The Lovegrove Hermit (16 page)

I fled back to the house and at once encountered Lady Denby with the Lawrences, who had returned from their visit to the village church. They stared at me in amazement.

‘Miss Tyler!’ exclaimed her ladyship. ‘What on earth has happened to you? Have you met with an accident?’

‘You could say that. Mr Lawrence, could you go to the priory church where Colonel Hartley needs assistance? I must find his manservant.’

He took off immediately and without offering any
explanations
I ran on into the entrance hall where I found Sophie talking to Sam Bates.

‘The very man!’ I cried. ‘The Colonel needs you at the priory church. I’ve already sent Mr Lawrence but I doubt if he can manage on his own. You may need a ladder – he’s in the vault.’

Sam Bates did not linger to ask questions but ran outside to find his master.

‘Aunt Charlotte!’ shrieked Sophie. ‘What an earth have you been doing? I’m so relieved to see you!’ She hugged me wildly, not caring that some of the dirt and cobwebs
transferred
themselves to her white muslin gown.

‘We’ve been looking for you,’ she continued. ‘At least
I
was looking for you and couldn’t find you anywhere. Then I sent for that maid, Susan, who brought you a message. There was something odd about her manner – something sly and furtive. She told me some silly story about Sir Ralph wanting you to fetch him something from the gallery but I didn’t believe a word of it. She asked to be excused but I said she wasn’t to go until she told me the truth. I was sure
something
suspicious was going on.’

‘It was indeed! That was very astute of you.’

‘Aunt Charlotte, do you remember once telling me that there was nothing more despicable than striking a servant?’

‘You didn’t hit her?’

‘No – but Elinor did. She came charging into the hall and demanded to know what was going on. I told her Susan knew something of your whereabouts but wouldn’t tell. “Oh, yes she will!” said Elinor and struck her a swingeing blow across the face. The girl burst into tears – I almost felt sorry for her – and sobbed and cried and sank to the floor, but Elinor stood over her, yanked her head up by the hair and demanded to hear the whole story. She said she’d had to take a message to you to meet Colonel Hartley in the Tapestry Room. I asked her who told her to take the message but she wouldn’t say.’

‘Oh, I know who was responsible – Frank Lawrence. I suppose we still need to call him by that name until his real identity is known to everyone.’

‘But he’s in London!’

‘No, he isn’t – he’s here and that accounts for the state I’m in. I’ll tell you all about it when I have time but we must find Frank Lawrence – he tried to kill us.’

‘Us?’

‘Colonel Hartley and me.’

At that moment the Colonel entered with Sam Bates and Sophie gave a cry of horror.

‘You look as though you’ve been buried alive,’ she gasped.

‘We very nearly were.’

‘He looked worse after Waterloo,’ added Sam Bates with a grin.

‘I’ve been telling her about Frank Lawrence,’ I said. ‘The whole household must be warned.’

‘That’s what I’m about to do,’ declared Colonel Hartley. ‘He’s extremely dangerous and armed. He may have already made his escape but I think there are too many people about the park to risk getting away by daylight. The Lawrences haven’t seen anyone but that doesn’t mean much as there are plenty of trees to provide cover. However, I think he’s more likely to wait for darkness and then take a horse from the stable and ride off into the night.’

‘What shall we do?’ asked Sophie.

‘The ladies must lie low until the men have searched the premises. See what firearms are in the house, Sam, and see the menservants are armed. I’ve left instructions for the
gardeners
and stablehands to comb the grounds. We must make a start at once.’

‘I’ve brought one of our pistols, sir,’ said Bates, ‘ever since this trouble started.’

‘You’d better come up to your room and change,’ said Sophie. ‘I’ll send for Betsey and hot water.’

‘Before I do I want to see that silly little Susan Brown,’ I said. ‘Where is she?’

‘Still being bullied by Elinor, I suppose – she’s called up the housekeeper as reinforcement.’

