The Velvet Glove (15 page)

At the beginning of the official proceed
ings the gypsies had been interviewed concerning their knowledge of the habits of the tragic young wife, including questions concerning the non-poisonous but insidious herbal wines in her possession. Had she brewed them herself? Or possibly obtained them from the travellers?

All had denied any such connection. They were Romanies. They kept to themselves. They would have no such dealings with Gorgio fine la
dies from big houses. Only one – an ancient crone, Sarah Boswell, let out that the poor young
rawni
had met her one day by chance when she was out mushrooming, and had tried to get a cure from her; she thought she was with
chavi
, and didn’t want the baby. But she’d refused. They were a law-abiding tribe – the Boswells, and didn’t want the
gavvers
on their track. To act in such a way would be
mochardi
– unclean and against the law of O Del.

There was no sign medically that Cassandra was pregnant or ever had been, and the police had let the matter rest there, leaving the old woman muttering to herself.

Cassandra’s funeral was held shortly following Rick’s return from the States. It was a sad quiet occasion, with only the Barringtons, Wentworths, Ferrises and Ellen Blacksley present. Jon’s and Kate’s eyes met once before she was laid to rest in the family vault at Charnbrook. The glance from Jon was direct, cold, yet enigmatic. What he was trying to convey Kate did not know. But a shiver momentarily stiffened her spine, and she wanted only one thing – for the morbid occasion to be over and herself back at Woodgate with Rick’s arms comfortingly round her.

6

Cassandra’s tragic end and the events immediately following, had a subtle but sobering effect on what should have been a joyful period for Kate and Rick after his sojourn in America. Their lovemaking was as intense as ever; whenever he appeared in a doorway, passed on the stairs, or was in any close proximity, her whole being became momentarily electrified. His touch set her body and nerves on fire. She hadn’t realized completely before how vital and necessary his presence had become in her life. And yet, a faint shadow was apt to cloud her spirits in periods when she was on her own – the memory of Jon’s gaze at the funeral – something hard and unforgiving – of what, she didn’t know – a condemnation that was like a mental sword thrust, blaming her.

For what?

And why?

She began to sleep badly, and one morning early, when Rick had departed for his offices in Lynchester, she called to see the local doctor in Woodgate who, making an examination, after taking details of her vague aches and pains and slight nausea, told her with a smile that in his opinion, although at an early stage, he was as certain as he could be that she was once more pregnant.

Kate left the surgery in a daze. Such a possibility had simply not occurred to her, overshadowed as the past two months had been by Rick’s departure, and all the other problems concerning Jon and Cassandra. But when she counted up the weeks combined with certain physical signs that hadn’t seemed important at the time she recognized that the doctor’s diagnosis was not only possible but probably quite right.

The night before Rick left, had been one of intensified passion between them.

But – another baby! So near the twins.

Three children in two years!

The idea made her mind boggle.

Still, she told herself optimistically, Rick would probably be pleased. She
’d always felt that however much he loved Marged and Felicity, he’d secretly hoped for a son. So perhaps this time his wish would be granted.

As she
’d anticipated, her husband was elated when she told him that evening as she sat brushing her hair at the dressing-table. She was wearing a lacy wrap over a chiffon embroidered nightdress that had flowing bell-shaped sleeves and a flimsy collar tied at the neck with a bow.

He came through from the dressing-room in his wrap over a long nightshirt, went to the back of her chair, stooped, put a hand round each breast and planted a kiss on her neck.

‘You look so beautiful,’ he said softly. ‘My lovely wife.’

‘
And “a fine figure of a woman”,’ she remarked teasingly. ‘That’s what you said before.’

‘
I should have been shot for being so unchivalrous.’

She stared up at him, smiling.
‘But it’s true – or
will
be presently—’ She broke off.

He knitted his eyes together.
‘
Presently
? What does that mean?’

‘
I saw the doctor today, and I’m having another baby, Rick, in about six – or seven months. I’m not
quite
sure of the date, but it must have happened that night before you went away to America. Remember?’

He stared at her and smiled with a look almost of wonder on his face she
’d never seen before, and before she quite knew what was happening, he’d lifted her up and was holding her close, with his lips on hers. She smelt sweet and rich, he thought, like a rose from the garden, and her luxurious russet hair rippled over his left arm like a silken cloak.

‘
Oh, Kate,’ he murmured, ‘how lucky we are. This news is a hundred times more precious than all the deals I’ve made in America.’

