A Most Unusual Governess (21 page)

It was a lie, but Mr Haversage did not know that. 'So, of course, you will have to send him a message. And in this message you will just happen to mention that I have been here threatening Lucy?' He shook his finger at her. 'Oh, no, Sarah. Youll have to do better than that.' He smiled, pleased that he had seen through her plan.

But Sarah had never expected to solve the problem so simply. Then he will come here anyway. As soon as I don't turn up he will want to know what happened.'

Mr Haversage looked at her appraisingly. You think you've got it all sewn up, don't you? If I let you send a message you can warn James. And if I don't, hell wonder what's wrong and come here to find out - discovering that you have left with me.' He smiled suddenly. It might be amusing to let James think you've chosen me after all. But I can't help thinking it would lead to complications. So, instead, this is what you are going to do. You are going to write a note to James. But you are not going to have a chance to let him know what is going on. Because I am going to be looking over your shoulder and watching every word you write.'

Sarah did not allow her relief to show on her face. It was important that Mr Haversage should think he had spoiled her plan. That way, he would be off guard and not detect her real plan.

She made a show of resignation, then sat down at the desk.

Mr Haversage had been so pleased with himself for seeing through her ruse that it never occurred to him that her "meeting" with James might not have been real, leaving Sarah to hope that James would be able to see through the message she was able to send; a message that must let him know something was wrong without actually saying so.

There was one thing in her favour. Mr Haversage thought she was having an affair with James, and she could use that to her advantage.

Dipping one of the quill pens into the ink, she began.

My darling James

She paused, then went on.

I can't meet you for lunch as we arranged - my brother suspects that we are having an affair and has forbidden me to leave the house. I will be at Lady Jenson's soiree tomorrow evening - make sure you are there.

Don't fail me.

She signed it, Yours for ever, Sarah.

The letter was gibberish, but Mr Haversage did not know that. James, however, would. The letter would perplex him, but she hoped that it would also tell him that something was wrong. And she knew James well enough to know that he would want an answer to the questions the message would raise.

Very pretty,' smirked Mr Haversage. 'And to think Randall denied that you were having an affair. When did it begin, Sarah? After our little run-in at the ruins, or before?'

'Mind your own business,' she retorted sharply. If Mr Haversage was to believe the pretence she must behave as though she was having an affair with James.

Very well,' he said. 'Now call the butler. I want to make sure this message will be delivered. And then we have a visit to make.'

* * * *

At that moment James was packing up his things angrily as he prepared to leave Bath. He had come there to propose to Sarah, but any hope of a marriage between them was now over. Sarah had changed. The person he had fallen in love with no longer existed, and loath as he was to admit it, even to himself, the cause must be the change in her circumstances.

He could not believe that a titled brother and a dowry of twenty thousand pounds would change Sarah, but what other explanation could there be? His warm, honest, open Sarah had turned into a cold, hard and cynical young woman... He straightened up and looked round the room, making sure he had not forgotten anything: he had left for Bath in such a hurry that he had not brought his valet and was doing all his packing himself. He had just satisfied himself that nothing of his remained when there came a knock at the door. He called out curtly, 'Come.'

The door opened to reveal one of the boys who ran errands around the inn.

Well?' demanded James, in no mood to be civil.

'Are you Lord Randall?' The boy asked.

'Of course I am,' said James impatiently.

There's a footman downstairs, come with a message for you. From a Miss Davenport.'

James's mouth set in a grim line: the last thing he wanted was a letter from Sarah. Tell him to leave it with the landlord. I will collect it when I come down.'

'Says it's urgent,' offered the boy.

When I come down,' repeated James severely.

The boy wavered, and then deciding he was more in awe of the tall gentleman before him than he was of the landlord, he returned to his master below.

James closed his travelling bag, trying hard to keep his mind from the note. Whatever it said, he did not want to read it. But he was curious all the same.

He picked up his bag and went downstairs.

'And don't forget your letter, my lord,' said the landlord ingratiatingly as James settled his account and was about to leave.

It was the last thing James wanted. He had no desire to read a letter from Sarah, but he took it anyway. He wrestled with himself but at last his curiosity got the better of him and he opened the note.

My darling James, he read.

His black brows shot up in surprise. Was it some sort of forgery?

He looked closely at the writing, but no, it was not forged: the writing was definitely Sarah's.

As he read the rest of the note his surprise gave way to perplexity. The message was extraordinary. It was such gibberish that he wondered if she could have been ill, perhaps feverish, when she wrote it. Despite himself he felt concerned.

When did this message arrive?' he asked the landlord.

Just a few minutes ago, my lord. The footman who brought it is in the tap room, waiting to see if there's a reply.'

James folded up the letter and went into the tap room, where the footman came forward immediately.

'Did you bring this letter?' demanded James.

Yes, my lord.'

'And who gave it to you?'

The butler, my lord. Miss Davenport told him it was to be delivered straight away.'

'And how did she seem when she spoke to him?' asked James. 'Did she seem ill in any way?'

'No, my lord,' said the footman in surprise. 'She was just about to go out with the gentleman.'

'Her brother?' asked James.

'Oh, no, my lord. The other gentleman. The one from Watermead Grange.'

A cold feeling invaded the pit of James's stomach. Why would anyone be visiting Sarah from the Grange. Unless...

'Describe him.'

'Fair, my lord, and of slight build. No more than two or three inches taller than Miss Davenport, I should say.'

'Haversage,' ground out James between clenched teeth.

The footman looked startled.

When he next spoke, James's face was grim. 'I need to speak to the butler. Right away.'

