Victoria Holt (33 page)

“It was love at first sight,” said Eugenie. “She was very happy.”

“And you conspired…”

“Well, she is my sister. We had to help her.”

“We? Who had to help her?”

“She means Charlotte did too, I daresay,” I said.

“Oh dear,” said Daisy, putting her hand to her head. “Someone had better go over to the Hall and tell Sir Jason of this disaster. Perhaps it is not yet too late.”

It was obvious that we were not going to learn much from Eugenie. Perhaps Jason would be more successful. I could have slapped the girl. She stood facing us with a rather mocking expression and the manner in which she pressed her lips together showed clearly that she was not going to give anything away.

Daisy sent her to her room with instructions to stay there until sent for and she put Miss Barston in charge of her. She talked a little incoherently while we waited. “They left last night…It was when they went from the Hall. A headache! Oh, the duplicity of girls! Have they learned nothing here? It was before supper…and that was at ten. Where could they have gone? Could they be married now, I wonder? One does not expect this sort of thing nowadays…And one of my girls! Sir Jason will know what to do. He’ll bring her back, I daresay. I do hope there isn’t talk…”

It was becoming a nightmare. Yesterday the letter. Today Fiona’s elopement. What next? I wondered.

Jason came immediately and Daisy went off into explanations. He found it hard to believe.

He sent for Eugenie and questioned her. She began by being defiant and then broke down and said that Fiona was in love and had a right to get married if she wanted to. Carl was wonderful. He loved Fiona and Fiona loved him. They were happy. Yes, she had known Fiona was going. Charlotte had helped her. Fiona hadn’t got into the carriage with them when they had gone back to the school but had gone to Carl who was waiting for her. Yes, she had made it appear that Fiona was in her bed so that I had been deceived when I looked in.

Charlotte was sent for. She was equally defiant. It was quite clear that there had been a conspiracy between them all and this lover…this Carl had taken advantage of it.

But in spite of the grueling questions, the pleas and the threats, we could get nothing more from them than that they had met Carl in the woods, he had asked the way and they had talked; he had seen them again. Once they had ridden off to meet him because they were making arrangements for the elopement. I remembered that occasion well and how scared Miss Barston had been.

Jason said: “Someone must have seen them leave. I’ll get down to the station. If we can find out where they went it might give us a clue to start with.”

He went off.

There was little concentration on lessons that day. Everyone was talking about Fiona’s elopement. It was clear that the girls were very excited. They thought it was the most romantic thing that had ever happened at Colby Abbey Academy for Girls.

I could not rest. I had half forgotten the letter in all the turmoil of Fiona’s flight, but every now and then memory of it came back to sicken me. The entire picture seemed to have changed. I looked back at the peace of last term and could not believe so much disaster could have come about during such a short time.

Something occurred to me and I went in search of Eugenie. As it was the half hour after the midday meal and lessons did not start until two I guessed that she would be out of doors. I found her with Charlotte at the fish ponds.

“Eugenie,” I said. “I want a word with you.”

“With me?” she said insolently.

“Perhaps both of you can help me.”

There was something in the manner of both girls which I found offensive. They had never forgiven me for separating them when I arrived. It had seemed like a victory for me then but I always felt uneasy with those two girls and when I considered how they had connived and probably schemed with Fiona and her lover, they worried me a good deal.

I said: “I have been thinking about the Pageant. Do you remember Miss Barston lost one of the costumes?”

“Yes,” said Charlotte with a laugh.

“Perhaps you will tell me why you find it so amusing?”

They were both silent.

“Come on,” I said. “Lessons will be starting soon. Do you know anything about that costume?”

Eugenie looked at Charlotte, who said defiantly: “Fiona took it.”

“I see, and during the performance someone wore it. Could it by any chance have been the romantic Carl?”

They tittered.

“This is a very dangerous matter,” I said severely. “Did Carl wear the costume?”

They still stood there suppressing their mirth.

“Did he?” I thundered.

“Yes, Miss Grant,” said Charlotte.

“And he had the temerity to appear with the monks?”

“He had to see Fiona. He had to tell her about the arrangements.”

“I see. And you were in on the secret?”

They were silent again. I was thinking of that moment when I had almost caught Fiona and her lover. If only I had. If I could have unmasked this man I might have stopped this disastrous elopement.

“You have been very foolish,” I said.

“Why?” demanded Eugenie. “Love is good and Fiona is happy.”

“Fiona is very young.”

“She is eighteen. Why should love be right for some and not for others?”

There was a direct challenge in their eyes.

“I said this is a disgraceful matter. Go back to your classes now.”

