Voices in a Haunted Room (19 page)

I mentioned it to my mother. She laughed and said: “Well, it wouldn’t surprise me. I think Dickon would be quite pleased. He’s very friendly with Lord Pettigrew. They have a great deal in common… in the City. Mind you, Lady Pettigrew is rather a forceful lady and I am not sure that Millicent doesn’t take after her. But I think Jonathan would be able to handle that. Is anything wrong?”

“No… What makes you think so?”

“I thought you looked a little depressed. Not tired are you?”

She was looking at me anxiously and the colour flooded my face. She thinks I might be pregnant! I told myself. Then suddenly the thought of what this could mean if I were swept over me.

“It’s all right,” I said firmly. “I’m perfectly normal.”

She patted my arm lightly. “Well, Christmas comes but once a year, and sometimes I’m heartily glad of that.”

Each day I was realizing more and more what a web I was being caught up in. My jealousy of Millicent, my sudden fear that I might have a child and should have to ask myself whose, brought home to me ever more strongly the seriousness of my predicament.

It must stop. I must never, never give way to my emotions again. I would get over this obsession. I would be a good wife to David and I would attempt to wipe this sordid incident right out of my mind.

The next day the Farringdons came. They were very charming people—Gwendoline, John and their son, Harry. Harry was in his mid-twenties, very good-looking. He helped his father run their estate, which I learned was the same size as Eversleigh.

In the early afternoon of Christmas Eve a party of the younger people went for a ride. There was David, Jonathan, Harry Farringdon, Millicent Pettigrew and myself. I rode between David and Harry while Jonathan with Millicent went ahead. I found myself watching them intently. You must stop this, I admonished myself. It only makes you wretched. You are risking everything that is worthwhile for the sake of a few sensational moments. I glanced at David. He looked contented and was talking of the estate with Harry—comparing Eversleigh with Farringdon.

We had the mist back again—it was damp and warm for the time of the year and clearly we should not have snow for Christmas. A wintry sun was trying to break through the clouds.

“‘If the sun shines through your apple trees on Christmas Day,’” quoted David. “‘When autumn comes they will a load of fruit display.’”

“Let’s hope it shines through the apple trees then,” I said.

“I like those old rhymes,” commented Harry. “And they are very often right.”

“They should be since they are culled from the wisdom of men who have watched weather for ages,” replied David.

“I suppose you had them in France,” Harry asked me.

“I suppose so, but I don’t remember hearing any.”

Jonathan had turned. “Why are you lagging behind?” he asked. His eyes met mine, dancing with mischief, and all my resolutions began to crumble away.

“We were talking about the weather and old rhymes,” I told him.

“‘If New Year’s night-wind blows south,’” said Harry, “‘It betokens warmth and growth.’”

“I can’t wait for New Year’s night,” said Jonathan.

“‘If west, much milk and fish in sea,’” went on Harry, unperturbed. “‘If north, cold and storms will be. If north-east, flee it, man and brute.’”

“Very pretty,” said Jonathan.

“And very probably true,” added David.

“Truth and beauty—what a combination!” said Jonathan. “But why all this preoccupation with the weather?”

“If you worked on the land you would be preoccupied with it,” David retorted.

“I bow to your superior wisdom. At least we are not having one of those romantic snowy Christmases. I can never understand why people set such store by them.”

“It’s rather exciting not knowing whether you are going to arrive or not,” said Millicent.

“Travelling is always such fun,” added Jonathan. “It is getting there that does not always live up to expectations.”

“Well, I am determined that getting here is going to live up to
my
expectations,” declared Millicent.

“Then rest assured that it will be a happy Christmas, for my Lady Millicent must always be obeyed,” said Jonathan.

“It amuses you to laugh at me,” said Millicent.

“There is little I like better than being amused.”

“Come on,” cried Millicent. “Which way?”

“Straight ahead,” I said. “We’ll pass my aunt Sophie’s new house on the way.”

“Oh, I should love to see it.”

“We haven’t the key,” I said quickly.

“Well, from outside. Perhaps while we are staying at Eversleigh we could go and see it.”

“I am sure you could,” said Jonathan.

Millicent rode on and we all followed.

