Виктория Холт - Time of the Hunter's Moon

AUNT PATTY was waiting for us at the station in a hat made almost entirely of violets. We were all laughing as we embraced.

"My goodness," said Aunt Patty, "this is a bit of a change from last time. Do you remember, Cordelia? No Teresa."

"I'm glad I'm here now," said Teresa.

"Not more glad than we are to have you. Violet's in quite a state wondering whether those cousins of yours were going to foil us right at the last minute. She'll be in a fever of excitement till we get back and couldn't make up her mind whether to come with me to meet you or stay at home and watch the lardy cakes. She says they're a special favourite of yours, Teresa, and she wanted to have them ready for you."

"Let's get home quickly," said Teresa.

We got into the dog cart and Aunt Patty took the reins.

"What's the term been like?" she asked as we rode along.

"Full of incident," I said quickly. "Too much to tell you now."

"Well, we'll wait until we're sitting pretty," said Aunt Patty. "By the way, a gentleman came calling. He wanted to see you."

"Who was it?"

"It was Violet who saw him. She was bowled over by him. Said he was the handsomest and most pleasant gentleman she had ever met."

"But ... what was his name?"

"She didn't get it. Trust Violet. Too busy trying to lure him in and give him some of that almond cake of hers which she is always showing off with. She said he wouldn't stop though. He's staying at the King's Arms."

"How strange. I can't think who it could be."

I had thought at first that Jason had decided not to go to Switzerland and had come here instead. But then he would know exactly when I should be arriving and would not have called yesterday. Moreover, Violet had already met him.

"Violet will tell you more. Nearly home now. Come on, Buttercup. He always gets excited when we turn in at the lane. You couldn't get him to go past the house if you tried."

There was the house, set back from the road with its green lawns and the hedge of macrocarpas which Violet had planted. At first when they arrived they had been little feathery sticks, I remembered, and they were already growing fast. There was the lavender and the buddleia covered in white butterflies-and that air of perfect peace.

Violet had appeared hastily wiping her hands. She embraced Teresa and me.

"There you are. Welcome home. Cordelia, you look a bit pale. And you, Teresa, how are you? I was afraid those cousins of yours were going to put in their spoke again. Well, here you are and here you're going to stay. The lardy cakes are all ready and as soon as I heard the trap turn into the lane I put the kettle on."

I said: "It's good to be home." And we went into the house.

Violet was saying: "What do you think about tea outside? Bit sultry. The wasps are a pest this year. Let's have it indoors. We can have all the windows wide open so that we can see the garden. Best of both worlds, eh? You can go to your rooms after. Tea first."

"And Violet's word is law, as we all know," said Aunt Patty, comfortably seating herself. "Well, what's been happening?" she went on.

"The great news is that Fiona Verringer eloped after the pageant."

"Eloped! Is that the girl from the big house?" "Yes, one of the two sisters."

"Someone called here once," recollected Violet. "Wasn't he from there?"

"Yes, he's the uncle. There was a terrible upheaval, wasn't there, Teresa?"

"Oh yes. Miss Hetherington was furious."

"I should think so," said Aunt Patty. "Girls eloping!"

"It was very romantic," put in Teresa wistfully.

"I think they are somewhere in Switzerland."

"I wonder if they are anywhere near Schaffenbrucken?" said Violet. "Here, have another of these lardy cakes, Teresa. They're done specially for you."

"Oh Violet, I shouldn't. What's for supper?"

"Ask no questions and you'll hear no lies. You know very well I don't talk about my dishes till I serve them. Wait and see ... and it's a long time off and I'd have another lardy if I were you."

Teresa helped herself and I was amazed to see the moodiness which I had noticed last term drop from her. I was wondering whether I should tell Aunt Patty about the anonymous letter. I'd wait and see. I did not want to disturb the peace of the place. While I was here I could forget.

"By the way, Violet," I said. "Aunt Patty says somebody called."

"Oh yes. Yesterday. Such a nice gentleman. Wellspoken, nice-mannered, tall and good-looking."

"And you don't remember the name of this shining knight?"

"He did say. But bless me, if I can remember. He said he particularly wanted to see you ... Something about the past."

"What do you mean ... the past?"

"Well, apparently, he knew you then."

"And you don't remember his name. Oh, Violet ..."

"Well, he did say it when he came and you know what a one I am for names. You'll know tomorrow. He said he's coming then. I know he will. He looks like a man of his word, and he was so anxious to see you."

"Tall you say?"

"Tall and fair."

I was transported back to the forest. I thought: This is the time for strange things to happen. He has come back. He will explain.

A great excitement took possession of me. I thought how wonderful it would be to see him again.

I said: "Was his name Edward Compton?"

Violet considered. "It could have been. I wouldn't say it wasn't ... and then I wouldn't say it was."

"Oh Violet," I said in exasperation.

"Well, what's all the fuss? You'll know tomorrow. Patience is a virtue ... and I'm not talking about you, Patty."

Aunt Patty smiled, not betraying that she had heard that so-called joke a hundred times before from Violet. Tomorrow, I thought. It is not long to wait.

The familiar peace of Moldenbury descended on me. I unpacked my things and went for a walk with Teresa. After supper we sat in the garden and talked desultorily of village affairs. The usual "Bring and Buy" and the church fête were looming. There was a controversy as to whether the proceeds should go to the tower or the bells. Aunt Patty was on the side of the tower. "We don't want that toppling down on us," she said. But Violet was for the bells. "I do like to hear them. Specially on a Sunday morning," she said.

"Bells wouldn't be much use if the tower collapsed," pointed out Aunt Patty.

"Not much use having a tower if there's no bells to bring people to church."

And so it went on.

When I retired for the night Aunt Patty came to my room. -

"Is everything all right?" she said. "I thought you seemed a bit ... remote. Not worried about that girl eloping are you? They're not blaming you for letting her get away, I hope."

"Oh no. Daisy is most fair. It wasn't the fault of anyone at the school. It was the girls more likely. They had been meeting this man, some of them. If it had been Eugenie Verringer I wouldn't have been so surprised, but that Fiona should have been so bold ... well, it was unlike her."

"In love, I suppose. They say that changes people. Cordelia, do you want to tell me what's on your mind?"

I hesitated. Then I burst out: "I had an anonymous letter. It was horrible. Accusing me of being involved in ... murder."

"Good gracious me!"

"It concerned a woman who disappeared suddenly. She had been Jason Verringer's mistress at some Lime and he ..."

"He seemed rather interested in you when he came here. I remember that."

"Yes," I said.

"And how do you feel about him?"

"I try to avoid him all I can, but he is not the sort of man to respect anyone's wishes if they conflict with what he wants. He is arrogant and ruthless. He is very powerful. He seems to own everything in Colby ... including the school. Even Daisy Hetherington is a little subservient."