Sylvia Andrew

by Lord Calthorpes Promise

  Or more, said Walter to himself. He was in a dangerously vindictive state, furious with himself, furious with his father, but chiefly furious with Katharine Payne. He would go to London, he would find her, he would make her listen…or… He had said she would pay for his humiliation, and it was time to see that she did!

  But at dinner that night, one of the guests newly arrived from London mentioned that the capital was remarkably thin of decent company and listed several families who had recently left.

  With a significant glance at Walter, Henry Payne said, ‘However, I suppose my niece is still in town? She is staying with the Calthorpes.’

  ‘They left last week, the three of them! I was surprised—we all were. One day they were there, and practically the next they were gone! I wonder what can have caused such haste—do you know, sir? Not a family crisis, I hope?’

  ‘Not as far as I know. Strange. I find that worrying. Walter, I think you had better look into it. I could not be easy if I thought dear little Kate was in trouble and we were doing nothing about it.’

  Walter left the next morning and made straight for Dorking. This was where the Calthorpes had taken Katharine before Christmas, and he had decided it was the most likely place to which they would return. But Bridge House proved to be closed, the only activity being round the farm buildings and the stables. Questioning the stable hand only produced a scratching of the head.

  ‘Has your mistress gone to Lord Calthorpe’s estate near Bath, perhaps?’ asked Walter impatiently.

  ‘I don’t rightly know, sir… But wait a minute! Jem,’ he shouted to a lad nearby. ‘Where were they to take Miss Payne’s mare?’

  ‘Quite a distance. Somewhere near Basingstoke, I think. Would it be Herod…Stone? Stoke? Something like that.’

  ‘Thank you. I think I know where you mean.’

  ‘But his lordship’s horse didn’t go there,’ said the lad, anxious to be helpful. ‘I think his lordship and the mistress are staying at friends of theirs. It’s nearer still to Basingstoke.’

  ‘Thank you, again,’ said Walter slowly. He threw the lad a few coins and rode off. What he had just learned was deeply interesting! Katharine Payne was at Herriards, was she? Taking advantage of his family’s absence, no doubt. And Calthorpe and his interfering hag of a mother were not with her! How very interesting! Herriards had been shut up and most of the servants sent away while his family were in London. It looked as if he might have that girl all to himself… Walter continued on his journey, almost cheerfully.

  He was disappointed therefore to find that Katharine was not, after all, at Herriards, but staying with her old governess in the village nearby. But he didn’t give up his hopes of catching her. He kept his own presence quiet by staying in one of the deserted outbuildings, and paying one of the farm girls to fetch him food and drink. He was pleased to see that he hadn’t lost his touch with farm girls, at least! The girl, a friend of Miss Tillyard’s Meg, quite innocently informed him of Katharine’s habits, prattling away, in response to some clever questioning, about Master Tom and Miss Kate and their games in the past, wondering at Miss Kate’s present wish to visit her old haunts, and asking if it meant Miss Kate was soon to leave them forever. Walter listened, reassured her and sent her on her way. He soon picked up Kate’s trail, and by following her, always at a safe distance, discovered that she was particularly attached to the old castle and often to be found there. Now here was an opportunity! The castle was some distance from any other buildings, and it was so dangerous that the local people avoided it. Surely he could approach Katharine here, and make her listen to reason—or force her to consent! He might even enjoy that. Walter laid his plans and waited.

  And eventually he was rewarded. After only a couple of days of lying in wait Walter heard Kate arrive, tie her horse up to one of the trees at the edge of the clearing, and walk slowly into the castle precinct. She sat on the edge of the old well, lost in thought. Walter took his chance.

  ‘Good afternoon, Kate!’

  Katharine swung round, startled. ‘Walter! What are you doing here?’

  ‘I live here now. Had you forgotten? No, don’t get up! You look charming there.’ He smiled at her engagingly.

  ‘What do you want?’

  ‘I said, don’t get up! Why are you so suspicious of me?’

  Katharine clutched her riding crop more firmly. ‘I suppose because the last time we met, we didn’t part on the best of terms. And now I must go—I feel I’m trespassing.’

  ‘Trespassing? That’s a harsh word. I’m sure no one would hold it against you, Kate. What is it that brings you here? A touch of nostalgia?’

