by Anna Jacobs
She watched him sympathetically. ‘You’re no gambler, are you, Joseph?’
‘No. Never. I couldn’t live like that.’ He turned to the lawyer. ‘Thank you for your help.’
‘I’ll be in touch, Mr Dalton. There’s nothing else to settle at the moment, not till I have more information.’
‘Mr Latimer,’ Joseph corrected, looking at his wife. ‘I think this family needs a new start. Anyway, I’ve changed my name officially now. I’m not changing back.’
The lawyer paused in collecting his papers. ‘Are you sure?’
‘Very sure.’
Harriet had to ask, ‘Won’t that upset your mother?’
‘It might. But it’s you I’m concerned about. What would you really like to be called?’
‘Latimer,’ she admitted.
‘So would I. It’s an honourable name. You’re giving everything else up, so you should keep your name.’
Chapter Twenty
Frank slipped out of the house and ripped open the letter, reading it quickly, then reading it again with a smile.
His mother came to the kitchen door. ‘Everything all right, dear?’
‘Everything’s fine, Mum. I’ll have to go into Swindon, though not till after dark. It’s all right. I won’t overdo things. I’ll be staying with a friend, who’ll run me round in his car.’
‘I thought you wanted to keep out of the way of the police.’
‘I do. I shall. But there’s someone I have to see.’
He would have pushed past her into the house, but she grabbed his arm. ‘You’re not going after Phoebe again, are you?’
‘No, of course not. And even if I were, it’d be none of your business.’
‘You are going after her. Oh, Frank, let her be. There are other girls who’d make much better wives for a man like you.’
‘Mind your own business, Ma.’
It was fully dark by the time the bus drew into Swindon. Frank had developed an occasional tickle of a cough in the past few weeks, which made a good excuse for wrapping a scarf round his neck and mouth. He hurried away from the bus and set off through the streets, avoiding the well-lit areas.
Sid was waiting for him, eager to talk.
‘Give me a minute to catch my breath,’ Frank said irritably. He was feeling tired today, the excitement, probably. He had to calm down. That’d stop his heart fluttering.
‘Come and sit down, love,’ Sid’s wife said. ‘I’ll get you a nice cup of tea.’
Sid joined him.
‘Tell me how you’re so sure about her.’
‘I saw her. She’d got her hat pulled down, so I nearly walked past her, then I realised who it was, so I followed them.’
‘Them? Was she with that damned officer again?’
‘No. She was with an old woman and a middle-aged man.’ Sid sniggered. ‘I know him. He used to live in the next street to us. And I know where he works.’
‘He may be her new fellow,’ Frank said grumpily.
‘No. He’s a lot older than her and married. And anyway, he was very respectful towards her.’
‘So where does he work?’
‘At that old house in Challerton. Greyladies it’s called. They’ve took it over for a convalescent hospital an’ he’s an orderly there.’
‘Is she nursing there?’
‘She wasn’t wearing a nurse’s uniform.’
Frank leant back, accepted a cup of tea and sipped it happily. He’d found Phoebe and she’d not escape this time. He looked across at Sid. ‘You can take me there and hang around in case she needs persuading to see sense. I’ve been ill, not got my strength back yet.’
Sid looked uneasy.
‘I’m not going to hurt her,’ Frank said irritably. ‘I want to marry her. But I may need to persuade her a bit.’
‘Oh. All right, then. As long as you pay me for the information.’
‘I will if we find her. Tomorrow, we’ll drive out to have a look round.’
When Phoebe woke, her first thought was how sad it was that Corin had gone away. She’d miss him dreadfully. Still, no use moping. It’d change nothing.
She got up and started her shift. Some of the internees were frail and needed help getting dressed or getting breakfast. And of course there were the meals to prepare for: endless trays to set and carry round.
The internees took the evening meal in the dining room. That meant setting the table and clearing it afterwards. At least they were tidy eaters, with good table manners, so they didn’t make too much mess for her to clear up.
