Victoria Holt (24 page)

A few days later Miss Hetherington sent for me.

“Here is a note from Sir Jason,” she said. “He said he wants you to go to the Hall to discuss the progress of Fiona and Eugenie.”

“Go to the Hall…me! Surely he would want to speak to you about that.”

“So I thought, but he goes on to say that he is concerned about Fiona’s being launched into society, which will be next year when she is due to leave us, and he thinks that with your Schaffenbrucken training he can talk to you about these matters and the special coaching she needs.”

“But I know nothing of the launching of girls into English society.”

“He was defeated over the monks’ costumes, but he never gives up. I am wondering what to tell him.”

“I suppose I could go to the Hall.”

“My dear Cordelia, I do wonder if it would be wise.”

“I think it will be all right. I gather that his wedding is imminent.”

“Is it?”

“According to Mrs. Baddicombe.”

“She is an excellent news agency,” said Daisy, “but I believe she does not always send out true messages.”

“According to her Mrs. Gittings has departed with the child, who might prove an embarrassment in the circumstances.”

Daisy shrugged her shoulders. “I do wish he would behave more reputably. But as long as it has no adverse effect on the school I suppose it is no concern of ours.”

“I can’t see how the school can be affected by his conduct. Suppose I went and took the girls with me. They would be there as chaperones.”

“H’m,” snorted Daisy. “Really this is ridiculous. The annoying part about it is that he knows it and I believe he is laughing at us.”

“He is teasing us, I think,” I said. “After all, I suppose he will soon be married and perhaps he will change then.”

“That is a statement I would challenge very strongly. They say leopards never change their spots.”

“They say also that reformed rakes make the best husbands.”

“Oh dear, it really is absurd. Do you think you can handle it, Cordelia?”

“Yes, I do. I’ll take the girls with me and insist on their being present.”

“I am sure he will try to outwit you in some way.”

“He has done that on one or two occasions, but I think he will get tired of it when I show him clearly that I do not want his company.”

She looked at me very steadily. “You do show him that, Cordelia?”

“But of course.”

“They say he is a very attractive man. I don’t know much about these things myself, but I do know that in some quarters rakes are said to be attractive.”

“That’s a romantic fiction, Miss Hetherington. It doesn’t apply to real life.”

“You seem very certain.”

“I am about him.”

“Well, then go with the girls and see what comes of it. I can’t see why he can’t discuss their future with me.”

That was how I came to be at the Hall on that afternoon in May which was to prove so important in the future.

I set out with Fiona and Eugenie in the early afternoon and we soon covered the few miles between the school and the Hall.

Fiona was reserved but charming; Eugenie was her usual brash self—a little peevish because she was missing the afternoon ride when she would have gone off with the party of girls among which would be Charlotte Mackay.

When we reached the Hall we went straight to the stables. Jason Verringer was there as though impatiently awaiting us.

He helped me to dismount. “Just on time,” he said. “I do like punctuality and I guess Miss Grant is the same.”

One of the grooms had come forward to take the horses. Eugenie patted hers and told the groom what she wanted him to do.

“I have two new horses,” said Jason to Eugenie. “I’m rather proud of them. I’ll show you, Eugenie, before you go.”

“I’d love to see them,” cried Eugenie, looking animated and pretty suddenly.

“You shall.”

As I turned I saw something lying on the cobbles and stopped to pick it up. It was an earring—very large, rather bizarre, with what might have been a ruby the size of a pea surrounded by diamonds.

“Look at this!” I cried.

I held it out in the palm of my hand and the girls came to peer at it.

“I know whose it is,” said Eugenie. “I’ve seen her wearing them. It’s Mrs. Martindale’s.” There was something malicious in her eyes which ill became one so young. “It is hers, isn’t it, Uncle Jason?”

“I suppose it could be,” he said.

“She wouldn’t like to lose it,” said Fiona. “What use is one without the other?”

“Shall I give it to you to give to her, Uncle Jason?” said Eugenie with a smirk. “Or I could take it to her. I could easily drop it in when I ride by tomorrow.”

“Do that,” said Jason Verringer. “If it is really hers she’ll be glad to have it.”