They ran across the grass and I followed.

Jason called at the school that evening. Miss Hetherington invited the mistresses to her study to hear what he had to say.

He had discovered that two people had arrived at the station before the nine o’clock train for Exeter was about to depart. The man was a stranger and the station-master did not recognize his companion. She was wearing a cloak which covered her head completely. There were two other passengers…both men. That was all he could remember.

“They could have gone to Exeter…or London…anywhere,” said Jason. “It seems as though we are not going to get on their trail.”

There was gloom in the study. I think most of us conceded that Fiona had successfully escaped.

Jason went to Exeter next day. I believe he made extensive enquiries but he was of course working in the dark.

We tried to settle down to a normal existence but it wasn’t easy. I had never seen Daisy so depressed. She was terribly concerned about what effect it would have on the school.

“In a way,” she said, “it is a blessing that she is who she is. Sir Jason knows exactly how it happened and it was after all from the Hall that she escaped. He doesn’t blame us for negligence. All the same girls talk, and I don’t know what parents’ reactions will be to an elopement at the school.”

Four days after the elopement Eugenie had a postcard from Fiona. There was a picture of Trafalgar Square and a London postmark.

“I’m having a wonderful time and am very happy. Fiona.”

The postcard was seized on, examined and Sir Jason was invited to come over. But in fact it gave us no information except that Fiona was happy and in London.

“And that,” said Eileen, “is like looking for a particularly elusive needle in a rather more than usually large haystack. It’s no use trying to find her. She’s gone off. She may be married. I expect she will be as she has a nice fortune. Maybe that’s the crux of the whole matter. Though Fiona is a charming child…quite the most pleasant of that unholy trinity which comprises her sister and the odious Charlotte. I’m sorry it wasn’t Eugenie or Charlotte who went off.”

That was an indication of the way people were thinking. They were getting tired of the subject of Fiona’s departure. It was evident that she had gone and would not come back to school. “Let it rest there,” said Eileen. “After all I doubt she is the first schoolgirl to elope. I think there was quite a crop of them last century…always heiresses, which I believe contributed to the main purpose of the exercise. So this runs to form.”

When I went into the post office I found Mrs. Baddicombe round-eyed with curiosity.

“My word,” she said, “we do see life. What do you think of that young lady running off like that! Well, what’s the world coming to? They say he was such a handsome gentleman. Swept off her feet. Well, you know what young girls are. No stopping ’em. I reckon there was a bit of a to-do up at the school and at the Hall.”

It seemed that the excitement aroused by Fiona’s elopement had superseded that of Mrs. Martindale’s disappearance.

I registered a parcel to Aunt Patty. There was no need to. It was some artificial flowers which I had happened to see in Colby and I thought she would find them suitable for trimming a hat. She would be surprised that I registered them but I could explain to her when I saw her.

“Would you please write the receipt in block letters?”

“Block letters!” cried Mrs. Baddicombe. “What’s them?”

“Like printing.”

“Well, I never did before. I always write out my receipts natural like.”

“It would be easier to read.”

She looked at me suspiciously, and rather laboriously complied with my request. She handed me the receipt and said: “I wonder if we’ll have any news. She’s got spirit. I will say that for her. Always thought she was a quiet one. But then, as I say to Baddicombe, you never do know and it’s the quiet ones who turn out to be deep.”

She gave me a knowing wink.

I said good day and came out of the post office clutching my receipt. I could not see any resemblance to the printing on the envelope I had received.

***

The term went on uneasily. The hot weather had broken and it was raining most of the time. At Assembly Miss Hetherington had spoken to the girls and told them that they were on no account to hold any conversation whatsoever with people whom they did not know and if anyone spoke to them they were to report immediately either to her or to one of the mistresses.

The girls were suitably subdued, but I guessed they were all thinking what a marvelous thing had happened to Fiona and would have greatly enjoyed being the heroine of such an exciting romance.

I avoided Jason more than ever. My thoughts were in a turmoil. I could not forget the letter and I could not help feeling that it was more important to find Marcia Martindale than Fiona. I was desperately longing to get away from school. I could not wait for the twentieth of July.

***

It was two days before the end of term and we were all preparing for departure. Jason came over. I was with Daisy when he was shown in. He had had a letter from Fiona. It was posted from a place called Werthenfeld in Switzerland.

“Do you know this place?” asked Daisy.

“I know it fairly well,” replied Jason. “It is a few miles from Zurich. She says she is happy and there is no need to worry about her. She is married and enjoying life. Read it for yourselves.”

We read it. There was no doubt of her happiness. The exuberance came over in the writing. She was in love and married. Were we perhaps worrying too much about Fiona?