‘
I should just think so, and don’t you dare compare me with any commercial deal,’ she cried. ‘Having a baby’s no fun, you know.’

‘
I
don’t
know, but I’ll take your word for it.’

She sighed happily.
‘I hope it’s a boy.’

‘
It would be rather gratifying, but if it’s not – there’s still plenty of time.’

‘
You’re insatiable.’

‘
Yes – where you’re concerned.’

And so the evening passed, filled with endearments and plans and promises without either of them contemplating that fate might hold a hidden card of its own to play in their destiny.

For the present Rick and Kate decided to keep their news of Kate’s condition to themselves, feeling that on top of Cassandra’s death any show of celebration might appear hurtful and out of taste to Ellen Blacksley who stayed on at Beechlands for a short time following the funeral.

She was a practical, stolid type of woman with, nevertheless, a certain sensitivity that she
’d struggled successfully, so far, to hide under a brave veneer of common-sense. And she had been genuinely fond of her adopted daughter.

Emily recognized, without bringing the hurtful topic up that she had something to discuss or impart about Cassandra, and on
the evening of her departure for the North the next day, it came out.

The three of them, Ellen, Emily and Walter, were seated in the large lounge after dinner with the fading early summer light slanting through the french windows across the tasteful, rather old-fashioned but luxurious, interior. Walter was about to retire to the billiard-room for a smoke, then take an evening stroll out with his dogs, Sam, an Irish terrier, and Joe, the bulldog.

‘No, don’t go, Walter,’ Ellen said, as he got up from his chair. ‘Not yet for a bit. I’ve something to say to you about Cassandra.’

‘
Oh?’ Walter returned to his chair. ‘That’s all right then. What is it? Emily and I will be grateful to hear anything you’ve got on your mind. It’s been a tragic time for you, especially after all you’ve done for the girl – you and Wilf. It was through Wilf that you first got to hear of her, of course, or should I say his work as a man of God?’ He cleared his throat. ‘No matter. Speak, love. We’ve often wondered about her.’

Ellen was quiet for a moment, then she said,
‘Yes, you must have. In the ordinary way, when a young child’s adopted, not much is said of its background to the new parents. But with Cassie it was different. If it hadn’t been for Wilf being a minister nothing to this day might’ve come out and Wilf and I wouldn’t have heard of her. But the poor little thing.’ There was a pause before she continued. ‘She was only four, you know, when my husband came upon her in that orphanage place. She was sick at that time – not physically, or exactly deranged, but in a kind of shock. She hadn’t spoken or communicated in any proper way for months since it – it happened.’

In the short silence that followed only the buzzing of a bee could be heard as it flew through the half-open window and out again. Then Emily said gently,
‘Go on, dear. Tell us. After what?’

‘
The murder,’ Ellen said bluntly. ‘Cassie’s mother was murdered by her second husband, Cassie’s stepfather, and the child witnessed it all. She was
there
.’

‘
Oh,’ Emily gave a little gasp. ‘How dreadful.’

‘
Yes. When they broke in – neighbours had heard screams and got the police – the child, little more than a baby – was just standing staring at her mother lying in a pool of blood. The husband, a large brute of a man, had come home drunk that night and there’d been a row of some sort. He’d violated his wife first then stabbed her with a kitchen knife. He was lolling half senseless in a chair, quite naked. Oh, it was in all the papers at the time. He was tried later, and sentenced to death, of course, but died of a stroke before the sentence was carried out. To the public the story ended there. The little girl was taken to hospital first, then after a time to the home where Wilf visited. That’s how we came by her. Her true name and identity had been kept secret from everyone but the doctors and one or two officials and, of course, Wilf, being a trusted and devout Christian.’ Ellen hesitated, then continued, ‘That’s the way it was.
You
know, Walter, how Wilf and I’d wanted a child, and how, somehow, it hadn’t come about – well, when this awful thing happened Wilf saw the hand of God pointing our way, and we adopted her as ours, signed everything all legally, and moved to another town to give all three of us a new beginning away from gossiping tongues and any chance word that might leak out. After all, you can never tell when a peeping Tom might be listening at a keyhole. It wasn’t easy, mind you. For a year, though she could speak, it was as though she was mute. That’s why we didn’t bring her to see you when you invited us. But by degrees we won her confidence, and she grew to be a docile, gentle and apparently normal child. Events before her real mother’s death were never discussed. If she remembered anything she never said. But we rather imagined – Wilf and I – that the shock and maybe God’s will, had sealed the horror off from her mind. Though sometimes I wondered—’ Ellen’s voice faltered vaguely.