When she’d finished setting the table, Matron told her to take a break and go for a stroll outside.
‘I’ll just put my feet up in my room for a few minutes.’
‘No. You’re looking peaky and need some fresh air. Half an hour at least.’ She patted the younger woman’s arm. ‘You’re missing him already, I can tell.’
Phoebe could feel herself flushing. Did everyone know how she felt about Corin? Was it so obvious?
When she got outside, it was still light and she was glad Matron had insisted on this stroll. She took a sudden fancy to explore the crypt properly. There was time to make a start if she hurried. She and Corin had caught some glimpses of carved stonework and goods from the house were stored there. She was sure Harriet wouldn’t mind her looking round.
Then she realised that it’d be up to her, not Harriet, in future, to deal with the household details. All the more reason for getting to know every single part of her inheritance, what was stored where. One day it’d all need to be put back in place.
She nipped into the kitchen of the old house, telling Cook, ‘I just need a key.’ The huge old iron key was hanging in its usual place. It was too heavy to put in her pocket, so she carried it, smiling at the thought of how many chatelaines had used this key.
It turned easily in the lock of the crypt and she pushed the door open with a feeling of eager anticipation, leaving the key in the lock.
She felt a sense of welcome and a light began to glow in one corner. She took a step in that direction, but suddenly there was the sound of the metal grille slamming shut behind her. She spun round. There was no wind, so how could the door have closed?
Then she heard the key turning in the lock. It was just out of sight at the end of the short entrance passage. Had someone deliberately shut her in? Why? She moved cautiously sideways till she could see the door and when she did, her heart began to pound with fear.
Frank was standing at the other end of the corridor, just inside the crypt, leaning against the grille. His arms were folded and he was smiling like a cat about to torment a mouse.
He turned to talk to someone outside, then began moving forward. ‘I know you’re there, Phoebe,’ he called.
She didn’t answer.
‘There’s nowhere to hide. Took me a while to find you, but I never give up when I want something. Never. And you can’t get out of here till I unlock the door.’
She looked round but couldn’t see anything she could use to defend herself with, and there was certainly nowhere to hide properly, though she could and did duck down behind some of the packing cases.
He began to walk towards her. ‘You may as well give in. After all, I’m going to marry you, aren’t I? And I’ll keep you in comfort. So it won’t be a bad life.’
She called, ‘I won’t marry you, Frank, whatever you do.’ She immediately regretted that and moved across to another position, in case he could trace where her voice had come from.
He glowered in her direction. ‘Why won’t you? You always told Ma you wanted children, and for that, a decent woman like you needs a husband.’
Perhaps if she told him about Corin? ‘And I’ve found one.’
‘You’re married?’
‘No. But I’m going to be.’
‘If you value his life, you won’t do it.’
‘He won’t need me to defend him. He’s a trained soldier.’
‘That lanky idiot who interfered in S
windon?’
She didn’t answer that.
‘It is him, isn’t it? I knew it. Where is he now, then? Gone off to London. He won’t be able to save you tonight, will he?’
She stared in surprise. Was there nothing Frank hadn’t found out? ‘He’ll be back.’
‘He may come back, but he won’t find you in the same state as he left you, and believe me, a gentleman like him won’t want soiled goods. Why, if we’re lucky, you’ll be carrying my child by then.’
‘I still wouldn’t marry you.’
She’d been moving here and there, to keep out of sight, but he lunged in her direction. She dodged back out of reach, then found herself penned between two stone tombs.
He lunged again, nearly close enough to grab her. This time when she jerked backwards, she bumped into the wall.
He had her trapped in the corner. There was no way of escaping him now. But she’d fight him every inch of the way.
And she would never, ever marry him, whatever he did to her.
Matron looked at her fob watch. Phoebe was late getting back from her break, which wasn’t like her. Poor girl. She’d fallen hard for Major McMinty and he seemed equally taken by her.