I exchanged a glance with John Hartley – the warmest and most understanding of looks – before he was off with Sam Bates to recruit his little regiment and give it
instructions
. Sophie led me into the Great Hall, where Susan Brown sat on a chair, her flushed, tear-stained face the very image of woe. Elinor stood over her in a threatening manner and Mrs Prosser, the housekeeper, jangled her keys and looked disapproving.

‘There you are!’ I cried. ‘You silly girl – look at the state of me! Colonel Hartley and I were nearly killed as a result of your wicked deception.’

She at once burst into tears. More gently I asked her age but could not hear her mumbled reply.

‘She’s sixteen, Miss Tyler,’ said the housekeeper.

‘Only sixteen – and see what a mess you’ve got yourself into,’ I continued. ‘Your youth and ignorance excuse you to some extent, I suppose, but you need to know the truth. I know Frank Lawrence – and that’s
not
his real name – is handsome and clever and has told you all sorts of lies. I suppose he’s promised to take you with him?’

She nodded dumbly.

‘I shouldn’t count on it. I heard him say that if he
did
decide to take you he’d get rid of you later. I don’t suppose he intends to murder you, though he’s quite capable of that, but I imagine he’d simply abandon you in London or some other city where you’d be penniless and friendless. I’m sure even you know what happens to girls in such circumstances?’

The sobs grew louder until Elinor threatened to slap her again if she didn’t quieten down.

‘Where is he now – do you know?’

She shook her head. ‘I was to wait for him after dark by
the hermit’s cave.’

‘You’d probably have waited all night. He’s a bad man, Susan, and you must have nothing to do with him. He’s responsible for two deaths and it could have been two more.’

I turned to the housekeeper. ‘What will become of her?’

‘Dismissed without a reference. We can’t have a little cheat like that working here – and she’s the one who stole from the larder, presumably to feed that nasty Mr Lawrence. I don’t know his real name.’

‘It seems a little harsh. I don’t think she’s really bad, merely foolish and misguided. Has she a family?’

‘Her parents live in Creswood – that’s about three miles from here.’

‘Perhaps she could be paid a month’s wages and sent back to them, saying she was unsuitable for domestic service. She might do better as a dairymaid or something of that sort.’

‘I wish I’d never come here,’ muttered the unfortunate Susan.

‘So do we all!’ cried Elinor. ‘Really, Miss Tyler – what this wicked girl has made you suffer—’

‘That’s all over now. We must concentrate on finding Frank Lawrence. Did you know his real baptismal name was Fortescue?’

Elinor gave a hoot of laughter. ‘Really? No wonder he changed it!’

The housekeeper marched Susan away to pack her few things and begin the dismal walk to her home village.

‘Betsey’s taken the hot water up for you,’ announced Sophie from the doorway.

‘Yes, I’ll be glad to get rid of these clothes and wash off the grime.’

‘Colonel Hartley doesn’t seem to be bothering.’

‘He’s too intent on finding Frank Lawrence before he can do any more damage,’ I said. ‘Besides, they can get very dirty on the battlefield – gunsmoke and mud or dust – so I suppose he’s used to it.’

I changed quickly when I got to my room and managed to wash off the worst of the filth though my hair was still in a sorry state.

‘Never mind, miss,’ said Betsey, helping me into clean clothes, ‘you really need to have a proper bath and wash your hair but it will have to wait. I was lucky to get any hot water at all. The whole house is topsy-turvy at the moment – everyone running about and no one’s where they’re supposed to be.’

When I went downstairs again not a soul was in sight. I could hear distant voices and banging doors but there was no indication of what was going on. Sophie had followed me down.

‘What shall we do? Perhaps you ought to rest,’ she said, eyeing me doubtfully.

‘Certainly not! I’m not an old woman, Sophie, and I could no more rest than I could fly in the air.’

‘Look!’ she cried. ‘There’s that telescope lying on the table – the one that Elinor used that first day when we went up on the roof. Why don’t we go up there again? It’s a shame to stay indoors but we can’t very well go for another walk. The housekeeper said a cold luncheon had been set out in the dining room so we could help ourselves. Suppose I collect something for us to eat and we’ll have a picnic on the roof away from everybody?’

