Mistress of Mellyn

by Виктория Холт

  Your admiring neighbour, Peter Nansellock

  In spite of efforts to control myself I felt the hot colour rising from my neck to my forehead. I knew that Tapperty found it hard to repress a snigger.

  How could Peter be so foolish! Was he laughing at me? How could I possibly accept such a gift, even if I wanted to? Horses have to be fed and stabled. It was almost as though be had forgotten this was not my home.

  ” Is there an answer. Miss?” asked Dick.

  ” Indeed there is,” I said. ” I will go to my loom at once, and you may take it back with you.”

  I went with as much dignity as I could muster in front of such an array of spectators back to the house, and in my room I wrote briefly’ Dear Mr. Nansellock, Thank you for your magnificent gift which I am, of course, quite unable to accept. I have no means of keeping a horse here. It may have escaped you that I am employed in this house as a governess. I could not possibly afford the upkeep of Jacinth. Thank you for the kind thought.

  Yours truly, Martha Leigh

  I went straight back to the stables. I could hear them all laughing and talking excitedly as I approached.

  ” Here you are, Dick,” I said. ” Please take this note to your master with Jacinth.”

  ” But …” stammered Dick. ” I was to leave her here.”

  I looked straight into Tapperty’s lewd old face.

  “Mr. Nansellock,” I said, ” is fond of playing jokes.” Then I went back to the house.

  The next day was Saturday and Alvean said that, as it was a half holiday, could we not take the morning off and go to the’ moors. Her Great-Aunt Clara had a house there, and she would be pleased to see us.

  I considered this. I thought it would be rather pleasant to get away from the house for a few hours. I knew that they must all be talking about me and Peter Nansellock.

  I guessed that he had behaved with Miss Jansen as he was behaving with me, and it amused them all to see the story of one governess turning out so much like another.

  I wondered about Miss Jansen. Had she perhaps been a little frivolous?

  I pictured her stealing, whatever she was supposed to have stolen, that she might buy herself fine clothes to appear beautiful in the sight of her admirer.

  And he had not cared when she was dismissed. A fine friend he would be!

  We set out after breakfast. It was a beautiful day for riding for the October sun was not fierce and there was a soft southwest wind. Alvean was in high spirits, and I thought this would be a good exercise in staying power. If she could manage the long ride to her great aunt’s house and back without fatigue I should be delighted.

  I felt it was pleasant to get away from the watchful eyes of the servants, and it was delightful to be in the moorland country.

  I found the great tracts of moor fitted my mood. I was enchanted by the low stone walls, the grey boulders and the gay little streams which trickled over them.

  I warned Alvean to be watchful of boulders, but she was sure-seated and alert now, so I did not feel greatly concerned.

  We studied the map which would guide us to Great-Aunt Clara’s house—a few miles south of Bodmin. Alvean had travelled there in a carriage once or twice and she thought she would know the road; but the moor was the easiest place in the world in which to lose oneself, and I thought that we could profit by the occasion to learn a little map-reading.

  But I had left a great deal of my severity behind and I found myself laughing with Alvean when we took the wrong road and had to retrace our steps.

  But at length we reached The House on the Moors which was the picturseque name of Great-Aunt Clara’s home.

  And a charming house it was, set there on the outskirts of a moorland village. There was the church, the little inn, the few houses and The House on the Moors which was like a small manor house.

  Great-Aunt Clara lived here with three servants to minister to her wants, and when we arrived there was great excitement as we were quite unexpected.

  ” Why, bless my soul if it b’aint Miss Alvean!” cried an elderly housekeeper. ” And who be this you have brought with ‘ee, my dear?”

  ” It is Miss Leigh, my governess,” said Alvean.

  ” Well now! And be there just the two on you? And b’aint your papa here?”

  ” No. Papa has gone to Penzance.”

  I wondered then whether I had been wrong in acceding to Alvean’s wishes, and had forgotten my position by imposing myself on Great-Aunt Clara without first asking permission.