  Katharine looked at him suspiciously. Walter was being too friendly. ‘I’m…I’m saying goodbye,’ she said, trying to edge round him.

  He stood firmly in her way. ‘Why should you do that? When you’ll be living here.’

  ‘I won’t. You were right. I’ve decided to marry Lord Calthorpe.’

  ‘That isn’t so, Kate, my dear,’ he said, still calmly, still with that hatefully false smile on his face. ‘You’re going to marry me! Me, do you hear!’

  ‘Let me pass!’ He shook his head, and put his hand on her arm.

  ‘Kate, listen to me! I’m ready to make a bargain with you. And I’m afraid you won’t be going anywhere until you’ve heard what it is.’

  ‘Take your hand off me first.’

  Walter took his hand away and held it up. ‘You see? You’ve no need to be frightened. I’m harmless, really.’

  ‘I’m not frightened, Walter.’

  ‘Well, you should be!’ he said with sudden viciousness. The change in his manner was so abrupt that Katharine was shocked. This was more like the Walter she knew, but there was such an added venom in his tone that she began to think he might be a little mad.

  She said cautiously, ‘Well? What is this bargain, Walter?’

  ‘I’ve seen you and Calthorpe together. You’re not in love with him any more than he is with you. I don’t know why you want to marry him. It’s not as if you need his money, and he certainly doesn’t need yours!’ His voice rose. ‘But I do! I need the Payne money. So does my father. We’ll go bankrupt without it. And it’s our money! Ours by right!’ He almost shouted the last words at her.

  Katharine moved back nervously. Walter saw it, and made a visible effort to speak more calmly again. ‘If marriage is all you want,’ he said, trying to smile, ‘you can marry me and have Herriards, too. My father won’t last forever, and I’ll see to it that you are not bothered with either of my parents.’

  When Katharine began to shake her head, Walter said quickly, ‘You needn’t be bothered by me, either. As a husband, I mean. All I want is for you to marry me. I swear I’ll leave you alone afterwards. If that is what you want.’

  For the life of her she could not control a gesture of distaste. Walter saw it and his expression changed. He suddenly became a very dangerous man.

  She swallowed and said placatingly, ‘Walter, I need to think over what you’ve said. I understand about the Payne money. I agree, it isn’t really fair. And Herriards is a tempting prize, believe me. Give me some time. Let me go back to Tilly’s and I promise I’ll consider—’

  ‘What sort of a fool do you take me for? I saw the way you looked at me just now. You don’t want to think things over, you want to get away! Well, I’m not having any of your tricks! I’m not letting you go! I want an answer! Now! And if I have to take you by force right here on the spot to make sure of you, I’ll do it! Do you understand?’ He took hold of her arm again and pulled her roughly towards him.

  Katharine raised her riding crop and struck him across the mouth.

  Walter was consumed with white-hot anger. He grabbed a piece of wood which was lying on the ground next to him and struck her hard on the head. She gave a little gasp and dropped to the ground like a stone.

  Walter stared at her in horror. Katharine lay quite still, and her face was colourless, except for a scarlet trickle of blo
od down the side. What had he done? The thought of getting rid of Katharine Payne was not new, but this reality was terrifying! Frantically he knelt down beside her and pulled open her riding habit, but there was no sign of life. He had killed her! For a moment he was overcome with remorse and fright, but then the instinct for self-preservation took control. He looked around. Except for her horse cropping the grass by the edge of the trees, the woods were silent. No one was about. By the time Katharine was missed there would only be a couple of hours’ daylight left—three at the most. It would be morning before anyone could possibly search properly. If he concealed the body well enough, they wouldn’t find her for hours. He could be miles away before it was discovered. No one would suspect him—no one in the village knew he had ever been at Herriards. The girl from the farm knew, but he would see to it that she didn’t talk.