‘
Yes?’ Walter asked quietly. ‘You wondered what, Ellen?’

‘
Well, she did have times when she wanted to be alone sometimes as I said. And she never seemed to laugh or want to have fun like other children. A vivid imagination, Wilf said it was, p’raps he was right. Anyway, when Wilf died I’d too much on my hands making a living for the two of us to brood on what Cassandra might be thinking about or fretting over in her ‘alone’ periods – that’s what she called her solitary fits. It was always a relief to me when she came to you for holidays, because I knew Kate was a lively girl, and that she’d be well looked after, with a few of the comforts I couldn’t give. Not that she wasn’t fond of me, bless her, she was. But—’ Ellen’s voice suddenly grew tired, holding a hint of tears.

Emily got up and patted her shoulder.
‘You just rest now, Ellen,’ she said, ‘try and relax. It’s a sad story, and we both admire the way you carried on, and cared for that poor waif. Now we know everything it’s easy for us to understand certain little slynesses in Cassie’s nature. I blame myself for not having watched her more closely on that last day, but on the other hand you’ve said yourself she had “alone” times, and she seemed all right when she set off that day. I don’t believe for a moment her death was anything but what the inquest said – accidental. It could just as well have happened in a town, that’s what I tell myself when I think about it, she could’ve run under a bus, or been knocked down by a car. So we must try and cheer up and think about other things. I’ll ring for a cup of tea now, for all three of us. Yes, Walter, you for once will have tea with us instead of your usual whisky.’

Walter grunted, had one look at his wife
’s face and did as he was told. Generally he held the reins, but when Emily grabbed them occasionally there was something forthright and determined about her that made others sit up and take notice.

7

When Rick suggested that Kate should accompany him to the Larchborough Annual Flower Show she was reluctant to go.

‘
The weather’s so stuffy,’ she said, ‘and there’d be so much hanging about. And the petrol fumes upset me – as I am—’ She gave an expressive little sigh. ‘Please, Rick – you’ll feel more free on your own.’

‘
For what?’

‘
Well, talking to people. Men friends.’

He gave a short laugh.
‘You are funny, Kate. I can see my male friends when I like at any time. Another thing – Sir William, as chairman will expect us both, and I happen to be on the committee with a lovely wife to show off. As for petrol fumes, there won’t be any. We’ll have the carriage. Now don’t argue, love, and don’t pretend you’re in such a delicate state you can’t stand a few hours in the open air.’ There was a pause and when she said nothing, he added, ‘Can it be that you’re a little shy of the Hon. Jon’s discerning gaze upon you? If so, don’t worry. You needn’t be. Believe me, in that new frilly dress you’ve stung me for, no one will have the slightest suspicion of your budding condition.’

‘
Oh, don’t be silly,’ Kate snapped. ‘What Jon thinks or doesn’t think has nothing to do with it. He may not be there anyway.’

‘
He’s sure to be,’ Rick said. ‘The whole family are determined to carry on with any official duties as normally as possible. Jon’s taking a definite interest in his father’s affairs since the tragedy; and the sooner the situation’s accepted without embarrassment by his friends and relations the better for everyone concerned. Now don’t sulk, darling. Determine to enjoy yourself, and you will. I want you with me.’

‘
And what
you
want you get; it’s always the same,’ she sighed.

‘
Not always, sweetheart. There’ve been countless occasions when you’ve cunningly contrived to get your own way without me having a clue at the time. So drop this senseless argument for Pete’s sake. Come on now; smile.’

She didn
’t smile, but her face and body relaxed as he drew her to him and planted a gentle kiss on her cheek.

*

The weather remained fine for the flower show, and at eleven o’clock in the morning the field on the Wentworth estate, put aside annually as the site, was a blaze of colour with blooms of every variety and the summer dresses of feminine visitors.

Kate discovered that after all Rick had been correct in his estimate of her reaction once she was there. It was pleasant to be admired and a focus of male attention. Under her small lace-edged sunshade her face becomingly shadowed to a soft light, beamed en
trancingly at Sir William’s compliments although his wife’s disapproval was obvious under the mask of a chill smile.

