Iain Pears - Arcadia

‘The reason I love Henary is that it did not matter to him. “I thought you were an intelligent, thoughtful and beautiful woman who had made the best of the many advantages that a good family had bestowed on her,” he told me. “Now I think you are even more remarkable, for you make your own advantage.” It made him appreciate me all the more, but he did accept that few would agree. We were thinking about it when I decided to go on a pilgrimage to Esilio’s grave at Willdon. There I met Thenald, and he fell in love with me.’

‘You do not say that you fell in love with him.’

‘Because I did not. He was a refuge for me. To me he was not a bad man, because he was entranced by me, but gradually I saw that to all others he was not good. He was a great believer in his rights and others’ duties. All must be as all had ever been and ever would be. Any deviation he found dangerous, and he reacted to it with violence. He was often heartless when a little kindness would have resolved an issue. He thought only in terms of whether people were below him or above him in family, and there were few above him, so he seemed impossibly proud. He wasn’t really. Just frightened.

‘He was also lazy, which was his best quality. I easily took over running the household, tempered his harshness, and was beginning to know how to run the domain. I would have tamed him eventually, but he found out who I was.’

‘Did he?’

She nodded. ‘He wanted to contact my family, of course he did, but I put him off for a long time. Before we married he sent Callan without telling me, but Callan lied for me and said my family had gone on pilgrimage and could not be contacted for worldly matters. But Thenald got the truth from him. He discovered that I had lied; I was nothing. He said he was going to divorce me and make sure that I was cast out utterly and in shame.

‘He was murdered instead, the next day. Instead of being cast out, I was chosen to rule Willdon.’

‘Henary knows this?’

‘Yes. He never once questioned me or doubted me.’

‘Anyone else?’

‘Callan. Did he not say any of this when you took his story?’

‘I cannot say. You know that. But tell me now; I want to hear it from your mouth. Did you murder Thenald?’

‘No,’ she said firmly and without hesitation. ‘I did not.’

‘Forgive me for asking an impertinent question, but why not?’

She burst out laughing. ‘Oh, Jay! Why not? A good question, but not one I have ever considered. Because I believe in... what would you call it? Fate, if you like. How much would you have me do to safeguard myself? Kill Thenald, then overturn the whole of Anterwold? I could invade the grave of Esilio, cart Pamarchon away and just kill him. I could silence Henary, and you and Callan, for ever. My people would follow me. I could then take on the might of Ossenfud and subdue that, if it were necessary; it is hardly well defended. But I don’t want to; once this starts, it never ends.’

‘Do you think Pamarchon killed him, then?’

‘I used to. I was convinced, genuinely convinced, that he was responsible. I never questioned it. Now — having watched him for three days? Seen him with Rosalind? Now I am not so sure.’

‘Hello, Professor,’ Rosie said as she appeared at the top of the stairs and saw that Lytten was not alone. ‘Who are these people?’

Then Angela. ‘Sam!’ she called out. ‘How nice to see you again. Sergeant Maltby too! And who are you, young man?’

‘This is not the time, Angela, I’m afraid,’ Sam Wind said, sounding oddly apologetic. ‘We need to ask you some questions.’

‘By all means. Go ahead.’

‘Not here.’

‘I’m a bit busy today, I’m afraid. What with one thing and another.’

‘I must insist.’

‘And I must decline, Sam Wind. I said I’m busy.’

Wind nodded at Maltby. ‘If you would do the honours, Sergeant...?’

‘Angela Meerson, I am arresting you on suspicion of offences under the Official Secrets Act.’

Angela stopped, her mouth half open in surprise. ‘Really? What simply extraordinary timing. Are you sure you can’t come back tomorrow?’

‘No. This is not a joke. Please come with us without making a fuss. It will be much easier.’

‘I’m sure. What offences? Henry? Has Sam here lost his wits at last?’

‘If you want my opinion, I think he may have done,’ he replied. ‘But he has a small army out there and so it would be best if you did as instructed. It’s nothing to worry about. It happens to all of us sooner or later, if that’s any consolation. I was taken off and interrogated for three days back in... when was it, Sam?’

‘1954, I think.’

‘That’s right.’

‘I wish I had your confidence.’ Angela turned to Rosie, who was standing with an air of astonishment behind her. ‘More interesting than being at school, eh?’

She nodded.

‘I fear I must ask you to take over for a while. A little show and tell with Henry. Do you know what I mean? Then you have to open it at dusk. Six turns of the little saucepan from where we are. It’s really important. Dusk. Are you up to it? Can you remember?’

‘I think so,’ she said quietly.

‘Good. Rosie is an extraordinary girl, Henry. I want you to listen to her. When she is finished, I will need to see you. At your earliest convenience, please.’

She smiled at Wind. ‘Lead on, Sam Wind. If it makes you feel better.’

‘Professor Lytten, what have you done?’ Rosie exclaimed after she had watched Angela, head high, being led to a police car, put into the back and driven off. One by one the other cars and vans followed, and in a few minutes the street was its usual self once more, apart from the faces trying hard not to be noticed in the windows of every neighbouring house.

‘Rosie, you must go to school, or something. I have no time to talk to you at the moment, and it is certainly none of your business.’ Lytten seemed weary and perplexed by what had happened. She had never seen him like that before.

‘I have to show you something. It’s very important.’

‘No, Rosie. I’m sorry. Please go. You know how much I like you, but you shouldn’t be here in the first place, and I do not wish to discuss the matter.’

‘I do want to discuss it.’

‘Go away.’

‘No.’

‘I will begin to get very angry indeed with you if you—’

He didn’t get to finish what would undoubtedly have been a very pompous sentence. Rosie pressed her lips together and poked him in the chest with her finger.

‘Do not lecture me,’ she said in a furious voice. ‘This is all your fault, and Angela is trying to put it right. So you will listen.’

‘I will do no—’

‘Downstairs. Now,’ she said in a loud, authoritative voice. Lytten had not heard the like since the terrifying Miss Barton in primary school and so, naturally, he fell silent and obeyed.

‘Keep going. Right down to the bottom.’

He would give her three minutes, he thought, then he’d bring this nonsense to an end. He liked the girl but he would have to forbid her from coming to his house any more. Jenkins would miss her.

‘Right, Henry Lytten. I am going to show you something. Something Angela built. Then I will explain what it is.’

She started a sort of ridiculous dance, going down on one knee and spinning around and playing with the old kettle.

‘Rosie. Stop this now.’

‘Oh!’ she said. ‘You’ve broken my concentration. I’ll have to start again. Just shut up for a few seconds, will you?’ Giving him a ferocious glare, she began again, twirling round, kneeling down and chanting. Then she peered behind him and smiled. ‘Ha!’

‘Very funny,’ said Lytten.