  I wondered if I should be banished to the kitchen to eat with the servants. Such a procedure did not greatly disturb me and I would rather have done that than sit down with a haughty, disapproving old woman.

  But I was soon reassured. We were taken into a drawing room and there was Great-Aunt Clara, a charming old lady seated in an armchair, whitehaired, pink-cheeked with bright friendly eyes. There was an ebony stick beside her, so I guessed she had difficulty in walking.

  Alvean ran to her and she was warmly embraced.

  Then the lively blue eyes were on me.

  ” So you are Alvean’s governess, my dear,” she said. ” Well, that is nice. And how thoughtful of you to bring her to see me. It is particularly fortunate, for I have my grandson staying with n me and I fear he grows a little weary of having no playmates of his own age. When he hears Alvean has arrived he’ll be quite excited.”

  I did not believe that the grandson could be any more excited than Great-Aunt Clara herself. She was certainly charming to me, so much so that I forgot my diffidence and I really did feel like a friend calling on a friend, rather than a governess bringing her charge to see a relative, Dandelion wine was brought out and we were pressed to take a glass.

  There were wine cakes with it and I must say I found the wine delicious. I allowed Alvean to take a very small glass of it but when I had taken mine I wondered whether I had been wise, for it was certainly potent.

  Great-Aunt Clara wished to hear all the news of Mount Mellyn; she was indeed a garrulous lady, and I guessed it was due to the fact that she lived a somewhat lonely life in her house on the moors.

  The grandson appeared a handsome boy a little younger than Alvean and the pair of them went off to play, although I warned Alvean not to go too far away as we must be home before dark.

  As soon as Alvean had left us I saw that Great-Aunt Clara was eager for a real gossip; and whether it was due to the fact that I had taken her potent dandelion wine or whether I believed her to be a link with Alice, I am not sure; but I found her conversation fascinating.

  She spoke of Alice as I had not until now heard her spoken of with complete candour; and I quickly realised that from this gossipy lady I was going to discover a great deal more than I could from anyone else.

  As soon as we were alone she said: ” And now tell me how things really are at Mount Mellyn.”

  I raised my eyebrows as though I did not fully comprehend her meaning.

  She went on: ” It was such a shock when poor Alice died. It was so sudden. Such a tragic thing to happen to such a young girl for she was little more than a girl.”

  ” Is that so?”

  ” Don’t tell me you haven’t heard what happened.”

  “I know very little about it.”

  ” Alice and Geoffry Nansellock, you know. They went off together ..

  eloped. And then this terrible accident. “

  ” I have heard that there was an accident.”

  ” I think of them—those two young people—quite often, in the dead of the night. And then I blame myself.”

  I was astonished. I did not understand how this gentle talkative old lady could blame herself for Alice’s infidelity to her husband.

  ” One should never interfere in other people’s lives. Or should one?

  What do you think, my dear? If one can be helpful”— ” Yes,” I said firmly, ” if one can be helpful I think one should be forgiven for interference. “

  ” But how is one to kn
ow whether one is being helpful or the reverse?”

  ” One can only do what one thinks is right.”

  ” But one might be doing right and yet be quite unhelpful?”

  ” Yes, I suppose so.”

  ” I think of her so much … my poor little niece. She was a sweet creature. But, shall I say, not equipped to face the cruelties of fate.”

  ” Oh, was she like that?”

  ” I can see that you. Miss Leigh, are so good for that poor child.

  Alice would be so happy if she could see what you’ve done for her. The last time I saw her she was with her . with Connan. She was not nearly so happy . so relaxed as she is today. “

  ” I’m so glad of that. I am encouraging her to ride. I think that has done her a world of good.” I was loath to interrupt that flow of talk from which I might extract some fresh evidence about Alice. I was afraid that at any moment Alvean and the grandson would return, and I knew that in their presence there would be no confidences. ” You are telling me about Alvean’s mother. I am sure you have nothing with which to reproach yourself.”