I saw the postscript. “Carl has promised to teach me to ski.”

I looked at Jason. I said: “Well, she seems to be happy.”

“Carl,” he said. “She doesn’t give us any other name. It could be foreign. I think I should go to Werthenfeld. She is my ward and a considerable heiress. If I could discover who he is, I would be satisfied perhaps. It might be the best thing that could happen to her. She was always retiring. Different from Eugenie…and I have thought of their future quite a lot, bringing them out and so on. If he is fairly presentable and she is happy, what are we worrying about?”

“I don’t like his methods,” commented Daisy.

Jason shrugged his shoulders. “He’s probably young and thought it might be a bit of fun to elope, no doubt.”

“Why shouldn’t they have come out into the open?” asked Daisy.

“There would have been all sorts of formalities with a girl like Fiona. Let’s suppose he was carried away.”

“An heiress, yes…”

“That does raise a niggling doubt. It is one of the reasons why I think I ought to follow up this clue.”

“You are right,” said Daisy, “and the best of luck go with you.”

The twentieth came…a hot and sultry day. I saw the girls off and then prepared to leave with Teresa.

Daisy stood in the courtyard to say goodbye.

“We all need a rest,” she said. “Thank heaven this term has come to an end. In all my days I never knew one like this one. Next term it will be a new start.”

Aunt Patty was waiting for us at the station in a hat made almost entirely of violets. We were all laughing as we embraced.

“My goodness,” said Aunt Patty, “this is a bit of a change from last time. Do you remember, Cordelia? No Teresa.”

“I’m glad I’m here now,” said Teresa.

“Not more glad than we are to have you. Violet’s in quite a state wondering whether those cousins of yours were going to foil us right at the last minute. She’ll be in a fever of excitement till we get back and couldn’t make up her mind whether to come with me to meet you or stay at home and watch the lardy cakes. She says they’re a special favorite of yours, Teresa, and she wanted to have them ready for you.”

“Let’s get home quickly,” said Teresa.

We got into the dog cart and Aunt Patty took the reins.

“What’s the term been like?” she asked as we gamboled along.

“Full of incident,” I said quickly. “Too much to tell you now.”

“Well, we’ll wait until we’re sitting pretty,” said Aunt Patty. “By the way, a gentleman came calling. He wanted to see you.”

“Who was it?”

“It was Violet who saw him. She was bowled over by him. Said he was the handsomest and most pleasant gentleman she had ever met.”

“But…what was his name?”

“She didn’t get it. Trust Violet. Too busy trying to lure him in and give him some of that almond cake of hers which she is always showing off with. She said he wouldn’t stop though. He’s staying at the King’s Arms.”

“How strange. I can’t think who it could be.”

I had thought at first that Jason had decided not to go to Switzerland and had come here instead. But then he would know exactly when I should be arriving and would not have called yesterday. Moreover, Violet had already met him.

“Violet will tell you more. Nearly home now. Come on, Buttercup. He always gets excited when we turn in at the lane. You couldn’t get him to go past the house if you tried.”

There was the house, set back from the road with its green lawns and the hedge of macrocarpas which Violet had planted. When they arrived they had been little feathery sticks, I remembered, and they were already growing fast. There was the lavender and the buddleia covered in white butterflies—and that air of perfect peace.

Violet had appeared hastily wiping her hands. She embraced Teresa and me.

“There you are. Welcome home. Cordelia, you look a bit pale. And you, Teresa, how are you? I was afraid those cousins of yours were going to put in their spoke again. Well, here you are and here you’re going to stay. The lardy cakes are all ready and as soon as I heard the trap turn into the lane I put the kettle on.”

I said: “It’s good to be home.” And we went into the house.

Violet was saying: “What do you think about tea outside? Bit sultry. The wasps are a pest this year. Let’s have it indoors. We can have all the windows wide open so that we can see the garden. Best of both worlds, eh? You can go to your rooms after. Tea first.”

“And Violet’s word is law, as we all know,” said Aunt Patty, comfortably seating herself. “Well, what’s been happening?” she went on.

“The great news is that Fiona Verringer eloped after the Pageant.”

“Eloped! Is that the girl from the big house?”

“Yes, one of the two sisters.”

“Someone called here once,” recollected Violet. “Wasn’t he from there?”

“Yes, he’s the uncle. There was a terrible upheaval, wasn’t there, Teresa?”

“Oh yes. Miss Hetherington was furious.”

“I should think so,” said Aunt Patty. “Girls eloping!”

“It was very romantic,” put in Teresa wistfully.

