The Captive (23 page)

James is going to Truro again to lecture at that college. I shall go with him and I shall suggest that, as we are in Cornwall, we call on him. It would be nice if you came with us. What do you think? “

I could not hide my enthusiasm for the plan. To go there, to be not far from Perrivale Court. well, however far it was, I should be

comparatively near. What I should do when I got there I was not sure. There was one thought uppermost in my mind: I must not betray Simon.

“I can see the idea appeals to you,” said Felicity.

When the matter was broached Aunt Maud seemed mildly pleased. Her own attempts to bring me into contact with marriageable young men had not been very successful. She was always hoping that something would be more productive.

The Graftons moved in the right circles. James Grafton was ‘something at Oxford’. Aunt Maud was not well informed about such details. People were either suitable or unsuitable and the Graftons -in spite of the fact that Felicity had been a governess-were eminently suitable.

Aunt Maud was in favour of the idea. So was my father when he was told by her that it would be good for my future.

So it was arranged that I should accompany James and Felicity to Truro.

At the instigation of Felicity, James had written to Lucas to tell him that we should be in Cornwall and he thought it might be an opportunity for us to call and see them while we were in the Duchy.

There was a prompt reply that we must certainly do so. We must stay a few days at least. Trecorn Manor was too far from Truro for us to come for a day.

The change in me was obvious.

Mrs. Harlow said: “You always did get on with that Felicity. I remember the day she came and we was expecting some stuck-up madam. From the moment she stepped out of that cab I took to her … and so did you, I’d say.”

“Yes,” I said.

“She is a wonderful friend. How lucky we were that she came to us.”

“I’d say you’d got the right bull by the horns there.”

Oh yes, indeed, I owed a great deal to Felicity.

Trecorn Manor was a pleasant Queen Anne mansion built in an age noted for its elegance. It was set in well-kept grounds. I was thinking how interesting it would be to see Lucas against the background of his own home.

We were warmly welcomed by him.

“It is so good of you to come,” he said; and I felt he meant it.

We were introduced to his brother Carieton and Carleton’s wife Theresa. Carieton looked a little like Lucas, but they were of very different temperaments, I soon discovered. Carieton was bluff, easygoing, completely immersed in the running of the estate in fact the typical squire and Theresa was entirely suited to be his wife.

She was absorbed in her family, carrying out her duties on the estate with charm, tolerance and total efficiency clearly the excellent wife and mother.

There were two children, twins, a girl and a boy, Henry and Jennifer, aged four years. I knew that Carieton and his wife would be admired and respected throughout the estate, that she would work indefatigably in the affairs of the church and the general community. She was the sort of woman who would do her duty un stintingly and make a pleasure of it.

I could not quite see Lucas fitting into this environment.

When we were alone. Felicity said: “Lucas couldn’t have a better home to come back to.”

I wondered. This display of well-being might be galling to a man in his position. It was something I felt he would never have wanted before the shipwreck. Indeed he had, by his frequent absences, shown that he could not tolerate it. It was sad that such virtues as those of Carieton and his wife and Aunt Maud, so admirable in themselves, create a less than perfect atmosphere for those around them.

We planned to stay in Cornwall for about a week, which was all the time James could spare, and I knew that Felicity did not want to leave the children for longer than that.

We were given rooms on the first floor overlooking moorland. James and Felicity’s room was next to mine.

Theresa took us up.

“I hope you’ll be comfortable,” she said.

“It’s a pity you can only stay a week. We love having visitors. Unfortunately, we don’t often.

I’m so glad you came. Lucas is pleased you are here . ” She trailed off.

“We hesitated about suggesting coming,” said Felicity.

“It was rather forward of us.”

“We should have been most put out if you had come all this way without seeing us. Carleton worries about Lucas … so do I. He is so changed.”

“Well, it was a terrible ordeal,” said Felicity.

Theresa laid her hand on my arm.

“And for you, too. I heard about it.