  Walter looked at the figure on the ground and panic rose in him again. Oh, God! What had he done? What would happen to him if anyone found out that he was a murderer? He must hide the body, put it out of sight, quickly, quickly! Where? Walter gazed round wildly. The well! He dragged the cover away, hauled Katharine’s limp form up on to the parapet, then tipped it over. He didn’t wait to hear it land, but picked up the whip and ran to the horse in the trees. His own horse was back at Herriards, where he had left it deliberately in order to lie in wait for Katharine unobserved. Hers would do to take him away from here. He would turn it loose later. That was all that mattered, to get away! He untied the horse and mounted it, kicked his heels hard into its flanks and gave it a slash with Kate’s whip…

  Cintra, all her instincts at war with the terror emanating from this stranger, and thrown into a panic by his rough treatment, reared up violently, then took off in a mad dash to rid herself of the unwelcome burden. Walter was powerless to stop her. He held on desperately for a minute or two, but then was knocked flying by an overhanging branch, and was thrown into the undergrowth, where he lay half-hidden. He didn’t move. He would never move again. His neck was broken.

  Instinct eventually took Cintra back to the stables, where she created chaos as the groom tried to catch her. The alarm was raised, one of the lads ran round to Tilly’s cottage, and Lord Calthorpe was sent for straight away. But it was too late in the day to wait till he arrived before taking any action. It would be almost three hours before he could possibly be at Herriard Stoke, leaving little daylight for a search. All the inhabitants of the village knew Miss Kate, and they were all anxious to do what they could. Jem Banks, the landlord of the inn, organised search parties and they were sent off along all the bridle paths, over the fields, along the lanes. With no result. Unfortunately, they were all working on the assumption that Cintra had thrown Kate, and that she was lying injured somewhere near a path or road of some kind. It never entered their minds to go into the castle grounds. Nobody would ever take a horse there, and very few would venture there themselves.

  Adam arrived far sooner than anyone had a right to expect, but even so the daylight was just beginning to fade. He questioned the men as they returned, asked Tilly for anything Kate might have said about her plans for the afternoon, went to have a look at Cintra, and demanded an explanation from the groom as to why the man had not accompanied Miss Payne on her ride. The servant was worried and distressed and it took him a minute or two to tell a coherent story.

  ‘Miss Kate told me she wasn’t going for a ride this afternoon,’ he said. ‘She hasn’t been what you might call riding out properly for a few days now. She’s been exploring more. She said she didn’t need me. In fact, she said she didn’t want me!’ he said aggrievedly.

  Adam was too fair a man to blame the groom. He knew how insistent Kate could be. ‘Tell me where she used to go on these explorations,’ he said brusquely. ‘No! Don’t bother! You don’t know the district.’

  He went back to Tilly. ‘What has Kate been doing these past days? The groom says she hasn’t taken him because she didn’t need him. Where would she go?’ he asked.

  ‘Adam, she’s been saying goodbye. She’s been to all the old places where Tom and she used to play. They’re not usually very far away… The castle! She might have gone to the castle! She’s been there more than once.’

  Jem Banks had accompanied Adam back to Tilly’s. He shook his head. ‘She wouldn’t go there!’ he protested. ‘It’s dangerous!’

  ‘We’re going to look all the same,’ said Adam peremptorily. ‘You say you’ve looked everywhere else.’

  They gathered together some lanthorns and sticks and rode in the direction of Payne Castle. It was gloomy under the trees, and the men were distinctly uneasy. It didn’t help when one of the horses shied and nearly threw his rider. They stopped.

  ‘What’s that?’ exclaimed one of the men. He pointed to a figure lying in the undergrowth a short distance away. Adam leapt off his horse and ran over to it.

  ‘It’s a man!’ he shouted. ‘And he’s dead—his neck is broken.’ He rolled the body over. ‘Oh, my God!’

  ‘It’s Walter Payne!’ said someone. ‘What’s he doin’ ’ere?’

  ‘You mean what was he doing here,’ said Adam grimly. ‘And my guess is nothing good. Come on! We’ll deal with this on our way back.’

  They left the body lying where it was, and picked their way cautiously through the trees to the castle.

  ‘You’d best not take your ’orse any further, your lordship,’ said Jem Banks. ‘The ground is mortal bad for ’orses.’

  They dismounted and advanced into the clearing. It was very nearly dark. ‘Kate!’ shouted Adam. ‘Kate!’ He turned. ‘All of you! Shout!’

  They shouted and waited, but when the echoes died the place was silent.

  Adam took a step forward. ‘I’m going to look round,’ he said.