What was keeping them apart? In times like these you had to seize the moment, and as far as Matron could tell, the major wasn’t short of money, so could easily have got married.
As the minutes passed, she began to feel irritated. Drat the girl! Where was she? She was needed here. Footsteps came towards the door of her office. Ah! That’d be her.
But the footsteps went past and vanished into the distance.
She’d give Phoebe another ten minutes then she’d go looking for her. She’d seen which way the girl went after she left the old part of the house carrying a key so large you couldn’t miss it.
There was only one place that path led to, only one place down there that needed unlocking.
That morning, Harriet began to feel uneasy and to worry about Phoebe. She couldn’t work out what had caused this, but she had a strong urge to get back to Greyladies.
She went to find Joseph. ‘Could we set off earlier than planned, love? I think there’s trouble at Greyladies.’
He nodded. He knew she wouldn’t ask him unless it was urgent. ‘I’ll send for the boys and we’ll set off as soon as everything is packed.’
‘Thank you. I’ll be fifteen minutes at most.’ She finished packing their things any old how, without bothering to fold her clothes, let alone put tissue paper between the layers. After that, she went into the boys’ room and flung everything into their suitcase.
When she went downstairs, Joseph was speaking to his mother, who looked up at Harriet, head on one side.
She answered the unspoken question. ‘I don’t know what’s wrong, Mrs Dalton. I just know something is wrong.’
‘But you’ll come back soon?’
‘Yes, of course we will. And it’ll be to stay.’
She gave her daughter-in-law a surprised look. ‘Who’d have thought you would become Mistress of Dalton House?’
Harriet stiffened, expecting criticism and offers to guide her in her new role. She’d listen to advice, of course she would, but she had her own ideas of how she wanted to run the big house and make use of it for more than mere show. Neither she nor Joseph had ambitions to take their place in county society.
But her mother-in-law surprised her. ‘You’ll fill your new role well, Harriet. You’ve the modern understanding. And I, too, thank you for giving up Greyladies.’
Harriet walked across to give her a genuine hug, feeling better accepted now, relieved about that. The last thing she wanted was to be at odds with Joseph’s mother, especially in such a tragic time. ‘I shall need to ask your advice, I’m sure.’
‘No. Don’t. Well, only about details. I’m the past and you’re the future. I shall go back to live in my flat in London. I’ve made a life there, with nothing to remind me of … times past and people lost.’
She gave Harriet a little push. ‘Well, hurry up. Get away with you. Something must be very wrong at Greyladies to make you look like that.’
Corin was called into David Brookes’ office for a second time since his arrival in London. He found an elderly gentleman sitting there with David, wrinkled hands resting on an elaborately carved walking stick.
‘This is Herr Schreiber, who has kindly shared some important information with us. He’s very tired of moving from one place to another, so I’ve promised him you’ll take him down to Greyladies and settle him in there.’
Corin opened his mouth to protest that he’d only just left the place, but closed it again. If David felt this gentleman deserved an escort and a place in the special internment centre, then he would take the old man there.
‘Herr Schreiber’s wife and daughter will be joining him as soon as you can arrange it. He’ll give you their address and we’d like you to fetch them.’
‘Very well.’
‘I’ve arranged a car and driver for you.’
‘When do you want us to set off?’
‘The sooner the better,’ the old gentleman said in near faultless English. ‘I’m weary of moving from one place to another, and am looking forward to spending time in peaceful surroundings in the country, as Mr Brookes has kindly promised.’
‘Greyladies is certainly peaceful,’ Corin agreed. ‘I’ll just go and pack a few things.’
David cleared his throat. ‘I don’t think that’s necessary, Major. I know it’s quite late already, but I’d be grateful if you’d come straight back. We have a few little matters about to come to the boil here.’
