She laid her head on his shoulder and he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close.
Charlotte watched, rage engulfing her.
At breakfast the next morning Richard made his apologies. “I am still finding all this hard to believe, but I am sorry Sarah. I should never have accused you of being a thief there must be some other explanation. Will you forgive me?”
Sarah smiled at her brother. “Of course, now the best thing is to forget it ever happened and get on with things.”
Richard nodded but knew he would not rest until this mystery was solved.
John looked at his wife. “What’s going on?”
She patted his hand. “Nothing for you to worry over my dear, how are your sausages?”
Everyone laughed. Emily looked around the table; everything was back to normal she hoped.
At the back of the room Charlotte took in the happy scene. Now she must begin her tirade of terror. One way or another she would get rid of the girl Victoria there was nothing more certain.
####
CHAPTER 7
Much to Charlotte’s surprise Sarah and Victoria were soon back into their old routine, only this time they had an engagement party to organize. Emily had relented and allowed the girls to invite a few friends and their partners from work, ‘no more than ten’, was still ringing in Sarah’s ears. Victoria had to decide who she wanted to invite. Richard had asked just a couple of friends he knew from college. When the list was complete it totalled twenty two, would mother agree, only one way to find out. Holding the list in one hand and Victoria’s hand in the other they made their way down the stairs to the drawing room. Emily was sat by the fire sewing and John was in the opposite chair asleep when the door was thrust open.
John coughed and spluttered. “I must have nodded off.” He looked on the smiling face of his daughter. “And what mischief have you two been up to?”
Sarah thrust the list at her mother. “Victoria and I have finally decided who should come to the engagement party.”
Emily looked down at the list. “This looks a little larger than ten people. Are you quite happy with this Victoria, after all it is your engagement party and not Sarah’s?”
“I am quite happy with it Mrs Gardener, but are you?”
“Please, I have always thought of you as one of my children and now you are to become an official member of the family I think it is time for you to call me either Emily or Mother, which ever you prefer.”
A flush of colour touched Victoria’s cheeks. “That is very kind of you, Mother.”
Emily smiled. Sarah and Victoria looked at each other and giggled.
“Now stop behaving like silly school girls, this is a serious matter. This list looks far too long.” She held up her hand as Sarah started to protest. “But it’s not every day our son gets engaged, so go ahead with the invites.”
Victoria smiled and looked at Emily. “Thank you so much Mother, I am so grateful for everything you have done for me.”
“Nonsense Victoria, now go and do whatever you young people do these days.”
When the girls had left the room Emily looked at her husband. “It is okay for us to go ahead with this party; we can afford it, can’t we?”
“Of course we can, my dear. It brings joy to my heart to see them all looking so happy. This is our first child to be married and I don’t think it will be too long before Charles pops the question too.”
Emily sat upright. “Do you know something I don’t?”
John smiled at his wife. “Charles came to see me the other night in the study. He asked for permission to marry Sarah. He is a true gent that boy, a true gent.”
Emily looked bewildered. “Sarah hasn’t said anything to me.”
“That’s because he hasn’t popped the question yet. I think he’s waiting until after the party, doesn’t want to take the limelight off Victoria and Richard. I was going to suggest he does it later on at the party, that way we only have to pay for one do. What do you think?”
“That sounds like a wonderful idea, but won’t Charles’s want his parents there and won’t they want to invite some of their friends?”
“I hadn’t thought of that. I’ll have a word with the boy, see what he thinks.”
With that settled John picked up the paper, time to see how his stocks and shares were fairing.
Charles had been visiting the tenant farmers, looking round their farms and asking how things were going. They all complained that the markets were slow and that they couldn’t get good prices for their cattle or lambs, but he was having none of it. The tenants were beginning to realise that the good days of John Gardener’s generosity were over. As he travelled back to Moorcroft in the Land Rover he thought of Sarah and a smile crossed his face. Now he had to decide when would be the right time to ask her to marry him. After talking to her father it must be before the party, but he didn’t want to upset Richard or Victoria. Perhaps he should sound Richard out see what he thought. He looked across the lovely countryside and spotted Richard riding Dancing Lady, that man loved his horses.
Over dinner that night Richard brought up the subject of repairs needed to the barn and the fences and asked his father for more money.
“I’m not made of money you know.”
Richard bristled. “I am aware of that, Father, but we can’t keep the hay dry with a leaking roof and stop the stock from roaming with the fencing down. They have to be repaired and soon.”
John looked across at Charles and Charles gently nodded. “Okay after dinner we will retire to the study and discuss this further. Now can we have our meal without any more interruptions?”
Emily saw that now her husband had lost his appetite, damn Richard, why couldn’t he have waited until after dinner. John put down his knife and fork with a clatter, wiped his mouth and pushed his chair back.
“I’ll see you two in the study.”
Emily watched his back as he left the room. The door shut with a bang.
She looked across at her son. “Did you have to do that?”