“I don’t see who else it could belong to,” said Eugenie. “Do you, Miss Grant?”

“I’m sure I don’t know,” I said. “I certainly have never seen it before.”

Eugenie put it into her pocket. “Show us the horses, Uncle Jason,” she said.

He looked at me and lifted his shoulders.

“Oh, here’s Mrs. Keel. Mrs. Keel, do take Miss Grant to the sitting room. Are those books from the library there?”

“Yes, Sir Jason.”

“Good. We’ll be there in a minute. The girls are impatient for a glimpse of the new grays.”

He started to run across the yard with the two girls at his heels. I wanted to go after them but Mrs. Keel was talking to me.

“Miss Eugenie is crazy about horses. She always was. Would you come with me, Miss Grant.”

I felt foolish. I guessed that he had planned just this. However, the girls had only gone to look at the horses and there was only one thing I could do and that was follow Mrs. Keel into the house.

We went into the great hall through which I had passed on that memorable occasion when I had dined with him and sat afterwards in the twilit courtyard.

We went up the great staircase with its beautifully carved newel posts displaying prominently the Tudor roses and slightly less so the fleurs-de-lis, and I was shown into a paneled room with rich red carpets and heavy red velvet curtains. There was a big carved table under a latticed window and on this had been piled several volumes. On a smaller table was a silver tea tray on which were cups and saucers.

“If you’ll take a seat, Miss Grant. They won’t be long and I’ll bring the tea when it is rung for.”

“Thank you,” I said, and she went out and left me. I felt uneasy. Here was I, alone in this house and only just arrived.

I looked round the room. This was his special sanctum. There were two beautiful paintings on the walls. One of a woman—a Verringer obviously. It looked like a Gainsborough. There was a certain unmistakable look about it. The other was a landscape. There was a bookcase with glass doors; I looked at the books. Some poetry. How extraordinary! I could not imagine his reading poetry. The others were mainly history.

“Assessing my reading habits?”

I had not heard him come into the room. I swung round and saw to my dismay that he was alone.

“Where are the girls?” I demanded.

“You’re going to be a little bit put out, I believe. Don’t blame them. You know how girls are about horses.”

“I thought they were coming here to discuss—”

“It is you who are going to do that. I didn’t suggest they come in the first place. In fact I think it is better that they are not here. We can talk more frankly about them. Eugenie was mad to try out the horses and she carried Fiona along with her, so I said they might take them out and ride them in the paddock for half an hour. They’ll come in for tea.”

He was smiling at me with just a hint of mischievous triumph in his eyes.

So he had won again.

I was determined not to show my displeasure. In fact, if I were honest I would admit that I was glad to be rid of the girls. Eugenie could be really unpleasant and Fiona was inclined to behave as those with her, and although she was quite a docile girl when she was alone, she was slightly less so in the company of Eugenie and Charlotte Mackay.

“What is it you wish to discuss?”

“Sit down. Would you like to look at my books? I have something interesting to show you. I had them brought up from the library. I thought it would be more comfortable up here, but there are others in the collection and as you are so interested in the Abbey, I thought I’d have them brought up to show you.”

“I should like to see them of course, but first shouldn’t we get on with the reason for my coming? What are you worried about concerning Fiona?”

“Worried? Certainly not worried. Just asking for help, that’s all.”

“But you have something in mind?”

He looked at me intently. “My mind teems with possibilities.”

“Then please let me hear them and I will see if there is anything we can do at the school to help.”

“It is a problem for me, having the care of two girls. Particularly now they are coming of age.”

“I can understand that.”

“A man…on his own…it is not easy.”

“I can see it would have been less difficult if your wife had lived.”

“There wasn’t much she could do. She was an invalid for years, you know.”

“Yes, I did know.”

“I’ve no doubt you have had my complete dossier presented to you…from that wicked old postmistress. I wonder I keep her there.”

I was rather shocked to think that Mrs. Baddicombe should be so malicious about him, when she owed her livelihood to him, as I supposed most people in the area did.

“Wouldn’t it be possible for you to…” I began.

