What are your plans? You may stay as long as you like.’

  Alice smiled politely. ‘Thank you, if you can put up with me just for a day or two.’ The absence of appropriate clothes obviously worrying her, Emily and Rose could see that she was tired after the long journey and suggested she might like to go to bed. She seemed grateful and Sadie showed her to her room. A little later Emily and Rose saw the two children safely bedded down, although it looked as if there was to be an extra sleeper.

  Meg said: ‘Thane always sleeps in my room, Aunty.’

  He had followed them up the spiral staircase. ‘He looks as if he wants to stay.’

  Rose frowned but Emily could not resist Meg’s look of appeal. ‘Then let him.’ She laughed. ‘It’s a big enough room for all of us. Maybe Sadie could fetch his rug.’

  Downstairs, Jack was busy sorting out papers, frowning over bills no doubt, thought Rose. He looked up and grinned as she followed her father out, heading for Salisbury Crags.

  Jack laughed. ‘An evening stroll? No, thanks.’ And blowing Rose a kiss, he added: ‘Don’t get lost, love, there might be wolves.’

  It was an old joke between them as there hadn’t been a wolf on Arthur’s Seat for more than a hundred years, Rose said, linking arms with Faro. Tonight she felt they were both too tired for the Radical Road, Faro’s favourite walk on the Crags with its magnificent view over the city. Instead she stopped by her favourite seat on the garden wall.

  ‘Moonrise on Arthur’s Seat,’ she sighed. ‘The loveliest moment of the day watching it creep over, at this time of year it’s like a great big orange. Don’t you miss these moments on your travels, Pa?’

  Faro sighed. ‘Sometimes. I’ve seen that same moon rise over so many different countries in the past years.’

  Rose laughed. ‘And I’m still amazed that it looks exactly the same in Arizona as it does in Edinburgh.’

  ‘And in Ireland. We have Imogen’s word for it.’

  ‘You miss her, Pa.’

  ‘Always, even here where she has never played any part in my life. If she got any of my letters, I am hoping she’ll come here or that we can arrange to meet somewhere in Scotland, depending on her lecture dates.’ And taking Rose’s hand, he said, ‘Meanwhile, I am more than content being with my two lassies again – and their bairns. I am glad fate spared me to enjoy being a grandfather.’ He paused. ‘And glad you found happiness again with your Jack. He’s a fine man, I couldn’t have wished better for you.’

  ‘Poor Emily, and what has fate in store for her, I wonder?’ Rose said, aware that she was testing the ground.

  He thought for a moment. ‘Aye, she’s young enough and a rich widow, with Yesnaby an added attraction. The good doctor seems wild about her; that would be a good move.’

  ‘Pity she doesn’t feel the same.’

  ‘Pity she’s wasting her time on Sven.’

  Rose’s eyes opened in amazement and he grinned, ‘I guessed, saw it right away.’ And wagging a finger at her, ‘Because your old policeman father has retired doesn’t mean he has also retired his observation and deduction. I don’t think she ever had much hope there, but now what we are seeing is inevitable, that young attracts very young.’

  ‘You mean Sven and Alice?’

  ‘I do. Thick as thieves those two. Surely you’ve noticed, and Emily must be blind if she hasn’t.’

  Rose sighed. ‘Oh, I think she has all right, maybe it’s the Nelson touch. What do you think of Alice?’

  Faro frowned. ‘I haven’t made my mind up there. All that beauty, all that innocent appeal.’

  It was turning too chilly to stay seated. The hour knew its warm day was over, the trees drooping their heavy-leafed heads into sleep, and as they walked back, he added: ‘She just seems too good to be true.’

  Sven had joined them in the kitchen again after making certain that everyone’s luggage was stored in their appropriate bedrooms. He took his place across the table from Alice, at Emily’s side, to be rewarded by what perhaps only Rose noticed was a rather proprietorial smile.

  Jack looked up eagerly as Faro and Rose sat down. Flourishing one of his papers, he said, ‘Here is one bit of useful information, one thing you will be surprised to hear, a fragment of our mystery on the royal yacht solved.’