Corin didn’t allow himself even one sigh, but decided he was going to have a word with Phoebe while he was there, however late it was. He needed to tell her that he loved her, wanted to marry her, didn’t care where they lived. He’d been stupid not to do it before he left. ‘Very well, sir. If you’ll come this way, Herr Schreiber?’
Chapter Twenty-One
Frank didn’t lunge forward, as Phoebe had expected, but stood eyeing her as if she had no clothes on. She shivered involuntarily, but as she watched him, she quickly realised how much he was enjoying tormenting her. He was also panting slightly, as if finding it hard to breathe.
‘No one will hear you when you scream,’ he told her. ‘No one but me. I’ll enjoy making you scream. You deserve it, you bitch, leading me on all these years.’
‘I’ve never led you on, Frank.’
‘Oh, but you have. We both knew you’d be mine in the end, only you had to play hard to get.’
She couldn’t believe he thought that. She despised women who played with men and would never do it. But most of all, she despised Frank, who was a bully and a brute.
She could have leapt over the nearest packing case, but where would she go? He had the key in his pocket, so she still couldn’t get out of here.
A light appeared right next to her, shining softly on her face.
‘How the hell did you do that?’ Frank demanded.
‘Do what?’
‘Make that light. Is it a reflection? There’s no one else in here. I saw you myself unlocking the gate to get in. I’ve brought someone with me to keep watch, but he didn’t come inside and he won’t interfere. So where did that light come from?’
The light moved sideways in the direction she had been intending to jump, if only to postpone Frank’s attack for a minute or two. Was it urging her to move that way? she wondered.
He continued to stare at it. ‘You must see that light. It’s getting brighter all the time.’
She pretended ignorance. ‘See what light?’
‘If this is a trick, I’ll make you pay dearly for it.’
‘I’m doing nothing to cause a light.’
It grew bright enough to dazzle and he held one arm over his eyes.
The light moved to a piece of carved stone, bounced twice on a carved rose, and moved back towards Phoebe.
She saw Anne Latimer’s grey robes begi
n to show, faint and transparent at first, growing more opaque, looking as if she was real.
‘Stop it!’ Frank yelled suddenly. ‘I know this picture of a woman is a trick. A projection, like in the cinema. It won’t do you any good. Stop it now.’
He was staring at the light, so Phoebe scrambled over the packing case and reached for the rose.
He roared with fury.
But before he could follow her, the light became so bright it hurt his eyes, coruscating around them, beating at Frank in particular.
Phoebe heard a faint grating sound nearby, saw a dark hole open up behind the stone and ran towards it, bending to get inside. Immediately the carved stone began to close again.
The last thing she heard was Frank yelling, ‘Get away from me! Get away!’
Once the panel shut, she was alone in the darkness.
How long would she have to stay here? Would anyone hear her if she couldn’t get out again and shouted for help?
Corin arrived at Greyladies to find people gathered in small groups, talking anxiously about something.
Captain Turner came out to the car. ‘Sorry to greet you with this. Do come inside.’
‘What’s wrong?’
‘One of the VADs seems to have vanished and Matron’s just organising a search of the grounds. Phoebe’s nowhere in the house, that’s for sure.’
‘Is it Phoebe who’s missing?’ Corin asked sharply.
‘Yes. I forgot you two were … close.’
Matron came across the hall to join them. ‘Hello, Major. Sorry to greet you like this. We’re looking for Phoebe. I saw her heading towards the crypt earlier, so we’re about to see if she’s still there.’
‘I know where it is. I’ll go. Oh, this is Herr Schreiber. I believe you’re expecting him. Perhaps someone can attend to him?’
Herr Stein came forward. ‘I will show him the room that has been prepared and keep him company till you’ve found our dear Phoebe.’
‘Thank you.’ Corin left the house again, followed by Captain Turner and Matron.
‘I hope she hasn’t fallen and hurt herself,’ Matron worried as they strode along the garden path towards the little gate at the side, which led to the ruins of the old abbey.