‘That sounds like a pleasant idea,’ I said.

‘And you can tell me every detail of your adventure,’ she added. ‘I’m longing to hear it all. I hope it’s full of dungeons and secret passages and skeletons.’

‘Not quite but near enough.’

‘And romantic encounters?’

‘Don’t be silly!’ I said, but warmed at the thought.

Sophie acquired a small basket from the kitchen and, finding that food had already been set out on the dining room, she went there for our picnic supplies. Meanwhile I had found a couple of cushions and a rug.

‘Lady Denby is fulminating all over the place,’ Sophie reported. ‘She’s complaining about Colonel Hartley giving everyone orders and taking over the house by organizing the search. Papa said if he didn’t do it no one else would unless Lady Denby fancied herself as Boadicea. She didn’t like that. Then she asked why
he
wasn’t helping and he said he would after he’d had something to eat.’

‘That is typical of your father, Sophie. I don’t think he’s lacking in courage or enterprise but the comforts of life come first.’

‘I said Colonel Hartley hadn’t eaten anything but Papa said he was used to it and probably didn’t notice.’

‘Who else was there?’

‘Sir Ralph’s had a tray taken to his room as he’s having a lie-down. Elinor’s in the dining room with Papa and Lady Denby. Rowland’s back and I think his mother wanted him to stay with her but he’s helping with the search, which is a point in his favour. The Lawrences are there but don’t seem very happy. They must be wondering what sort of madhouse this is.’

‘I think the Colonel would have preferred us to stay with the others.’

‘Well, I couldn’t stand any more of her ladyship at present. She really is unbearable at times.’

‘Elinor and young Frederick Lawrence seem to have taken to each other.’

‘Oh yes, they’re sitting side by side, deep in conversation. He’s decidedly plain but then, so is she. I’m hoping I can persuade her to do something with her hair and wear more attractive clothes.’

‘He isn’t so
very
plain. He has nice thick dark hair and a decent figure.’

‘I’m sure he’s pleasant enough but he seems rather dull. Elinor doesn’t seem to mind but then, they share an interest in music….’

We chatted on lightly until we came upon Sam Bates on the top landing.

‘Where are you two ladies off to, if I may be so bold as to ask?’ he enquired.

‘We’re going to have a picnic on the roof, away from
everybody
,’ Sophie told him.

He looked doubtful. ‘I suppose that’s all right. I think Colonel Hartley would rather you didn’t venture anywhere on your own, but we’ve already been up there. Not a sign of him.’

We went on our way and came to the little twisting stair that led to the door onto the roof. I led the way, Sophie close behind, and I shifted the cushions under my left arm whilst I opened the door. Even as I stepped across the threshold I knew something was wrong and I froze. I could see the toe of a glossy Hessian boot protruding at the base of one the
chimneys.

‘Go back, Sophie!’ I hissed. ‘He’s here, go back!’

I heard her moving away behind me and I hoped to follow her but it was too late. Frank Lawrence stepped out into full view, a pistol in his hand.

He looked startled to see me but soon recovered his
composure
.

‘So you got out? I knew someone had raised the hue and cry but I didn’t think it could be you. Don’t attempt to retreat or I’ll be compelled to shoot you. Move away from the door.’

I did as he said, still foolishly hugging the cushions and rug. If only I could keep him talking until help arrived! I had only to wait for Sophie to report what had happened – but the time that might take was incalculable with people scattered all over the house.

‘You really are the most tiresome woman!’ he declared. ‘I think I may have to shoot you after all to secure your silence but there’s the problem of your disposal.’

‘Won’t shooting me make a lot of noise and bring people running?’

‘It would take them a few minutes to get up here and by then I’d have got away.’

‘Sam Bates said they’d already searched the roof.’

‘Bates? Oh, that devoted slave of ’Armless ’Artley. Used to be a sergeant or something, I believe, when they were playing
at soldiers. No, I hid in one of the attics and managed to slip up here after the search was made.’