Richard sighed. “I’m sorry Mother, I know this was the wrong time, but father doesn’t realise that a farm doesn’t run on fresh air.”
“I am sure you will be letting him know that soon enough. Now can we all finish our meal in peace?”
In the study, John once more looked at the paper. His shares had fallen in value, quite the opposite of his broker’s advice, and he had lost a substantial sum of money. He must see his broker first thing and see what could be retrieved from this calamity. Soon he must face Richard; if he knew of this he would be outraged. Best not to mention it, perhaps his broker could see a way out of this mess. He threw another log on the fire filling the room with smoke just as Richard and Charles entered. John started coughing and spluttering, his face went red and spittle dribbled from his mouth. Richard went to his father’s side and placed a hand on his arm.
“Are you alright Father?”
John brushed his son’s hand away and sat down. He took a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped his face. “Of course I’m alright. Now let’s get down to business.”
Emily left the girls in the dining room talking about fashion and what to wear at the engagement party. As she made her way to the drawing room she could hear raised voices coming from the study. She crossed the hall and placed her hand on the door handle. Should she enter and stop this rowing or should she leave them to it. John may not appreciate her interference. Reluctantly she made her way to the drawing room. She would have some sharp words for Richard later. She settled down in her armchair looking at the flickering flames in the fire. The sooner she got John on a holiday the better.
When the boys had left the study, John leant back in his chair, he could feel his heart beating fast and he was short of breath. He sat forward taking deep breaths. When he felt more relaxed he stood and went to the drinks cabinet and poured himself a large whisky and drank it down in one. He refilled his glass and picking up the bottle returned
to his chair. He emptied his glass once more and looked into the fire. Running his hand through his thinning hair he wondered what he was going to do.
Charles shouted for Richard to slow down as he crossed the yard to the stables.
“Don’t say anything Charles, I am too angry and I don’t want to row with you. I have to get away, clear my head, I’m going riding.”
As he entered the stable he shouted to Eddie the stable hand.
“Eddie, Eddie. Where the hell are you? I want Dancing Lady saddled up at once, I’m taking her out.”
“Are you sure you want Dancing Lady, you had her out this afternoon. What about Moonlight or Diamond?”
Richard glared at the young man before him. “I said I want Dancing Lady and Dancing Lady I shall have”
“But, Sir.”
“No buts Eddie get her saddled up.”
Richard pushed past them both and made his way to the house. Charles looked at Eddie and shrugged.
“Best do as he says Eddie; you don’t want to get on the wrong side of him tonight.”
Charles followed Richard into the house and found him busy pulling on his riding boots.
“Is this a good idea Richard, it’s getting late and the light will be going soon.”
Richard shook his head. “I don’t care, I have to get out of this house and clear my head.”
He looked at the worried look on his friends face. “Don’t worry Charles, I’ll keep to the main path and be back soon.”
Charles watched from the rear door as Richard mounted Dancing Lady, a concerned look on his face. Eddie opened the gate and Richard was away down the track. There was nothing Charles could do. He would go to his room and ring his parents and tell them that he was about to ask Sarah to marry him. He knew they would be delighted; they both loved Sarah and would be happy to have her as their daughter-in-law. As he was crossing the hall Emily was standing by the drawing room door.
She beckoned him over. “Charles, please, I need to speak to you.”
In the drawing room Charles poured himself a whisky, he knew what was coming.
“Charles, I’m sorry to put so much on your shoulders but I really need to know what went on in the study and I know I won’t get a decent answer out of Richard.”
As diplomatic as he could be, he told her about the altercation between Richard and his father. Money or lack of it was on both their minds. Charles looked at Emily’s sad face. He felt sorry for her, she held this family together. He loved and respected her, her values and her intelligence. Somehow he hoped between them they would sort this mess out.
Charles retired to his room and rang his parents to tell them his news. First he spoke to his father who always answered the telephone. He was delighted and passed the phone to his wife.
“I just knew it wouldn’t be long before you asked Sarah to marry you. I am so pleased, Sarah is a wonderful girl and I know she makes you happy. When is the big day, there are lots of things to organise? I’ll have to get a new outfit, I must ring Emily and see what she will be wearing, and we don’t want to clash now do we.”
“Mother hold on, I haven’t asked Sarah yet, she might say no.”
“What a silly boy you are, of course she won’t say no, the girl dotes on you and look what a handsome man she’s getting.”
Charles laughed. “Anyway, it will be a while before we get married; Richard and Victoria are to be married first.”
Once he had calmed his mother down they discussed other family matters. When he had replaced the telephone he sat back with a smile on his face, now he could go ahead and ask Sarah. He decided to search her out and ask the question that would change his life.
He looked in the girl’s upstairs living room but neither of the girls were there so he decided to join the family in the drawing room, he would wait until he could get Sarah alone.
Conversation was inevitably about the forthcoming party. Charles wanted to broach the subject of his parent’s invitation but thought better of it. He could hear his father’s voice, patience, dear boy, patience. He looked across to Sarah with her head bowed over a magazine, her golden hair falling across her face. He longed to look into her pale blue eyes and touch his lips to hers. Excitement ran the length of his body; he must get out of here.