* * * *

'So this is it,' said Sarah as she stepped out of the hired carriage and looked at the shack in front of her. This is your "cottage".'

'It may not look much to you,' said Mr Haversage with an unsettling hint of manic laughter in his voice, 'but it's home.'

'And where is Lucy?' demanded Sarah. Take me to her at once.'

'As you wish,' said Mr Haversage. 'Lucy is just inside.'

Sarah had the uncomfortable feeling that it was a trap. But with Lucy s safety at stake she could not refuse to go in. Steeling herself for what she might find, she preceded Mr Haversage into the derelict building.

The room she walked into was small and damp. A flight of stone steps led upwards at the back of the room.

'Lucy!' called Sarah. 'Lucy, don't be afraid.'

'How very touching,' Mr Haversage mocked. 'But there's no need to shout, Sarah. You can talk to Lucy all you want. As long as I get the money, you can have her back safe and sound.'

Sarah went to the back of the room and, lifting the hem of her skirt so that she would not trip, she climbed the uneven stairs. The room above was as damp and miserable as the room below, but there was no sign of Lucy. Instead, Maud de Bracy was there.

'Mrs de Bracy!' gasped Sarah. 'Has he demanded money from you, too?'

Her first thought was that Mr Haversage was using Lucy to gain money from a number of sources, but as soon as Maud laughed she knew that she was wrong.

Where's Lucy?' she demanded, rounding on Mr Haversage.

'Lucy's back at Watermead Grange.'

'But the hair... ?'

And then, suddenly, Sarah had a flash of memory, a flash of finding Nelly in her room.

Things began to fall into place.

*You got Nelly to cut her hair. It was Nelly who gave it to you, wasn't it? Neatly tied with the pink ribbon Lucy wore at the concert?'

He smiled, but the smile did not reach his eyes. 'Nelly has been very useful, one way or another.'

You set her to spy on me,' said Sarah accusingly.

You, and everyone else in the Grange. Knowledge is power, Sarah. One never knows when it will come in useful. Your brother's address in Bath was certainly worth knowing. Nelly found it on one of the letters he had sent to you. It's such a pity you discovered her in your room. Her snooping sessions had to come to an end.'

'But why the charade?' demanded Sarah, wanting to know the extent of Mr Haversage's plan. You must have known I wouldn't hand over the money without seeing Lucy first.'

'Do you still not see it? laughed Mr Haversage. This has never been about Lucy. This has all been about you. Why should I go to all the risk of kidnapping Lucy from the Grange, where she is surrounded by servants day and night, when I can get you to walk into my trap of your own accord?'

'Nicholas will never pay,' said Sarah stoutly.

'Nicholas will never have to,' said Maud dryly. Up until now she had been content to let Mr Haversage do the talking, but now she wanted to take her part. 'It's James who will pay. Pay for slighting me —

'And pay for criticising me,' interrupted Mr Haversage. 'Me!' His voice was growing dangerous. Telling me what to do and what not to do, like the arrogant, conceited bastard he is.'

You surely can't expect Lord Randall to ransom me?' asked Sarah in astonishment.

'Lord Randall? You can drop the pretence. My darling James. That's what he is to you.'

And Sarah laughed. She knew she was in danger but the tension that had gripped her since Mr Haversage had walked into Laura Place needed some release, and it came in the form of slightly hysterical laughter.

What's so funny?' asked Mr Haversage.

'Ignore her,' snapped Maud. 'Can't you see she's only playing for time? Now do what we brought her here for, and then we can contact James.'

'She means something by it,' said Mr Haversage suspiciously.

'She means nothing! Now get on with it,' said Maud. 'Here, 111 hold her down for you and you can finish what you started at the ruins.' She gave an ugly smile. I'd like to see the look on James's face when he realises the goods he's ransomed are soiled.'

She moved towards Sarah, and Sarah, once more in control of herself, backed away. Now she knew why she had been lured here: so that Mr Haversage could rape her. And so that, afterwards, she could be used to get money from James. But she was not going to let that happen. She could not overpower both Mr Haversage and Mrs de Bracy, so she would have to use her brains instead.

You may well get a chance to do that, Maud,' Sarah said. 'James is on his way here right now.'

'Don't be ridiculous,' said Maud with contempt. 'He doesn't know where you are.'

The message!' spat Mr Haversage.

What message? demanded Maud. Now it was her turn to round on him.

There was no meeting,' said Sarah. *No soiree, no affair. James and I parted on the worst possible terms. As soon as he reads the letter hell know something's wrong. How long do you think it will take him after that to find out where
I’ve
gone?'

The carriage,' said Mr Haversage to Maud. The driver will tell him where we are. I knew we should never have hired one. If you hadn't been so mean we could have bought one.'

What with?' she scoffed. 'Neither of us has any money.'

Whilst they were arguing, Sarah worked out the rudiments of a plan. If she could get them to take her elsewhere, then she would have a chance to escape. Once out of this small room, where both Maud and Mr Haversage were standing between her and the stairs, she would have room to run or fight. But they would not take her out of the room if she asked them to do so. She would have to pretend she wanted to stay.

'So all I have to do,' she said, with a calmness she was far from feeling, 'is sit and wait.'

She suited her actions to her words, sitting on a rickety chair. It almost gave way beneath her as she did so.

'Oh, no, you don't,' said Maud. She grabbed Sarah's arm. When James gets here, hell find nothing but an empty hovel.'

Outside, though, James had already arrived.

It had not taken him long to locate the hired carriage that had carried Sarah and Mr Haversage to the cottage, and the driver - for a handsome fee - had driven James there, leaving him a short distance away so that the carriage should neither be seen nor heard.