The Captive (47 page)

I was glad we had convinced her of our sincerity. And so we left Rowan Cottage with the knowledge that Sir Edward Perrivale had married Alice Ferrers and the date on the certificate showed clearly that the marriage had taken place before the ceremony he had undergone with the present Dowager Lady Perrivale.

Encounter in a Copse

That night Felicity and I talked continuously of our discovery. It was beyond our wildest hopes.

“I still can’t believe it!” I said.

“How could Sir Edward, with his strong moral stance, enter into a bigamous marriage, have two sons whom he accepted as his own, while his legitimate son, though brought up in the house, was treated as an outsider?”

“We have to remember that he wanted the boy to be given every chance.”

“Poor Simon!”

“Well, he had your Nanny Crockett.”

“It would have been sad for him if he hadn’t.”

“Oh, there are always compensations. But why did Sir Edward not only break the law but go against his strong religious principles?”

“I think I can guess. You see, there is a great tradition in the Perrivale family. The old house is at the root of it. The place was falling down and Sir Edward was in financial difficulties. He had never brought Alice to Perrivale. Much as he loved her, he did not think she would be a suitable chat elaine You see how strong the family tradition was. I daresay he had been brought up to believe that the great family of Perrivale was all-important. It had been kept going all through the centuries by its members doing their duty. It was his, therefore, to save Perrivale. Along comes the ironmaster or coal owner, whatever he was, from Yorkshire. He will supply the money required to save the house. Sir Edward’s financial problems can be solved … but at a

cost, of course. The price is marriage to the rich man’s daughter.

”

“But Sir Edward couldn’t accept those terms. He had already married little Alice.”

“But who knew? Only those people in the country. Alice was quiet and docile. She would accept everything he told her. She would not make trouble, even if she knew what was happening … but she didn’t. He thought he could pull it off, and he did. I dare say it troubled him a great deal. There was no other way of saving Perrivale. He had always been brought up to believe that his first duty was to tradition … to the family name. You can see how he was torn. He had to save his house; the family must go on living in the style to which it was accustomed. Alice could not rise to what would be demanded of her. He had loved Alice … he had been led into the temptation of marrying her. But she was not suitable to be a Perrivale wife. I can see how it happened.”

“You certainly make it sound plausible.”

“I think Sir Edward could not die with this secret on his conscience.

I think he may have confessed when he was near the end. And to whom would he confess but to the one whom it concerned most . the woman who thought she was his wife? Imagine it: “I cannot go like this. I must tell the truth now. My heir is Simon, the boy I brought into this house. I married his mother and that means I am not truly married to you.” That was how it must have happened. Maria said that she heard them quarrelling violently and that Lady Perrivale went very strange at the time of his death. It must have been because of this. “

“Are you suggesting that she was involved in the murder? You can’t think she killed her own son just to get Simon accused.”

“Of course not. What she did was tell her son. She would, wouldn’t she? Or perhaps Sir Edward told them. Yes, of

course, it would concern them most . next to Lady Perrivale, of course. “

“But it was Cosmo who was murdered.”

“I always had a notion that Tristan was the murderer. I used to think he killed Cosmo because he wanted the title and estates … and Mirabel. Just imagine what he would feel to be in second place and miss all the prizes.”

“Lucas is in a similar position.”

“Well, before his accident he didn’t want to stay at home.”

“And he had his army career for a while.”

“Yes, and he gave that up and travelled a great deal and was rather restless. I begin to see it more clearly. I always thought Tristan was involved somehow. He had everything to gain. And there was Mirabel.

She married him very soon after Cosmo was killed. “

“And what of the child she seems to have got rid of?”

“I don’t understand that. It’s too complicated, but at least if Tristan was aware that Simon was really his father’s heir … he would want to get him out of the way. So he kills Cosmo and arranges that Simon is blamed for it. So both encumbrances are removed. Sir Edward dies … there is nothing to say that Tristan is not the rightful heir.”