“Appoint a new postmistress. Certainly. This is like a little kingdom here, Cordelia. It is almost as feudal as it was in the days when my ancestors bought the Abbey lands. The lands extend to the town which has only sprung into existence during the last hundred years or so. My great grandfather was deeply concerned with building projects. He rented them and increased his properties. I know that wicked old woman serves out gossip with her stamps.”

“You know this and you allow it?”

He laughed. “Let her enjoy her life, poor old lady. The Verringers provide the spice in her dull diet. Mind you she has a certain amount to call on and for the rest…a fertile imagination.”

“How do you know about all this gossip?”

“You think that I am a careless good-for-nothing concerned only with pleasure, which you imagine as attending balls, gambling clubs and indulging in the company of obliging ladies. There are all sorts of pleasures, Cordelia. Running an estate is one of them, delving into the past another. You see, my character has many facets. I can change it in a flash. There is quite a lot to know about me, I assure you.”

“I never doubted that. Shall we get down to the business for which I came? Tell me what extra tuition you would like for Fiona?”

“I want her to leave the Academy as a young lady ready for society.”

“Do you think we can make her so?”

“I think you can.”

“How?”

“I should like her to emerge…exactly like you.”

I felt myself flushing. “Really, I don’t understand…”

“Poised, articulate, cool, inviting interest. Humorous…in fact devastatingly attractive.”

I began to laugh but I knew my eyes were shining. I had said that I liked flattery and it was certainly true.

“Why do you laugh?”

“Because
you
are laughing at me.”

“I am deadly serious. If I had to launch you into society I would know that I had an easy task.”

“I disagree. A penniless schoolmistress would not get very far in your sort of society.”

He had come to my side. He took my hand and kissed it.

I said: “This is absurd. If you behave like this I must leave at once.”

He looked at me slyly. “You will have to wait for the girls.”

I put my hands behind my back for they were shaking a little.

“I thought you asked me here for a serious purpose.”

“I am very serious.”

“Then your behavior is very extraordinary.”

“I thought it was very restrained.”

“I mean your absurd compliments and insinuations. Please, no more of them; I find them offensive.”

“I was only speaking the truth. Isn’t that what you teach your pupils to do?”

I sat down with a show of dignity.

“I suspect that this talk about guiding Fiona’s future is nonsense.”

“I’ll confess I don’t find it a very interesting subject.”

“Then why did you ask me to come here?”

“Because I wanted to talk to you.”

“Then why didn’t you state your real purpose?”

“If I had, my wish would not have been granted.”

“So you lied.”

“Only white lies, really. Who in a lifetime has not had to resort to those at some time? Even you perhaps.”

“Tell me what your purpose is?”

“To be with you.”

“But why?”

“You must know that I find you irresistibly attractive.”

“Is that the way a prospective bridegroom should talk to another woman? I feel sorry for Mrs. Martindale.”

“You need not. There is a woman who is infinitely capable of taking care of herself. You are thinking that she and I are going to marry. Is that it? The hot news from the indefatigable Mrs. B. of the post office. Cordelia, I am not, and never was, going to marry Mrs. Martindale…”

“But what of the child…”

“You mean her daughter. Oh, is that child said to be mine? Mrs. B. again. She should be writing fiction.”

“So…Well, it is no concern of mine. In fact, you must think me rather impertinent to talk as I have. Please forgive me.”

“Most willingly.”

“Do you have nothing to say about Fiona, and are you satisfied with the tuition she is receiving at this moment?”

“She does seem a little colorless, but that is not the fault of the school. She is naturally so. And Eugenie is inclined to be aggressive. There is a lack of charm in both of them—but perhaps I am comparing them with…others. I really wanted to talk about the Abbey and the coming celebrations. It is not so much the costumes, but I thought you would be interested in some old accounts of the Abbey and that you might care to teach the girls something about it. I was appalled by the ignorance of both Fiona and Eugenie on the subject. And there is to be this pageant. I have delved into the archives and found these. We have many accounts of the early days here and apparently when my ancestors acquired it there was much of it intact, including lots of records which were not destroyed, and they were placed in our library. I thought you might be interested to see them.”