He crossed the hall to the study and listened at the door, he could hear the gentle snoring of his future father-in-law. Best not to disturb him, poor chap, Charles knew that John had more worries on his mind other than the farm but as yet he had not confided in him. He would go and look for Richard, have a quiet word with him over this party and their engagements.
Once the gate was open Richard gave Dancing Lady her head and they raced down the track. He filled his lungs with good clean air and felt the wind on his face. His hands tight on the reins and his feet firmly in the stirrups he raced across the open fields and down towards the river. Dancing Lady snorted as he dismounted. He stroked her neck, Eddie was right the poor girl was sweating.
“Good girl.” He whispered.
The mare nuzzled him. He led her to the waters edge, he knelt and cupped the clear water in his hand and drank. Dancing Lady bobbed her head up and down; it was her turn to drink.
Richard sat on the grass and leant against a tree watching the mare graze. He was thinking of Victoria, soon they would be married, for the first time that day a smile crossed his face. Then he would make a stand, it would be the time for his father to step down and give total control to him, he had had enough. He went over the row in the study and he felt uneasy. He knew something was worrying his father, but the old fool wouldn’t discuss it with him. He would have a word with Charles; he could get his father to open up. He looked at the sky, it was getting dark and the clouds were closing in, it looked like rain. He had better get the mare home and quick. He stood and brushed the loose grass and dust from his trousers. There was a flash of light off to the west, lightening. The mare whinnied. He slowly approached her, trying to grab her reins as she turned in circles, fear showing in her eyes.
“Here girl, here Lady.”
At last he had her in his grip. There was another flash of lightening. The horse pulled hard on the reins, she wanted to get home. Richard circled her and jumped into the saddle just as there was a loud clap of thunder. The mare reared up but Richard held fast. He tried to calm her. He must get home quickly before the heavens opened. It was getting really dark now but the mare knew instinctively which way to go, Richard held on tight and lowered his head as the heavy drops of rain hit his neck. He looked up at the darkening sky and the rain trickled down his face and collected in his collar. Damn the rain. The lightening struck the road to the left of them and the mare reared once more. Richard lost his grip and fell heavy to the ground. A sharp stab of pain rocketed through his head. He saw Dancing Lady careering off just as the darkness enfolded him.
In the stables Charles found Eddie putting fresh straw into Dancing Lady’s stall. “Is he still not back?”
Eddie shook his head. “No sir.”
Charles could see that Eddie was worried, whether it was for Richard or Dancing Lady, he wasn’t sure. He walked along to the gate, it was getting dark. He searched the open landscape before him, not a sight of Richard. Charles looked up at the sky and in the distance he could see the flash of lightening. A storm was brewing. Damn Richard, going out on a night like this. Where was he? He squinted into the darkening countryside, searching from left to right. The rain stung his face and then he heard the sound of hooves racing up the track. He quickly opened the gate ready for Richard and the mare. As the horse got nearer Charles saw that there was no rider. What had happened? Where was Richard? He shouted for Eddie. The horse was sweating and snorting, her eyes wild; she was going round and round in circles. Between them they grasped the reins and Eddie quickly led her into the stables.
“Eddie you see to the horse, I’m going to look for Richard.”
He ran to the Land Rover, damn no keys. He charged into the house and searched
the hall table where they were usually kept, but there was no sign of them, where were they? He took a deep breath, remembering that John was the last to use the vehicle. He ran to the study and charged the door.
John jumped up with a start. “What’s going on, what’s happening? Calm down dear boy. What is it?”
“The keys to the Land Rover, where are they?”
“They’re on the hall table, why?”
“They’re not there, I’ve looked, check your pockets. Quickly, quickly.”
John emptied his pockets onto the table.
“You’re worrying me now Charles. What’s happened?”
Charles grasped the keys and rushed from the room. “It’s Richard, I haven‘t time to explain. Talk to Eddie.”
He ran to the Land Rover, jumped in and sat calming himself, taking deep breaths. Start, please start first time. He turned the key and the engine fired, he put it into first gear and he was away.
Eddie stood by the open gate, waving his arms. “I think I should come with you, sir. Two searching is better than one.”
Charles forced himself to drive slowly. Richard had said he would keep to the main path but had he? They scanned the horizon hoping to see Richard walking towards them, but nothing.
“Stop, there’s something white over there in the grass.”
Charles jammed on the brakes and looked in the direction Eddie was pointing. They raced towards the object, a tightening growing in Charles’s chest. Richard lay still in the grass, his clothes soaked. They could see a large rock to the side of his head and blood trickling into the earth. Charles knelt to the side of Richard and called his name. He groaned. Thank God he was alive. Charles didn’t want to move him but they had to get him out of this rain. Together they lifted him and placed him in the Land Rover. Foot on the accelerator, they raced home.
Moorcroft The Possession Page 10