“It’s taking shape,” said Felicity.

“But how are you going to prove all this?”

“I don’t know … yet. But we’ve taken a great step forward … thanks to you. Felicity. I think I shall know what to do when the time is right.”

“And in the meantime … ?”

“I shall tell Lucas, when I see him, what we have discovered. He is very astute. He will suggest what action we take next. Something has occurred to me. Lady Perrivale the Dowager Lady Perrivale is searching for something in Sir Edward’s room. She lights candles at night or she did before Maria hid them for fear she burned the house down-and went prowling round looking. What was she looking for, do you think?”

“Simple logic would point to a will.”

“Exactly. The last will of Sir Edward Perrivale in which he states that Simon is his legitimate son and heir. He cannot go to his grave with that secret on his conscience.”

“So to purge his own soul he plunges those who for years have believed themselves to be his only family into turmoil.”

I nodded.

“He knows that if someone gets his or her hands on the will while he is too ill to know what is happening, it will be destroyed. So he hides it, meaning to produce it to the solicitor or someone whom he can trust when he gets the opportunity to do so. Now Lady Perrivale knows that this will exists. She must find it and destroy it for the sake of her sons, if for nothing else. She is not very clear in her mind … but she hangs on to the fact that it exists. That is why she wanders about at night looking for it.”

“H’m. Sounds likely.”

“I often visit Lady Perrivale. There might be an opportunity …”

“You’d better be careful.”

“That’s what Lucas says.”

“If this is true and Tristan killed once, he might not hesitate to do so again, and people who know too much might be in danger.”

“I’ll be watchful.”

“I’m really serious, Rosetta. I’m worried about you.”

“Don’t be. I’ll be careful. They don’t suspect anything. I’m just the governess.”

“But no ordinary governess.”

“Oh yes, I am really. It just happens that I have found a way of getting on with Kate better than most could.”

“Well, don’t be rash.”

“I promise.”

“Now we’d better get some sleep, I suppose.”

“Felicity, I can’t tell you how grateful I am for your help.”

“Oh really … it was fun. I like a mystery as well as anyone.”

“One of the nicest things that ever happened to me was when you came to teach me.”

“Well, on that happy note, we’ll say good night.”

When I arrived in Cornwall, Kate greeted me sullenly.

“You’ve been away a long time,” she said.

“It wasn’t really so long. I met a friend who used to be my governess.”

I told her about Felicity’s coming to the house and how I had been imagining she would be an ogre, how they had all liked her in the kitchen and she used to join us for meals.

Her mood changed. She was really very pleased to see me back.

“Did Mr. Dolland do The Bells?”

“Yes.”

“I wish you’d take me up there.”

“I might… one day.”

“One day, one day,” she mocked.

“I don’t want one day. I want now. You ought to have taken me with you.”

I was glad when I was able to retire to my room. I wanted to brood on all that had happened. I was sure we were right in our theories. I could picture it all so clearly. Sir Edward, on the point of death, had made his startling revelations. If Tristan could kill Cosmo and have Simon hanged for murder, no one need ever know of the previous marriage. It would be between Tristan and his mother. He would certainly trust her to keep quiet. She would not want it to be known that, though she had lived with Sir Edward and borne him two sons, she had not been his wife.

How could the truth be brought out? How could Simon be exonerated?

There was the marriage certificate in the hands of Miss Ada Ferrers.

There would be the records in

St. Botolph’s Church. But even though Simon was proved to be the true heir to the Perrivale estate, that would not clear him of the charge.

Even if the will-if there was one-were found, that would not be enough.

I felt we had come to an impasse. We had uncovered dark secrets, reasons for murder . but we had not found the identity of the murderer.

Still, if I could find that document. Sir Edward could move only with difficulty, I imagined. It would be in his room. Where would he be likely to hide a document?

