The Pride of the Peacock (41 page)

Surely I had needed her care then?

Ben had given me a temporary stability; he had changed me; helped me to grow up; then he had married me off to Joss whose affections were already engaged and who had agreed to the marriage purely for gain.

The significance of my theories was startling. Only now did my mother think that the time had come for her to protect me. So . I was in danger.

Yes, I could see it. Something evil was here. It was in this gallery.

I could easily imagine. I could hear a voice warning me. Be careful.

You are in danger.

I sat still, my senses strained. Why play the spinet? Why not come to me and talk to me and tell me plainly what threatened me? Supernatural manifestations were never straightforward. They were always implied in some strange and unearthly way.

Then suddenly I heard the sound of hysterical weeping. I went quickly to the door of the gallery and listened. It was coming from the upstairs quarters. I ran up. The door of Mrs. Laud’s room was slightly open and it was from there that the sounds were emerging.

“Is anything wrong?” I cried.

I went into the room. The three Lauds were there, Jimson, Lilias and their mother. It was Ulias who was half sobbing, half laughing. Jimson had his arm about her.

“What’s the matter?21 asked.

Mrs. Laud looked distressed.

“Now you’ve disturbed Mrs. Madden. Oh, I from sorry. Poor Lilias was a bit upset. Her brother and I have been trying to comfort her.”

Why? What’s wrong? “

Mrs. Laud shook her head and looked at me appealingly as though begging me not to ask questions.

Lilias pulled herself together and said: “I’m all right now, Mrs. Madden. I don’t know what came over me.” She was obviously trying hard to control herself.

“Just a little personal matter,” murmured Jimson.

“I was in the gallery and I heard sounds of crying,” I said.

“In the gallery,” repeated Lilias and there was a tremor in her voice.

“I thought I heard the spinet again.”

There was a brief silence, then Jimson said: “It must be out of tune.

I’ve heard that spinets have to be tuned frequently. “

“Are you sure that everything’s all right?” I asked.

“Oh yes, Mrs. Madden,” Mrs. Laud assured me.

“We can look after Lilias.1

p. p. 257 I “I’m only sorry that we disturbed you,” said Jimson.

“Yes,” echoed lilias meekly.

“I’m very, very sorry, Mrs. Madden.” I went out. There was a great deal that puzzled me about that family.

Mrs. Laud came to my room while I was changing for dinner.

“May I come in for a moment, Mrs. Madden?” she asked.

“I wanted to have a word with you and tell you how sorry I am for what happened this afternoon. It was dreadful that we should have disturbed you.”

“Oh please, Mrs. Laud, it was nothing. I’m only sorry for Ulias’s trouble.”

“Well, that’s it, Mrs. Madden. She’s a little upset. You can guess what it is, perhaps.”

I looked at her blankly.

“Ifs this Mr. Dickson. She’s upset because he’s been sent to Sydney.”

“Oh, I understand.”

“She’s very taken with him. I’ve been against her marrying, but perhaps I’m wrong.”

“Have they talked of marrying ?”

There’s nothing been said officially, you understand, but Lilias was very upset when he went away. “

“But he’s only gone for a short time.”

“She’s got some idea that Mr. Madden might want him to stay permanently in Sydney.”

“I didn’t gather that’ Tou would know, of course. I keep forgetting you’re one of the directors of the Company. It seems so strange for a lady to be in that position.”

“It was Mr. Henniker’s idea.”

“Oh, I know he was a one for ideas. Well, I thought I’d better explain about Lilias.”

“Don’t think any more about it, Mrs. Laud.”

lilias seemed to have recovered at dinner time. The conversation was, as usual, about business. I was able to join in now and I always enjoyed doing so. But suddenly my pleasure was shattered when Joss said: “I think a trip to England will be necessary in the not too distant future.”

I stared at him in amazement.

“It seems we have only just arrived here,” I said.

That’s how it is in business,” he replied easily.

“One can never be sure when something is going to arise.”

What is this that has arisen? 8 “New markets are opening up in London. There’s a growing demand there for black Australian opals. Naturally we war^ to exploit that.2 ” So you are proposing to go to England ? “

“Nothing definite yet. Ifs just something that may well l necessary.”