‘Very clever of you!’

‘Pity I didn’t escape earlier but there were too many people about.’

‘But you can’t possibly get away with yet another crime – there’s too much evidence against you.’

‘Well, it’s certainly not turned out as I planned, but if I can get down to Devonshire fast I may well be able to seize at least some of the fortune due to me and cross over to France, change my name again, and lose myself – a rich Englishman touring the Continent. Not the life I’d intended to lead but a good second-best.’

‘But how did you persuade Louisa Thorpe to bring you here? How did you meet her?’

‘By accident at first. I was tracking down James Rushworth. I found he’d been working as a clerk in the City. Then he answered an advertisement for a tutor from a factory owner in Manchester. He travelled up there on the stage and had the bulk of his luggage sent on later by his landlady. She knew his address.

‘When I got to Manchester I entered into the social life of the town – concerts, assemblies, plays and the like. Mrs Thorpe was quite an ornament to society in those parts. She made a dead set at me and I must say at that point I found her decidedly attractive, especially when she told me she had a dear friend who had moved into Lovegrove Priory.

‘Now, Rushworth had left his tutor’s job a year before but they knew where he’d gone. The first part of the problem was solved – I knew where Rushworth was living and if I played my cards right I’d have the means of getting myself invited
here. We’d never met so there was no possibility of his
recognizing
me.

‘It took a little time, of course, but that was no problem; I had to wait until Louisa was invited to Lovegrove but by that time she couldn’t do without me so I came along in the guise of her nephew.’

‘Who is at present eating cold chicken downstairs.’

He obviously had no idea that Sophie had come up with me and for that I was profoundly thankful.

‘Now you can answer some questions for me. How did you enjoy your sojourn in the dark with the mutilated Colonel? I trust he was a perfect gentleman?’

‘He could scarcely be anything else as he
is
one. Anyway, we weren’t in the dark – we’d got your tinderbox and a candle.’

‘The devil you had!’

‘And we found the hidden door and got down into the tunnel and then up into the priory ruins.’

‘Bravo! – or should it be “bravi” as there are two of you? That makes me think I might go to Italy – plenty of sun and wine and beautiful women. Now I really think we have talked enough and the time has come to say good-bye …’

At that moment a shot rang out from the doorway,
followed
by the acrid smell of gunsmoke. Frank staggered against a chimney and dropped his pistol.

‘You should have let me shoot him, sir, I’m a better shot than you,’ I heard Sam Bates’s voice.

‘I only wanted to wing him – grab hold of him and I’ll get his pistol.’

Bates ran forward and seized Frank by both arms,
twisting
them behind him. This obviously caused considerable
pain, as he could not restrain a yelp, but Bates seemed to be enjoying himself.

‘This is nothing compared to what Colonel Hartley has been through. I’d like to see your arm smashed to a bloody pulp and the surgeon take nearly twenty minutes to cut it off and he not uttering so much as a groan. What you’ve got is a scratch.’

‘Is this really necessary?’

Bates ignored him. ‘I need something to tie his hands, sir.’

The Colonel started to loosen his neckcloth but I pulled off my sash and ran over to Bates. What happened next was so quick and unexpected that even when I tried to recall it afterward I could scarcely decide exactly what had happened.

I do know that Frank Lawrence kicked me violently on the shin so that I was nearly thrown off my feet. Bates flung out an arm to steady me and Frank, free from his grip, pulled out a pocket pistol and aimed it at me.

‘Now stand back or I’ll shoot Miss Tyler. Stand over there,’ he ordered and jerked his head towards a place near the door. A pocket pistol is not particularly accurate at a
distance
so I suppose that is why he wanted to keep me near.

I found myself standing close to where I had dropped the cushions. He backed towards the door and felt with his foot for the step. I ducked quickly and threw one of the cushions at his raised foot. He slipped, the pistol went off harmlessly and he fell backwards down the stairs. Bates soon leapt on him and hauled him up again. Now I could see that there was blood pouring down Frank’s hand from the wound on his right shoulder. He cast a despairing look at me, kicked
wildly out at Bates, ran headlong for the parapet and leapt over.