  ” I wish I could believe that. It worries me sometimes. Perhaps I shouldn’t weary you. But you seem so sympathetic, and you are there, living in the house. You are looking after little Alvean like … like a mother. It makes me feel very grateful to you, my dear.”

  ” I am paid for doing it, you know.” I could not resist that remark, and I thought of the smile it would have brought to Peter Nansellock’s lips.

  ” There are some things in this world which cannot be bought. Love .. devotion … they are some of them. Alice stayed with me before her marriage. Here … in this house. It was so convenient, you see.

  It was only a few hours’ ride from Mount Mellyn. It gave the young people a chance to know each other. “

  ” The young people?”

  ” The engaged pair.”

  ” Did they not know each other then?”

  ” The marriage had been arranged when they were in their cradles. She brought him a lot of property. They were well matched. Both rich, both of good families. Connan’s father was alive then and, you know, Connan was a wild boy with a will of his own. The feeling was that they should be married as soon as possible.”

  ” So he allowed this marriage to be arranged for him?”

  ” They both took it as a matter of course. Well, she stayed with me several months before the wedding. I loved her dearly.”

  I thought of little Gilly and I said : “I think a great many people loved her dearly.”

  Great-Aunt Clara nodded; and at that moment Alvean and the grandson came in.

  ” I want to show Alvean my drawings,” he announced.

  ” Well, go and get them,” said his grandmother. ” Bring them down and show her here.”

  I believed that she realised she had talked a little too much and was afraid of her own garrulity. It was clear to me that she was the sort of woman who could never keep a secret; how could she when she was ready to confide secret family history to me, a stranger?

  The grandson returned with his portfolio, and the children sat at the table. I went over to them and I was so proud of g Alvean’s attempts at drawing that I determined to speak to her father about that at the first opportunity.

  Yet as I watched, I felt frustrated. I was sure that Great-Aunt Clara had been on the point of confiding something to me which was of the utmost importance.

  Aunt Clara gave us luncheon and we left immediately after. We found our way back with the utmost care, but I was determined to ride out again, and that before long, to the house on the moors.

  When I was strolling through the village one day I passed the little jeweller’s shop there. But perhaps that was scarcely the term to use when describing it. There were no valuable gems in the window; but a few silver brooches and plain gold rings, some engraved with the word Mizpah, or studded with semiprecious stones such as turquoises, topaz, and garnets. I guessed that the villagers bought their engagement and wedding rings here and that the jeweller made a living by doing repairs.

  I saw in the window a brooch in the form of a whip. It was of silver, and quite tasteful, I decided, although it was by no means expensive.

  I wanted to buy that whip for Alvean and give it to her the night before the horse show, telling her that it was to bring her luck.

  I opened the door and went down the three steps into the shop.

  Seated behind the counter was as. old man wearing steel-rimmed spectacles. He let his glasses fall to the tip of his nose as he peered at me.

  ” I want to see the brooch in the window,” I said” The silver one in the form of a whip.”

  ” Oh yes, Miss,” he said, ” I’ll show it to you with pleasure.”

  He brought it from the window and handed it to me.

  ” Here,” he said, ” pin it on and have a look at it.” He indicated the little mirror on the counter. I obeyed him and decided that the brooch was neat, not gaudy, and in the best of taste.

  As I was looking at it I noticed a tray of ornaments with little tickets attached to them. They were clearly jewellery which he had received for repair. Then I wondered whether this was the jeweller to whom Alice had brought her brooch last July.

  The jeweller said to me: ” You’re from Mount Mellyn, Miss?”

  ” Yes,” I said; and I smiled encouragingly. I was becoming very ready to talk to anyone who I thought might have any information to offer me on this subject which appeared to obsess me. ” As a matter of fact I want to give the brooch to my pupil.”

  Like most people in small villages he was very interested in those living around him.

  ” Ah,” be said, ” poor motherless little girl. It’s heartening to think she has a kind lady like yourself to look after her now.”

