Виктория Холт - The Mask of the Enchantress

I stared at the paper. Leah continued to watch me, her eyes full of anxiety.

I put the letter in its envelope and thrust them into my pocket.

"Oh, Miss Susannah," said Leah, "I hope it's not too bad."

I looked at her sadly. I thought: I shall never see the baby when it comes. I shall be far away. Where? I wondered. I should never see the castle again. I should never see Malcolm.

I don't know how I got through that day.

Janet came into my room during the morning. On impulse I showed her Jacob Cringle's letter.

"Looks like a bit of blackmail to me," she said.

"He hates Susannah," I replied. "I understand it. He thinks she was responsible for Saul's death."

"You mustn't go there tonight."

"I'm going to tell Malcolm when I see him."

"Yes," said Janet. "Make a clean breast of it. I don't think he'll be too hard. I think he's a bit soft on you. You were such a change ... after Susannah. He couldn't abide her."

"I'll have to go away, Janet. I'll have to leave everything... ."

"You'll be back. I just feel it in my bones. But wait and tell Malcolm. That's your best plan."

"So I thought."

I went out so that I did not need to come back for luncheon. I had another day here, for Malcolm could not be back until late. I would not speak to him today. It would be tomorrow.

I came back and went to my room. It was the middle of the afternoon. I took out Jacob Cringle's letter and read it again.

The strange thing was that I had been turning over in my mind the possibility of giving new equipment to the Cringles' farm, to give Jacob an incentive to work harder, for I knew he was a good farmer. I should in time have given him all he was demanding. But he hated me ... because he thought I was Susannah. I wanted to tell him that I understood, he wanted vengeance. But how could I?

As I sat there, the letter in my hand, the door opened and to my horror I saw that it was Garth.

"Ah, the little impostor," he said. "Are you glad to see me?"

"No," I answered.

"And what have you got there?"

He snatched the letter from me and when he read it his expression changed.

"Silly man!" he said. "He knows too much."

"I am not going to see him," I replied.

"But you must."

"I am going to tell Malcolm as soon as I get the chance. There will be no need for me to see Jacob Cringle."

He was thoughtful, looking at me through narrowed eyes.

"If you don't see him he will come to the castle. He will shout the truth for all to hear. You should see him and explain who you are. Tell him that, and he'll have no case. Susannah is dead. That's the end of it. It's the only way."

"I think I should tell Malcolm first."

"Malcolm will not be back until late tonight. You have to see Jacob first."

I was thoughtful.

"I'll come with you. I'll protect you," he said. "I don't need you with me."

"Very well. But it won't do for him to go about shouting all this." He tapped the letter. "I'll see him tonight. I'll explain." He nodded. To my surprise he did not pester me further.

I had made up my mind. I was going to see Jacob Cringle. I was going to tell him that I was not Susannah, that I had never known his brother Saul and that Susannah was dead. Perhaps that would satisfy him and ease his craving for revenge.

Then I was coming back and I was going to tell Malcolm the truth.

I felt a sense of relief. My mad masquerade was coming to an end. Whatever the price asked, I must pay it and bear whatever was coming to me, for I deserved it.

The day seemed as though it would never end. I was glad when it was time for dinner, though I could not eat. Garth, Emerald and I kept up some sort of conversation. I can't remember what I said but, whatever it was, it was very vague, I am sure. I was thinking all the time of what I was going to say to Jacob Cringle and most of all how I would tell Malcolm afterwards.

I dreaded the evening and yet I could not wait for it to come.

When the meal was over I hurried to my room and changed into my riding habit. It was half past eight and my rendezvous with Jacob Cringle was for nine o'clock. It would take me ten minutes to ride to the barn.

Janet came in. She was very distressed.

"You ought not to go," she said. "I don't like it."

"I must go, Janet," I told her. "I have to talk to Jacob Cringle. He must have an explanation. His brother died and he blames Susannah. I took her place ... and I feel I owe him an explanation."

"To write a letter like that... it's nothing short of blackmail and blackmailers are bad people."

"I don't think it is quite as simple as that. I think there is a difference in this case. Anyway, I've made up my mind."

As we stood there we heard the sound of a horse's hoofs below.

"That would be Malcolm," said Janet, looking at me steadily.

"I shall tell him tonight. As soon as I get back I shall tell him."

"Don't go," begged Janet urgently.

But I shook my head.

She stood still looking after me as I went out.

In the stables I mounted my horse. Malcolm's was there. So it was he who had just come in. One of the grooms would be coming soon to tend his horse, so I had to be quick.

I rode out of the stables. The barn looked eerie in moonlight. I had never got over my dread of the place since I had seen that horrible thing hanging there.

I tied up my horse and as I was doing so I heard the sound of a rider approaching. I thought it must be Jacob. I looked around me and someone was leaping down beside me. It was Garth.

"I'm coming with you," he said.

"But ..." I began.

"No buts," he commanded. "You can't handle this alone. You need help."

"I want no help."

"But you're going to get it whether you want it or not."

He took my arm. I tried to shrug him off but he held on firmly.

"Come on," he said.

The barn door creaked as we opened it. We went in. Jacob was there with the lantern. I saw that the scarecrow was still hanging from the rafters.

"So you've come, miss," said Jacob, and broke off when he saw that I was not alone.

"Yes," I said, "I came. I've come to tell you that you are mistaken."

"Not me, miss. You can't talk me out of this. My brother Saul killed himself, they say, but it was you what led him to it."

"No, no. I'm not Susannah Mateland. I am her half sister. I took her place."

Garth was gripping my arm so strongly that it hurt.

"Shut up, you little fool," he muttered.

Then he said loudly, blusteringly: "What's all this about, Cringle? You're trying to blackmail Miss Mateland."

"Miss Mateland ruined us when she lured my brother to his death. We lost heart then. I want a chance to start again ... that's all ... to build up the farm ... as she took him away from us, so she should give this to us."

"And what will you do, my good man, if I tell you that this night's work has lost you your farm?"

I caught my breath. "No ... no, that's not so... ."

"I'll tell you what I'd say," cried Jacob. "I'd say I'd make this place too hot to hold you two. I'd have you brought to justice."

"Do you know what you have done, Cringle?" murmured Garth lightly. "You have just signed your death warrant."

"What do you mean ... ?" began Jacob.

I screamed, for Garth had taken a pistol from his pocket and was pointing it at Jacob. But Jacob was too quick for him. He made a dash for Garth and caught the hand which held the weapon.

The two men struggled. I stood cowering against the wall.

Then the door opened and someone came in just as the pistol shot rang out. I stared in horror at the blood spattering the wall.

The pistol had fallen to the ground, and Jacob Cringle was staring at the body lying there.

It was Malcolm who had come in and the sight of him overwhelmed me with relief. He knelt beside Garth.