I felt deflated and wretched. It was so easy to understanc^ Isa was going to England, so he would go too. I dare say ^ would be very discreet. She would leave and then he wouly discover that he had to go too. He was already paving th^ way.

I no longer had any appetite, and as soon as we left th^ table I made an excuse to go to my room. I had noticed th^ way in which Joss had looked at me when he had made th announcement that he was about to go to England. It seeme^i as though he were waiting for me to protest.

I won’t give him that satisfaction, I thought. But I shall 1^ him know that I am aware that the reason for his sudden desire to leave for England is not due to business but to Isa.

I had made up my mind that when Jeremy Dickson returnee I would tell him about my discovery of the red purse. could talk to him freely.

Then I told myself that I could dA no such thing because it was an implied accusation agains^ Joss. How could I bring myself to talk about the red purse?

I had never felt so alone in the whole of my life.

I came home one afternoon to a quiet house and went to^ my room. As I stood there, my hand on the door handle, ) heard again that ghostly touch on the spinet keys.

I ran upstairs as fast as I could. It was the same procedure The music stopped and there was no one seated at the spinel Someone was playing tricks on me. And as I looked roun<) the gallery I noticed that there was a difference. One of th^ curtains which hung at intervals along the walls in the manner of the gallery at Oakland was disarranged. I went to it anq drew it right back. I had disclosed a door which I had never^. known was there before. A light shone through the mist now Someone had been playing the spinet and stepped behind th^ curtain and left the gallery before I arrived by way of that^ door.

This must be the answer for the door was not quite shut, That time the trickster had had to escape in too much of ^ hurry to disguise his escape.

2? I pushed open the door and peered into darkness. I felt with my foot.

It was a stair. Cautiously-for I was in complete darkness-I stepped down two steps. Then something shifted under me. I clutched at something to save myself. It was a banister but I couldn’t see it. I felt my feet slide from under me and I was seated on something dank and cold.

So shocked was I that I was unable to move for some moments. I was aware of the sound of heavy objects falling, with bumping movements as though they were falling down stairs.

I called out: “Help! Help!” and tried to stand up. My eyes were growing accustomed to the darkness and I could make out this staircase which seemed to go down into gloom.

Then I heard someone shouting from below.

“What is it? What’s wrong?”

It was Mis Laud’s voice.

I called out: “I’m here, Mrs. Laud. I’ve fallen.”

Did you come from the gallery? I’ll come up there . “

I sat there waiting. I realized what had happened. I had started down a staircase which was blocked in some way. I had had a narrow escape for I should have had a very bad fall if I had not found the banister in time and been able to save myself.

Mrs. Laud appeared behind me.

“Whatever’s happened? Let me help you, Mrs. Madden. Just a moment, I’ll get a candle. It’s that old staircase.”

I stood up gingerly and she half dragged me back into the gallery.

“I saw the door open,” I said. Td no idea there was a door there. “” It was hidden by that curtain. There’s a stairway between this floor and the one below. It hasn’t been used for years. Someone must have put boxes in there at some time and used it as a sort of cupboard. “

“Ifs very dangerous,” I said.

“I don’t remember anyone’s using it for years. Just stand up, will you, Mrs. Madden. I don’t think you’ve broken any thing. How do you feel?”

“Stiff and sore and rather shaken. I thought I’d broken a leg or something.”

“You could have done yourself some real damage. Perhaps I should help you to your room. I could get you something. They say a cup of tea with plenty of sugar is good for that sort of shock” I just want to

sit here for a moment and think. I heard the playing this afternoon.

”

She looked uneasy.

“Did you really. Mis Madden?8 ” You think I imagined it, don’t you ?

”

Well, people do imagine things when they’re a bit wrought up, don’t they? “

“I didn’t know I was wrought up ” Well,” she flapped her hand vaguely.

“Everything .. l ” Everything? 2 I insisted.

“Well, Mr. Madden talking of going off like that and the way things are.”

It was impossible to keep secrets from people who shared one’s household. I dare say there was a great deal of talk about my relationship with Joss.