There it was. The house which had become so important to me, a kind of symbol of sin.

“It looks exciting, but a little grim,” commented Millicent.

“I think it a very interesting house,” Jonathan told her. He looked at me, smiling. “You like it, don’t you, Claudine?”

“I admit it is a most unusual house.”

“It looks as if it is in need of repairs,” put in Harry, casting a businesslike look over it.

“You are right up to a point,” said David. “But it is amazing what a solid old place it is. A little bit of rot here and there… just a sign or two of decay. It’s amazing considering how long it has been empty.”

“Strange that it should stand empty for so long,” said Harry.

“Oh, it has a bit of a reputation.”

“Ghosts?” cried Millicent. “Noises in the night? How very thrilling!”

I thought: And voices in a room on the first floor, a room which would be in my memory for ever.

“Well, there it is,” said David. “We’ll get the key before you leave, Millicent, and you shall have a real tour.”

I was glad when we rode off.

As we were coming past Grasslands, Evie and her sister were riding in. We pulled up.

“Hello, Evie,” I said. “This is Miss Evie Mather and her sister Dorothy. Evie and Dolly, you haven’t met the Honourable Millicent Pettigrew and Mr. Harry Farringdon.”

Both Harry and Millicent were, I think, a little taken aback by the sight of the sisters. I suppose it was the contrast they made, Dolly’s deformity calling attention to Evie’s good looks.

“Were you going for a ride?” I asked. “It’s just the afternoon for it.”

“We were just returning, as a matter of fact,” said Evie.

“Well, it will be dark soon.”

“Would you like to come in and have a glass of something?”

“It’s getting late,” I replied. “We want to be back before dark.”

“And there are so many of us,” added David.

Harry was looking at Evie. He said: “I’d like to… We need not stay long.”

“I have to get back,” said Millicent.

“All right,” put in Jonathan. “You three stay and I’ll take Millie back.”

Again that sick jealousy! I was annoyed. I hated the thought of leaving Millicent with Jonathan and going into Grasslands, but there seemed no way out.

“Au revoir!”
called Jonathan gaily.

Millicent was smiling, well pleased. Glad to be rid of us, I was sure; and the rest of us dismounted and went into the house.

Evalina Trent came into the hall to greet us.

“Well, this is a nice surprise.”

I introduced Harry and Mrs. Trent almost fawned upon him.

“Oh yes… what a
nice
surprise,” she repeated. “Come along in. We’ll all wish each other a merry Christmas.”

So we sat in the little intimate parlour which led from the hall and we drank the wine while we chatted amiably about nothing. Harry had seated himself next to Evie and was talking animatedly to her. Mrs. Trent’s eyes scarcely left them. She was very impressed by Harry.

“I know of Farringdon Hall,” she said. “A fine old place. I said to myself when I rode by in the carriage… that was when my son Richard was alive… I said, ‘Richard, that’s a fine place, that is, and one of the best estates roundabouts.’”

Harry said he thought so too but perhaps he was prejudiced.

“Oh, you don’t have to be. You’ve got it all… You and your father before you, and his father before him have made the place what it is. We do our best here at Grasslands, but my husband died…” She sighed. “That was my second… My first… Andrew… God bless him… passed away years ago.”

I glanced at David, suggesting with my look that we curtail this visit as quickly as we could. I was faintly irritated with Harry for forcing it on us, and I was wondering all the time what Jonathan was saying to Millicent on their way back.

Harry was still talking attentively to Evie. I heard him say: “Shall you be at Eversleigh tomorrow?”

“Oh yes, we’re invited.”

“I’m glad,” said Harry. “So glad.”

At last we were able to escape. I gasped with relief as we came out to the road. Mrs. Trent, with a grand-daughter on either side of her, had waved us goodbye, or
au revoir
as she insisted on saying.

It was Harry who had excited her. His interest in Evie had been blatant.

When I was alone with David in our bedroom, I commented on it.

“I think Mrs. Trent is getting ideas. Of course Harry is a very good match. I am sure she is already making plans to bring Evie and him together.”

“You can’t blame her. She’s got those two girls and I should imagine there is not a great deal she can do for them at Grasslands.”