  Eager faces were turned to him as he said: ‘I wanted a few more details so I made enquiries through what we, in the police here, call the usual sources and it turns out that the passenger lost overboard on the ship’s list, Lindsay Minton, was not a man, but a woman.’

  Gasps of astonishment greeted this piece of news, although it was becoming fashionable and quite common for girls to be given a male name, especially when there was no son to be heir.

  ‘That’s amazing,’ Rose said. ‘What else – what could they tell you about her?’

  ‘They are not at liberty to give details, other than that she had not come from London with the yacht, but had boarded it when it reached Norway on what was to be the homeward voyage.’

  ‘How awful,’ Emily said.

  ‘It is, indeed, but presumably her kin have now been informed.’

  ‘Poor souls. They will be horrified.’

  Jack nodded. ‘Especially as her body has not turned up yet or been washed ashore, as far as we know.’

  They were speculating on this extraordinary revelation when there was a slight cough from Sven, who had been listening intently.

  ‘If you will permit me, I think I can shed some light on that mystery.’

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  All heads turned towards Sven and he smiled at them, leaning his elbows on the table. ‘Remember the night when we thought there was a man overboard on the yacht? I was out gathering in my lobster creels as usual, the last of them not far from the shore, when I saw a woman’s head in the water. I was somewhat shaken. For a moment, I thought I was seeing this selkie, that Archie Toft raves about. Nevertheless, I was curious so I went close and saw that this was a human woman and that she was in considerable distress.

  ‘Her foot had caught in one of my fishing nets. I got her into the boat, I had no idea who she was, presumably a local girl, except that she was not dressed for swimming.’

  He coughed again and looked embarrassed. ‘She was almost naked, clad only in a thin nightgow
n. I apologised for the net and when I asked her if she was from Hopescarth, she began to cry. She was terrified and pointed to the yacht. She began to cry and implored me not to take her back there as she had jumped into the sea to escape from some man.’

  ‘What happened to her after that?’ Faro demanded sharply.

  Sven closed his eyes as if it distressed him to remember. ‘She was in a very bad way, crying and completely terrified of whatever had happened to her on the yacht. It sounded as if she had been … indecently assaulted by some man, a fellow passenger and she jumped overboard to escape him.’

  ‘Why didn’t you bring her to us?’ Emily asked.

  He looked at her. ‘It was very late, all of you would be in bed. I didn’t want to disturb you or alarm everyone. You could do nothing and the girl was in considerable distress, shivering and in a state of collapse. I had never imagined myself in such a situation before. I did not know what to do so I decided to take her to the cottage, get her out of that wet nightgown clinging to her, wrap her in something dry and warm.’

  ‘You could have taken her to Dr Randall. Doctors are used to being woken in the middle of the night,’ Rose reminded him.

  ‘True, that was my first thought, except that his surgery was miles from where I landed and even had she been capable of it, she could not walk that distance in her bare feet and she was too heavy for me to carry.’

  They considered his tall slender frame and Emily asked: ‘What was her story, then?’

  He looked at Emily as if seeing her for the first time. He shook his head. ‘A quite extraordinary story. I couldn’t believe it then, and I still wonder about it.’

  ‘Why didn’t you tell us about her?’

  ‘Because she begged me not to let anyone know, to let him – this man who had been pursuing her – believe she had drowned.’

  ‘What was she doing on the royal yacht?’ Rose asked.

  ‘She said her mother was from Ireland, a lady-in-waiting to Queen Maud. There was some connection with your Queen Victoria, and her mother hoped to marry a German baron she’d met at Trondheim. That was where this young woman encountered the gentleman who wished to meet you, Mr Faro. He was very keen to marry her, but she decided she wanted to go back to Ireland, to her family there. She was given a place on the yacht when it arrived in Norway a few weeks ago and there he was again. He was relentless in his pursuit of her, and it ended on the deck when he had drunk too much and … raped her.’ He paused and looked at the women anxiously, as if the word might offend them. ‘That was when she jumped overboard.’