We all ran to the battlemented wall and looked down. Frank’s twisted body lay on the stone-flagged terrace below.

‘I hoped he’d hang,’ muttered Bates.

‘Yes,’ said the Colonel, ‘but this will save everyone a great deal of trouble.’

I stared at that crumpled body; it looked so small and unreal. One so full of life, however evil, ought not to end his days like that, though I suppose it was better than the fate envisaged by Sam Bates. I turned away, suddenly weak and trembling. The two men viewed the remains in a calm and curiously detached way. It’s their profession, I thought.

‘Charlotte!’ I heard the Colonel’s voice. ‘He kicked you – are you much hurt? Let me see – oh, forget modesty – it may need attention. I’ve seen your legs before, don’t forget.’

I thought Sam Bates looked rather surprised. Then I raised my skirt and revealed my torn stocking and a nasty bleeding contusion underneath.

‘He’s put his mark on both of us,’ he said. ‘You’d better get this washed and bandaged. Thank God you’re safe. That was a very foolish thing to do – he could have shot you.’

‘But brave and quick-thinking, sir.’ Bates interposed. ‘We could have done with this young lady in the regiment.’

‘Did it really take twenty minutes to amputate your arm?’

‘Oh, that – I had the misfortune to be wounded at the end of the battle rather than the beginning so the instruments were blunt. I must admit I wasn’t quite as heroic as Bates claimed. Towards the end I swore at the surgeon, but he didn’t seem to mind.’

At that moment we heard voices behind us and George
appeared with two of the menservants and Sophie close behind. She ran to me and hugged me in a tearful embrace.

‘Oh – what have you been doing?’ she cried. ‘What a dreadful day! I think you’ve been trying to get yourself killed. I was sure he was going to shoot you. I ran down and found Colonel Hartley and he told me to go to Papa. I was so worried!’

George embraced me affectionately. ‘Really, Char, I don’t know what we’re going to do with you. I always thought Sophie would be the one to get into mischief.’

Sophie attempted to look over the parapet but was
prevented
from doing so by Colonel Hartley.

‘What are you going to do with him – put him in the laundry?’ she enquired.

‘I expect so but I don’t see any reason for you to be involved. I understand you planned to go home tomorrow?’

‘We hoped so,’ said George ruefully, ‘but I suppose we’ll have to postpone our departure yet again.’

‘It’s not strictly necessary. There are two perfectly
adequate
witnesses in Bates and me and I’m sure that now the murderer is dead, the coroner will be quite content to keep the proceedings quiet in order to spare the Denby family further trouble. If you make a written statement I’m sure that will suffice,’ he told me.

George looked relieved. ‘We’ll all be glad to get away,’ he said.

‘I’m sure you will.’ Colonel Hartley gave me a
despondent
look and I was not quite sure what to make of it; regret perhaps, even yearning. His face still bore the grime of the morning’s adventure and his scarred and swollen cheek
distorted
his expression.

We left the next morning at the same time as the Lawrences. Lady Denby and Sir Ralph saw us off with many regretful farewells. The former declared she was not at all sure she could go on living at Lovegrove after the succession of tragedies that had befallen the house.

‘So if you come to stay with us again it may well be in another place. But we must keep in touch. I will let you know what transpires.’

When we were under way, Sophie said, anxiously, ‘Do we have to invite them to stay with us in return? Sir Ralph would be an agreeable guest but—’

‘Her ladyship is insufferable,’ Elinor completed the
sentence
for her.

‘Well, there’s no need to think about it yet,’ said George comfortably, glad to be returning to the peace and ease of Fairfield.

We passed the gates of the Hartleys’ park a little while after leaving Lovegrove. I thought somehow he would be waiting there to say goodbye, but there was no one. I could have echoed Amelia Denby’s cry the night Louisa Thorpe died: ‘I feel so desolate!’