“I think they are somewhere in Switzerland.”

“I wonder if they are anywhere near Schaffenbrucken,” said Violet. “Here, have another of these lardy cakes, Teresa. They’re done specially for you.”

“Oh, Violet, I shouldn’t. What’s for supper?”

“Ask no questions and you’ll hear no lies. You know very well I don’t talk about my dishes till I serve them. Wait and see…and it’s a long time off and I’d have another lardy if I were you.”

Teresa helped herself and I was amazed to see the moodiness which I had noticed last term drop from her. I was wondering whether I should tell Aunt Patty about the anonymous letter. I’d wait and see. I did not want to disturb the peace of the place. While I was here I could forget.

“By the way, Violet,” I said. “Aunt Patty says somebody called.”

“Oh yes. Yesterday. Such a nice gentleman. Well-spoken, nice-mannered, tall and good-looking.”

“And you don’t remember the name of this shining knight?”

“He did say. But bless me, if I can remember. He said he particularly wanted to see you…Something about the past.”

“What do you mean…the past?”

“Well, apparently, he knew you then.”

“And you don’t remember his name. Oh, Violet…”

“Well, he did say it when he came and you know what a one I am for names. You’ll know tomorrow. He said he’s coming then. I know he will. He looks like a man of his word, and he was so anxious to see you.”

“Tall you say?”

“Tall and fair.”

I was transported back to the forest. I thought: This is the time for strange things to happen. He has come back. He will explain.

A great excitement took possession of me. I thought how wonderful it would be to see him again.

I said: “Was his name Edward Compton?”

Violet considered. “It could have been. I wouldn’t say it wasn’t…and then I wouldn’t say it was.”

“Oh, Violet,” I said in exasperation.

“Well, what’s all the fuss? You’ll know tomorrow. Patience is a virtue…and I’m not talking about you, Patty.”

Aunt Patty smiled, not betraying that she had heard that so-called joke a hundred times before from Violet.

Tomorrow, I thought. It is not long to wait.

***

The familiar peace of Moldenbury descended on me. I unpacked my things and went for a walk with Teresa. After supper we sat in the garden and talked desultorily of village affairs. The usual “Bring and Buy” and the church fete were looming. There was a controversy as to whether the proceeds should go to the tower or the bells. Aunt Patty was on the side of the tower. “We don’t want that toppling down on us,” she said. But Violet was for the bells. “I do like to hear them. Specially on a Sunday morning,” she said.

“Bells wouldn’t be much use if the tower collapsed,” pointed out Aunt Patty.

“Not much use having a tower if there’s no bells to bring people to church.”

And so it went on.

When I retired for the night Aunt Patty came to my room.

“Is everything all right?” she said. “I thought you seemed a bit…remote. Not worried about that girl eloping are you? They’re not blaming you for letting her get away, I hope.”

“Oh no. Daisy is most fair. It wasn’t the fault of anyone at the school. It was the girls more likely. They had been meeting this man, some of them. If it had been Eugenie Verringer I wouldn’t have been so surprised, but that Fiona should have been so bold…well, it was unlike her.”

“In love, I suppose. They say that changes people. Cordelia, do you want to tell me what’s on your mind?”

I hesitated. Then I burst out: “I had an anonymous letter. It was horrible. Accusing me of being involved in…murder.”

“Good gracious me!”

“It concerned a woman who disappeared suddenly. She had been Jason Verringer’s mistress at some time and he—”

“He seemed rather interested in you when he came here. I remember that.”

“Yes,” I said.

“And how do you feel about him?”

“I try to avoid him all I can, but he is not the sort of man to respect anyone’s wishes if they conflict with what he wants. He is arrogant and ruthless. He is very powerful. He seems to own everything in Colby…including the school. Even Daisy Hetherington is a little subservient.”

Aunt Patty nodded her head slowly. “I daresay there is a lot you haven’t told me.”

There was. I could not bring myself to speak of that scene when I had cut my hands at the window.

She went on gently: “You could always leave. Come back here. You could do something else later if you wanted to. Daisy’s is not the only school in the country, you know.”

“Leave the school! Leave Colby! I should hate that. Besides, I should have to give a term’s notice, so in any case I should have to go back to all that gossip and rumor. Even Teresa is upset.”

“Where is she involved?”

“There must be a lot of chatter about Jason Verringer and me. She thinks he is involved with that woman’s disappearance, and I believe she is afraid for me. I fancy she wants to warn me against him. As if I needed to be warned!”

Aunt Patty was looking at me quizzically.

I went on: “The girls talk a great deal. They overdramatize. She has a notion that he killed this woman. To girls of Teresa’s age there are only the good and the bad…the saints and the devils.”