I said: “What I should like to know is why mat door was open. No one has used that staircase for years, you say. But someone has been using it lately, I think, someone who has been playing the spinet and escaping by it. I think that today whoever it was didn’t forget to shut that door but left it open for a purpose.”

“Who could have used the stab-case with all those things on the stairs?”

“Someone who knew they were there … someone who put them there .. knowing that I should see the open door and investigate.8 ” Oh no, Mrs. Madden, he wouldn’t go as far as that. “

“He? Who?8 ” Whoever it is who is playing these tricks with the spinet

That’s what you said, isn’t it, it’s someone playing tricks. “

“I have got to get to the bottom of this, Mrs. Laud. pon’t move anything on that staircase. I’m going to see what is actually there.”

“Well, Mrs. Madden, there’s a door on the landing below this. It’s so unobtrusive you’d hardly notice ifs there. I put a curtain over it since no one uses it as a straicase. As you’ve seen, ifs dark and dangerous. It looks to me as if someone used it as a cupboard and piled boxes on the stairs.”

“Anyone would see on opening the door down there that it was a staircase and not a cupboard, surely.8 ” I can’t think how it happened,” said Mrs. Laud helplessly.

I took a candle, lighted it, and peered down the staircase. I could see the huddle of boxes on the lower stairs.

“We’d better clear it out and open it,” I said.

“I don’t like (he idea of these secret places.”

And as I was speaking I knew mat someone had lured me

on to that staircase, had put the boxes there to trap me, someone who had hoped that I would have an accident . Aa or perhaps break my neck. I knew it was not the spirit of my so’ mother-or anyone who cared for me-who had lured me to ou the gallery with the spinet playing. to It was someone who wished me out of the way.

As I rode into the town next morning for I had suffered little physical effect from yesterday’s adventure. tv I said to Joss: “Did you know there was a staircase con-bl necting the gallery with the corridor on the lower floor?”

I watched him carefully as I asked the question. His expression did not change as he said: “Oh yes, I remember. I used to play hide and seek a lot when I was a boy. It was one of my favourite games, and I remember using that stair-c< case.”

“You haven’t used it lately?”

Td forgotten about it. What made you mention it ? “

“I discovered it yesterday.”

“We ought to open it and use it.” n Thafs what I said. Did you ever play the spinet ? “

“What makes you ask?”

“Just curiosity.”

“As a matter of fact I did.”

I laughed. ^ “What’s amusing?”

The thought of your sitting at that dainty stool rendering a Chopin nocturne. “

“I wasn’t bad at it. I’ll show you one day.”

“Have you played recently?”

“Haven’t touched it for years. I expect it’s out of tune. We ought to get someone to look at it. I can’t think who. Spinet-care would hardly be a profitable profession in these parts. I can’t think why Ben ever brought it out here.”

“For sentimental reasons, I believe.”

“And they are rarely sound ones.”

How could he be so calm, so matter of fact? He didn’t want me. I was well aware of that, but would he really play the spinet and try to make me break my neck? Ruthless I knew him to be, in love with Isa and making little secret of it. There were people in the town who suspected him of murdering Ezra-Mrs. Laud had hinted at it-but what was the use of getting rid of Ezra if nothing was to be done to remove the other encumbrance?

1 must lace me tacts, it l did not exist ne could many isa. They had been lovers for a long time without contemplating marriage, so why should they suddenly desire it?

I realized that it was not so much that I believed Joss would not despatch me but that I could not believe he would have used such a method. Why not? Above all, my death must appear natural. It would be too much of a coincidence if I were supposed to be shot by a bushranger.

In Fancy Town Joss was a great power; people were afraid of him. But even he would have to be careful how he committed murder.

13.

IN THE HAUNTED MINE

The next morning when one of the maids came in with my hot water she brought a letter to me. I was astonished because we collected our mail from Fancy Town when it came in from Sydney every Wednesday and for a letter to be delivered at the house was unheard of.

“How did it come?” I asked, turning it over in my hand.

“It was found in the hall, Mrs. Madden. One of the servants Saw it lying there and it was addressed to you so I brought it up.”