  ‘My lord, it isn’t safe!’ Jem protested. ‘You’d end up with a broken neck yourself! This is a dangerous place even in daylight. It’s impossible in the dark. We’ll have to come back tomorrow morning. Unless Miss Kate is found somewhere else before that.’

  Adam said, ‘She’s here. Somewhere. I know it.’ He thought for a moment. ‘I’ll stay here,’ he said. ‘I…I can’t leave.’

  ‘It’s madness!’

  ‘I’ll stay here,’ Adam repeated. ‘I won’t do anything foolish. I just…I just don’t want to leave. Understood?’ He looked at Jem’s disapproving face. ‘She might be lying unconscious somewhere round here. And if she comes to during the night and manages to call, I’ll hear her. I don’t want anyone else to stay—you can come back tomorrow.’

  ‘Er…what about Mr Payne, my lord?’

  ‘Who? Oh, yes. We must do something about him. From the way he was lying it looks very much as if he has been thrown. But where’s the horse? You’d better ask someone to look into that. I can’t do anything about it at the moment.’

  ‘Would he have been riding Miss Kate’s mare? She turned up without a rider.’

  ‘In that case, what has happened to Miss Kate?’

  The men shook their heads and looked grave. Adam said, ‘It’s all such a confounded mystery! But I am still certain that she is somewhere here…’ His eyes searched the darkness ahead. The men waited. Adam turned and said, ‘What are you waiting for?’

  ‘Mr Payne, my lord. What to do about him.’

  ‘Oh, yes. Yes. I’d be obliged if two or three of you could deal with him. He should be taken to Herriards. Is anyone there?’

  ‘A caretaker, that’s all. The Paynes took one or two of the old staff to London, and let the rest go for the summer.’ There were some murmurs. This was obviously a matter for resentment.

  ‘Well, something has to be done with him. And a message must be sent to his family. What a mess this is! Look, take him to Herriards and help the caretaker to find somewhere suitable to lay him. Inform Mr Cruikshank. I’ll see to the rest later, when…when…I have time. Good night.’

  ‘Very good. We’ll be here tomorrow first light.’

  ‘And bring some equipment with you�
�ropes, that sort of thing. We might need them.’

  ‘You’re sure you’ll be all right, my lord?’

  ‘Quite certain. Goodnight.’

  Adam was left to himself. He took Sholto to a nearby stream and rubbed him down with some grass. The stallion wouldn’t suffer from staying out on such a warm night. Then he came back into the clearing and surveyed the scene. The men were right—searching the ruins tonight was impossible. But it was equally impossible that he should leave this place. Not while he was so convinced that he would find Kate here. The night was warm and he was used to camping out. He wouldn’t come to any harm. He sat down on a fallen boulder.

  What had happened today? What had Walter Payne been doing in Herriard Stoke? Adam was sure it had something to do with Kate, and his heart was heavy. Walter had probably known where Kate was now, but he wasn’t going to tell anyone. He was silenced forever. When would they find Kate? What in God’s name had happened to her? Unable to sit still, Adam got up and shouted again.

  ‘Kate! Kate! Where are you?’ He waited, but there was no answering cry. He slammed one hand into the other in a gesture of frustration and despair. What would he do if Kate…if Kate… No! It was impossible! Kate couldn’t be dead! She couldn’t be! Not when she meant so much. He gazed around again. The moon was rising, casting slanting shadows of silver over the ruins of the castle. Black and silver everywhere. No colour, no life. He threw himself down again, his head bowed, resting his elbows on his knees, gazing down at his loosely clasped hands. To lose Kate was unthinkable. She was the other half of himself, his companion, his friend… He looked up, startled, at the moon. Kate was more than all of these! Kate was the love of his life! The centre of his existence. He sat staring at the moon like a lunatic as this thought gradually filled his consciousness. Then he closed his eyes. What a stupidly complacent fool he had been! Thinking his desire to marry Kate was merely for her good, merely to protect her. He, who had always prided himself on his clearsightedness, on the power of his reason. How could he have believed it? Why had he not identified his own feelings sooner? He wanted to marry Kate because no other woman would do! He jumped up impatiently. ‘Kate!’ he called, louder than ever, his voice echoing through the ruins. ‘Ka-a-a-ate!’