“I have an idea that Evalina Trent will always try to get the best of all that comes her way.”

“Well, my love, isn’t that what we all try to do?”

“David,” I said, “you are a very nice man.”

“Oh, have you just discovered it?”

“I’ve always known it, but sometimes it strikes me more forcibly than others. You always see the best in people. I don’t believe you would see evil if it were right under your nose.”

“I expect I’d smell it out,” he said.

I threw myself at him and held him tightly. I was saying to myself: I must never hurt him. I must never again be alone with Jonathan… David must never know… It would hurt him too much.

I prayed then—a strange thing to do with all my sins upon me. I prayed for the strength I should need to live with this evil I had created.

When I returned to the house I found my mother busy in her private sanctum. She called to me.

“The carol singers will be round in the evening,” she said. “We shall have to bring them in and give them hot punch and cakes. That will be enough for tonight and we’ll hope to retire early in readiness for tomorrow. We shall eat in the hall tomorrow of course and while things are being cleared away for the dancing, I thought we’d have a treasure hunt. That always goes down well and the house lends itself to it so admirably. Another thing, there’ll be a moon and therefore enough light for them to see where they are going when they prowl about the house. I never liked lighted candles all over the place.”

I said: “That’s a good idea, Maman. Do you want me to help you with the clues?”

“No, Dickon and I will do them. If you help you won’t be able to join in.”

I said: “We went to Grasslands.”

“Oh, did you?”

“We couldn’t get out of it. It was Harry Farringdon’s fault. He wanted to go after he had seen Evie.”

My mother laughed. “So he took a fancy to her.”

“It was rather obvious. Mrs. Trent was very pleased.”

“Oh dear, I hope she wasn’t too obvious.”

“She always is… rather.”

“Poor old Evalina Trent! My mother disliked her intensely. I think something happened in the past. I have a feeling that she could be rather a dangerous woman.”

“I feel that too. However, she does care for those grand-daughters.”

“It’s poor little Dolly I’m sorry for.”

“Evie seems fond of her, and of course the poor girl dotes on Evie.”

“It’s sad to be born like that. Let’s hope something comes of Harry’s interest.”

“What would John and Gwen Farringdon think of the Grasslands family? Dickon said Harry was a very good match.”

“They’d look higher than Mrs. Trent’s grand-daughter, but if Harry wanted it… Well, I reckon he’s a young man who would have his way. But aren’t we being a little premature?”

We laughed. “It’s a good thing no one can hear us,” I said. “Anyway, I hope things work out well for Evie.”

“So do I,” said my mother. “Dancing will be just right after the treasure hunt and that can take up the rest of the evening. I’ve arranged for the music. The musicians can have something to eat while the treasure hunt is in progress. That will keep them going through the evening.”

I kissed her lightly and said: “You think of everything.”

Evening came. We were in the dining room and were just finishing the meal when the carol singers arrived. It was very picturesque with their lanterns bobbing about outside the windows and after the first rendering Dickon and my mother opened the door and they all trooped into the hall. There they sang for us and we applauded and joined in with the carols. The big punch bowl was brought in and the drink was ladled into goblets which the ladies of the household handed round with the pies and cakes which had been baked for the occasion.

Then we went to the punch room and talked of Christmases of the past, and my mother described Christmas in France, which was celebrated more on Christmas Eve than on the day itself. There was midnight Mass, and slippers by the fire into which gifts were placed.

Christmas Day came. I awoke with that heavy sense of guilt which was almost always with me nowadays and as I lay in bed I thought of last Christmas Day when I had been an innocent, lighthearted girl.

“It must end,” I said for the hundredth time.

We went to the little church in the village of Eversleigh for the morning service. With the unpredictability of our climate the weather had changed again and there was the faintest touch of frost in the air. After the service we walked home across the fields, and Jonathan suddenly started to sing a carol in which we all joined. He came and took my arm; on his other side was Millicent Pettigrew and her arm was slipped through his. He pressed mine against him and all my weakness returned. Momentarily I was happy because I was close to him.

I did not see him again that day until it was time to greet the arriving guests. My mother said that now I was a married woman I should take my stand with her to welcome them.