Lucas doesn’t talk much. Carleton says it is like getting blood out of a stone to get information out of him. He was so active. And this has hit him hard. But he did cheer up quite a lot when he heard you were coming. “

“He likes to talk to Rosetta,” said Felicity.

“After all, they were together. I always think it helps people to talk.”

“It is wonderful that you both came through. We had been so worried about Lucas. And when we knew he was coming home … it was wonderful.

And then . he was so different. And Lucas being the man he is . it was never easy for him to be the younger brother. ” She shrugged her shoulders and looked faintly embarrassed, as though she thought she was saying too much.

I knew that she was right. Before the accident Lucas had been constantly preoccupied by the fact that his elder brother was head of the household when their father died. He was a man who liked to lead and it could never have been easy for him to take second place. So he had travelled widely after he left the Army and of course while he was in it. He had tried archaeology. He had written a book, inspired by his discovery, and had been on the point of lecturing about it when disaster had struck. It must have seemed then J

that he was making a life away from Trecorn Manor, which was what he had wanted; and then he was brought back . as he was now. I could understand that he was disillusioned with life. I looked forward to more talks with him. Perhaps I could try to make him see the future differently. Perhaps I could inspire him with a little hope. I did not think there was a very good chance of this, but I could try.

He could still ride, which was a blessing. True, he needed a little assistance in mounting and dismounting, but when he was on his horse, he was all that he had been before. He had always been an excellent horseman and I noticed at once that there was a strong relationship between him and his mount. Charger, who seemed to understand that his master had changed and that he needed to be looked after.

Theresa said: “We never worry about Lucas when he goes off for long spells. If he’s on Charger we know he will be brought home when he wants to come.”

The first night at dinner he wanted to know if I rode.

“There was little opportunity at home,” I told him.

“But when I was at school we had riding lessons. So I cannot call myself quite a novice but… somewhat inexperienced.”

“You ought to get in a bit of practice while you’re here,” suggested Carleton.

“Yes,” agreed Lucas.

“I’ll undertake to be your tutor.”

“It will be a little boring perhaps for such a practised rider,” I said.

“I know it will be a pleasure,” he replied.

Theresa beamed on us. She was such a kindly woman and I realized how happy she was that I was here because she thought it would be pleasant for Lucas, and that we were good for each other.

It had been arranged that after two days at Trecorn Manor James should go back to Truro to do his work while Felicity and I remained behind to wait for him. He would return to the Manor when his work was done and after a day or so we should all leave together.

I soon settled into a routine. Lucas and I rode together and talked a good deal, often about our adventure. We often went over the same ground, but I am sure it did us both good. As far as I was concerned, it made me all the more eager to find out something about Perrivale Court.

I found myself drawn into life in the nursery. Jennifer seemed to have taken a liking to me. I had had little to do with children and was unsure how to deal with them, but Jennifer solved that. She informed me that her name was Jennifer Lorimer and that she lived at Trecorn Manor. She was four years old. All this was told as if in great confidence and it was almost as though we shared a special confidence.

Although the girl in the twin ship she was the leader. She was vivacious and chattered a good deal. Henry was much quieter, a serious little boy; he always followed Jennifer and as she had decided that she liked me, he must do so too.

Moreover, there was Nanny Crockett another ally. I think it must have been because I got on well with the twins that she accepted me.

She was by no means young, but a power in the nursery. Ellen, the fourteen-year-old nursery maid, behaved towards her as though she were the Queen. I gathered she was in her late fifties. She had iron grey hair which was plaited and worn round her head in a rather severe manner; her grey eyes were alert and she had a way of pursing her lips if she disapproved of anything and then she could be indomitable. She was a woman of definite opinions and once they became hers she determined to stick to them.

“We were lucky to get her,” said Theresa.

“She’s a very-experienced nanny. She’s not young, of course, but that’s all to the good. She’s as active as a young woman and there’s the experience as well.”

Nanny Crockett liked to have a little chat now and then and when the children had their afternoon nap, if I were not with Lucas, I would be with her.