“And she has put him into the devil’s category.”

“She certainly has.”

“You too?”

I was faintly embarrassed, remembering so much about him and that peculiar kind of pleasure which his proximity brought to me.

“I remember him well from the time he came here,” went on Aunt Patty. “He did not strike me as a very happy person.”

“I don’t think he has ever been really happy. His marriage was a failure and I imagine he has gone out in all the wrong directions.”

“It’s strange,” said Aunt Patty, “how so many who have worldly possessions lack real happiness. I suppose he is richly endowed.”

“Very much so.”

“I’ve always thought that the really successful people in life are those who know how to be happy. If you are not happy you’re not a success. You may have all the kingdoms of the Earth and if you haven’t found happiness, you’ve failed. After all, that is what we are all striving for, isn’t it?”

“You’re right. You and Violet must be the most successful people in the world.”

“It makes you laugh, doesn’t it? Here we are tucked away in our little house…of no importance to the world…except to those who are near us…yet we have reached the goal to which everyone is striving. Yes, we’re happy. Dear child, I want that same happiness for you. Perhaps it was easier for me. I’ve always been single. I’ve made my own life. It’s been a good one.”

“You have made it so.”

“We all make our lives what they are. Sometimes there is a partner to help you make it. Then it’s not always easy to go the way one wants to. That’s where the difficulties lie. That poor man! Interesting…but I sensed something dark there. He’s not a happy person. You are, Cordelia. You came to us…and everything was right…from the start. We gave you love and you took it and gave us love in return. It was easy…no complications. I’m not being clear, but I want you to be very careful if the time should come when you decide to choose someone to share your life.”

“I am not thinking of sharing my life with anyone, Aunt Patty, except you and Violet.”

“You think a great deal about that man.”

“Aunt Patty, I dislike him. I find him most…”

She held up her hand. “You are so vehement.”

“So would you be if—”

She waited and I did not go on.

Then suddenly she bent forward and kissed me. “My dear,” she said, “you have chosen your profession and it suits you. You were meant to guide, counsel and protect. He is, as you imply, a man of the world and sometimes they are the ones who need most care. Well, we shall see. Now you are here and you are going to be lazy and rest, and we shall talk and talk. But it’s time you were in bed. Good night, my dear.”

I threw myself into her arms and she kissed me. Then she released me and went to the door. Neither of us cared to show the depth of our emotion; but our love and trust in each other was known to us both and there was no need to talk of it.

I lay between the cool lavender-scented sheets and thought of Violet assiduously collecting the blooms and making them into sachets to scent the household linen as well as Aunt Patty’s clothes. Peace…and yet how could I enjoy it?

Then I was thinking about the next day when the mysterious gentleman would call. I was convincing myself that it was the stranger of the forest who had at last come in search of me. I could remember his face clearly. Yes, he was undoubtedly handsome. His fair hair grew back from a high forehead and he had strong features and rather piercingly blue eyes; and there was something about him which made him different from other men, something not quite of this world. Or had I imagined that after I had had that eerie experience in the Suffolk graveyard?

How strange it would be if I really did see him again. I wondered what the explanation could be and how I should feel when I came face to face with him.

***

We had breakfasted and Teresa was helping Violet with the washing up. Aunt Patty was going to the vicarage to discuss the “Bring and Buy” and was wondering if I would like to go with her.

“You’ll be roped in for a stall,” she said. “For heaven’s sake don’t take the White Elephant if you can help it. They turn up year after year. Everybody’s got to know them by now.”

“Elephants never forget,” called Violet from the kitchen. “And people never forget white elephants.”

“Violet’s in a spry mood this morning,” commented Aunt Patty. “It’s because she’s going to get Teresa to help her in the potting shed.”

“I’ll go and get my coat and come with you,” I said.

When I came down a man was coming up the path. He was tall and fair and I had never seen him before.

Violet had glimpsed him through the kitchen window.

“He’s here,” she cried. “The gentleman who called.”

I went into the front garden.

He said: “You must be Cordelia…Miss Grant.”

“Yes,” I replied. “I’m afraid I don’t know—”

“You wouldn’t know me but I felt I had to come and see you. I’m John Markham, Lydia’s brother. You remember Lydia?”

“Lydia Markham! But of course. Oh, how nice to meet you.”

“I hope you don’t mind my coming like this.”

“I’m pleased you called.” Aunt Patty had come up. “Aunt Patty,” I said, “this is Mr. Markham. You’ve heard me talk of Lydia who was with me at Schaffenbrucken. This is her brother.”