  ” I’ll take the brooch,” I told him.

  ” I’ll find a little box for it. A nice little box makes all the difference when it be a matter of a present, don’t you agree, Miss?”

  ” Most certainly.”

  He bent down and from under the counter brought a small cardboard-box which he began to stuff with cotton-wool.

  ” Make a little nest for it. Miss,” he said with a smile.

  I fancied that he was loth to let me go.

  ” Don’t see much of them from the Mount these days. Mrs. TreMellyn, her was often in.”

  ” Yes, I suppose so.”

  ” See a little trinket in the window and she’d buy it … sometimes for herself, sometimes for others. Why, she was in here the day she died.”

  His voice had sunk to a whisper and I felt excitement grip me. I thought of Alice’s diary which was still in the concealed pocket of her habit.

  ” Really?” I said encouragingly.

  He laid the brooch in the cotton-wool and looked at me. ” I thought ‘twas a little odd at the time. I remember it very clearly. She came in here and said to me : Have you got the y brooch done, Mr. Pastern? It’s very important that I should have it. I’m anxious to wear it tomorrow. I’m going to a dinner party at Mr. and Mrs. Trelanders’, and Mrs. Trelander gave me that brooch as a Christmas present so you see it’s most important I should wear it to show her I appreciate it. “

  ” His eyes were puzzled as they looked into mine. ” She were a lady who talked like that. She’d tell you where she was going, why she wanted a thing. I couldn’t believe my ears when I heard she’d left home that very evening. Didn’t seem possible that she could have been telling me about the dinner party she was going to the next day, you see. “

  ” No,” I said, ” it was certainly very strange.”

  ” You see, Miss, there was no need for her to say anything to me like.

  If she’d said it to some it might seem as though she was trying to pull the wool over their eyes. But why should she say such a thing to me. Miss? That’s what I’ve been wondering. Sometimes I think of it . and still wonder. “

  ” I expect there’s an answer,” I said. ” Perhaps you mi
sunderstood her.”

  He shook his head. He did not believe that he had misunderstood. Nor did I. I had seen the entry in her diary and what I had read there confirmed what the jeweller had said.

  Celestine Nansellock rode over next day to see Alvean. We were about to go for our riding lesson, and she insisted on coming with us.

  “Now, Alvean,” I said, “is the time to have a little rehearsal. See if you can surprise Miss Nansellock as you hope to surprise your father.”

  We were going to practise jumping, and we rode down through the Mellyn village and beyond.

  Celestine was clearly astonished by Alvean’s progress.

  ” But you’ve done wonders with her, Miss Leigh.”

  We watched Alvean canter round the field. ” I hope her father is going to be pleased. She has entered for one of the events in the show.”

  ” He’ll be delighted, I’m sure.”

  ” Please don’t say anything to him beforehand. We do want it to be a surprise.”

  Celestme smiled at me. ” He’ll be very grateful to you. Miss Leigh. I’m sure of that. “

  ” I’m counting on his being rather pleased.”

  I was conscious of her eyes upon me as she smiled at me benignly. She said suddenly: ” Oh, Miss Leigh, about my brother Peter. I did want to speak to you confidentially about that matter of Jacinth.”

  I flushed faintly, and I was annoyed with myself for doing so.

  ” I know he gave you the horse and you returned it as too valuable a gift.”

  ” Too valuable a gift to accept,” I answered, ” and too expensive for me to be able to maintain.”

  ” Of course. I’m afraid he is very thoughtless. But he is the most generous man alive. He’s rather afraid he has offended you.”

  ” Please tell him I’m not offended, and if he thinks awhile be will understand why I can’t accept such a gift.”

  “I explained to him, He admires you very much, Miss Leigh, but there was an ulterior motive behind the gift. He wanted a good home for Jacinth. You know that he plans to leave England.”

  ” He did mention it.”

  ” I expect he will sell some of the horses. I shall keep a couple for myself, but there is no point in keeping an expensive stable with only myself at the house.”