It was unfortunate that shortly before the time set for luncheon in the private tent reserved for VIPs that a rim of cloud emerged over the hills with the distant
rumble of thunder.

There was movement in the crowd, and Rick, who was standing at a corner by the entrance, took Kate
’s arm, saying, ‘May as well go in before the storm breaks.’

He pushed her ahead, and stopped short as a figure suddenly emerged from the opposite direction and only just avoided colliding with the Ferrises. Kate drew back sharply and gave a startled exclamation.

Jon.

Her heart quickened, not from pleasure, but from the impact of his exp
ression, the cold look of fury – almost hate – on the bleak well-modelled features. Rick was about to speak, when Jon’s voice cut through the air. ‘How very opportune we should meet here. Haven’t seen you for some time, Ferris. Or your wife.’ He took a hasty glance round before resuming, ‘And now, here we are, face to face, with no busybodies near to poke their noses into what should be quite a revealing little interview.’ His mouth twisted. ‘It will be short, I can assure you, and not very palatable – to you.’

Rick frowned and glanced at Kate: her face h
ad whitened under the gauzy sunshade.

‘
Well?’ he demanded shortly, turning to Jon again, with his colour rising. ‘Come on now, Wentworth. Out with it. If you’ve some little grudge about us better we should know and get the air cleared.’

‘
Exactly. Though I’d hardly call the matter of a human life “little”.’

‘
Human
life
? What are you talking about?’

‘
Ask her. Ask the seductive Kate.
She
knows. Look at her. Ask
her
to explain. Or maybe I’d do it better – short and sharp – a man’s way. Interested? Well, just picture the scene – you safely away in America, and Cass finding your devoted wife and myself making love in the Tree Studio. Oh, it had its charms in its own adulterous sexy way. But not to Cass. She’d been ill, remember? Nerves. And it killed her.
That’s
what sent her to her death in that blasted pool. Get that into your mind once and for all, Ferris. It was Kate’s spite and my own loneliness that killed the only woman I’ve ever wanted or truly loved—’ He broke off, glassy-eyed with condemnation, hard lips set bitterly.

Rick
’s fist rose but Jon, quick as lightning, smartly avoided the threatened blow and, in a brief second, had disappeared into the tent. Kate clutched her husband’s sleeve as he moved to follow. ‘No. Don’t – leave him,’ she said, shocked by Wentworth’s expression. ‘It isn’t true. He was lying – you
know
that, don’t you? Rick, Rick, you must
believe
me. You must, you
must
. Don’t you see? He’s gone mad, because of Cass. And because – because—’

‘
Because what?’

‘
Oh, I don’t know. I don’t know. Only that—’

‘
Keep your voice down,’ Rick interrupted. ‘Obviously there’s something I don’t know about which should be discussed in private. I’ll circulate the news you have a headache or the vapours, and regrettably have to return to Woodgate. So get out your smelling salts and put on a good show. Do you hear?’ His grip tightened on her arm for an instant before releasing her and going to see about the carriage.

A few spots of rain fell as the carriage
made its way through the maze of wet lanes towards Woodgate, then the sky unpredictably lifted and the sound of thunder retreated eastwards. Kate made one attempt to ease the atmosphere by referring to Jon’s ‘wild mood’, but Rick’s cold response chilled her to silence for the rest of the way.

‘
This is not the time or place for discussing such matters,’ he said, keeping his eyes firmly fixed on the back of Jed, their coachman’s, back in its mustard-coloured coat and shining stove hat. ‘Remember who you are.’

A furious retort was on Kate
’s lips, but she restrained any show of humiliation. In a way he was right, she thought, one shouldn’t argue or divulge family differences before servants. All the same, her blood boiled, and her heart pumped wildly, not merely from anger but distress because Rick was so obviously going to be difficult and unnecessary over her unexpected meeting with Jon at the Tree Studio on that far off day when she’d tried to comfort him.

And she
had
tried, she told herself through a wave of self-pity. Of course perhaps she’d been unwise, under the circumstances. But Rick surely had sufficient faith in her to accept she’d felt nothing more than pity and friendship – a compassionate almost motherly wish to give help to another human being.

Or had he? Was his jealousy of her so abnormal it could warp things out of all proportion?

Doubt suddenly rose in her. He’d never really liked Jon. From their first meeting she knew he’d been secretly suspicious of her former romantic feeling for the Wentworth heir. But since then so much had happened. Everything had changed. She hadn’t thought it possible that any shadow from the past could taint their own present passionate relationship.