I was becoming more and more certain that it was a will for which Lady Perrivale was searching, and I was going to try to find it. That would be my next venture. There could be an opportunity of slipping into that room . perhaps if Lady Perrivale were asleep . and Maria did not happen to be there. If I could produce the will I could at least prove a motive.

The next afternoon I went up to see Lady Perrivale. She was asleep but Maria was there.

“It’s nice to see you back,” she said.

“Her ladyship’s been sleeping most of the day. That’s how it is nowadays. The Major came in to see her pretty often while you were away. She cheers up for his visits.”

She gave me a wink.

“Well, she always had a soft spot for him.”

“Even though he married her best friend.”

“Ah yes. She might have had him herself but old Joe Arkwright was a hard man when it came to the brass. She was heartbroken when her father put an end to it. Then of course she married Sir Edward. It was what Joe Arkwright wanted. Stands to reason … Sir Edward and the title and Jessie brought the brass. What people will do for brass!”

I went away with those words ringing in my ears.

It was indeed revealing . what people would do for money!

It was two days later when my opportunity came. I went

up to see Lady Perrivale. Maria was not there and Lady Perrivale was in her chair snoring slightly.

My heart was beating fast as I slipped out of the room and into that which I knew to have been Sir Edward’s.

I saw the big four-poster bed with a table beside it on which lay a very large Bible with leather covers and brass clasps.

I looked round the room. Where would he be likely to put something he wanted to hide? Why should it be necessary to hide it? Because he did not trust the woman who for years had thought she was his wife.

There was a cupboard near the window. I went to and opened it. There were some clothes in it and a tin box. I picked up the box. It was locked.

I wondered what was in it, but it was impossible for me to open it;

and in any case whoever was searching for a will would immediately look in such a place. I could be sure someone had opened that box and inspected the contents since Sir Edward’s death.

For a moment I paused by the window and glanced across to my own room, and just at that moment the Major came into the courtyard. He looked up and immediately I dodged back. I was not sure whether he had seen me. I did not think he had. But it was a warning. I must get out of this room. He would clearly be coming to pay one of his frequent visits to Lady Perrivale.

When I emerged, Maria was still not there and Lady Perrivale remained asleep. I hurried downstairs and was in the hall when Major Durrell came in.

“Good afternoon. Miss Cranleigh,” he said.

“And what a pleasant afternoon it is.”

I agreed.

“I trust you had a good trip to London.”

“Oh yes, thank you. It seemed a long time since I had seen my family.”

“And I hear Mr. Lorimer is progressing favourably.”

“Yes, that’s so.”

“Then all’s well with the world.”

He smiled benignly on me as he started up the stairs.

It was the next day. Kate and I had been at lessons all morning, which had passed pleasantly enough. I was still brooding on my discoveries and felt frustrated because I did not know which way to go next. I had attached great importance to discovering the will but if I did, what would that tell usr which we did not know already?

I wanted to be alone to think. As soon as possible I must see Lucas.

He would be home very soon. I expected he would be rather exhausted immediately after his return, but I was very eager to tell him what Felicity and I had found out.

However, the need to get away was imperative. I wanted to be by myself to think. I took an opportunity of slipping out of the house, unseen by Kate, who would have wanted to come with me, and I walked briskly away from the house. I was near the Dower House when I saw the Major.

“Oh hello. Miss Cranleigh,” he called.

“How nice to see you. You’re looking well.”

“Thank you.”

“The trip to London was obviously a great success.”

“Yes, I think it was.”

“How’s Kate getting on now?”

“Very well.”

“I get rather worried about that girl. I’ve been wanting a little chat with you about her for a long time.”

“What is worrying you?”

“Look, why don’t you come in? It’s not easy to talk out here.”

He led me up the path to the front door, which was ajar. I said the garden was looking beautiful.

“I take a great pride in it. I have to have something to occupy me now I’m free of the Army.”

“It must be difficult to adjust to a civilian’s life. But it is some time since you retired now, isn’t it?”