Felicity and Theresa had interests in common the running of a home and the care of a husband and children. They were ideal companions. I imagined when they were together they discussed Lucas and me. They thought we were ‘good for each other’ and we were certainly thrown together on every possible occasion. Not that their efforts were necessary, for Lucas showed clearly that he preferred my society to that of anyone else. It was a fact, I believed, that since we had arrived, he had become a little more like the man he used to be. He laughed occasionally now and then and sometimes would deliver a witty quip, but alas, very often with a hint of that bitterness which seemed to have become a feature of his conversation.

I knew this routine must soon be interrupted by the return of James. I was enjoying my stay, but ever present was the need to find out the truth about Simon and there were times when I felt a deep frustration and despair.

It was maddening to be so near to his old home, but how could I get to it without arousing suspicion? I was afraid to make outright enquiries. The very fact that Lucas had met him at some time implied that it would be very easy to make a false step and reveal to him who John Player really was. And if he discovered, how did I know what action he would take? True, John Player had saved our lives, but if Lucas believed him to be a murderer, a fugitive from justice, what would he feel he ought to do about it?

It would have been such a relief to talk to him about Simon, but I dared not do it. Sometimes I thought of telling Felicity. I was indeed often on the verge of doing so, but I always drew back in time.

But I was getting desperate and that day at luncheon I had to speak. I said tentatively: “Wasn’t there a murder somewhere about here … ?”

Theresa wrinkled her brows. Then she said: “You must mean that affair at Perrivale Court.”

“Yes,” I cried, hoping I did not show the emotion I always felt when the subject was raised.

“I … I think that was where it was.”

“It was the adopted son,” said Lucas.

“He’d been cared for all his life,” Carleton added, ‘and he showed his gratitude by murdering one of the sons of the house. “

“I think we mentioned it before,” I said to Lucas.

“Didn’t you say you’d met him?”

“Oh yes … years ago … and briefly.”

“How far is the place from here?”

Theresa looked at Carleton, who pondered for a few moments.

“As the crow flies, I’d say seven or eight miles, but if you are not a crow it could be a little longer.”

“Is it near some place … some town … or village?”

Carleton said: “It could be near … where would you say, Lucas?

Perhaps Upbridge is the nearest town. “

“It’s a mile or two from there,” said Lucas.

“The nearest village would be Tretarrant.”

“Well, that is little more than a hamlet.”

“Yes. Upbridge is the nearest big town.”

“If you can call it big,” added Lucas.

“It’s hardly a teeming metropolis.”

“Oh, it’s a pleasant little place,” said Theresa.

“Not that I’ve been there much.”

“I dare say it seemed more important… after the death of that man.”

“Well, of course the Upbridge Times was in great demand,” said Lucas.

“They had inside information. They knew the family well. I see you have a morbid interest in the place, Rosetta. I tell you what we’ll do. Tomorrow we’ll ride out there and you can see the notorious town of Upbridge for yourself.”

“I should like that,” I said, my heart beating with triumph.

It was progress.

The next day Lucas and I set out. When he was in the saddle, I could almost believe that he had not changed since our first meeting.

“It’s all of eight miles from here, you know,” he said.

“Do you feel up to it? Eight miles there and eight back? I’ll tell you what we’ll do. We’ll have a meal there. Perhaps in good old Upbridge. Now I come to think of it, I believe there’s quite a good place this side of Tretarrant. Do you feel you can do that?”

“Of course. It’s a challenge.”

It was, in more ways than one.

Then I was admonishing myself. What good would it do just to look at the place? Still . who knew what might come out of it?

Lucas went on: “The inn I’m thinking of is called the King’s Head, I believe. Original, you’ll think? The King in question is William IV not the most popular of monarchs except in the matter of inn signs. I am always hoping to find one with Charles I. The Severed Head instead of merely the King’s Head. But, brewers being the most tactful of men, he has never appeared.”