It didn
’t occur to her to take the easiest and probably most successful course of denying there had been any meeting at all. There had been no interview. No one was aware of it but herself and Jon. If she stuck to that it would simply be her word against his, and Rick in the end would have to accept hers.

But Kate found it hard to lie. The truth to her was important especially in this case. Unless Rick accepted her explanation of the incident wiping out any doubts he had, their life together might never be the same again.

When at last they reached the house her whole body ached with tension. A housemaid entered the hall and Kate was about to offer an explanation when Rick, still wearing the set immobile expression, forestalled her. ‘Your mistress is not feeling well,’ he told the girl. ‘See we are not disturbed.’

‘
Yes, sir. Is there anything I can get her?’

‘
No thank you, Annie,’ Kate replied quickly, trying to conjure a smile to her dry lips. ‘I found the heat trying.’

Rick kept his eyes steadily ahead, but the girl was not deceived.

‘Something wrong between those two,’ she said when she got back to the kitchen. ‘The master and mistress. You should just have seen the look on his face! And she was all sort of trembling and hot and cold. My! I wouldn’t like to be in
her
place, not for all the tea in China I wouldn’t.’

At that same moment Kate was making a casual show of tidying her hair, and adjusting the frill of tulle at her neck. Rick had walked to the window overlooking the gardens and was standing with his hands behind his back, rigid except for an agitated movement of his fingers.

Suddenly he turned round and faced her. ‘Well?’ he said. ‘When you’ve finished your unnecessary titivating perhaps we could start.’

She gave an almost imperceptible nervous je
rk of her head. ‘What? Oh, yes – of course. Jon.’

‘
Not only Jon, is it, Kate? According to him you played quite a part in that intimate little woodland scene.’

‘
Oh, but – it wasn’t like he said,’ she cried impulsively, going towards him. ‘Really! Truly! There was nothing
between
us, Rick; he was in a dreadful state – about
Cass
. We hadn’t
arranged
to meet there – not Jon and me. I expected
her
, but it was him. I had to talk to him, to try—’

‘
But you didn’t only
talk
, did you?’ His voice had hardened. ‘
Did
you?’ Both hands enclosed on her forearms, his eyes held nothing but bitter condemnation.

She swallowed nervously.
‘I – what do you suppose? I did just what any woman would. I tried to make him calm down, and that’s the truth. Comfort him. He was hysterical, Rick—’

‘
And you consider it your destiny to go round comforting hysterical men while your husband was conveniently out of the way, or should I say just one man – your blond ex-lover?’

She flushed.
‘That’s a horrid thing to say, and very, very unfair.’

He let her go, took a deep breath and remarked,
‘I’m afraid I don’t believe you, and I’m a fool even to be discussing the matter with you. Jon had no reason to fabricate such an incident. And knowing what I know of you, my dear, the interlude wouldn’t end with a mere kiss.’ He paused, then continued, ‘I should like to appear the compliant understanding husband, but the fact is I understand too well. You’ve always lusted after Wentworth, and took the first chance when I was off the map of grabbing what you could of him.’ His temper was quickly rising. ‘I’ve never struck a woman in my life, but at this moment, if it wasn’t for your condition, I could gladly forget any shred of gentlemanly manners I possess and beat you – if it would help, but it wouldn’t. When we married I knew how you felt about Wentworth, it must have been obvious to anyone who was interested, but I believed I could wipe him out of your heart with perseverance and time. Obviously I was wrong. So this is it. I’ve no use for a faithless wife. It’s best we should both accept it with the minimum of fuss–’

‘
But Rick – Rick—’

He turned his back on her and went to the door.
‘I shall be back later. There need be no scandal. We’ll discuss plans when I can bear the sight of you again.’

The door closed.

He was gone.

The echo of his footsteps fading down the stairs was like a knell sounding in her head.

She flung herself on the bed face down and after a few moments the tears were wet on the pillow.

How could he be so mean and cruel? She wondered
desperately clutching her handkerchief into a tight damp ball against her cheek. Not even to have listened to her, just taken Jon’s accusation as the truth?

Jon had obviously been acting in revenge against he
r, to ease his own feelings concerning Cass.

Cassandra had
been mentally sick for months – all the family knew that, but even if she’d put the very worst construction on what she’d seen, that fateful afternoon, it wouldn’t have driven her to suicide – that’s what Jon’s wild outburst had implied.